It doesn't sound like something entirely mindblowing, but the Grocery Outlet might be one of the more interesting grocery stores in Spokane. Sure, it's not a boutique, and it's not what one would call "fancy" looking, or even "inviting," but you really don't want to judge this book by its cover.
This is, as the name suggests, an outlet store for groceries. Exactly how they get their hands on items that don't sell elsewhere I don't know, but for whatever reason they seem to come from all over the country. Thus you can find grocery items not seen anywhere else in town, which is kind of awesome.
We're not talking crap here either. Sure, this isn't where you'd get your meats and produce, but there are plenty of organic boxed and canned and bagged items. Interested in crazy types of ice cream, soups, beans, or chips? Grocery Outlet is like a treasure chest of all kinds of funky groceries.
There's even a (recently expanded) wine selection here, and you're bound to find something you thought was gone forever at a discounted price.
Finally. The owners. Franchised as the Grocery Outlet is, these are still local people running their own little business.
I say go there and support them -- they deserve it.
We rarely post straight press releases here, but as we keep hearing great things about Full Circle's farm-to-table services and seeing how it's Friday... Well, why not?
Full Circle Expands Its Service to Spokane
Pioneering Farm-to-Table Food Company Broadens Washington Reach Bringing Organic Produce and Artisan Goods to Spokane Consumers
CARNATION, WA (March 10, 2011) -- Full Circle, a regional organic farm and leading organic produce and artisan food provider, today announced it is expanding its service to include Spokane. Full Circle will bring fresh, organic produce and artisan goods to convenient pick-up locations throughout Spokane.
We are excited to expand our business and provide nutritious food to more people throughout the Northwest, said Andrew Stout, Full Circle's founder and owner. Communities in Spokane will now have fresh, organic produce delivered to their neighborhoods with the added convenience of customizing each box to their specific needs and directly connecting them to the people who grow their food.
Full Circle subscribers in Spokane can schedule weekly or bi-weekly deliveries of Farm-to-Table boxes to one of 11 different pick-up sites close to home or work. Through the Full Circle website customers are provided with a selection of fresh produce items that they can accept as is, or customize to their specific preferences. Additionally, customers can add organic and artisan grocery items from local partners such as The Essential Baking Company, Mt. Townsend Creamery, Fresh Breeze Dairy, Quillisascut Cheese Company, Theo Chocolate Company, Grounds for Change (coffee), Choice Organic Teas, Blue Bird Grains and Moon Valley Honey.
Our farm boxes provide a wider selection of organic produce and artisan goods, offer the option to fully customize your box, and bring farm-to-table values directly to your neighborhood year-round, stated Stout.
Full Circle celebrates the many ways to live the good food life and believes in the value of nurturing both the land and the community, as both are essential in cultivating a healthy food system. Currently, Full Circle cultivates over 50 crops and 200 varieties of produce on 400 acres in the picturesque Snoqualmie Valley. Rooted in the importance of growing organically, both its crops and community have enabled the company to explore unique avenues in providing robust Farm-to-Table boxes to customers throughout Washington and Alaska year-round.
About Full Circle Farms
Established in 1996 by Andrew Stout and Wendy Munroe, Full Circle is a fast-growing Pacific Northwest company and national leader of the good food movement. Full Circle provides healthy and organically grown food -- including growing more than 200 varieties of certified organic, fruits, vegetables and herbs -- to a broad base of retail and commercial customers throughout Western Washington and across Alaska. For information visit: www.fullcirclefarm.com
Sometimes we get some glowing recommendations e-mailed to us. This is something we like, of course, though sometimes the reason we haven't mentioned the spot is that it... Well... Sucks. And we don't want to go back. Other times we learn about spots we really don't know, like, in this instance, Greek Street.
Now this e-mail was very complimentary about them. We're talking national anthem playing in the background and fireworks going off type positive. So we were enthralled. We're only human after all.
Luckily, Greek Street is good. Spokane has kind of an odd take-out mentality, and most spots centered around to-go food tend to be all about pizza or fast food. Greek Street might also largely be about pizza, but it's the "more" part that really sets them apart. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
The pizza here is excellent and a bit different than what we often see in these parts. The crust comes out fluffy, soft and thick, with just a bit of crisp to the outside. It's not Italian pizzeria thin crust, nor is it American thick crust. This is more of a type fairly common through many European countries, probably originally based on (then modified from) the Roman street pizzas. Apparently Greek immigrants often bake this kind of pizza in a pan, though I'm not sure if that is the case at Greek Street. Anyway, you get the point: The crust is good.
The toppings have a nice fresh taste to them, and while it's a pretty cheesy pizza, it's not like the cheese overpowers the other flavors. Overall, this is an excellent pie, better than most other carry-out spots around town, and it alone is worth the trek to Indian Trail (or to the Coeur d'Alene spot).
Yet what makes Greek Street truly stand out is the range of other dishes they offer. Many pizza places serve food other than their pizza -- like god awful wings -- but Greek Street goes the extra mile here. Their pasticcio, a baked Greek pasta dish, comes recommended. Granted, I doubt the rigatoni was made in-house, and it is far from the best noodles I've had, but the seasoned meats are quite tasty. Plenty flavorful, particularly with the bechamel sauce. This isn't Italia Trattoria quality, but let's grade on a scale here. If someone wants a pizza and someone wants pasta for take-out, then Greek Street is a step above the rest.
A French Country Salad also comes with passing marks. Not necessarily outstanding, but the balsamic dressing is excellent, as is the combination of caramelized nuts, goat cheese, and beets.
In the end, Greek Street delivers Greek food like we've had in Greece. The fact that it incorporates other types of Mediterranean cuisine is just, well, a Mediterranean thing to do, and we approve of it. The pizza here is excellent, and the "more" holds a good quality as a supporting cast.
If you live in the area there's also a delivery service available. You can sit down at one of their few tables too, though I'm guessing there are going to be fights over those. (They were all taken during our visit.)
Bennidito's might be close by, but we'd go with the more interesting Greek Street for take-out ourselves. The pizza is better, and there's a larger selection of other interesting dishes to choose from too.
Sometimes we cook, and when we do, we like to use the Vitamix. The following recipe is the best chicken salad you'll ever have with the least amount of work you could imagine. Seriously. Put this on a nice piece of bread or be a pig and spoon it into your mouth. It's all good, and we won't judge.
Ingredients
1/2 cup mayonnaise (non-fat if you're all about being healthy)
1 cup chicken, cooked and cubed
1/4 cup chopped sweet green bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 pimento
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
The utterly simple preparation
Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
Select Variable 1.
Turn machine on and quickly increase speed to Variable 3 or 4.
Blend for 15-20 seconds or until mixed. You may need to stop the machine and run a spatula around the inside of the container to integrate ingredients. Do not over mix.
I mean, it doesn't get simpler.
The real beauty is that you can make this one as spicy as you'd like too. A couple of drops of Dave's Insanity in there, and you got yourself a party going.
