Farm-to-fork meal is a 'wheel' success

SANDPOINT — The joy of cooking and good, healthy food is yet another ingredient in community vitality for local economic advocates.

Planners behind the public relations initiative Sandpoint Forward aim to spread the word about the town to a new set of enthusiasts with Wheelbarrow Wednesday. An event that shows off the generous food culture, Wheelbarrow Wednesday treats participants to a gourmet meal replete with great food, coffee, beer and wine. Best of all, it’s all grown or made in Bonner County, right down to the last leaf of lettuce.

“This is another effort to establish Sandpoint as the place to be — this time as a destination for foodies,” economic consultant Mark Rivers said.

Food, beer and wine connoisseurs can be a tough crowd to impress, but then again, Sandpoint isn’t your average Northwestern town. It packs some serious culinary cred with a creative population of produce farmers, chefs, coffee roasters, beer brewers and vintners. Wheelbarrow Wednesdays shows off a handful of these local artisans every month.

Of course, a quality presentation is a big part of food preparation. That’s why the first incarnation of Wheelbarrow Wednesday, held July 11, brought in celebrity chef Jeremy Hansen of Sante Restaurant in Spokane to bring the local produce to life.

The day started out at the Farmer’s Market, when ticket purchasers met up with Hansen to explore the world of Sandpoint-grown food. Hansen walked attendees through the market, picking out ingredients along the way.

After event participants finished their own shopping, they left to check out some of the community’s best-loved food destinations. They whet their appetite with Litehouse cheese, enjoyed Evans Bros. coffee blends, sampled some of MickDuff’s best brews and landed at the Pend d’Oreille Winery for a choice vintage and a fresh, four-course meal courtesy of Hansen. The evening wowed the crowd.

“We did a little survey afterward, and the response was universally positive,” Rivers said.

Each Wheelbarrow Wednesday event will provide a different experience for ticket purchasers. For one thing, event organizers are bringing in a different chef for each occasion. The menu also stands to change dramatically depending on the time of year and the produce available.

The potential payoff is worth the effort, according to Rivers. Each visitor that leaves Wheelbarrow Wednesday with a full belly and a positive mood will be singing Sandpoint’s praises to his or her friends and family.

“This is just another layer of texture we can add to make Sandpoint a destination,” Rivers said.

Tickets for the Aug. 8 and Sept. 12 Wheelbarrow Wednesday events are available online at www.eventbrite.com.