Toro Viejo reviewed by Jeff Conroy

Toro Viejo, 117 N 2nd St, Coeur d’Alene, 667-7676

“It is a good bet that the members who founded the St. Thomas Conference in the spring of 1946 had no idea of how the seeds they planted would take root in the mountains of North Idaho. How proud they would be if they could see how their simple idea of taking care of the homeless, elderly, and hungry has grown. How proud they would be to count the meals that have been served, the people who have been helped and the lives that have been changed over the last 60 years. How proud they would be of the thousands of selfless volunteers who have followed in their enormous footsteps.” These are the words of Jeff Conroy, Executive Director of Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Coeur d’Alene.

When he is not being a champion for the Homeless, Jeff enjoys golfing, reading, and relaxing with his wife Jeannette at their favorite restaurant, Toro Viejo located at 2nd and Lakeside in Coeur d’Alene.
Toro Viejo offers fine Mexican dining and is proud to offer home style cooking at very reasonable prices. “It’s the best Mexican food in town” according to Conroy.  “It’s good, it’s inexpensive, and the service is unbelievable.  The staff is always friendly.  They always remember your names, your kids, and what they’re doing”.  Jeff’s favorite meal is definitely the Fajita Quesadilla. He does, however, have difficulty finishing it after “gorging” himself with the chips and salsa provided while he waits for the main course.  Jeannette prefers the Chicken Taquitos.   “I’ve NEVER had a bad thing. Everything we’ve ordered has been excellent”.  And for dessert...”you have to have the flan!”

With their excellent food, clean friendly atmosphere and good service Toro Viejo is not just Jeff’s favorite, but the favorite of many local residents.

About Toro Viejo
Toro Viejo is an Authentic Mexican Restaurant with four locations; Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Hayden and Rathdrum. With menu prices hovering around $10.00, and a never ending supply of chips and salsa, it’s a great place to take the family for an inexpensive dinner out.

Jeff Conroy

Who is Jeff Conroy?
Jeff is the Executive Director of St. Vincent de Paul in Coeur d’Alene. He has been married to Jeannette for 23 years and they have three children. Jeff is an active member in Sunrise Rotary and is currently attending Gonzaga University to earn a Doctorate in Leadership Philosophy.

Ciao Mambo reviewed by Roberta Larson

Ciao Mambo, 8166 N Government Way, Hayden, 208-772-9555

Native-born Coeur d’Alene resident Roberta Larsen surrounds herself with a large and eclectic circle of friends and fellow community volunteers so it’s no surprise that her choice of restaurants she describes as “high decibel with conversation, pottery clanging and a general bustle of activity.”

Ciao Mambo is one of the area’s newest restaurants but has gained an enthusiastic fan base in six months. Located at the entrance to the new Hayden City Center in the Hayden Creek Plaza, the plaza’s waterfalls welcome diners. With vaulted ceilings and segmented seating areas, the ambiance is like Sunday dinner with a large Italian family. In fact, Roberta and her husband, David enjoy taking friends and family for a night out.

“This Continental Divide version of all food Italian requires almost weekly visits to savor everything from appetizers to zzzzzpizza!” declared Roberta. “The bar seating facing the kitchens whets our appetite and love of pizza. We can watch incredible pizza tossing and react with oohs and aahhs. It’s a grand show!”

The Larsens agree on their favorite appetizer, Calamari Fritti, battered and fried squid with spicy garlic marinara sauce. On a recent visit they ordered pasta to share, Gamberi Fra Diavolo, with grilled shrimp in a spicy roasted garlic marinara served with al dente spaghetti which they rated with “bellissimo!” and praise for their “delightfully lively” server, Nicki. “The presentation was beautiful,” said Roberta. The menu is ala carte so if you’re ordering an appetizer, salad and nibbling on the delicious bread, Roberta suggests sharing the entree`.

According to the Larsens, the wine list is extensive and affordable, the Italian pinot grigio a favorite. The bar has a full array of spirits and wonderfully inventive cocktails. Roberta sums up the ambiance with this observation, “Sitting in the bar area at 5 p.m., when Ciao Mambo opens, is an especially lovely way to end the work day. The west facing windows take full advantage of our glorious, gorgeous sunsets.”


About Ciao Mambo:
Ciao is pronounced “chow.” It’s an informal Italian salutation, meaning either “goodbye” or “hello.”  The Hayden restaurant opened in April 2008, following the success of the original Ciao Mambo in Whitefish, Montana.

