When we started planning #SpoBREW2 this year, we decided to start planning a bit earlier than we did last year. You know, just so we'd actually have a location and stuff.
And as luck will have it, The Porch has graciously opened its doors for us again. Which is awesome. Those who participated in #SpoBREW will of course remember how much a great space adds to contests like this, and it's pretty awesome we can repeat the event here. That The Porch's Dave and company are pretty much the nicest people on earth makes it all even better. We'll have more information about the space -- and The Porch -- as August 25th draws closer.
Our favorite pizza "spot", Veraci, has tentatively agreed to return to make some pies again. That's right, only the best for you. Not much more to say about them, really, as we know you already hit them up at South Perry Farmers's Market on Thursdays, and Libery Lake Farmers's Market on Saturdays. Veraci once a week isn't just good for you, it pretty much the pizza equivalent of entering nirvana.
A new, local brewery has expressed some interest in showing up for #SpoBREW2. We'll have more information about that if it pans out, as we hope it will.
Now and again we feel we should mention a Sam Adams ale. Why? Mostly because we feel they don't really deserve all the crap they get. OK, so most of their beer is pretty average. But average beer is better than many, and sometimes, just sometimes, average has a place.
Sam Adams's Summer Ale, for example, might not be something to write long, loving poems about, but it's pretty solid. It's a perfect sipper on a warm summer evening, which allegedly might happen sometime this year.
The beer pours a cloudy yellow, with just a bit of head and lacing. Sniff, and the wheat and lemon hit straight up and... Well, that's about it. As a 5.3% ABV session beer it's hard to expect much more.
The flavor follows the nose pretty much straight out. There is a vague hint of vanilla and pepper in there, and, really, this might not be your thing if sweeter wheat ales aren't your thing. That's pretty much all it is, but it's executed well, and the mouthfeel is surprisingly decent. The body isn't exactly a heavy weighter, but it's fuller than I had expected, right on the medium level.
In that sense this isn't a beer to age in the cellar (literally don't, as it'll go bad). It's a fridge beer, the type you buy when the six pack is on sale, and that's fine. The overall vision for Summer Ale might not have been one that was too ambitious, but there's little reason to complain as long as the execution is good. And, frankly, Summer Ale is well executed.
It's been a while since we've visited Tumbras, which can be viewed as both good and bad. Good, because it means we have more quality Mexican restaurants to choose from; bad, because Tumbras still is one of Spokane's best Mexican restaurant, and we should not forget that.
The spot is always nigh empty during our visits -- it's hard to get past the awkwarness of the location -- and there's always a possibility some might be scared away by the locale's dark, hole in the wall atmosphere. That's too bad, if that's indeed the case, as Tumbras is always friendly.
The food, more importantly, is stellar.
We sampled the quesadilla Mexciana during our last visit. Really, try this if you think a quesadilla is merely a quesadilla. This more "authentic" take on it involves a fried tortilla, plenty of Quaxaca cheese, and a quite tasty mushroom filling. It's big, and it's very, very filling. And even more tasty.
The carnitas plate is equally big, equally filling, and equally tasty. The pork is well prepared, tender and flavorful, and served with what might be the best refried beans in town. The plate is probably enough to feed two people, so plan accordingly.
Tumbra's menu is big, and there are plenty of highlights to choose from. A simple taco, for example, comes at a cheap price, and is always good.
Really, you probably already know all of this. You did name Tumbras Best Cheap/Casual Eats of 2011. Consider this a reminder in case you've been busy elsewhere. Tumbras is great. It's time to relive their glory.
Original October 26th, 2009 review
If you can get past the less than desirable location on 2nd and Cedar, it is, if nothing else, good to have an awesome sit-down Mexican restaurant downtown. Sure, De Leon is probably better, but it closes early. But other than that? You’d have to be allergic to flavor if you consider Atilano’s good, and that’s pretty much where the buck stops downtown. New ownership has since made Atilano's quit awesome.
Tacos Tumbras is, of course, the Tacos Tumbras you have come to know and love in its truck and Valley forms. They serve up classic tacos ($1.50) and tortas alongside some off the beaten path Mexican dishes, like the huarache, which really all should be devoured with what might be the best horchata in town.
The problem, of course, is that Tumbras is located at the worst possible spot for foot traffic downtown. I mean, 2nd? The majority of the foot traffic to Browne’s seems to be on Riverside. And this location used to belong to Cruiser’s, a bar which had, shall we say, a certain reputation.
In other words, while downtown Spokane might not be the largest place on earth, you might have to move slightly out of your ordinary pattern to find and enjoy Tumbras. And it is well worth it, as this is one of the best Mexican establishments in town.
Sometimes a spot opens that just gets it. Everything just kind of clicks -- the quality of the products they peddle, the locale, the staff... It all comes together.
Coeur Coffee is a perfect example of it. If it is enough for the spot to succeed remains to be seen, but Coeur is, at least in our minds, the most important coffee spot to open in Spokane in recent memory. This is the type of spot run by coffee nerds -- including our favorite barista of 2011, the Keaton Violet -- yet that somewhat amazingly manages to maintain a friendly atmosphere. Coffee snobs often have a... reputation.
You can get coffee prepared pretty much any which way you can imagine. Various types of espresso drinks are available -- both the macchiatos and the cappuccinos are really quite excellent -- but also Chemex, French press, and so on and so forth. The Chemex is worth trying if you haven't had the pleasure of sampling it before. You might think black coffee is black coffee, but the Chemex process really does something to the depth of the flavor and, needless to say, Coeur does it properly.
It's early in the game still, but we can with some certainty say Coeur has had the start we had hoped it would have, having gone through too many cups of coffee there weekend, Every cup has been stellar. That they have gone with Stumptown's beans might be somewhat of a controversial choice for those who pick local options to a fault, but, frankly, outside of DOMA we can't really think of any local roasters reaching Stumptown's quality. Variety is good. Embrace it.
Finally, a special mention should also go to the actual space Coeur is occupying. With calming, neutral colors, contrasted by wood, this is a great space to sit for a bit, and enjoy a cup of coffee. Not that bringing your KeepCup is a bad option, but really... When you drink a great cup of coffee, you should really sit down and drink it from an actual great cup. Plus they'll be offering toast soon. Toast! Who doesn't love toast?
Coeur's got it, and we love them for that. This should become the coffee destination in Spokane if there's any fairness in the world. They're currently open from 5am to 6pm, seven days a week. (I know, right?!) Stop by and enjoy some excellent coffee unless you want the terrorists to win.
