Where to stock up on the basics
During the different phases of reopening, many restaurants have expanded their to-go offerings, often adding family-sized meals at an incredible deal. Some, however, have gone a step further and started offering pantry staples and specialty items directly for sale to their customers.
From jams and seasoning blends to flours, meats and sauces, area restaurants have upped their creativity to keep their loyal customers satiated and coming back for more. For some, it’s even likely to become a permanent part of their business moving forward as the public demand appears strong. And it’s not just restaurants that have expanded their offerings to the public like never before: Check out this list for ideas of where to find locally made items and get connected with farm-fresh products every week.
GANDER AND RYEGRASS
Offering something more for customers to take home with them has always been an idea on the back burner for Gander and Ryegrass chef/owner Peter Froese, as is clear by the official business name, Ryegrass Provisions. But the pandemic may have pushed that idea to early fruition. Where there used to be the butcher bar inside the downtown fine dining establishment, work has started on an open-air wine cellar of sorts with refrigeration space. As the cellar is built, Froese says he and his staff have started packaging up some of the things they use in the restaurant’s many delicious dishes for retail. Recent offerings have included things like a steak rub seasoning blend, apricot jam, pickles, flaxseed pancake mix and truffle butter. Items will be added as his creativity and time allows, Froese says, and should be available for online purchasing (for pickup) and of course, in person at the restaurant. 404 W. Main Ave., ganderandryegrass.com, 315-4613
THE GRAIN SHED
Selling delicious breads, charcuterie boards and more to hungry customers is nothing new for the Grain Shed, Perry District’s popular bakery hangout. But there are many other offerings through the bakery to help fill out your pantry, including things like milled-in-house flours, marinated feta, coffee, chocolate, eggs and schug, a Middle Eastern herbed condiment that’s used in many of Grain Shed’s offerings. 1026 E. Newark Ave., thegrainshedstore.com, 241-3853
RUINS
With dishes and sides likely to change from cuisine to cuisine as often as Ruins fans were previously accustomed to, Tony Brown’s crew at Eyvind, Hunt and Ruins are now offering some items for preorder at ruinstogo.com. Recently, for example, people could order sides like tehina, schug, harissa, garlic laffa flatbread, tabouleh salad, hummus and even goat cheese ice cream. Keep an eye on the site and follow the Ruins Instagram @_ruins for the latest offerings. 825 N. Monroe St., ruinstogo.com, 443-5606
ROCKET MARKET
It started out with toilet paper. Rocket Market was already a beloved South Hill installation known for its small grocery selection when pandemic purchasing first started a rush on certain items in other stores. As it also marked the closure of indoor seating for the market, things soon shifted to meet the new demand. In addition to selling the hot-ticket toilet paper for a time, the market started filling out the previous seating area with things like flour. Currently, you can find all sorts of flours, from buckwheat and rye to bread and all-purpose. The market also started offering hand-packaged dry goods like black beans and garbanzos, and there are several types of rice and other pantry staples on hand now. That’s all in addition to the usual smorgasbord of summer produce and local products on the shelves, all of which can be ordered for curbside pickup. 726 E. 43rd Ave., 343-2253
LINC FOODS
Farm to table has never been easier than now with help from Linc Foods. Inland Northwest customers previously would’ve become familiar with food from the dozens of regional farms that work with Linc by purchasing a Linc box or by seeing the local ingredients put to use through restaurants who purchased wholesale through Linc. However, with COVID-19 impacting everyone, Linc Foods opened up an online marketplace where everyday customers can buy all sorts of farm-fresh produce, meat, grains and other staples. Check out the selection; recently, there were pumpkins, berries, melons, carrots, potatoes, squash, microgreens, mushrooms, cheeses and more. Orders need to be placed online at lincfoods.localfoodmarketplace.com a few days before the pickup window offered at the Spokane site you choose when registering. lincfoods.localfoodmarketplace.com
