Try in 2020: New York Peppercorn Steak

November 6, 2020
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New York Peppercorn Steak

MAX at Mirabeau
1100 N. Sullivan Road, Spokane Valley

12-ounce USDA Prime Peppercorn Steak with a four-pepper crust and brandy demi-glace, served with herb roasted potato and vegetables, paired with a selection from a wine list that has been recognized as the class of the region.

Why you’ll love it

One of the most popular dishes at the award-winning restaurant, it features a blend of four peppercorns and spice, then caramelizes and sears this USDA Prime grade steak to the guest’s specifications. The finish is a French cream demi-glace reduction. The whole nature of the dish is created by a three-day simmering process of roasting veal bones in-house to create an intense, flavorful stock, which gives the base for the finalization of the sauce and the tantalizing overall flavor.

Then there’s the wine. Wine Spectator recognized MAX at Mirabeau with its “Best of Award of Excellence,” the only restaurant in the Inland Northwest to achieve the distinction (four others received Awards of Excellence, one level lower). Featuring wines from Washington, California and Oregon, as well as popular MAX house wines resulting from local partnerships, the Spokane Valley restaurant has become known for an extensive wine list that is the class of the region.

MAX’s wine experience takes center stage on the first Wednesday of month (subject to temporary gathering restrictions put in place to combat COVID-19). On these Wednesdays, a local artist and regional winery are featured for a reception that includes complimentary hors d’oeuvres.

A complete wine list, menu and information about events is available at maxatmirabeau.com.

NOTE: A version of this article first appeared in the 2020 Liberty Lake Yearbook.

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MWCC marks 25 years in Liberty Lake

August 7, 2020
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When a local family learned baby No. 4 was on the way, preparations included reserving a spot in a familiar facility: Meadow Wood Children’s Center in Liberty Lake.

“They didn’t think twice to put their baby here, just like they did with the other three,” MWCC Director Fawn Dunn said.

After 25 years serving the Liberty Lake community, the licensed childcare center has a lot of stories like this one. In some cases, it’s not just siblings joining the MWCC family.

“We have been here since 1995,” said Dunn, who runs the business with her sister, Heather Lance. “We have seen families come and go, and their children grow up and then bring their children back to us.”

A consistent, community-oriented, family-run environment has been key to their success, the sisters said. Not that things haven’t changed over the years.

Cabinets full of curriculum books have been replaced by searches on Pinterest and the internet, not to mention online trainings. In 2009, MWCC moved into their own brand-new building at 2224 N. Swing Lane, and new playground equipment was installed last summer. Perhaps the most remarkable difference is in parent communication. In the early years, they produced daily reports sent home on a half-sheet of paper each night. Now, there are emails and an app that allows the staff to share photographs, notifications and communications with parents throughout the day.

Among the favorite memories, Lance recalled the time a MWCC student was the 10,000th child through the line during a field trip to the Seahawks summer training camp in Cheney. He received an autographed football and quickly became a MWCC legend. (The center is licensed for children 1 month to 12 years of age, and the field trip was part of a summer program for older students.)

MWCC also prioritizes family events throughout the year to further build community, particularly around the holidays. The annual Halloween Carnival, Family Thanksgiving Feast and Holiday Caroling Program and Cookie Social create memories for the children and parents alike. Similarly, “Muffins for Moms” and “Donuts for Dads” are always a big hit, as parents not only enjoy connecting for breakfast but are surprised with a handmade gift from their child.

Moving forward, the sisters plan to keep the gameplan unchanged from what brought them to this point: a caring team, a secure environment, and a calendar full of interactive and educational activities. It’s a blueprint likely to keep people calling to reserve a place at MWCC.

“For many families, we’re one of their first thoughts when they find out they’re pregnant,” Dunn said. “When parents discover Meadow Wood Children’s Center, they find a partner their family can grow with.”

NOTE: A version of this article first appeared in the 2020 Liberty Lake Yearbook.

Refinished floors given new life

October 2, 2020
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Time and again, Wendy Van Orman of Quality Hardwood Floors sees customers debate whether to try to resurrect an old hardwood floor or pull it out and start over. Time and again, she sees them thrilled with the decision to refinish.

“Solid hardwood flooring can be refinished up to 7-11 times, depending upon the thickness of the wood,” Van Orman said. “What looks old and unrepairable can be given life once again. Typically, hardwood flooring can last many generations, we have refinished turn of the century homes, making them look new again!”

When Dan and Barb Trochta debated replacing their 25-year-old oak floors with a different material, one of the factors weighing heavily on their mind were their dogs (pictured on next page).

“Our floors now look like new, and we were informed that the floors can be refinished a few more times,” they said. “We have big dogs that are tough on the floor finish; therefore, the (craftsman) recommended a fourth coat for additional protection.”

Tyler and Alyssa Bowman considered a similar dilemma when moving into their first home after getting engaged.

“We love our hardwood floors, but they were in need of some major TLC,” they said. “Thank goodness we called Quality Hardwood Floors to help us. They look brand new, and now we are excited to decorate and make the space our own.”

Darby Van Gordon faced an even trickier challenge on the main floor of her home, where she hoped to refinish existing hardwood floors as well as adding new hardwood. Would the old and new be able to coexist without their difference in age looking obvious?

“The quality of the job is five stars,” Van Gordon said. “The transitions between the old and new floors are seamless.”

Quality Hardwood Floors is a family business operated in the Inland Northwest for more than 65 years. The company has received the Best of Spokane Award every year since 2013. From installing and maintaining gymnasium floors through the state, to restoring a century-old floor to its former glory, to new installations with fancy inlaid borders — Quality Hardwood Floors does it all.

NOTE: A version of this article first appeared in the 2020 Liberty Lake Yearbook.

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