Best cup of coffee Hailey Coffee Company Caffeine junkies agree, the best place to jumpstart the morning or rev up in the afternoon is Hailey Coffee Company. Fortunately for us at the Journal, it' s just a couple of blocks down the street. Hailey Coffee Company offers a variety of coffee drinks and teas and always has a few organically grown coffees available on the counter. From chai chargers to hot chocolate, you could spend a year just sampling all of the tasty concoctions. They also offer smoothies, muffins, scones, desserts and other breakfast and lunch items. Built in an old house, the ambience of Hailey Coffee Company makes it a perfect place to relax with friends on the couch or meditate over work projects while sipping a nice warm cup of joe. Combine all of the above with an exceptionally friendly staff and out-going new owners Carrie and David Morgridge and it' s easy to see why readers voted Hailey Coffee Company the best in the Valley. Other great places for coffee include Zaney' s and Java, which came in second and third. Best restaurant for seafood Chester & Jake' s Walking into Chester & Jake' s you' ll feel like you have just stepped into a seaside shanty abutting the Pacific Coast. Decorated with pictures of fishing trips, fishing nets and other oceanic memorabilia, it is certainly the atmosphere for the Valley' s best seafood. And, of course, the food is what really makes waves. Chester & Jakes offers counter service and has worked hard to establish a high level of consistency and quality. Most of the seafood is imported fresh from brokers in Seattle. A daily lunch special combo of chips, fish and chowder is an all-time favorite. The giant oysters also work like a lighthouse beacon to deliver customers in from the streets. With a variety of dinner specials also available, as well as a large selection of beer and wine, it' s no wonder Chester & Jake' s earns bragging rights as the best place to get seafood. Next time you' re down in Bellevue and have a hunkering for fish and chips, you should definitely pay Chester & Jake' s a visit. Be sure and say hi to Uncle Turval, the funky little troll near the register who journeyed to the Valley from a Norway skiing trip. Zou 75 and Ketchum Grill, voted second and third respectively, are also great catches for seafood. Best restaurant for vegetarians Globus In a town where steaks and burgers are as common as skiers, Globus' vegetarian selection is a mountain all its own. Offering a variety of meatless choices, such as vegetable shumai, Thai green curry, pad Thai, steamed dumplings and cucumber salad, Globus is the best place for dinner if you don' t want meat, but do want a variety of options to choose from. The menu also changes seasonally. Globus is open for dinner and also features a variety of fine wines, beers, desserts and takeout. All dishes are Asian gourmet and the atmosphere is serene and relaxing. Described as “where East meets West,” a dining experience at Globus is certainly one to remember. Next in line as the best vegetarian venue was Sawtooth Club and Fresshies came in third. Best Mexican restaurant Mama Inez After 20 years in the Wood River Valley, Mama Inez is still going strong, winning out once again this year as the best place for Mexican cuisine. Each dish is a colorful pallet, with chili Colorado, chicken Monterey, crab and shrimp Monterey, carnitas and Spanish chicken topping the list of favorites among patrons. Rodolfo' s Custom Cuts not only cuts up on steaks and chops, but will also do wild game cutting if you call ahead. The restaurant is located in Bellevue with a beautifully redone interior of The Bank Bar, complete with tin tile ceiling and railroad rail running the length of the bar. The restaurant has 12 different beers on tap and all the favorite Mexican imports. Thanks to Mama Inez, sipping a Corona while enjoying savory Mexican fare can occur far from sandy Cancun beaches, even under the wintry envelope of the Wood River Valley. Desperados and Chapala were hot on the heels of Mama Inez, with Desperados coming in second and Chapala a close third. Best Italian restaurant Il Naso Il Naso-that' s amore. Italians are known for their love of food and people who love Italian food love Il Naso. Judging from Il Naso' s menu and dining atmosphere, it' s a little slice of Italy in Ketchum. One frequent patron described the atmosphere as a “quaint” Italian venue. It' s perfect for a traditional large and lavish Italian meal with a group of friends or an intimate date. The restaurant features a variety of specialty ravioli; duck ravioli is one of the current favorites. The beet salad is said to be “to die for” and fit for a member of the Medici family. Everything is homemade. If you' re not feeling up to an entire meal, Il Naso is also the perfect place to enjoy a salad and appetizer with a glass of wine. Baci was voted as the second best place for Italian and CIRO came in third. Best Asian restaurant A Taste of Thai Thinking of going to Thailand on vacation? Dreaming of all those delicious curries and noodles to be had from roadside stalls and street food vendors? You can do that, or you can save yourself $800 because at A Taste of Thai in Hailey the food is just as good. Fully equipped with a lengthy list of available