Nature continues to impress us! A week ago we decided to switch all of the sugar used at the cafe to organic sugarcane and here’s some of the reasons why we did it:

FRESH

Sugarcane is any of six to thirty-seven species of tall perennial grasses…yes, sugar comes from a type of grass that go from six to nineteen feet tall. The process to create organic sugar involves only 50% of what is used to create traditional refined sugar. However, this does not affect the quality and taste of the sugar produced, in fact many claims that organic sugar actually tastes better. There are also other benefits to using organic sugar:

- It is healthier for the planet and for farmers. Pesticides and other chemicals used in making refined sugar are released into the ozone layer, contributing to climate change.

- The process refined sugar goes through hardly leaves any vitamins and minerals in the end product. What is left is just a form of refined, pure carbohydrates which the body cannot utilize because of the lack of essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Organic sugar on the other hand keeps the sugar product’s nutrients intact, and easy for the body to digest and absorb.

- When our body digests and processes refined sugar, it basically drains our entire system of vitamins and minerals, which contributes to the phenomenon we know as “sugar rush”. The sudden intake of large amounts of sugar puts the body into shock and therefore gives us a temporary “high”, and this is also why we feel sluggish and sleepy after the sugar rush. Organic sugar has a purer end product, and doesn’t give us that temporary rush and high.

- Sugar is associated to weight gain because the end product is nothing but empty calories. The sugar cane contains minerals our body can utilize, which can only be consumed through organic sugar

BEAUTIFUL

The cane juice, rich in molasses, vitamins and minerals, is extracted, clarified, evaporated and crystallized.  The result is a blond- colored, delicious and natural organic sugar that we believe will enhance all your favorite Taste pastries.

TASTY

The texture and character of organic sugar has more moisture, giving it a nice caramel-like taste that refined sugar can’t match!

Here are some of our very best suggestions for summer lunch delivery!

Sandwiches
-Garden Veggie-hummus, shredded carrots, chopped olives, feta, tomatoes, cucumber and avocado on whole wheat bread $ 7.95
-Pesto Panini- mozzarella, tomato and pesto $ 8.50
-Asian Chicken Wrap- oven baked chicken, red and yellow peppers, green onions and sesame seeds in an Asian peanut sauce. Served in a spinach wrap $ 8.50
Salads
-Pasta, Pesto and Pea
-Potato and Dill
-Curried Chicken with Mangoes
-Fresh Fruit Salad
Beverages
-Iced Cold Brew Coffee
-Arnold Palmer
-Soft drinks

Wedding Cake Tasting

If Marie Antoinette had really been referring to delicious carrot cake or red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting, we might agree with her. Cake is one of those magical creations. Children’s faces light up at the sight of it and even adults can’t resist a slice. It symbolizes celebration and the presence of cake marks an event worth celebrating!

Lately Hannah has been busy in the kitchen making cakes for weddings, graduations, baby showers and “just because” events. We’ve been doing lots of wedding cake tastings, Hannah developed a specialty lemon poppy seed cake with lemon curd filing for a wedding and we’ve served up numerous cakes and cupcake platters. As most of you can tell from the photos on Facebook, we have a knack for decorating cakes and we’re quite skilled with fondant.

So, whatever your taste and whatever your occasion, share your dream with us and we’ll be happy to let you eat cake (good cake, too)!

Photo from last year…we’ll need to take a new one soon!

The weather is lovely and it’s time to crawl out of our shells and into the sunshine. We’ve got outdoor seating once again!

Come over to 180 S Howard and soak up the sun while enjoying a panini and Arnold Palmer or Huevos Rancheros and a mimosa. Outdoor seating is available during the week for lunch and during our Saturday brunch. Welcome summer!

We handed out 460  desserts at Taste Washington last Sunday! A great success and a wonderful event!

Dawn, Hannah, Jane and our Rich Chocolate Pot de Creme, Marshmallow Meringue and Artisan Graham Cookie “TAS’MORES”. Photo by Fossa Studio Photography.

We’ve got a new vegan and gluten-free TASTE just in time for summery days. Try our new Lemon Lentil salad-a bright and beautiful dish of lentils, red, yellow and orange bell peppers, green onions, lemon juice and lemon zest. It’s a healthy salad and makes a great lunch option when paired with two of our other salads for a tasty salad trio with roll & butter- $9.50! Bon Apetit!

At last—outdoor seating has arrived! We have been waiting for months and can’t wait to share our new patio with you. It has been wonderful to see guests already enjoying the patio with a glass of wine or beer, just soaking up the sun.

So, come and snag a table out on the patio. We’ve got refreshing salads for lunch and Happy Hour every Friday from 4-6!

In the minds of most, an amazing cake both tastes great and is decorated well—the cake is frosted with care, possibly some fresh flowers are placed delicately on top and the words “Happy Birthday” or “Happy Anniversary” are inscribed in colorful script. Now, by all means a traditional cake is a wonderful thing, but at TASTE we love to push the box a little bit. The best requests are those that challenge our minds and our fondant.

On Monday we delivered an Alice in Wonderland birthday cake complete with Alice, Cheshire Cat, Caterpillar and the rest of the gang!  In the past fashionistas have inspired Louis Vuitton cakes and blue Tiffany’s box fondant covered rice krispie treats. Take a look at our mini-Cake portfolio and feel free to dream up your own custom cake…we’d love to take you up on the challenge!

This week we are doing what we LOVE at TASTE! We are in the back kitchen of the café cooking and baking for our guests and preparing for various upcoming events.

It looks like this is a great week to have been born!
We have two 16 year birthday cakes ordered for Thursday and Hannah will be celebrating her birthday on Saturday. Curious
about our plans for the cakes? Well, we have to keep some surprises, but one of our cakes will be lovingly decorated with a denim and sunflower theme, perfect for a summer baby!

This weekend we will also be catering a 20 person dinner party for a 69th birthday! Hannah will be celebrating her birthday on the same day as we serve a fresh veggie platter, chicken satay with a peanut sauce and gorgonzola crostini, followed by a boeuf bourguignon and a whole poached salmon. The crowning glory of the occasion will, of course, be the birthday cake! The theme of the party is Spode–so the food and sweets have been designed to match!

This past weekend Hannah made the trek out to Green Bluff in the search for fresh fruit and veggies! We are in the midst of the summer fruit season and can’t wait to put our new goodies to work in the kitchen. This week we’ve got a Cherry and Nectarine upside down cake and Nectarine Frangipane tarts. Back to the kitchen to dream up some new tastes…

Q. What inspired you to become a chef?

A. I’ve always been interested in cooking, as a child of nine I would make the cake for Sunday tea-time. By age 11 Saturday lunch was mine too.  My mother was a fabulous cook and I learned a lot watching her.

