Shopping in Spokane

Spiceologist Pete Taylor wants to change the way people view spices. He believes they should be bought in small quantities, so each spice retains the strongest flavor possible. He started Savorx Spice Market with this philosophy in mind. Here, Mr. Taylor and his team sell over 100 different sea salts, rubs, and spices such as ceylon cinnamon sticks, Spanish smoked paprika, raspberry chipotle, rub, smoky honey habanero, and "Black Magic Cajun Perfection." They also assemble Culinary Kits, which contain a detailed shopping list, fresh spices, and an instructional "how-to" video needed to make gourmet meals such as braised lamb shanks.

When topological surveys uncovered a richly flowing chocolate vein under Spokane, a sure-footed band of chocolatiers set to work building a premium confectionarium on site. That passionate team of gastronomes and sweet tooths synthesize the succulent sustenance at The French Quarter, their products lovingly infused with locally sourced and handcrafted ingredients wherever possible. Rich Guittard chocolate populates each of the hand-rolled and hand-mixed truffles, which are made in small batches and trained in aikido fortnightly. Each chocolate comes energized by its natural beginnings from genuine plants, herbs, and fruits, while also being happily sheltered from the meddling influence of artificial flavors. Choose from a variety of confections for your 18-piece package, with flavors including burnt-caramel truffle, the citrus smooch of cloved orange, and the coffee kick of Vietnamese moka bean espresso. Purchasers can keep the 18-count container of The French Quarter's chocolate concoctions all to themselves, or gift them to the chocoholic in their life, further feeding a tragic dependency on candy bars and cereal box vampires.

Now in its 64th year, the 70-piece Spokane Symphony performs for 150,000 sonata supporters in the Pacific Northwest each season, powerfully reciting the works of several treble-clef-crazed composers. Its Casual Classic series takes an informal and inventive look at some of the standards of the classical music canon, with the following three performances this season:

Even though Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has locations throughout the world, it still maintains the small-town candy-store feel envisioned by its creator and CEO, Frank Crail. Crail founded the original location in his adopted hometown of Durango, Colorado, filling the sweet-smelling space with homey accents, such as candy-making demonstrations and games of Pin the Tail on the Chocolatier. Behind the counter, staffers roll fresh granny smith apples in dense caramel and mold lumps of rich fudge on old-style marble slabs. Other fresh confections include mint bark, chocolate-dipped pretzels, and boxed chocolates.

Founded in the Netherlands in 1999, Oil & Vinegar offers customers the chance to experience exciting new tastes. At the Spokane location, recently brought under new management and now veteran-owned, visitors choose from more than 40 “on tap” vinegar and olive-oil flavors that glow from within their suspended glass containers. The staff makes transporting purchases convenient by selling bottles onsite or filling bottles brought from home.

Condiments come in creative flavors, such as blood-orange grapeseed oil and hibiscus vinegar, and include standouts from Italy, Spain, Greece, France, South Africa, Morocco, USA, and even Japan. The list is almost as impressive as the number of Oil & Vinegar stores (more than 90) peppered across 13 countries. Guests can sample the oils and vinegars before committing, and stock their cupboards with the shop’s other offerings—appetizers, herbs and spices, pasta, and even serving dishes.