Is there anything that doesn't go well with chocolate? Not for Sandpoint Chocolate Bear, which operates both a production and retail facility in Spokane Valley and the retail shop, Chocolate Apothecary and Coffee in the Flour Mill.
They add various kinds of chocolate to a select handful of spice mixes from local Spiceology to create blends that go well in sweet and savory dishes.
Try the Garlic Joy seasoning with russet potatoes to make crispy baked jojos. Coat wedges of potato with a butter-oil mix, then dredge wedges in seasoning mixed with flour and bake. Or try Garlic Joy on meat dishes for a subtle note of sweetness.
"The garlic spice I have been getting good reviews on," says co-owner Dennis Powell, who created the company in Sandpoint in 2012 with wife Carrie.
Last year, after their Sandpoint facility burned in a fire that wiped out several buildings on the same block, the couple relocated Sandpoint Chocolate Bear to Spokane Valley.
They carry their chocolate spices in both the Valley and downtown location, including Choco Cajun spice — try it in gumbo or on baked spaghetti squash for an unusual gluten-free, vegan dish — as well as Cacao Curry and Aztec Chili.
