Kitchen wishes

It’s not often that we have the opportunity to grant someone’s wish — especially while sampling great food and wine. But that’s the plan during TASTE SPOKANE, the third annual fundraiser for the Wishing Star Foundation. Several wineries from across the region — including Hogue Cellars, Arbor Crest, Whitestone Winery, Latah Creek, Vintage Hill and newcomers Dry Falls Cellars of Moses Lake — are joining local breweries and restaurants for the gala event at Northern Quest Casino.

Here’s how it works: With your admission, you’ll get five taste tickets, which you can exchange for nibbles and sips from the food-and-drink purveyors. Additional taste tickets are available for $2 each, or you can get 20 taste tickets for $30.

Wishing Star Foundation, founded in 1983, grants wishes to children ages 3 to 21 who have life-threatening illnesses. In its history, the foundation has granted more than 1,100 wishes to children in Eastern and Central Washington and Idaho. Among the 51 wishes currently in the works include requests for trips to Disney theme parks, for celebrity meetings and for one-of-a-kind things like a bedroom makeover and a tree fort.

“We just had a princess party, and that was really fun,” says the foundation’s Sarah Carpenter. “And we just had a child go to the Daytona 500.”

Participating restaurants include Steam Plant Grill, C.I. Shenanigans, Mamma Mia’s, Jimmy’Z, Sawtooth Grill and Taste of India. Dry Fly Distilling will be on hand, as will dessert makers Desserts by Sara, Marcells Cakes and Desserts, and Ellie’s Edibles. Jazz Attack will provide the music, and there will be raffles and silent auction items to bid on. And it all helps those kids who wait — and wish — in the wings.

Taste Spokane, at the Northern Quest Casino, 100 N. Hayford Rd., Airway Heights, Wash., is Friday, March 6, from 5-9 pm. Tickets are $25 at the door, or $20 in advance. Call 744-3411.

You know what they say about one person’s trash being another’s treasure? The Spokane River chapter of Slow Food is putting the principle of recycling to good use and trying to raise a little cash along the way with their SECOND CHANCE KITCHEN SALE. The group has solicited donations of “gently used” items for the kitchen and garden, and they’re having a sale on Saturday at the Thomas Hammer Coffee roasting plant in downtown Spokane. Admission is free, and proceeds from the sale will benefit local Slow Food events and the group’s work toward developing a “good, clean and fair” local food system. There will be espresso drinks available (of course!) and other refreshments. And if you’ve been cleaning the cupboards, you can still donate your own kitchen goods to the cause — drop them off by Friday at 5:30 pm at the Book Parlor (1414 W. Broadway Ave.).

The Second Chance Kitchen Sale, at Thomas Hammer Coffee, 210 W. Pacific Ave., is Saturday, March 7, from 9 am-2 pm. Admission is free. E-mail lavenderlaver@hotmail.com or call (509) 209-2851.

- ANN M. COLFORD