Bursting with Flavor

It’s been a long journey over 30 years, from the days in 1993 when hungry visitors to the Coeur d’Alene Bingo Hall could grab a sandwich from the deli counter. Now there are eight places on the casino campus to eat or relax with a drink, featuring local regionally sourced ingredients like bone-in ribeye steaks from the wood-fired grill, new offerings like Asian noodle and rice bowls, and old favorites like their signature nitrogen ice cream dessert for two.

For Kristin Primmer, the food and beverage system administrator and area manager, such success across so many venues is a fast-paced team sport: “Our team members are dedicated, that’s what gets us through.”

And that team extends out to the greater tribe, as culinary traditions are kept alive in the casino kitchens, giving the experience the kind of emotional component that great food can bring.

“The Indian fry bread you can get in the Red Tail Bar and Grill, that has been fun to learn,” says Primmer, who has been with the casino for 12 years. “We have tribal members who come in and have taught our cooks to make sure it’s done correctly.”

When Laura Penney became CEO in 2019, she brought in an old teammate to collaborate. Adam Hegsted traces his connection with the casino back to when their first restaurant opened in 1998. Now he’s working with Executive Chef Tracy Rose and Chef de Cuisine Kristopher Cope on food and service at Chinook.

“We’re all on the same page here,” says Executive Chef Rose, “but it’s good to bounce ideas off another chef — to have a conversation.”

One popular newer dish to come out of the Chinook kitchen is the Hearth Oven Bacon Wrapped Jalapeños appetizer, stuffed with peanut butter (it’s delicious!) and finished with housemade pepper jelly.

So celebrate the Coeur d’Alene Casino’s 30th anniversary with food, drink and tribal hospitality: It may take you the whole year to graze your way through all they have to offer! 