Food fest

COEUR d'ALENE - Hope loved the caviar-topped crab.

The 16-month-old Labradoodle was just one of the several hundred who headed for The Coeur d'Alene Resort Tuesday evening, though she didn't know she was in for a tasty snack or two.

Others sure did.

"The salmon is really good," Butch Peacock said. The Hayden carpenter, with Freelance Carpentry, was among the throng packing the convention center at the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce After Hours Business Fair.

It was a great place to pick a peck of pickled peppers, along with all sorts of other veggies, some a little mysterious. Oh, and maybe make a business connection or two.

"I'm trying," Peacock said. "I'm working on it."

Gourmet goodies were all over the place. From the moment visitors walked into the hall, they were greeted by Resort guest services with trays of salmon mousse, smoked trout with capers and red onion, deviled eggs, pickled asparagus wrapped in cream cheese and ham, and that caviar crab that Hope wolfed down with glee.

"Did she like it?" asked Loren Burke, who brought the tall white Hospice therapy dog to the event. Apparently, yes, as Hope sniffed the hand that fed her, looking for another bite.

Even with mountains of food ranging from hard candy and cookies to fresh-carved turkey, The Resort servers didn't have to go too far before their trays were empty.

"I'm trying to do it as fast as I can," Dave Hansen said before heading off for a refill.

Coeur d'Alene Chocolates set up a display of its hand-made specialties, light and dark truffles, soft peanut brittle and nutty confections to share.

"We seem to be pretty popular," said Misty Davey, chocolatier and office manager.

But it is, in the end, a business event, which was just fine for those who stood to benefit from any overindulgence that resulted from the tempting bounty.

Advanced Aesthetics offered liposuction, and Curves for Women the chance to work off the extra calories.

"They're coming around," said Susie Munson, owner of several of the franchise fitness centers. "It's been really good."

Mike O'Brien, general manager of the Holiday Inn Express on Seltice Way, did his share, bringing a huge tray of soft chocolate chip cookies to promote the business.

"I made them right before I came," he said. "They might still be warm. We bake them fresh every night at the hotel."

But with all the free food, it was still easy for Suzanna Spencer to sell colorful snacks for Relay for Life.

"It's a good enough cause, people are willing spend a buck for a cupcake," she said.

A regular at chamber functions, Jody Azevedo, Numerica Credit Union business development officer, brought her sons along for the event.

"The turkey was pretty good," Tyler, 12, said. But he also ate his veggies. "I ate carrots."

No problem - there were also dentists and orthodontists on the scene.

All that food made for a good reason to do several laps around the room, to network and see old familiar faces, and make sure not to miss the latest thing to come out of the kitchen.

"It's trick or treat for adults," said Anne Hagman, business development officer for STCU.