Make your own list of Inland NW dining gems

Time to paraphrase The Slice, which annually, when you might expect to encounter visitors from out of town, wonders how you would describe Spokane – in various ways – to those visitors.

Our entry to the discussion: If a visitor stopped you to ask for a great local place to eat, how would you answer?

One of us was on the questioning end last month while stopped at a red light in Maryland. That ended up with a good laugh as the light turned green because the answer we got was, “I’m not a good one to ask – my favorite place is Olive Garden. I love the endless salad.”

We continued our search.

Of course, that led to one of those Dave and Dan discussions, although it was decidedly one-sided at the time because I (Dave) was the one on vacation. But the adventures of the vacation were recounted as we shared a refreshing bottle of white wine.

It’s a perfect time to consider that question as tourist season is upon us.

Not only did we wonder how we would respond to a visitor, we wondered how many of our readers insist on eating at local spots when traveling. That is what we do, although we understand the ease of hitting the chain spot near interstate exits and motels. Sometimes the need for human fuel, especially when traveling with children, trumps exploring.

Back to that search in Maryland.

Just past the stoplight encounter there was a sign at a strip mall for a bistro, but the menu on the window made it look like something in a mall food court. Next door we got choices from the guy behind the counter at the auto parts store. He queried his co-workers, who drew maps.

We picked a nearby place called Lenny’s. After we asked the waitress for a shortcut toward our next destination, we ended up with the owner sitting at our booth. We learned that he was third-generation owner and he thought there was a good chance that my dad ate there back in 1953.

Lunch that day wasn’t extraordinary, but it was fun (and the shortcut was perfect). On the way out, we took a picture of the old sign and sent it to Dad. He didn’t remember the name, which back then was Lone Pine, but his story led us to believe the young sailor very well could have taken my mom there to celebrate their first pregnancy.

In Virginia, our inquisitive nature led us to a wonderful soul food restaurant in Richmond and a great burger in Charlottesville, which we learned has become a food mecca – a great thing unless you’re starving and everything sounds good.

Then there was a stop in Appomattox, where the history is fascinating, the waitress had a honeysuckle voice and the lunch special – pork loin, mashed potatoes, green beans and rolls – was a whopping $5.50.

It seemed like food places outnumber politicians in Washington, D.C. We ate with friends, following their suggestions for Italian and Mexican. Both were outstanding meals, even though we learned they were East Coast chains. At that point our eat local rule was amended to include, “or if you see a chain that we don’t have back home but looks interesting …”

Which brings us back home.

When I proposed the question to Coyle, his first response was: I’d ask what kind of food they wanted, then I’d ask what they wanted to spend.

But we knew the question was probably a search to know what our area is known for and where to find it, like the crab cakes we sought our first night in Annapolis, Maryland.

Despite all the outstanding cuisine in our area, we weren’t really sure what would define the Northwest other than salmon and trout or buffalo and elk.

In fact, we decided those four dishes provide a good way to start the discussion. Then we thought another thing our area has in abundance is beauty, which was reinforced by a recent hour on Anthony’s patio. There are plenty of other places to recommend, from Lake Coeur d’Alene, to the Spokane River to various spots nestled among the trees.

It took us the better part of an hour (and a bottle of red) to make a list that included various ethnic dishes, a price range and location. And then there are the places unique to us – the Davenport and Coeur d’Alene Resort, Dick’s, Hudson’s, the stromboli at Burger Royale.

We know an encounter with visitors wouldn’t give us an hour to come up with an answer. Another key is where you are when you meet the visitor, north or south, downtown or near an interstate exit.

So we did come up with a thought for our readers: Treat yourself at your favorite place, consider all of the other wonderful places to dine, and make a list. That will help because when you’re put on the spot, you don’t want to whiff, like we so often do when we’re trying to recall that great joke that Uncle Bob told us just a few days ago.

Paul Turner would be proud.