Tastry Trek Milestone....99 posts!

What is over the horizon?

What next?

We have visited and posted about 99 restaurants since beginning this blog!  Where should our 100th place be?


Are there any places you like that are not  on our list?


Post your recommendation here, and we will consider it.

Lai Lai Garden

One evening in Airway heights we saw a Chinese restaurant that looked quite busy, so we decided that sometime we would give it a try.  Tonight was the night.  It is called Lai lai Gardens, located at 13008 West Sunset Highway.


Upon closer inspection as we drove by tonight, we though it looked more like a lounge than a restaurant, but when we opened the door we found it to be a very attractive little family type of Chinese restaurant. 

It was a very clean restaurant, and the service was very thoughtful.

For dinner, we ordered Hot and Sour Soup, which I have to say is something that as you eat it, you like it more and more.  By the time you are at the bottom of the bowl, the soup, which took some getting almost every time I have eaten it... is simply wonderful to the taste buds.  This particular soup had a lot of mushrooms in it,.

Hot and Sour typically has tofu in it too too.

and we also ordered Kung Pao Chicken...
and rice.

Both were very tasty....and definitely Chinese!


Both were a little more on the salty side than I like to eat.  Geo loved it though.  The Kung Pao peppers were amazing!

Thai Bamboo

There are several Thai Bamboo Restaurant in town, and for a chain of restaurants, and good Thia food you cannot go wrong.  Tonight we visited the Thai Bamboo Restaurant on 29th Ave.  IT's a little tricky to find, as the entrance does not face the street.

The food here is definitely tasty and there is a lot to chose from on their menu.  It is actually almost too much to choose from.  We love Thai food, and we do have our favorites so choosing was easy.  This time we took some photos.

It is a colorful place,
full of statues and reliefs, some of which are
scantily attired... so if this is out of your comfort zone, beware.

(I do personally know some people, who read my blog who definitely would not appreciate that much of an exotic feature.  It definitely gives one a sense of being in the orient... a cultural sort of thing.

 When I look around, I think it is quite a shrine.

  There is a large golden Buddha and an elephant god depicted too.
It is all very colorful....


And then, there is the food...
all very delicious... at about 10 dollars per entree.

We ordered Thai Tea and Thia Coffee, the tea is on the right.








Tom Ka Gai (A creamy, spicy (4 hot) chicken and coconut milk soup with galanga and lemonrass flavors.. YUM...

Panang Curry and Rice,

and the boy, as I like to refer to him sometimes, was with us, so we also ordered Teriaki Noodles...  one of his favs.

It was a delicious dinner... with good company.  After dinner we went to a theatrical performance!

How's that for a night on the town?

Cassano's Deli

Cassano's (and the Mission Bistro) are housed in the same building located at 2002 E. Mission in Spokane. I have learned that it used to be Piccolo's until Cassano bought it and here it is today... a new location....They advertise that they have,"Wine's, Olive Oils, Italian Groceries & Cured Meats, Italian Candy, Imported Cheeses, Fine Selection Of Italian Products, and Deli Sandwiches."  

My Italian friend and I decided to try this place for lunch, however upon arrival I discovered that she had been here before...( I think she just wanted to go because she knew it would be good and because she, like me, is part Italian, and being Italian together is a little bit fun.)   I have driven past this location at least fifty times in my travels around town.... and I was happy to try it, because finally, I had a reason to stop and go in.

We were sorely disappointed to discover as we went in, that the Bistro , The Mission Bistro... like many establishments in Spokane, is closed on Mondays.

The room was dark when we looked around inside but it looked like a very nice atmosphere...

A few moments later, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that all was not lost simply because Mission Bistro was closed.... you see, Cassano's has a nice little deli, complete with seating too.

It is quite the place!

We ordered a sandwich to share...
(I forgot what kind) 
spaghetti and meatballs
and lasagna.

Here is my lasagna...
Mine is the piece missing....


As we were ordering, the cashier warned us, well she tried to warn us.... that it would be a lot of food.  It was.  It was way more than we could eat, but it sure was good.

Here is my lasagna on the plate:

I really liked my half of sandwich, the black spots are Balsamic vinegar.  

And this is the spaghetti and meatballs.


The store also had a great selection of drinks. We had Snapple!

It was a fun Italian lunch to be sure.




I didn't know it until we read this T-shirt, But...they even have cannoli!


After reading this T shirt, my friend went back tot he deli and asked about cannoli.  I already had food to take home and couldn't eat another bite, but then, neither could she, however, they let her have a sample taste of the cannoli filling.... and I think that she liked it.  So, the cannoli is to be continued.... next time!

If you want to know more about cannoli... click here and read about cannoli from the perspective of a New York Taxi cab driver in the Bronx.


Outside the Deli, in front of the Bistro, Cassano's itself is a great little grocery store with a bit of an Italian flavor. 

I enjoyed touring around...

It was like a little visit to Italy!


So, as for Mission Bistro.. You will have to check out the menus and decide for yourself, but go on a day other than Monday, cuz on Monday, the Bistro is closed.

 As for me, ...maybe the Bistro.. on another day...  when in the mood for Italian food, or maybe if we are hungry and the neighborhood.... and then again, ... maybe the deli.....yum!

Thai Kitchen

This is another great... no, more like "fabulous"... Thai food restaurant!

We first came here at the hearty recommendation of a friend named Mark who eats here often.  He said it was the best place in town.  Being a world traveler and exotic food connoisseur we believed him and the first time we ate here is was simply marvelous indeed... could hardly wait to go back for more... and finally, we have had an opportunity to return.

Located in the valley at 621 S. Pines, this is tone great place to eat great Thai food... but if you want quick lunch beware.. it's busy.  Also it has been known to closed it's doors when it is full, they also close between lunch and dinner to take a rest and regroup for the evening crowd.  When we were there, we saw a sign that said, " no take out orders."  Truth is, this place is soooooo good, so in demand and they are merely a mom and pop place; and as such, they work hard to please their clientele.  They are simply being realistic saying no take outs, although you will have to discuss the matter with the owners yourself....  I do know that they make everything fresh and observe that they can only do what they can truly manage and that they work hard to do it well.  (Nice folks.)

Well, on to dinner...

We had Tea....

and Tom Yum Gia...

 YUM!

and a Chicken Panag Curry.. (one of the best ever!)






Dinner was served with white rice.






For dessert, it was everything...

(but note, they only have two options...)

We had one order of Coconut Milk and Rice and one order of Vanilla Ice cream and Rice.....

black rice!