appetizers, salads, soups, stir fried dishes, curries and fried rice dishes, there' s no way anyone could go to Taste of Thai and not find something to eat. The difficult part is deciding what to try from the scrumptious selection. The incredibly reasonable and substantially portioned lunch menu items, such as Pad Thai, cashew chicken and curries and dinner specialty items including Thai barbecue chicken and the seafood platter keep customers coming back. The atmosphere is clean and casual and the service is always top-notch. A Taste of Thai is an optimal choice of lunch or dinner dining by yourself or with a group and definitely deserving of its title as the best Asian restaurant in the Valley. Shanghai came in second in this category and Silver Dragon was voted in at third. Best place for sushi Zou 75 If sushi' s your gig, you better know Zou. Last year Zou 75 won for best seafood and best place for a date. This year the restaurant comes in at number one for the best sushi in the Valley. With a huge selection of specialty rolls, fresh fish and a variety of dipping sauces, Zou 75 is always a new experience for the sushi connoisseur. Judging from the outside of the building, you may not expect the atmosphere awaiting within, which has a candlelit, stay awhile feel perfect for sipping sake and talking with a date or friends. Customers can sit at the bar and witness the artistic and professional sushi chefs as they make some of the most elaborate and intricate sushi creations, such as The Hickey, “on your plate not on your neck,” which is filled with Hickey Foods' Cajun-smoked trout, garlic-chive crème fraiche, cucumber, avocado and crispy onions. It' s so popular; you' re only guaranteed a table with reservations. If you' re coming with a group of people, there' s a private room available behind the traditional Japanese paper screen. Sushi on Second and Osaka were hot on the heels of Zou 75 in this category. Best pizza in the valley South Valley Pizzeria You may have come to the Wood River Valley from Chicago, New York or Italy and think you know everything there is to know about pizza. But, what you may not have known is that South Valley Pizzeria has over 14 gourmet pizza selections with enough topping combinations to satisfy every pizza aficionado' s needs. The Prima Vera Veggie and Green Tomato pizzas are great for veggie lovers and for meat lovers there' s the Wood River Supreme and the Carnivore-to name just a few. If you can' t find the exact topping combination you want from the gourmet pizza selection, you can build your own pizza from a variety of meat, cheese, vegetable and pizza sauce choices. These toppings run the gamut from snow peas to black beans and the five sauces allow for a consortium of pizza options. Salads, appetizers, pastas and sandwiches are also available. Whatever you' re pizza needs; there' s no doubt you can find it at the Valley' s best pizza joint-South Valley Pizzeria. Wiseguy Pizza Pie and Smoky Mountain Pizza came in second and third respectively. Best place for a burger & fries Grumpy' s If you had to choose between going to a deserted island where you could entirely escape the outside world or coming to Sun Valley, which would you choose? Don' t think so hard. You can' t be reached at Grumpy' s. Established as a burger, fries and beer joint in the early days of Sun Valley, the restaurant has always been a place for ski bums to sail right off the mountain to good eats without being bothered. What they don' t have at Grumpy' s is a phone. What they do have is the best burgers in town. The burgers are huge, fast and fresh and the atmosphere is laidback and local. Add a glass of beer big enough to snorkel in and there you have it-your own island right in Sun Valley, just don' t bring your cell phone. Lefty' s and Mahoney' s were voted as the second and third best places for a burger and fries in the Valley. Best place for an Idaho potato Pioneer Saloon If knowing the Pioneer Saloon has won best place for an Idaho potato once again doesn' t convince you, go and see for yourself. No, in fact, bring your whole family, order just one, and you' ll probably all be full. These potatoes have no rival. They are huge and delicious, served with sour cream and chives and baked to perfection. If the state of Idaho ever needs a potato mascot, it will surely be found at the Pioneer. We' re even willing to bet the potato on the Idaho license plates would step down, admitting a Pioneer baker deserves the honor. Best bakery Bigwood Bread With an “eat close to the source” philosophy, Bigwood Bread constructs their artisan loaves using only organic, whole-grain flours, filtered water, sea salt and a natural leavening process called “pain au levain,” which translates to “leavened bread.” The long, slow fermentation that goes into their braided, celebratory Challah, their tight-textured baguettes, their ciabata, campagne, and sourdough loaves, makes them easily digestible, nutrient packed and delicious. They also offer multi-grain, olive, pecan raisin, rosemary garlic and potato variations, along with a very special offering called Vitagrain which includes polenta, barley, steel-cut oats, millet, flax, poppy and sunflower seeds, and honey. Whether devoured on-site at 270 Northwood in Ketchum, or hauled home either from their own store or from several grocers in the valley, Bigwood' s beautiful breads have proven themselves valley-wide favorites. Perry' s and Cristina' s followed close behind in the vote. Best restaurant wine list diVine The place to relax and enjoy something fit for stemware is diVine according to our readers' palates. The cozy atmosphere and well-stocked walls of this intimate boutique restaurant are as inviting your living room. And, unless you have your own sommelier and chef at home, diVine is the better choice. With over 400 bottles to please any palate from juicy, crisp citrus to restrained smoky oak, and a small kitchen at your beck and call to prepare exquisite soups, salads, appetizers and light meals, you can focus on the conversation at hand. You can also engage your immediate company in a game of chess. Runners for this popular category include Sun Valley Wine Company and Michel' s Christiania. Best restaurant for kids Wiseguy Pizza Pie Pizza is always a favorite with kids and Wiseguy is particularly yummy in the eyes of the younger set. The place not only serves up a great NY style pie, but also serves as a casual gathering place where kids can feel comfortable and adults can enjoy a glass of wine or beer with their slice. The patio at their new location on Main St. next to KB' s is also a nice place to hang when the weather' s good, especially for kids. The great pizza debate aside, families found Wiseguy their first choice for family dining, followed closely by Smoky Mountain Pizza and the Full Moon. Best place to celebrate your anniversary Lodge Dining Room According to our readers, you can' t go wrong with the gorgeous atmosphere, the crisp white linens, the crystal chandeliers and the impeccable staff manners in the Sun Valley Lodge Dining Room. This second floor jewel, with wide-open views and talented pianist in the background is a most appropriate choice for celebrating anniversaries of any variety, whether the first or the fiftieth. Sophisticated and simple palates alike will find appetizers, entrees and desserts perfect for the occasion. Sunday brunch is legendary, offering meat and egg dishes along with a glorious selection of fruits, breads and sweet delights. A gift in itself, our readers chose the glamorous Lodge Dining Room as the place they would go to celebrate any anniversary. CK' s and Felix' s were next on the list. Best place for breakfast The Kneadery The clutter, the clatter and the chatter are testimony to the popularity of this homey spot known for great breakfast served up all day long. With a bevy of creatures looking down from the walls and an army of tables, the atmosphere is quirky and casual, and the food downright delish. The spot at 260 Leadville in Ketchum often has a line spilling out the door, so get there early to claim your four-top during rush hour breakfasts on Sundays. The Rustic Moose and Jesse' s Country Grill also got kudos from breakfast fans. Best lunch spot Perry' s It' s a tradition and it' s no wonder why. Keith and Paula Perry do their thing with muffins, deli selections and kid pleasers on a daily basis, serving up quick, yummy meals to a crowd every day, all day. For 21 years the Perry' s have done so at their 1st Avenue and 4th Street location with no plans anytime soon of a change. They' re good. They' re fast. They' re great. Our readers gave them the vote, but also recognized Wrapcity and Fresshies as runners up. Best bar or nightclub Whiskey Jacques' The place to go it you want to be seen, and possibly be seen with celebs and ski instructors, is Whiskey' s. It' s also the place for live music and dancing, with a fireplace seating area rest stop for those needing a break from the action. Live music on the way in the next few weeks includes Kamphire Collective, $oul Purpo$e, 8TraC, Jerry Joseph and Big Black Cadillac. Dollar nights on Sundays with DJ Frosty and Tuesdays with DJ McLain are sure bets. The Casino and The Mint came in close behind. Best beer selection Sun Valley Brewery Sean Flynn can do hops like nobody' s business. His magic from the taps at the Sun Valley Brewing Company covers a lot of ground, from the pale to the dark, from the ale to the lager, there are selections for a wide variety of tastes, and they' re all good. Year 21 and going strong, SVBC also has a good, casual menu with terrific sandwiches, nachos and salads. A popular stop for game-watching and just plain fun, this Main St. Hailey fixture is a given. The Cellar Pub and Whiskey Jacques numbered two and three on our voters' lists. Best local band Kim Stocking Kim Stocking has been making music most of her life, and enjoying every minute of it. She has a community-minded spirit and a whole-hearted performance style that does more than just entertain. Her band regularly performs throughout the valley at events like the Northern Rockies Folk Festival, the Wicked Spud' s Back Alley weekday concerts and Bellevue' s Fourth of July in the park. She' s the first to throw her white cowboy hat into the ring when benefits appear on the horizon, volunteering in a number of capacities. She works with Valley Entertainment at the Mint as well. The valley loves Kim and her music, but also voted appreciation for Bruce Innes as the number two music-maker and the Maladies as number three. Best bartender Matt Gorby Matt' s been pouring drinks for valley residents for about 12 years now and has won this award before due to his style: “I treat everybody the way I would like to be treated.” He said he has been privileged to work with the “greatest bartenders on the planet” but may find less time to spend on mixology as he' s a new dad and has started his own Web design firm. His signature drink, the Shamrock Shake, is made with vodka, Kahlua, crème de menthe, white crème de cocoa and dairy cream. It has been given a thumbs up from his clientele, especially a group of French kids working for Sun Valley, who call it simply a “special shot.” Find Matt at the Casino or at Whiskey' s, and congratulate him with a toast! Craig Spiller and Karen Roebuck were next on the list. Best server Stefany Mahoney What makes a good server? It' s more than just taking and order. Stefany serves up good food along with a good word for the patrons at Mahoney' s in Bellevue, owned by husband Shaun. Her easy, sociable manner and her accurate delivery of the goods, along with a smile, got her the vote this year. Chrissy at Desperados and Cindy at the Full Moon were voted into the number two and three spots. Best chef Scott Mason, Ketchum Grill Like most good things, Scott Mason comes from Oregon. And also like most good things, he has staying power. Maybe that' s why the Ketchum Grill, which Mason owns, is such a quality place. And maybe also, it' s why Mason is our Readers' choice for best chef in the Wood River Valley. The restaurant has been around for 15 years, a remarkable achievement in an area where restaurants come and go with the frequency of a Southwest airplane. And through that time, Mason has been in the back, cooking up masterpieces for locals and celebrities alike at his eatery in downtown Ketchum. “Being a chef is not just about cooking,” he says. “Human relations, organizingŠ” He' s worked in the same restaurant as chef and owner so long because, he says, he simply likes the friendly atmosphere. “There' s a lot of good people who work here,” he says. And if you still don' t believe Mason is the best chef in the Wood River valley, take a look at Snow Country magazine, which said this about the food: One of the eight best ski town restaurants whose food rivaling Manhattan' s best. Umm, I' m hungry. Chris Kasner, of CK' s and Mike Diem of East Avenue Bistro round out the top three. Best caterer Lorna Kolash “Well of course,” Kolash says, when asked if she' s surprised to win best caterer in an area full of caterers. “Gosh, I' m just overwhelmed by that, really. I just do what people want me to do.” And that' s precisely why she' s taking home this sought-after award, as her main quality is thoroughness and flexibility, as she must deal with customers who want it their way and done with quality. “I' ve been catering for Sun Valley aviation, doing private and corporate. I do what it takes. I' ve been working for them for probably 25 years.” And don' t expect Kolash to stop anytime soon, as her home kitchen is her office, complete with a brick oven. “I' ll do it as long as I hold out,” she says. “I' m just beside myself. I am just speechless.” Cristina' s and Omlay' s also proved popular with voters. Best local entertainer Mike Murphy In the movie Goodfellas, there' s a classic scene between Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta Liotta turns to Pesci after a wisecrack and yells, “you' re a funny guy!” Well, though Ketchum, Idaho is far from this scene, we have our own funny guy, and he calls himself Mike Murphy. Murphy, who says he has a pile of these awards in his drawer (24, in fact), can be found every Tuesday and Wednesday doing a comedy show at the Boiler Room in Sun Valley. “I do shows, private parties. I' m doing a show for the Orthopedic Canines of America soon,” Murphy says. And maybe that' s the key for his consecutive winning streak: always stay busy. Well, no matter what, when you see Murphy around town, there' s always one thing you can say. “You' re a funny guy!” Coming in second was Cheryl Morrell and third was Kim Stocking. Best free entertainment Ketch' em Alive What' s the best way to spend a Tuesday night in the summer in downtown Ketchum? How about bringing a blanket, your own bottle of wine and a special someone to watch bands from all over the country rock out. That' s exactly what Ketch' em Alive is. Every Tuesday starting around 6:30 p.m., Forest Service park fills up with families, friends and music enthusiasts to listen to beats ranging from African drums to folk music. And, even if you' re not a music fan, it' s still a good way to see old friends while not having to pay a penny. And what do you do when it' s over and your pockets are full of money that you saved from the free entertainment? How about going to Whiskey Jacques' , where most of the crowd ends up, as it' s also beer night. Ah, Tuesday nights in Ketchum in the summer. The Sun Valley Summer Symphony came in second, and we loved the submission of “Watching cars without snow tires drive through Ketchum.” PEOPLE, PLACES & POLITICS-2006 Best boss Carol Waller Carol Waller is the Sun Valley/Ketchum Chamber of Commerce executive director, and she had no idea her peers would vote her as best boss in our Readers' