Coeur d'Alene, ID

Economic disaster, international upheaval, murders, drugs, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, good grief it’s a mess out there! So how should we cope with all that on a daily basis? Grab a friend or two and go do something fun. On a budget or at payday, of course.

Our most recent excursion involved an invitation from our dear friends Tex and Nic Gaynos. These two have lived through most of the history of the 20^th century, so they know how to take a break from the stuff that drags us down. We met them at “Fleur de Sel”, a local French Restaurant. Didn’t even know we had one of those did ya?

Me neither. When I was in France many years ago there were lots of choices for fine dining. All of which would make a health food fanatic faint just from the amount of butter or oil on the plate. I almost fainted from the amount of butter and oil on my plate back then. So when they told me WE had one in this area, I was genuinely excited to see what it was like. I happen to love butter and olive oil. You can tell by my waistline. Or lack thereof.

I dressed to the nines with a new ivory pantsuit. White is a dangerous choice to eat in, by the way. All white clothing has a tag that says “stain me” sewed inside the collar. You may not be able to see it, but it’s there, trust me.

Myron and I wandered around the parking lot with that “deer-in-the-headlights-look” for a few minutes trying to find the entrance. Ok, so it was right in front of us and we still missed it. Some precious lady opened her car window and told us how to get there. Bless that woman. Another couple of minutes trying to pretend like we knew where we were going and I’d have frozen to death in my fancy new pantsuit.

We spotted our friends immediately, and I was pleasantly surprised that the place wasn’t too large. It had a cozy feel while still being elegant. The lighting was low but not ridiculous, and the wrought iron “Eiffel Tower” in the center of the room gave it a nice French flair. It actually felt like France inside, which was a treat for the evening.

Tex was resplendent. My dear friend wore sparkling black, and had her magnificent red hair in delicate cascading curls that made her look 20 years younger. And she turned heads, that lady. It was a delight to watch people as she walked by. Nic, of course, always sports a dapper pose. A retired Colonel from the Air Force, his military bearing is still intact even at his age. Although I think he feels a little left out when Tex gets all the hugs and schmoozing.

We took a gander at the menu and I was impressed. Wine, pasta, seafood, a flat-iron steak, and a couple of chicken dishes, great soups, and tasty salads. Not too much on it, just enough to be well-rounded, and I was going to get to try truffles. Truffles, for your info are a fungus that grows underground around trees in areas such as France. They come in white or black, usually, and are quite expensive. Some areas use trained pigs to find them. If that makes you want to hurl, just call truffles “wild mushrooms” and it will make you feel better. It helps me.

A couple of us ordered shrimp and scallops, the others chicken and truffle ravioli. It was quite impressive. The cream sauce was light but flavorful, and I even loved the fungus, oops I mean “mushrooms.” One of the owners of the restaurant, Patricia Zirotti, stopped by the table and we fell in love with her- she had a soft French accent, and an uncanny ability to make us feel right at home and welcome.

It turned out to be a pleasant evening of conversation and friendship, the perfect cure for news overload. “Fleur de Sel,” or “flower of the salt” is on Sterling Drive at the top of the hill called the “Highlands” in Post Falls (208-777-7600). Turn right on Mullan ave from Highway 41, turn right again on Sterling. Since it used to be a spa only, you don’t expect to find a fancy restaurant hidden in the building. It opens only at 5pm, but the trip is well worth the stop as the prices are reasonable.

And, you’ll be amazed to note, not one drop of food landed on my ivory pantsuit. It was a truly historic occasion.

Figbee