Q. Where did you learn how to cook?

A. I did a Cordon Bleu course in England many years ago and I’ve had a lifetime of cooking for my family.

Q. How would you define your cooking style?

A. I use the finest ingredients and prepare them simply and well.

Q. Who is the chef you most admire?

A. I enjoy Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa’s, books. I admire Gordon Ramsay’s drive and ambition, his sense of humor and enthusiasm for everything he does.   I went to his restaurant in Knightsbridge, London and the food was truly amazing.

Q. What is your favorite ingredient?

A. My favorite ingredients are fresh vegetables and fruits in season.

Q. What is your personal favorite of all your savory dishes?

A. I think my personal favorite savory dish is our Gourmet Cheese and Nut Loaf.

Q.What inspired you to open a cafe?

A. When Hannah, my daughter, wanted to go to pastry school we thought it would be a good project to open up a cafe together, she would be in charge of all the baked goods and I would be in charge of the savory dishes.  We thought Spokane was an ideal spot to do this.

Q. What’s the most exciting thing about working at TASTE?

A. I suppose the most exciting thing about working here is being able to build a business with Hannah as my partner, developing new dishes, working with different customers for their special events and growing with Spokane.

This week we’ve got beautiful Southwest Stuffed Peppers in the case. They are stuffed with a medley of rice, corn, black beans, mild poblano chiles, leeks and topped with cheese! We love this flavorful comfort food from the Southwest–hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

<PHOTO to come soon! They just keep leaving the case so fast, we’ve had yet to take a good snap shot!>

Last week we debuted Hannah’s new butterscotch cookies. They were a hit! After last week it looks as though they may be making themselves a permanent fixture in the case! This week we will have them again so if you are a lover of cookies and already are a fan of our secret chocolate chip cookies and white out cookies, you just have to try the butterscotch. Our butterscotch cookies will be baked fresh in the morning so come grab some and enjoy!

We’ve got sometime special for you at TASTE and it comes in the form of a new custom blend of DOMA Coffee. It’s called a Toddy–cold-brewed coffee soaked for 18 hours, steeped and best served with ice over a little bit of cream. Simply delicious! The process extracts the natural, delicious flavors of coffee without the bitter acids and oils. It’s easy on your stomach–and yet, it’s so very good! We describe it as refreshing, with a smooth, almost chocolaty taste. According to our friends at DOMA, we are the only ones in town serving cold-brewed coffee! You’ve just got to try it! The Food Network raves, “Cold-brewed coffee is unbelievable–all the hype is justified.”

Photo courtesy of hkfixed

TASTE’s cold-brewed coffee

Small-$1.75

Medium-$1.95

Large-$2.15

Thanks to Leanne Sangster from the Downtown Spokane Partnership for featuring TASTE in the Street Beat newsletter on August 3rd!

Here’s the article for your reading pleasure!

Taste Cafe and Gourmet To Go is an upscale cafe on the corner of Howard and Second. Owned by a mother-daughter team, Taste provides fresh, quality ingredients in a cozy environment. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the cafe has a variety of dishes – from sweet or savory to Doma coffee and novelty cakes. Everything is made from scratch daily, including dishes like mac and cheese, shepherd’s pie, and lasagna, as well as eight to ten fresh salads, sandwiches and wraps.

Their blog “Taste Buds” shows some amazing cake work including a Louis Vuitton bag, an Alice in Wonderland themed cake, and a golf green complete with a duck floating on a pond and golf bag resting nearby.  Taste also caters a variety of events from small private parties to larger events of 350 people.

This Downtown cafe is a great place to meet a friend for a coffee or lunch break, or if you’re in a hurry, place an order “to go” on line, via fax or over the phone. And these warm summer months are the perfect time to enjoy their newly furnished outdoor patio. So work up your appetite and experience the flavors of Taste for yourself, at 108 S. Howard! For information visit TasteCafeSpokane.com.

Although we aren’t currently open for dinner–if plans transpire, our taste buds followers will be the first to know!

Thanks so much Leanne! Leanne also e-mailed us after finally getting the opporunity to come down to the cafe and said, ” Just wanted to let you know, I made it over to Taste with a friend of mine today, and we each had the salad sampler…it was great! My friend said she was definitely coming back, and I will be sending others over as well. Loved the asian chicken salad and the maple pound cake was AMAZING. So glad to have you downtown.”

Thanks for visiting us Leanne! We’re so glad you enjoyed it!

A few months ago we were contacted by Kelly Pankey of Windermere City Group about an upcoming Bone Marrow Drive in April. The drive was held for a friend of hers who was in need of a bone marrow transplant to survive. They asked if we could possibly donate some pastries for the drive to provide to all who came for a cheek swab (to check and see if there was a match for her friend). We donated three dozen of Hannah’s morning pastries and displayed a flyer about the drive for three weeks in our window. Just last week we heard that the drive was successful–two donors were found, the transplant was a success and Kelly’s friend has fully recovered!

We are so grateful that we were able to spread the word and play a role in saving a life. Even if all we did was bake some pastries and publicize an event–it’s the little things that count! Thank you to all who frequent TASTE and help us give back to the community! If you made it down to the Bone Marrow Drive or saw the flyer, keep in mind how much impact one small gesture can have on a life!

Join TASTE on your favorite social networks! As of last week we’ve started Facebook Fridays and Twitter Tuesdays. Basically, every week you have the chance to win fresh TASTE treats online! Answer our question, RT our status or comment for a chance to get a tasty treat on us.

Not a follower or fan of TASTE? We’re on Facebook and @tastybuns on Twitter. Give us your feedback, check out what’s going on in the kitchen and enjoy free tastes!

Congratulations to Sharon Greene, Laurie L Ross and Tera Ray for winning our first Facebook Friday Chocolate Chip cookies! AND Congratulations to @nlawhead and @JohnFinn for winning Twitter Tuesdays Blackberry muffins.

images courtesy of ceoworld & beamups

We will be closed this weekend and next Monday in celebration of Labor Day!

Friday: Open 7a-4p

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: Back in the kitchen from 7-4!

If you are looking for a healthy amount of our Chocolate Chip Cookies, Oatmeal Scotchies or other tastes for the weekend, give us a call at 509.468.2929 and we’ll see if we can help make your Labor Day just a bit sweeter!

Fall is certainly on its way! Soon the season give way to a plethora of corporate functions, holiday parties and just about every excuse to enjoy food and company! That’s why TASTE is offering up our space for whatever party, function or gathering you might be planning. Let us know the date of your event and what kind of food and drink suits your palate and we will provide all event catering, waitstaff  and the space.

