A Little 'Mojo' ...

In our search for what we consider 'good food' while living the the Coeur d'Alene area, we've run into few places worth visiting more than once ... and we're happy to report that most are local run, locally-grown establishments. There is something to be said for restaurants which are run by those who have a passion for what they do, and more importantly a passion for food.

Last night, we visited a place that has touted itself as a "fresh gourmet, alternative to fast food" ... intrigued, we decided to give it a go ... It's name "Mojo" - is a bit odd, given the obvious reference to any Austin Power's flick - so we were skeptical. As we walked in, we were greeted by an open, comfortable space. High ceilings and a warmly stained concrete floor set the tone ... White satin 'sails' where suspended low from the ceiling to give a more intimate feel. There was some unusual wall art that looked like a soft white sand sculpture of waves adorning the walls. The tables were covered with white tablecloths and were softly lit by amber-colored pendant lighting ... each table flickered with the glow of a candle. Soft bluesy music was playing at just the right volume. We sat at a corner table, and even though there were others around us, it seemed as though we had the restaurant to ourselves.

Okay, so it looked, sounded and smelled great ... but how was the food? We ordered the 'Rainier Cherry Bruschetta' for an appetizer ... when it arrived at the table, the presentation was amazing ... toasted sourdough toast points arranged toward the baby greens in the center of the plate ... on each perfectly grilled slice of bread - slightly warmed brie cheese underlay tart Rainier Cherries artfully scattered over the plate. Toasted pecans and a cherry juice reduction finished off the plate. It was more like a dessert. It was delicious! The cherries could have been a bit more tart, but overall, it was a fun dish to try.

So the appetizer was good, but was that just a lucky try? The main 'dish' or sandwiches in this case were on their way out: Jim had ordered the "Not So Philly Cheesesteak" ... he took one bite of the beautifully presented steak sandwich on soft ciabatta bread, and said he couldn't remember when he'd had such a great sandwich. There were thin, crisp fried onions and an indescribably delicious gorgonzola cheese sauce on this sandwich ... Jim couldn't stop gushing ... something he NEVER does. And his side dish of grilled green and yellow squash were done perfectly ... just the right smokiness from the grill, they were tender but not mushy ... Needless to say, Jim really enjoyed his dinner ... and it was fun for me to watch.

My sandwich, pictured above, was called the "Cheesy Apple Chicken" sandwich. It's Mojo's signature dish, and with the description of: "grilled chicken breast, applewood smoked bacon, havarti cheese, green apple slices, caramelized red onions and honey-mustard dressing" - I was excited to try such a great sounding combination. Again, served on perfectly grilled sourdough bread, it was delicious. A bit messy, it was a surpisingly delicate balance of flavors that hit every part of my mouth ... the salty bacon, the mellow buttery cheese, the sweet of the onion and the tart of the apple ... YUM!!! It was so good ... I had to knife and fork it, but it was totally worth the effort. It was only half a sandwich, and it was JUST enough. I'll be trying to reconstruct this one at home!

It was a fun really and satisfying dinner that wasn't too heavy and all the flavors were well thought out and executed perfectly. We're bummed that we found this place just a few weeks before we're leaving, but it was a fun parting memory for sure!