Powder, Poppers and Pour Over: A Tasty Guide to Pend Oreille
Nestled in the Selkirk Mountains overlooking majestic Lake Pend Oreille, Schweitzer Mountain Resort is the largest and most widely known ski destination in North Idaho. A weekend at Schweitzer is a blur of activity; the resort offers some of the choicest skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding and backcountry opportunities. All that action requires some hearty fuel. Here are a few gems to enjoy around Sandpoint before and after hitting the slopes.
A Good Cup
Rick and Randy Evans, of Evans Brothers Coffee in Sandpoint, dreamed of roasting top-notch coffee while riding the chair lifts and skiing the slopes at Schweitzer Mountain. They’ve been roasting and pouring excellent brews since 2009 and are now the official coffee of the resort. You can grab Evans Brothers espresso at the Mojo Coyote Café in the resort’s Selkirk Lodge, or visit their Café in Sandpoint’s historic Granary Arts District, where the brothers can often be found pulling shots and serving pour-over coffee behind the bar.
Breaking Fast
For some, coffee for breakfast is enough. For others, DiLuna’s Bistro is the place to feast on a hearty North Idaho breakfast. Their comprehensive menu highlights local ingredients and their house-baked biscuits melt in your mouth. Try the Benedicts—available in traditional ham, veggie, smoked salmon, crab cake or country-style, which features a split biscuit topped with sausage, scrambled eggs and homemade sausage gravy. There are also plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, including huevos rancheros with black beans and veggie hash.
Craving some lighter sustenance to start your day? Head to the new juicery in town, Tierra Madre Café (now closed), which works with local farmers and producers. The café offers fresh juices and smoothies in Mason jars, for drinking in or taking out (with a $1 refundable deposit). The vibrant verdure of the Lotus Juice (apple, kale, lemon and ginger) is a simple, tasty energy boost.
The Midday Meal
If you are loath to leave the slopes in the middle of the day, the resort’s Gourmandie offers a quick, filling meal. After a recent kitchen remodel, this epicurean spot has expanded its menu beyond its celebrated meat and cheese platters to include salads, sandwiches, flatbreads and even more craft and regional wine and beer offerings. “We are going lots of new places,” says Manager Kelly Kennedy. “This is just the beginning.” In Sandpoint, local cash-only favorite Joel’s Mexican Restaurant serves up some mean fish tacos along with jalapeño poppers bursting with creamy cotija cheese, which aren’t listed on the menu. In July, they were mentioned in FiveThirtyEight’s search for America’s Best Burrito, receiving praise for their chili-seasoned carne asada burrito and scrambled tofu vegetarian burrito. But married owners Joel and Rebecca didn’t even know they’d made the list. They just get up each day and focus on serving excellent Mexican fare to this corner of Idaho.
Winding Down
After the final run of the day, most folks delight in unwinding with a glass of wine or a cold beer. Not far from the cutoff to Schweitzer, Laughing Dog Brewery lures in thirsty skiers with award-winning brews. Enjoy a pint of their hoppy Purebred APA Citra or dark, luscious Barrel-Aged Dogfather Imperial Stout in their dog-friendly taproom. You can also find Laughing Dog on tap at Sandpoint’s premier bottle shop, Idaho Pour Authority.
In the spring of 2014, Pend d’Oreille Winery opened a new, expanded tasting room in a renovated early-1900s building across the street from their previous location in downtown Sandpoint. Complete with exposed original brick and custom wood furnishings, the wine bar and adjacent bistro feel classy and relaxed at the same time. Order a taster of five wines for $5. Options include the Rhone-style Roussanne; the 2010 L’Oeuvre (The Work of Art), a Bordeaux-style blend made in honor of the winemaker’s wife; and the Huckleberry Blush dessert wine.
The Finale
Sandpoint doesn’t have many restaurants that are open late, regardless of the season. For dinner, you could stop in at one of the short string of established dinner spots along the small town’s main strip, like Bricks and Barley (now closed) for artisanal pizza or MickDuff’s Brewing Company for a burger. If you’re craving seafood, feast lakeside at Forty-One South next to The Lodge at Sandpoint. Or you could follow the crowd of locals to Eichardt’s Pub Grill and Coffeehouse. With solid pub food, a stage featuring weekend music and an upstairs game room for the kids, you’ll quickly feel at home. An elk burger and a pile of garlic fries make a hearty ending to a splendid winter weekend.
Schweitzer Mountain Resort | @schweitzer_mountain
Evans Brothers Coffee | @evansbrotherscoffee
Mojo Coyote Café
Granary Arts District
DiLuna’s Bistro
Gourmandie
Joel’s Mexican Restaurant | @joelsmexicanrestaurant
FiveThirtyEight | @fivethirtyeight
Laughing Dog Brewery
Idaho Pour Authority | @idahopourauthority
Pend d’Oreille Winery | @penddoreillewinery
MickDuff’s Brewing Company | @mickduffs
Forty-One South | @41s_sandpoint
The Lodge at Sandpoint
Eichardt’s Pub Grill and Coffeehouse