Our cafe seats 45-50 people and we can prepare a sit down dinner, appetizers, a casual buffet…whatever you please. We catered a surprise birthday party in the space a few months back that was a terrific hit! Ever since then we’ve been wondering why we haven’t hosted more events! The use of the space outside of business hours is completely free–all you pay for is the catered event! Let us become part of your next event! Delicious tastes included…

Inquire by calling us at the cafe: 509.468.2929

Going to the Cobra Polo Classic this Sunday? If so, enjoy some gourmet to go! This Saturday we will be tucking a delicious white out cookie into each swag bag–1,000 in all! Be sure to pick up a swag bag and enjoy a bit of dessert from TASTE!

Our white out cookies are quickly becoming a TASTE favorite…they are delicious! These over sized, gourmet cookies are filled with white chocolate chips, coconut and oatmeal. We can’t give any more hints away! You’ll just have to try them this weekend.

Delicate tea sandwiches and lemon bars and blondies were the stars of last weeks’ lunch for 100. We created beautiful, tea sandwiches as some light finger food! We had BLT, Egg Salad and Salmon Asparagus. The Salmon Asparagus is to die for!

Hannah also served moist, tangy lemon bars and our secret recipe toffee blondies for dessert!

If you’ve stuck to salads and soup at TASTE, remember to come and try out our sandwich selection. Nothing beats a delicious sandwich for lunch. We’ve got hot paninis, cold sandwiches and if you’re a fan of turkey, we roast it in house! Now, if you’ve got an event coming up, remember that we can do just about anything to suit your palate.

This week we decided to feature one of our newer, very popular salads. Taste the Golden Beet Salad. This yummy salad medley sells out each day it is in the case!

What makes our Golden Beet Salad so unique? We use fresh golden beets. They have a bright, sweet flavor that is milder than their red counterparts. To contrast the sweet beets we use Point Reyes Bleu Cheese in crumbles to add a bite and strong, creamy texture. On top of that we add edamame to give it that fresh green crunch. It’s topped with our TASTE Spicy Nuts and homemade balsamic vinaigrette. Even if you don’t typically love beets, give this salad a try. You won’t be disappointed!

Perfect Pound Cake

Image thanks to Food & Wine magazine

A great pound cake recipe is just the thing to have on hand for surprise house guests, picnics or a relaxing evening with a cup of tea and a thick slice. The beauty of the pound cake is that it is deliciously moist and welcomes new flavors and experimentation. So, here is a fantastic recipe, compliments of Jacqués Pepin’s mother.

Hannah likes to add lemon zest, orange zest or a little extra vanilla extract from Madagascar.  Although it isn’t a recipe that we make for the café regularly, it does make an exceptional pound cake. Enjoy with a light citrus glaze and fresh fruit during the summer or with a snowy powdered sugar topping for winter.

Ingredients

1. 2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2. 1 1/4 cups sugar
3. 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4. 1/4 teaspoon salt
5. 6 large eggs
6. 1/4 cup milk, at room temperature
7. 2 1/2 cups cake flour

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325°. Butter a 10-by-5-inch loaf pan. Line the bottom with a strip of parchment paper that extends 2 inches past the short ends of the pan.
2. In a bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the butter with the sugar, vanilla and salt at medium speed until fluffy, 3 minutes. Add the eggs, 2 at a time, beating between additions. Beat in the milk. Sift the flour over the batter and whisk it in until smooth. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface.
3. Bake the cake for 1 1/2 hours, until it is cracked down the center, golden on top, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then unmold the cake and let cool completely.

Brunch at TASTE Cafe & Gourmet To Go

Saturday & Sunday Starting at 9am

We’ve finally given in and will be starting weekend brunch! Here’s a taste of the brunch menu. Getting hungry already and it’s only Wednesday!

• Belgian Waffles with Grand Marnier Strawberries and Chantilly Cream
• TASTE Breakfast Two eggs any style, sauteed mushrooms, sliced tomatoes, sliced avocados, La Brea roll and your choice of bacon or sausage
• Biscuits and Gravy This week’s biscuit will be a Sharp Cheddar Sage
• Eggs Benedict an English muffin topped with ham, two poached eggs and hollandaise sauce
• Eggs Florentine an English muffin topped with spinach, two poached eggs and hollandaise sauce
• Mimosas champagne and fresh orange juice
• Kir Royale crème de cassis topped up with white wine

All brunch guests will receive a complimentary slice of homemade banana bread topped with cream cheese frosting!

Select breakfasts come with a choice of oven roasted potatoes, fruit or greens.

“Between soup and love, the first is better” –an old Spanish saying

At TASTE we love our soup. Everyday we have prepare piping hot kettles full…even in the summer! We wholeheartedly believe in having a “soup of the day”, or for that matter, soup everyday! Although we typically switch out our soups daily (we have two choices each day), on this post we’ve provided snapshot of all the soups we offer. All offerings aren’t available daily, so you’ll just have to come in or call to find out what we’ve got! Our soups are made with fresh, beautiful ingredients that leave your stomach and your soul happy!

SOUPS:

Broccoli Cheddar

Red Pepper Gouda

Mushroom Sage

Clam Chowder

Fresh Asparagus

Chicken Chili

Chicken Fajita

…yum!

Image courtesy of gfgastronaut.wordpress.com Cute, huh!

Lately we’ve gotten tons and tons of requests for gluten-free dishes and treats. Gluten-free dishes are completely free of ingredients derived from gluten-containing foods. Here is a handful of the foods to avoid on a gluten-free diet: wheat, barley, rye and some flavoring, stabilizing or thickening agents. Potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, corn, rice, quinoa and buckwheat are a handful of foods that might seem questionable, but are diet friendly!

At TASTE we create plenty of gluten-free, sugar-free and other diet specific tastes to order, but if you want instant gratification, look no further than the case! Here is a list of the gluten free treats and dishes you can find at TASTE:

Sweet

• Hannah’s Gluten-free Chocolate Cake
• Apple Cinnamon Cake (it’s also vegan and sugar-free)
• Flourless Chocolate Torte

Savory

(many of our salads are gluten free, so the TASTE Salad Sampler (trio of salads served on fresh greens) is a delicious option for lunch)

• Gourmet Nut and Cheese Loaf
• Golden Beet Salad
• Asian Chicken Salad
• Fresh Vegetable Salad
• Roasted Balsamic Vegetables
• Waldorf  Salad
• Fruit Salad
• Potato Salad with Dill
• Chicken Curry Salad

Last weekend we made three beautiful cakes–all Chocolate Mocha! It is certainly the flavor of the month! Our chocolate cakes are constructed with the very best ingredients and we use DOMA espresso in the frosting. YUM!

Two-Tiered Chocolate Mocha Baby Shower Cake:

Those are real baby booties on top! We also served tea sandwiches (Smoked Salmon-Asparagus, BLT, Egg Mayonaise), mini Pacific Northwest berry scones, and a medley of mini and regular sized german chocolate cupcakes with tags that read: “It’s a Boy!”

Two-Tiered Chocolate Mocha Birthday Cake for the owner of Bistango:

This was a fun and funky orange birthday cake We certainly had fun with fondant! Check out the fondant olive in the martini glass!

