Area sizzles with Summer Sampler today
—DAILY BEE FILE PHOTO A local chef cooks prepares a sample-sized meal at a past Summer Sampler. The community favorite event is taking place today at Farmin Park in Sandpoint.
SANDPOINT — What’s sizzling in town today? The annual taste treat that is the Summer Sampler.
The 11th annual event, which will be held at Farmin Park from 5-8 p.m., is regarded as the unofficial local kick-off to summer by showcasing Sandpoint’s favorite restaurants and featuring award-winning breweries, winery and distillery. It’s a chance for locals and residents alike to discover the rich flavors of many of Sandpoint’s finest eateries and check out the Litehouse Foods cooking competition with local chefs battling for the “best of” title.
“There is nothing better than a sunny day, good food, good drink and the community coming together to kick off the summer season,” Kate McAlister, chamber president, said.
With a lush park setting in downtown Sandpoint, Farmin Park is the perfect location to bring local culinary establishments together, McAlister said.
Participating restaurants and spirits include Eichardt’s Pub, Forty-One South, Jalapeno’s, Laughing Dog Brewing, MickDuff’s Brewing Co., Mill Town Distillery, Pend d’Oreille Winery, Skeyes The Limit Catering, Shoga Sushi, Small House Winery, Sweet Lou’s, Thai Nigiri, Trinity at City Beach and Two Lakes Catering.
As always, the family-friendly event is free to attend. Tickets for food and beverage samples are on sale at the event for $1 each. The samples range from $3 to $7.
The Chef’s Cooking Competition presented by Litehouse Foods will start at 5:30 p.m. with local chefs battling for the “best of” chef honors. With a mystery box of ingredients, the chefs will compete with their culinary skills, imagination, and ingenuity for the traveling trophy and notoriety for their respective restaurant. Defending champion, Stefhanie Royer of Pend d’Oreille Winery will take on this year’s challenger, Chef Michael Uhnak of the Schweitzer’s Chimney Rock Grill, known fondly to his staff and regulars as “Cheffy.”
The event is sponsored by Litehouse Foods, Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Bonner County Daily Bee, Blue Sky Broadcasting and Downtown Sandpoint Business Improvement District.
Information: Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, 208-263-2161 or www.sandpointchamber.org