One thing about waving your hands in the air, and waving them like you just don't care? It's tough to hold on to a plate of food at the same time. Lucky You Lounge is here to help with an update to their oh-so-tasty menu that leans more into handheld deliciousness. Delve into the new kimchi banh mi ($11), nachos ($10), tacos ($11/three) or chicken strips ($8), served with Sichuan pepper and pickled chili black vinegar sauce. Most of the popular favorites from the music venue/restaurant's first months open are still available — try the shiitake dumplings ($9), seriously — and ramen now enjoys a permanent place on the menu. Co-owner Karli Ingersoll said via email that Lucky You wanted to give more options to concert-goers looking for "snacky late-night eats" (the kitchen is open until midnight) while still serving up substantial sit-down fare like the popular rice and grain bowls for the early dinner and happy hour crowds. The new Lucky You menu is available now. (DAN NAILEN)
THE DIPPER OPENS IN COEUR D'ALENE
Charismatic Carol Faber and her two daughters, Lauren Buck and Megan Miller, are a few of the many reasons a plucky new Coeur d'Alene eatery is on the rise. The trio first started serving their French dips at the Kootenai Farmers Market, where the smell of aged Angus beef on the grill wafted out from their modest food truck. As the Dipper gained in popularity, they started serving at more events. Last fall, they moved into the vacated Hiro's BBQ and opened a few months later. Try the Little Dipper ($10) on a 4-inch roll, or the 6-inch Big Dipper ($13), which can be ordered breadless and drizzled with garlic butter and a side of housemade horseradish cream sauce. The Roundup ($8-$12) is a large pile of fries and onion rings smothered with sausage, baked beans, cheese, bacon, jalapeno and sour cream. Jalapeno poppers ($9/three), aka "gator tails," are double-wrapped in bacon. The coleslaw ($3-$5) has cranberries for extra pop of flavor, and it's all served with a smile. (CARRIE SCOZZARO)
UP NORTH DISTILLERY OPENS HAYDEN LOCATION
Here's to the Brits for the origin of "bee's knees," a Shakespearean variation of "be-all and end-all," which morphed during America's Roaring '20s to mean the very best. That little play on words is also the name of Up North Distillery's new whiskey bar, appropriately located north of its Post Falls headquarters. Tucked into a Hayden-area strip mall, the Bee's Knees Whiskey Bar has a speakeasy feel with vintage wallpaper, leather chairs and wood paneling. One of the few late-night options in that area along Highway 95, the Bee's Knees features the distillery's lineup of award-winning barrel-aged brandies and other spirits. Order from next door via Belle's Brunch to make your next trip north a bee's knees kind of evening. Visit beeskneeswhiskeybar.com for details. (CARRIE SCOZZARO)
BIG TIMIN'
Spokane chef Chad White was recently chosen as a 2020 James Beard Award semifinalist in the Best Chef Northwest & Pacific category. White is one of 20 Northwest chefs up for the honor, most based at restaurants in Seattle and Portland. Finalists will be narrowed down March 25, and winners picked May 4. White is the fifth local chef with a James Beard Award nomination, joining Jeremy Hansen (former owner of Santé and others; 2015), Adam Hegsted (Eat Good Group; 2016), Laurent Zirotti (Fleur de Sel; 2017) and Anna Vogel (Italia Trattoria; 2018). After appearing on Bravo's Top Chef, White returned to his hometown of Spokane to open Zona Blanca, a ceviche spot. He followed that up with High Tide Lobster bar, which now has two downtown locations, and partnered to launch TTs Old Iron Brewery & Barbecue in Spokane Valley last year. (CHEY SCOTT)