Three-Tiered Chocolate Mocha Martini inspired Cake:

Perfect martini themed cake for Kelsey’s 21st birthday!

We’ve been so blessed that many of you have called and taken advantage of our gourmet to go promise. Lately, we’ve gotten countless calls and sent out brown bag after brown bag of TASTE breakfasts and lunches for office meetings, corporate events and even fun “get togethers” between friends!

With the weather getting colder, we know that bowl of soup or hot sandwich sounds great to just about everyone in the office. Feel free to take orders and send along your requests to us! A fast food breakfast or lunch may sound tempting, but with a little pre-planning we can provide an array of healthy, filling options.

For breakfast munch on breakfast paninis, fresh muffins, pastries or yogurt parfaits. For lunch enjoy our soups, salads, and hot savory dishes. And if dessert is too tempting to pass up…we’ve got luscious cookies, cakes and mini cupcakes.

Please give us at least a four  hour head start (24 hours would be appreciated for larger orders over 12 people) to make sure we’ve got everything for your lunch and can get it all in the oven and prepared for pickup. Thanks for coming to TASTE Cafe & Gourmet TO GO!

This week we will celebrate our 4th TASTE brunch!

We will have our delicious brunch staples such as fluffy Belgium Waffles with whipped cream and Grand Marnier soaked strawberries, the Monte Cristo sandwich, our TASTE breakfast and of course…mimosas and kir royale. However this week, we’re introducing something new!

BRUNCH SPECIAL:

Smoked Gouda scramble with bell peppers and onion, accompanied by herbed greens and whole wheat toast. Bacon or sausage can be added $8.95

Enjoy!

One of our favorite ingredients for fall is the persimmon. They’re only available for a short time (about September to December) and look like bright orange tomatoes. The persimmon is great for baking as it’s soft, sweet and slightly tangy.  Persimmons lend themselves perfectly to cinnamon, spices and clove-y dishes–ideal for fall baking! We love persimmon pudding, persimmon spice cake and persimmon cookies. Watch out for these tastes in the case!

Persimmon image thanks to xuvn.com

TASTE is coming to Epicurean this year! It’ll be our first year at Epicurean and we are excited to be in the company of such great Spokane chefs. This year Hannah, Dawn and the rest of the team are creating a dessert for the event. We’ve been practicing for months to perfect it and the big day is coming up!

We’re creating a rustic dish that integrates local ingredients with our ties in the English countryside, Jane’s home. It’s a dish you’d typically enjoy in England with some touches from Spokane.

So, what is this rustic/English/Spokane-inspired dish that we are creating? Well, for now it is a secret! If you’re coming to Epicurean this Friday, come visit us and try a taste! Details and photos next week!

It was so great to be a part of this year’s Epicurean Delight! Hannah and Dawn worked so many long hours and did a wonderful job!

They made a Local Honey Cake with slow baked quince and clotted cream. It was made with the combination of Green bluff honey (after much deliberation and several cakes made from jars of honey from different farms)  and  our moist brown sugar sponge cake. The quince was oven baked with lemon and a touch of spices.  To top it all off–homemade and extremely decadent clotted cream…

The Honey Cake

The TASTE team

Our Gourmet Nut & Cheese Loaf

Thanksgiving is in a little over a week! We know that you all have been dreaming of dancing turkeys, buttery mashed potatoes and delicious pumpkin pies. Now, while vegetarians can enjoy the pie..and the potatoes, there is one thing that’s missing. The king of thanksgiving…the turkey! If you aren’t partial to tofurky, then try this dish that Jane and Hannah created a few year’s back as their delicious (and filling) substitute to the turkey.

The Gourmet Nut & Cheese Loaf is the hearty combination of brown rice, walnuts, cashews, butter, onions, mushrooms, parsley, thyme, marjoram, sage, garlic, cheddar and cottage cheese. It’s a favorite dish at the cafe and we take orders to go! If you’ve got vegetarians dining this Thanksgiving, try out our vegetarian main dish. The loaf serves 10 at $90.

AND if you’d like to some dessert help from some people that LOVE to bake, let us know what you’d like and we can have it ready next Wednesday. Everything from pumpkin pie to pumpkin cheesecake and mini pecan pie tarts, we’ve got you covered! Just sit back and enjoy the food!

We’ll be painting Pointsettas on Saturday, November 28th at 2pm at TASTE!

Local artist, Jane Gross will be turning as all into Monet for this one afternoon. Invite your family to come and wind down after Black Friday with some relaxing painting and delicious food and drink at TASTE Cafe.

Here is the beautiful painting we will be creating:

Hope to see you here!

Giant Red Velvet Holly Berry cupcake made by Hannah and Dawn

Can you taste it? Moist pumpkin bread filled with cinnamon spices, overflowing cups of chocolaty cocoa and decadent over-sized festive cupcakes at the cafe..the holidays are underway! This season is all about celebrating family, friends and of course, food.  Whether you’d like to host an event for close family, a group of friends or the entire office–we’d love to be a part of your holiday gathering! We offer our space along with a catered and fully staffed event. Seating is available for 40.

In fact we’ve recently catered an event in the cafe. Last Saturday we hosted a Christmas party for 30. We catered a wide array of appetizers including spanikopita, caprese bites, oven roasted potatoes, roasted balsamic veggies and asparagus wrapped in bacon. For dinner we had meat and vegetable lasagnas and salmon in a lemon butter wine sauce with roasted veggies. To cure our sweet tooth we finished with a snip bit of a choco lover’s heaven–mini chocolate cupcakes, our famous chocolate chip cookies and brownies. For non-chocoholics we had white out cookies and delicious oatmeal scotchies. It was a both a fun and delicious party!

For your upcoming event, we can serve whatever you’d like–anything from casual buffet style to drinks and hors d’oeuvres to an elegant dinner. Call us at TASTE 509.468.2929. The nights and weekends are booking up fast!

There’s nothing like sweets to put a smile on your face. That’s why we’d like you to think of TASTE for your Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa gifts! We’ve specially packaged bundles of our treats for easy giving–no need to gift wrap! It’s the perfect hostess gift for all those holiday parties this December.
We’re offering:
Banana Bread (loaf) $15
Cookie Samplers
12 dozen $24
6 dozen $12
Butter Toffee Blondies $12
Call TASTE to order. If you’ve got a friend with an affinity for chocolate we can make up a gift of our Chocolate Caramel cakes…maybe there is a carrot cake lover in your life, we can makeup a box of carrot cupcakes! Whatever your fancy, we aim to please. Give us at least 24 hours advance for your order.

No need to drive all the way to TASTE in the snow just to find out we’re closed! Here are our hours for the holidays so you can plan ahead:

Closed on December 24th at 3:00pm-27th in celebration of the Christmas Holiday. Open again on December 28th.

