A Flavorful Summer in Spokane
Food is love. It is fuel for our bodies. It is our culture, our history, and an important part of our everyday lives. It is also an industry and a powerful economic driver that impacts us all. This summer, explore the many faces of food, from fun events and DIY projects to unusual classes and opportunities to participate in the local food system.
![Summer Cooking Classes in Spokane](https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/food-drink/AMN_0272.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=553bf8199246d127777e984d98fd61b4 320w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/food-drink/AMN_0272.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=104f4a2a0cc52a8e36ec1c9cfa2238cc 540w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/food-drink/AMN_0272.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=468d697f80954e3997efd5dff1a66316 768w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/food-drink/AMN_0272.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=7d37fac90b36ba50655a64670a386e9d 1024w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/food-drink/AMN_0272.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=1b4896c953d19d752d6c2a0eb48feddb 1200w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/food-drink/AMN_0272.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=cd377d3c58d512991cac721fe141b333 1440w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/food-drink/AMN_0272.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=b78738fcc59474c5ef10740c39046a40 1920w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/food-drink/AMN_0272.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=5940169e1c11310b9f0fb43129b4d786 2000w)
Sex Education: A New take on Spokane Cooking
OK, so this cooking class is actually centered on Erika Kubick’s book, Cheese, Sex, Death: A Bible for the Cheese Obsessed, but events that connect sex and food are definitely intriguing. For $85, Wanderlust Delicato will guide participants through two hours of cheese-forward recipes like gool ol’ mac n’ cheese and a fancier dish called clafoutis with apples and rich Camembert cheese. Reserve your spot for the June 29 class at Spokane’s quintessential cheese purveyor via the Wanderlust Delicato website.
![This is the proper technique for doing Pig Out in the Park.](https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/annual-events/pigout.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=03d09d819578b78259329a19c85b1c1c 320w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/annual-events/pigout.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=8ceb0364c53daaa8655bb89fa7e887ca 540w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/annual-events/pigout.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=f15a822e317a166910660566e65e3022 768w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/annual-events/pigout.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=97923946788884d2a924cc89633e487c 1024w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/annual-events/pigout.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=827f8555e8cbda860bbda93de06251ed 1200w)
Pig out in the park
Is it a music festival with food? Or a food festival with live music? It’s both at Pig Out in the Park, the Riverfront Park extravaganza from Aug. 31-Sept. 5 that also marks the end of summer. The event is free, but you’ll want to bring moolah to sample some of the 245 menu items spread out over 50 food booths. This year’s event includes three beer gardens and a big public market to waddle through as you give the ol’ tummy a rest from eating and drinking. Visit pigoutinthepark.com.
![](https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/events-calendar/food-truck-friday.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=4857f4bae9daf8610f4c2c07e69638e6 320w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/events-calendar/food-truck-friday.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=b45147c535756c045bfa26e24167627a 540w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/events-calendar/food-truck-friday.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=cb8ad9afbca80c57f55c03c25a002bf7 768w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/events-calendar/food-truck-friday.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=face76691410a81595b15e85f2a6173e 1024w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/events-calendar/food-truck-friday.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=de782b0666849155bec6e084283210b7 1200w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/events-calendar/food-truck-friday.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=5623a98e6b2836cd6366dcbf4c7cbe6c 1440w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/events-calendar/food-truck-friday.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=059c05622b591d9c0a3335b2094daaf2 1572w)
Food Truck Fridays
One of the coolest things about living or working near downtown Spokane during summer is taking a walk to grab a lunch for eating outdoors. Find several food options in one place every Friday at Wall Street and Main Avenue through Aug. 26. The area is closed to vehicular traffic on Food Truck Fridays from 11 am-2 pm. Participating trucks include Tacos Camargo, Toby’s BBQ, Mixed Plate and Jerusalem, which serves Middle Eastern cuisine like crispy falafel and tender chicken shawarma. Visit greaterspokanefoodtrucks.com.
Support Spokane's Edible Tree Project
What’s family-friendly, food-oriented and bound to make you feel good, too? Volunteering with the Spokane Edible Tree Project, which needs your help gleaning food that would otherwise go to waste from such places as Green Bluff Growers and select farmers markets. Gleaned food gets redistributed to area food banks and others in need throughout the Inland Northwest.
“As the fruit season gets going, there will be more opportunities for commercial and residential fruit gleaning that will be updated throughout the season on our social media as well as newsletters,” says the group’s gleaning coordinator, Drew Clarkson.
Find out more June 25 at Big Barn Brewing (16004 N. Applewood Ln., Mead) during a free informational event from 2-4 pm. There will be food trucks on-site and beverages available from Big Barn’s Bodacious Berries, Fruits & Brews. Visit spokaneedibletreeproject.org or call 509-609-6833.
![](https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/annual-events/20170617_Events_Crave_0020.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=f24999013f84569437bb38f5d83af542 320w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/annual-events/20170617_Events_Crave_0020.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=3f0e66858346e076fb33b1fc73478efb 540w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/annual-events/20170617_Events_Crave_0020.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=61dc3fc88ad360543db577ce7190c080 768w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/annual-events/20170617_Events_Crave_0020.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=dd777060cf3a650cfb19f8359ebb559b 1024w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/annual-events/20170617_Events_Crave_0020.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=a77b3a42d5fb4b4f44f95f5c8a5b3509 1200w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/annual-events/20170617_Events_Crave_0020.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=fdd1e96c2f32dce3ad9dc4bc29163b57 1440w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/annual-events/20170617_Events_Crave_0020.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=65db5071def0fd2e87a42a50168826f0 1920w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/annual-events/20170617_Events_Crave_0020.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=7ff0c636a276902209ff26b671899584 2560w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/annual-events/20170617_Events_Crave_0020.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=75674fda7336c775293f779b6a6b0f95 3840w)
CRAVE! NW Summer Food Festival
A local outdoor event with amazing food and beverages for adults only? Sign us up. Of all the summer foodie festivals, Crave! NW at CenterPlace in Spokane Valley is geared toward the culinarily committed and curious alike, providing they’re 21 or older. Even better, the open-air event is back to its original format of three days, from July 14-16. Instead of driving all over town to try food from your favorite places like Arbor Crest, Baba Spokane, Kismet, Madeleine’s, Tavolàta and Zona Blanca, Crave! NW lets you eat as much as you’d like in one place, plus you get to try food from regional and national chefs, like Felipe Hernandez, whose tamales have people traveling to Central Washington from all over the country.
Each day has a different theme. Thursday is the burger “smackdown,” with chefs vying for your votes and live wrestling providing the entertainment. On Friday, sample dishes from around the world as you enjoy live music and a carnival-like atmosphere. And on Saturday, chefs are bringin’ the heat following a “fire & smoke” theme as tribal dancers and drummers entertain guests. Advance tickets start at $49, depending on the event, and slightly higher to get in an hour before the 6-9 pm general admission, because there’s so much to see — and taste — at this popular event. Also ask about package deals and group rates. Visit cravenw.com.