Crave! draws on the Inland Northwest’s evolving food scene

Taylor Graham by Taylor Graham

Dozens of restaurants and food lovers from across the Inland Northwest gathered at Centerplace in Spokane Valley Thursday night to kick off Crave! Northwest’s second year. The event is a sign that points to the region’s evolving culinary culture.

Chefs and those sampling the seafood Thursday told KXLY Spokane’s food scene has only gotten better with time.

“It elevated a lot, as far as the food scene went. You could start finding good food, different styles of food in each and every corner of Spokane,” said Sean Biltoft, a chef for Hay J’s Bistro in Liberty Lake.

Chris White with Cosmic Cowboy Grill couldn’t agree more. Having grown up on the South Hill in Spokane, he’s seen things heat up over the years.

“Just in the last five, ten years, with all the new restaurants coming in and the revitalization of downtown, it’s really exploded a lot,” White said.

Brenda Clark has only been in Spokane since last fall, but even she’s seen the change.

“It wasn’t a big food scene before, but now it’s just kind of expanding by leaps and bounds,” Clark said.

Crave! Northwest is giving local chefs the chance to connect with possible future customers.

“I mean it’s not for profit, it’s not to make a bunch of money, it’s not to do anything like that,” Biltoft said. “It’s to gain respect in your community.”

Local restaurants say the event will expand on the community’s ever-growing food scene, by opening up eyes and palettes to new dining options across the Inland Northwest.

“It’s great awareness amongst people that care about food and the more you get your name out there, the more you’re in their mind to come and try you out or go there for a special occasion,” White said. “So it’s definitely very beneficial.”

Crave! will run until Sunday. For a full list of events and ticket prices, click here.

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