Closed on December 31st-January 3rd in celebration of the New Year’s Holiday. Open again on January 4th.

We will also be closed on Sundays for the duration of the winter, but brunch hours on Saturday have been extended to 8am-3pm and the full case of TASTE goodies is available.

We will still be taking orders for holiday events and New Year’s celebrations–just remember to contact us as soon as possible!

Thank you!

Five TASTE tips for warming yourself from head to toe.

Brrr! It’s cold and snowy out there. Here are some tips from our kitchen for keeping yourself warm.

1. DOMA coffee is simply the best. We have delicious seasonal drinks such as eggnog lattes and peppermint mochas and just about every hot drink you can think of…americanos, cappucinos, lattes, mochas, tea… Warm up your hands while sipping a nice cup of joe, either at the cafe or to go!

2. No wonder we eat soup when we are sick; it warms your stomach, soothes a sore throat and is just pure magic. Our new carrot ginger or heirloom squash soups are a great way to defrost.

3. Fresh cookies or brownies from the oven…even if they aren’t piping hot, chocolate seems to have it’s own magical warming properties. Maybe it will just warm your soul, but that should certainly count too!

4. Escape from the cold and enjoy the heat (and tastes) at the cafe. Although we will be closed during a few days during the holidays, you are more than welcome to come to the cafe and enjoy a breakfast or lunch in our toasty space.

5. Order TASTE savory dishes and reheat them for dinner. Nothing like a hot stove to warm the house (plus, none of the typical cleanup work of dinner)!

Due to popular demand we will now have a full case for Saturday brunch. After many sad faces in search of cookies were turned away, we’ve decided to bring the case back on Saturday. Now come and get all your usual tastes Monday through Saturday!

For those of you who haven’t been to brunch before, check out the TASTE Brunch Offerings:

BRUNCH MENU

Warm savory dished are served with oven roasted potatoes, herbed greens or fruit

Eggs Benedict $10.95

Two eggs poached with traditional ham on an English muffin topped with Hollandaise sauce

Eggs Florentine $10.95

Two eggs poached with steamed spinach and sliced tomato on an English muffin topped with Hollandaise sauce

Monte Cristo Sandwich $8.95

Ham and Swiss cheese sandwiched between two slices of thick egg bread, dipped in cinnamon egg batter and grilled to perfection

Huevos Racheros $10.95

Crisy corn tortillas topped with seasoned black beans, poached eggs, cojito, pico de gallo and avocado

Oatmeal $7.95

Served with warm milk and your choice of golden raisins, brandied cherries, toasted walnuts, brown sugar and freshly sliced bananas

Belgian Waffles $8.95

Served with Grand Marnier infused strawberries and Chantilly cream

TASTE breakfast $9.95

Two eggs, cooked to order with sliced tomatoes, avocado, sauteed mushrooms and whole wheat toast

Sides $3.00

Bacon

Fruit Salad

Whole wheat toast

2 Eggs

Roasted Potatoes

At TASTE we have several different kinds of diners. We have the cookie monsters, those patrons that come in every week to indulge in one or two of Hannah’s secret recipe cookies. There are the DOMA and a pastry variety, the patron who comes to TASTE for their morning pick me-up and a little something extra since the case is pretty irressitible. Our lunch crowd–a healthy mixture of soup lovers, those who can’t get enough of our taste salad sampler, those who love a hot Brian’s special panini and those who get a hankering for our pot pies and lasagna (they come to the cafe in hoards on a cold day).

So, here are our most popular tastes at TASTE. If you can’t decide what to eat–go for the these items, if there are left, that is!

Most Popular tastes

Pastry Twice Baked Almond Croissant

Specialty Coffee drink DOMA mocha made with Ghirardelli chocolate

Brunch Item Eggs Benedict

Cookie Signature Chocolate Chip

Cake Chocolate Ganache with caramel filling

Soup Roasted Red Pepper Gouda

Sandwich Brian’s Special, a bacon, tomato, avocado, pesto and mozzarella panini

Salad Asian Chicken

Savory dish Gruyere, Pecorino and Sharp Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese

TASTE was featured in Spokane Sizzle magazine!

Our review can be found in the Recent Openings section of Spokane Sizzle on page 15.

Check out what they said:

The mother-daughter duo of Jane Heber (owner) and Hannah Heber (head pastry chef) has transplated their passion for fresh and seasonal ingredients from their previous location in Laguna Beach to the heart of the Inland Northwest. At Taste Cafe & Gourmet To Go, they offer French croissants to English scones and tea cakes, to lunch favorites such as hot sausage rolls, fisherman’s pie and Cornish pasties. Taste is most definitely tasty. Located at 180 S. Howard St., come and taste what Taste truly is. (509) 468-2929

Thank you Spokane Sizzle!

Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love. Many people begin this day with roses and end with a romantic dinner. On the other hand, many people also begin this day in panic (the man who forgot…again) faced by an incredulous expression (the woman who thinks, he forgot…again!). They typically end this day with a heart shaped box of overpriced, terrible chocolate candies. 

In order to join the ranks of the former, rather than the latter, we’re here to provide some great suggestions and three weeks notice. 

TASTES that will make YOU BOTH SMILE:

-A medley of twice baked almond croissants, maple walnut scones and delectable morning pastries (served in bed on Valentine’s Day morning, of course)

-Chocolate Caramel Cake (the layers of caramel and ganache will make you fall in love all over again. this time with a cake!)

-Flourless Chocolate Torte (your gluten free, vegan partner will thank you endlessly for this chocolate lovers dessert.)

-Red Velvet cupcakes topped high with cream cheese frosting (red–the color of love and delicious cupcakes…)

Breakfast tastes should be paired with a mimosa. Chocolate tastes should be paired with a Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah or Port.  Red Velvet cupcakes or Carrot Cake might best be served with a Riesling. 

If you need help with finding your wine, just ask. We sell some fantastic wines by the bottle!

There you are…the key to instant Valentine’s Day success. Just don’t forget to buy flowers!

We recently learned that no one in town knows that we deliver! So, here’s our official statement. TASTE is on the go!

TASTE offers free delivery for orders over $25 to anywhere within 5 miles outside of downtown (If your order is larger, we may be able to include delivery for locations outside the 5 mile radius, just ask). 

The delivery charge for orders under $25 is $5. 

We appreciate 4 hours notice for orders and 24 hours for group orders of 12 people or more.

So, rally your co-workers and enjoy a delicious lunch delivered to your office. Take that stop by the “donut shop” off your list for busy mornings filled with meetings. We’re happy to provide healthy, tasty food for all!

Check out our menu, here*.

*Some of these items may not be available on a daily basis, but many are so feel free to ask.

TASTE is turning ONE on February 3, 2010. We can’t believe it’s been a year!

