The Straight Poop: Sniffing out dog-friendly businesses in North Idaho

By Drake the Dog
Reader Pet Columnist

Where am I taking my humans today?

The Mister and the Missus have been way too engaged in that four letter word—work! So, to get them away from the day-to-day grind, and to appeal to their love of the beach and gastronomical adventures, we’re going to sniff out a new business that many of my Sandpoint pack have dreamed about for years!

Some of the City Beach Organics team (left to right): Rylie Edmondson, Will Edmondson, Jonathan Bostrom and Brianna Smith pose with Drake.

Betcha can’t guess this one.

•The owners have seven children ranging in age from 2 to 18

•Everyone in the family shares the passion for the business

•Some of the decorations are edible

•This place is the ONLY one of its kind in Sandpoint

•Polk salad is not available (sorry Elvis)

•TAILWAGGIN’ experiences are offered here

•Special seating for fur families

Stumped?

OK, here’s another one:

We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons.

Figured it out yet? Wait, wait, I sniff a tweet coming in. FruitJuiceFreddy got it!

We’re going to the new CITY BEACH ORGANIC EATERY, located at 117 N. First. And keep calm: It’s organic!

Owners Mandy and Bob Edmondson agree that this place is a foodie’s delight! The ambiance drools with fresh, high quality, homemade real food, with no preservatives, or additives. I asked Mandy why so many folks are seeking organic foods. She told me that they want to eat healthy and avoid synthetic toxins. The Straight Poop to eating healthy is to avoid foods that have a TV commercial!

Twelve years ago, the Edmondson family lived in northern California. Organic produce was delivered to their door. They learned how to use “weird” things in the kitchen, such as kumquats and fennel. Hence, their taste buds awakened and they all acquired a passion for cooking. Family time was filled creating various farm-to-table cuisine. Eventually they ended up buying a produce business, which morphed into a juice smoothie bar. After a few years, they sold the business to two employees and moved to North Idaho. Mandy and Bob had the dream of City Beach Organics as soon they saw the vacant storefront on First Avenue.

Fifteen months later, City Beach Organics opened its doors. Sandpoint is the perfect place to offer vegan and vegetarian options. Even a carnivore like me will find organic and humanely-raised meat selections. There are menu options to cater to everyone’s appetite and allergies: vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, and organic. Their daughter, Brylie (18), is the inspiration for the droolin’ good recipes. She has a gift of figuring everything out and then kicks it up a notch. Vegan friends and customers have given her ideas, and she also sniffs out foodie resources and tools online. Ah, feed our soul!

The Mister and Missus dined outside on breakfast wraps and lattes, while I sipped on cool water and munched on treats. Customers told me that the most popular items are the Aloha Smoothie, Swell Not Juice, cheesecake and house-made tea blends. Mandy’s favorite is the Mint Revival juice.  Eat in and take out are both good, and did I say dog friendly? Mandy and Bob’s furry family includes Nessie, a Lab German Shepherd mix, and a Black Lab named Mollie.

Wait for it. Wait for it. Go fetch huckleberry cheesecake and extended summer hours. Slurp it up, friends, the cuisine at City Beach Organics will appeal to all of your 10,000 taste buds. To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.