Roberta Larson

Who ‘s Roberta Larson?
Roberta was born in Coeur d’Alene and is a self-described non-profit volunteer and activist. Her involvement includes serving on the boards of the Arts and Culture Alliance, Coeur d’Alene Library Foundation and Friends of Head Start.

Daanen's Delicatessen reviewed by Brandie Chapman

Daanen’s Delicatessen, 8040 N Wayne Blvd, Hayden, 772-7371

Brandie Chapman is a working wife and mother so her choice for dining out is decidedly family-friendly. According to the dictionary, a delicatessen is a shop were prepared cooked meats, smoked fish, cheeses, salads and relishes are sold. Add over 500 wine selections and 250 brands of beer, dinner entrees to take out or to dine in and you’ve got Daanen’s Delicatessenin Hayden.

“It’s the perfect spot for families on the run,” said Brandie, who enjoys Daanen’s for lunch and dinner. “I’d eat breakfast there, too, if they served it!” When the Chapmans are on the go from sporting events or the kid’s activities, a sandwich from Daanen’s is just the ticket.

Brandie has a hard time pinning down a favorite menu item but settles on the Landjagger. “I bet Mark and Irene Daanen have heard some pretty funny pronunciations,” laughed Brandie. She said her usual is a half turkey on a hoagie roll with lettuce, tomato, sweet hot mustard and plenty of peppercinis, topped off with a bag of Jalapeno chips and a cookie.

“Irene makes the BEST chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies,” Brandie proclaims. “We refer to it as “The Cookie.” They’re delicious and if you get one right out of the oven there is nothing better.”

Daanen’s has a great selection of import beers, micro brews and fine wines, says Brandie, who also uses the services of the business’ catering side. As a Realtor she hosts many open houses, “I always call on Irene to help me with the food. The meat and cheese trays are perfect for entertaining,” she said. “I always ask for extra Landjaggers! The food is delicious and Mark, Irene and their staff always make it so easy for me.”

Brandie and her family attended Daanen’s Octoberfest event which she described as “a blast.” But you don’t need a German-themed holiday to enjoy the celebratory atmosphere of Daanen’s year ‘round.

About Daanen’s Delicatessen:

Daanen’s is located just off Government and Prairie. Friday evenings feature wine-tasting with themed flights and a lesson about the vintages directly from Mark. They also make any variety of sandwiches for party trays, including miniature versions of all of their deli favorites.

Brandie Chapman

Who is Brandie Chapman?

A lifelong resident of Hayden Lake and Coeur d’Alene, Brandie Beebe Chapman is the mother of twins, Ryan and Reiley, married to Mike. She’s a Realtor for Century 21 Beutler & Associates.

The Porch reviewed by John Young

The Porch, 1658 E Miles Ave, Hayden, 208.772.7711

John Young loves living in Hayden Lake so having a favorite restaurant in the neighborhood is a treat. John and his wife, Connie both enjoy the casual surroundings of The Porch, which is tucked among the trees on the north side of Avondale golf course and features an outdoor dining deck that spans the seasons. The Youngs meet friends there for lunch and dinner, but equally as oft en take the family for dinner. "Lunch at The Porch is always great, but you can add a glass or bottle of wine with dinner, so it’s a toss-up for us," John says when asked which time of day he prefers to dine there. "Red wine is without a doubt my drink of choice with dinner. The Porch has a great variety of wine by the glass or by the bottle."

The fact that John doesn’t have a favorite dish at his favorite eatery is part of the charm of the place. "There isn’t any one item that I prefer, which is probably the main attraction of The Porch," explains the local builder. "Depending on what sounds good, I can order fish, pasta, a sandwich or one of their many specials." Recent specials were indeed special... portobello mushroom raviolis in a smoked tomato cream sauce or grilled rockfish and rosemary red potatoes. On the regular menu, pan-seared salmon cakes with sour cream dill sauce and bacon-smoked cedar potato cakes are popular as is the roasted garlic and onion bread appetizer. John credits local owners, John Grollmus, Brad Fosseen and Jeff Meagher and their hands-on management style for creating a North Idaho-style restaurant with outstanding service and exceptional culinary quality.

About The Porch: 
The business’ website address is www.wedonthaveone.com but they do, in fact, have a website. The Porch, 1658 E. Miles Avenue in Hayden Lake, posts weekly specials online. Grollmus, Fosseen and Meagher also own the popular Sherman Avenue pub, MoonTime.

John Young

Who's John Young?
John lives in Hayden Lake and is the "Young" of Polin-Young Construction. He’s active in Rotary Club of Coeur d’Alene, Concerned Businesses of North Idaho, the EXCEL Foundation and the North Idaho College Foundation Board.