THANK YOU to all of our fans and friends. Your support and friendship have been invaluable this year.

To say “Thank You!” we will be giving away one FREE Signature Chocolate Chip Cookie with every lunch from 11am-3pm.

Enjoy!

The sandwich is one of the most perfected items of food. Delicious bread encompassing all tasty vegetables, meats, sauces…what could be better?! Our sandwiches are quite popular at TASTE with The TASTE Panini coming in at number one!

Here’s a look at the tasty sandwiches we’re offering:

All sandwiches are served with a cup of soup or a salad.

Cold Sandwiches

• Super Club Baguette- the lovely combination of turkey, mayo, bacon and tomato all sandwiched between a soft LaBrea baguette.
• “Taste” Tuna Salad Sandwich- tuna salad is a classic favorite served on wheat.
• Egg Salad Sandwich- a homemade egg salad between fluffy bread.
• Brie & Ham Sandwich- creamy brie and ham make this sandwich a wonderful comfort food.
• Salami Sandwich- beautiful artisan salami makes this a great rustic sandwich.

Panini

• Smoked Salmon- you can’t resist luxury of melt-in-your-mouth smoked salmon. a favorite for catered lunches.
• ‘Taste’ Tuna Salad- our yummy tuna salad with Gouda and tomato on Fontana herb and garlic bread.
• Pesto, Mozzarella and Tomato- a classic panini and a delicious vegetarian favorite. you certainly don’t miss the meat!
• Bacon, Tomato, Avocado, Pesto and Mozzarella (aka The TASTE Panini)- the most popular sandwich…and with right cause! The TASTE Panini combines some of the most delicious ingredients known to man!

Welcome March! We’ve introduced several delicious new salads including the famed Tuna Niçoise. This salad introduces  fresh poached tuna and lots of vegetables (green beans, halved grape tomatoes, olives, new potatoes) for a healthy lunch with great flavors. The Tuna Nicoise Salad was created in Nice, a city in southern France and this salad is just as bright and colorful as the city of its origin. Try it out on a sunny day with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc (or a day that you wish was sunny, it’ll come soon enough).

The mango is a delicious addition to any salad. The sweet, tangy firm fruit has the irresistibly refreshing character of summer. Mangos originated in India, so we’ve paired mango with a tasty curry dressing in one of our newest salads. We made it on Tuesday and by the middle of the day, it had been completely devoured!

So if you love mangoes, try out our NEW Curried Chicken Salad with mangoes! It’s a delicious combination of scallions, red onion, mangoes, oven roasted chicken breasts, cashews and cilantro in a creamy, yet zesty curry dressing. Enjoy on a day with blue skies in anticipation of the coming spring and summer months.

Golden Beet Salad

We just love catering, both at the cafe and away. We believe that food is best enjoyed with friends and family at the table. Nearly every chef began their career in the kitchen, preparing food for the family dinner or licking the whisk after mom popped cookies in the oven.  That’s why we hope to keep catering and putting food on the table, even if it’s not ours!

Last Friday we catered a full dinner for pick up. The wonderful host was having a gathering at her house and a warm, home cooked dinner was a must! We baked up our NEW Chicken and Artichoke Lasagna and tasty Shepherd’s Pie for the main course. On the side we packed up our Golden Beet Salad (a personal fave…golden beets, Point Reyes Bleu Cheese and toasty walnuts, what’s not to love?!) and TASTE House Salad. The group liked it so much, we were invited back for another dinner party on Sunday (she is quite the entertainer, no?). This time we added a platter of Red Velvet Cupcakes to the order…after all, we wholeheartedly believe that dessert is a must (whether it’s after dinner, lunch or even a lovely mid morning dessert.)

If you need a dinner to serve at your place or would like to serve it at ours, be sure to call us (509.468.2929). We’re happy to keep putting meals on the table!

an interview with Dawn, pastry chef and maker of adorable fondant creations

Q. What inspired you to become a pastry chef?

A. My first love is design (whether it is designing clothes, games or just my sister’s nails), but while I was at Spokane Community College I kind of fell into the Baking Program. Once I started, I was hooked…especially the cake part. I was able to use my knowledge from other design classes to help as well. It just sorta felt right. I can’t imagine doing anything else. Turns out the grandma I never knew did cake decorating as well, but I wasn’t told that until well into my third quarter of school. I like to think I have a natural talent for it.

Q. Where did you learn how to bake?

A. I would say my mom, but that’s not necessarily true. Sorry mom. I’m still barely allowed in the kitchen. Jeez, you catch brownies on fire once and no one trusts you anymore! Actually, Harry and Katie, my teachers from Spokane Community College, gave me the skills to do what I do in the kitchen.

Q. How long have you been baking/decorating/cooking?

A. Two years, but it’s been much longer if you count pizza!

Q. What is your specialty in the kitchen?

A. My specialty is decorating cakes. I create little edible fondant figurines that I think are pretty good.

Q. How would you define your baking/cake decorating style?

A. Oh I don’t know, quirky, I guess. But that’s also how I (and most others) define myself. I love working with fondant and making my ideas come out in cakes. I try to get it spot on what the customer wants and hopefully even make it better.

Q. Who is your baking idol?

A. I know this is sad, but I don’t have one. There are so many books and shows out there that I get captivated with them all. I even love going through the really old Wilton magazines.  I can find inspiration anywhere.

Q. What is your favorite of all those reality cooking shows or cooking tutorial shows?

A. I think my favorite are all the different cake challenges on the Food Network. When I was living at my uncle’s I had them all recorded on the DVR. I also like Ace of Cakes, but only watched that after I watched the challenges.

Q. What is your personal favorite of all your sweets at TASTE?

A. I haven’t found one thing that beats sitting down to a extra caramel latte and a twice baked croissant. It just hits the mark for me.

Q. Tell us about one of  your crowing achievements in the kitchen. What was it and why was it such an achievement?

A. Probably the Bistango cake. I know that sounds weird. But a friend of the owner of Bistango (a great little martini bar here in Spokane) ordered a cake for her birthday. She gave me a little bit of direction, ( a.k.a. the colors her friend liked)  but told me to be creative. So I did and it was a big hit. Its been ordered several more times in different colors.

Q. What’s your favorite savory dish at TASTE?

A. I’m not sure if I have a favorite favorite. But I usually will have a bowl of Red Pepper Gouda soup when we have it. Or the cheddar broccoli soup. Oh and I love a side of orzo pasta… or one of my sandwich creations. Hmm, now I’m hungry.

<insert snack break>

Q. What’s the most exciting thing about working at TASTE?

A. Oh, that’s easy… finishing a cake and seeing the customers face light up and say, “That’s perfect!”

Some photos of Dawn’s creations:

I made this birthday cake for myself and my dad. It was TASTE’s birthday present to me. I hand painted the Monarch butterflies I was/am so proud of this cake.

I found Nemo! And just in time to welcome his biggest fan grace home from her first stay at overnight camp.

Say cheese! This is the back of my camera cake for a local and famous photographer here in Spokane.

Six-year-old Jamie wanted a scary zombie cake. Grr argh.

Those Red d’Anjou pears with their beautiful crimson skin and wonderful juiciness have made their way into the TASTE kitchen…and we’re purchasing them by the case!  Come in and enjoy Hannah’s flaky and delectable Red d’Anjou pear tarts. The pear tarts are puff pastry squares with our almond cream topped with sliced Red d’Anjou and just a sprinkle of sugar.  When they come out of the oven they are brushed with warm apricot glaze to seal in the pear and give them a little shine.

P.S. They’re in the case today!

Today we are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day!

Dawn has prepared a bunch of mini chocolate cupcakes topped high with Bailey’s cream cheese icing and a shamrock for the celebration.

Here are some TASTE tips for celebrating St. Patty’s:

1.  Wear green!

2.  Eat green! Maybe some of our Fresh Vegetable Salad, our TASTE panini (with GREEN pesto) or the Asian Chicken Salad Wrap (crunchy GREEN asparagus.)

3. Find yourself a lucky shamrock. P.S. It still counts if your shamrock is atop a mini chocolate cupcake!

Many of the dishes we serve at TASTE have some kind of story behind them. When you make something over and over and eat it over and over, you’re bound to form some memories! One my oldest memories is of Cauliflower Cheese. As a little girl I would come home from school on a cold, wet day to a piping hot plate of my mum’s Cauliflower Cheese. If you’ve tried the dish, you certainly would agree, there’s nothing like Cauliflower Cheese to warm up a cold day! If you’re in need of a warm up, some comfort food or just a delicious lunch, give our Cauliflower Cheese Bake a try! It’s $5 a portion for fresh cauliflower baked in the oven with Gruyere and White Cheddar cheese and topped with tomatoes.

-Jane

The Lenten season will soon be over and you all deserve a great, big Easter brunch to celebrate the fact that you made it 40 days without chocolate, video games, or whatever vice you decided to relinquish for  a few months. This is cause for a foodie celebration!

Here are our TASTE TIPS for a festive, fun Easter brunch!

1. Decorate your table with unobtrusive touches of pastel. We loved Martha Stewart’s cute eggshell bouquets. Make little name place cards for each of your guests as it is a special occasion.

2. Plan out a full menu and let TASTE help!

Here’s our suggestion:

Champagne Mimosas

Ham, Mushroom and Cheddar Frittata from TASTE

Baked Ham or Poached Salmon

Fruit with Mint and Honey Salad from TASTE

Orzo with Lemon, Mint and Feta salad or Fresh Vegetable Salad from TASTE

Twice Baked Almond Croissants or Maple Walnut Scones from TASTE

We could provide nearly all of your brunch necessities–all  you need to do is bake the ham or poach the salmon ahead of time, mix the drinks and heat the frittata (325 for 15 minutes or until heated through).

3. Create a fun and clever Easter basket hunt. Rather than leaving out the Easter basket, plant clues encased in plastic Easter eggs around the house. The last clue should lead them to their beloved basket!

4. Order your desserts! Instead of baking another bunny shaped cake with coconut frosting, let us make and decorate your sweets for you. It will give you some much needed time to hide Easter eggs and prepare the baskets! We could make you assorted cupcakes topped with pastel-tinged frosting, our delicious (and Hannah’s favorite) Carrot Cake topped with edible fondant bunnies  or maybe just a tray of simple, sophisticated Lemon Tarts.

5. Enjoy those sweets over board games or if the sunshine stays put, enjoy them after a nice walk in Manito Park or after a rousing game of Frisbee.

Happy Easter Planning!

Check out our new TASTE To Go Menu! We are providing an abbreviated menu for your breakfast and lunching pleasures. Just call, fax or e-mail your order and we will have it available for pick up or delivery. Feel free to check it out on the Facebook tab or if you’d like to keep one at your office, just ask us for one next time you come to TASTE! We will also be delivering them around town. If you’d like us to deliver somewhere in particular, let us know on Facebook or Twitter!

Sandwiches
All our sandwiches come with a side salad of field greens, shaved asparagus, gorgonzola crumbles and TASTE spicy walnuts OR  a cup of soup

• Super Club Baguette- oven roasted turkey breast, mayo, crispy bacon, greens and tomato $ 8.50
• Brie & Ham Baguette- French brie and ham, served with lettuce, tomato and spicy apricot mustard $ 8.50
• Salami Baguette- Salami, lettuce, tomato and mayo $ 7.95
• Toasted Ham & Cheese Baguette- gourmet smoked ham & Mozzarella cheese $ 8.50
• TASTE Tuna Sandwich-Albacore tuna with carrots, red onions, green onions, celery, lemon juice, mayo and Italian flat leaf parsley, served on whole wheat bread $ 8.50
• Egg Salad Sandwich- eggs, mayo, capers, celery and stone-ground mustard, served on whole wheat bread $ 7.95
• Garden Veggie- hummus, shredded carrots, chopped olives, feta, tomatoes, cucumber and avocado on whole wheat bread$ 7.95
• Asian Chicken Wrap- oven baked chicken, red and yellow peppers, green onions and sesame seeds in an Asian peanut sauce. Served in a spinach wrap, with a side of TASTE house salad $ 8.50

Panini
Served on Fontana bread, accompanied by a TASTE side salad of field greens, shaved asparagus, gorgonzola crumbles and TASTE spicy walnuts OR a cup of soup

• Smoked Salmon- cream cheese, tomato, red onion and capers $ 9.25
• TASTE Tuna Salad Melt- Albacore tuna , Gouda and tomato $ 8.50
• Pesto Panini- mozzarella, tomato and pesto$ 8.50
• Bacon Pesto Panini- bacon, tomato, avocado, mozzarella and pesto$ 8.95

Salad Trios $ 9.50
Served on a bed of field greens, with a La Brea rustique roll and butter
OR – choose 2 salads and a cup of soup

• Pasta, Pesto and Pea
• Chicken with Tabouli
• Asian Chicken
• Curried Chicken with Mangoes
• Potato and Dill
• Fresh Fruit Salad
• Tuna Salad
• Wheat Berries with fresh herbs and dried cranberries
• Orzo with lemon, mint and Feta
• Oven Roasted Veggies served with a balsamic dressing

Soups

• Red Pepper Gouda Cup $4.00 Bowl $6.95
• Clam Chowder Cup $4.00 Bowl $6.95

Call for other seasonal daily choices

Sides

• Signature Chocolate Chip Cookies $ 2.25
• Oatmeal Scotchies $ 2.25
• Whiteout Cookies $ 2.25
• Peanut Butter with Chocolate Chunk $ 2.25
• Biscotti $ 2.00
• Tim’s Original Potato Chips $ 0.99

Beverages

• Soft drinks
• Coffee
• Tea

One rule must always be upheld: Mom is not allowed to do any cooking on Mother’s Day! Moms spend an incredible part of their lives in the kitchen feeding the family, but on May 9th they should be banned from the kitchen and resort to a day of facials, manicures and massages.

Although we’re closed on Sundays, let TASTE make Mom breakfast on Mother’s Day.

Sweet tastes for a sweet mum:

Chocolate Croissants 3.00- Decadence tastes like a chocolate croissant.

Sausage Rolls 3.50- Stuffed with sausage in a puff pastry with sage and Dijon mustard, these adorable rolls will make the ideal complement to a Mother’s Day mimosa.

Lemon Tea Cake 2.00-Moist, lemony and light as air, Sundays aren’t the same without a piece of Lemon Tea Cake.

Brown Sugar Pound Cake 2.25- The homemade caramel and toasted walnuts are sure to make her swoon.

You might even take her out before the big day, join us for Saturday Brunch! Our Belgian waffles with Grand Marnier Infused Strawberries and Chantilly Cream are delectable!

For special orders, give us a call at 509.468.2929.

Getting ready for a presentation or exam? Here’s a list of the very best brain food at TASTE:

Frittata 4.50- The combination of eggs high in B Vitamins, protein full ham and fresh nutrient rich veggies makes the frittata a star.

Green tea- We’ve got some delicious teas, including a wonderful green tea. Research suggests that the polyphenols in green tea can boost your mood. A positive attitude is an essential start to a successful day!

Smoked Salmon Panini 9.25 or the Wasabi Wild Salmon with Rice salad- The Omega 3 fatty acids in salmon improve brain function. Not to mention the fact that the combination of smoked salmon, cream cheese, tomato, red onion and capers makes a tasty lunch!

Fresh Fruit Salad or Fresh Fruit Yogurt Parfait- The antioxidants in fresh berries boost brain power.

So, if you need food for thought, try our tastes!

Since TASTE is, of course, a mother-daughter operation, we thought we’d share their favorite mother-daughter tastes for Mother’s Day!

Jane:

What’s your favorite of Hannah’s pastries?

My favorite is the Maple Walnut Scone. Hannah uses a special all natural maple syrup that we special order, toasts the walnuts and adds a drizzle of maple icing on top. It’s the details that give the scones the perfect bite. She took a long time to perfect these scones and they are my absolute favorite. Sometimes I’ll put out samples of the Maple Walnut Scones for customers. I like to introduce these to our customers because they’re my favorite, but I also like to snag a little sample myself!

Hannah:

What’s your favorite savory dish that your mom makes?

Gourmet Cheese and Nut Loaf. I used to make it every year for family Thanksgiving with mushroom gravy as a vegetarian option. It was a huge hit. She tweaked a few things and added it to our menu and we could tell that we aren’t the only ones who love it! It is great and so versatile. You can eat it in so many different ways! Aside from the Thanksgiving version, it is great on a salad, with fresh marinara, sauteed with a balsamic reduction or just heated in the oven and paired with a house salad and a roll, like we serve it at TASTE. I LOVE Cheese and Nut Loaf!

Come join us at TASTE for our June 3rd “Thank You” customer appreciation event!

We will also be participating in the Worldwide Tasting of Washington Wine with glasses for $6:

-Barili Cellars Viognier

-Kyra Pinot Noir

-Robert Karl Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

-Barili Cellars Viognier

-Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay

Hope to see you here!

This Sunday, June 6th, 2010 from 5-8:30pm we’ll be joining wineries and restaurants at The Davenport Hotel for an evening of food and drink! In the meantime, Hannah is perfecting her dessert…definitely something you don’t want to miss!

CHOCOLATE POT DE CREME

MARSHMALLOW

GRAHAM COOKIE

It’s a play off of smores with decadent chocolate, homemade marshmallow cream and homemade graham crackers. Yum!

So, grab a nice port or a rich red and stop by to visit us! We look forward to seeing and feeding you!

Photo from Flickr

If you stop by TASTE on Friday you’ll notice a special treat in the case: brownies! After the long week most people need one of two things: chocolate or wine (usually both)! So, we’ve decided to make brownies every Friday for just that reason. Hannah’s brownies are, if we can say so, utterly amazing! She uses rich Guittard artisan chocolate and a few teaspoons of heaven to make the perfect, moist brownie.

A must taste for chocolate lovers! Hope to see you here for Brownie Fridays! They go fast!

Disclaimer: By entering the contest, all participants give TASTE permission to use his/her submission content, including videos, photos or any other creative work.

Spread the news! Taste Cafe will be closed for staff vacation starting Saturday, July 30th and will re-open Monday, August 15th.

In case of any Taste withdrawals, plan ahead! We will be accepting phone orders for the week of August 15th onwards. Please call and leave a message, and we will be happy to confirm your order by Friday, August 12th or Saturday, August 13th.

Thank you for your business, we will see you soon!

Jane & Hannah

Tel: 509 468 2929

Fax: 509 315 5300

Even though Gluten-Free does not limit itself to pastries, every so often we humbly surprise ourselves with those one of a kind “modified” recipes. They give us a proud moment to stop and think, until the oven timer goes off and we have to get back to the kitchen fun!

We have been in the search of the perfect Gluten-Free muffin recipe since we opened our doors. Our requirements were hearty but not earthy, sweet but not sugary and healthy but not plain. After a two year self-imposed kitchen test, we are finally there! We’ve added diced Washington apples, fresh pineapple chunks, shaved coconut and shredded carrots. The secret ingredient? Our obsession with good taste, no pun intended. Even though we admit we will most likely continue to modify the recipe, we can only assure you that it will only get better.

So here it is, we are happy to introduce our Taste Gluten-Free Healthy Harvest Muffin, the little muffin that could!

Give your taste buds a wakeup call with TASTE Café’s new $4.95 breakfast deal! It includes the new TASTE Breakfast Sandwich and an 8 oz cup of Doma Coffee for only $4.95. Each breakfast sandwich is prepared on a sandwich-sized English Muffin with peppered ham, fried egg, tomato and cheddar cheese. For vegetarians, order the breakfast sandwich with fresh tomato, fried egg and cheddar cheese.

Breakfast is the first chance the body has to refuel its blood glucose levels,  also known as blood sugar, after eight to 12 hours without a meal or snack. Glucose is essential for the brain and is the main energy source and also helps fuel the muscles needed for physical activity throughout the day.

The sandwich will be available every Monday thru Friday from 7 am to Noon, and will also be available all day Saturday. TASTE opens at 7am so don’t skip out on breakfast anymore and wake up with our hot, delicious signature breakfast sandwiches, muffins, scones, frittata, panini or fresh fruit!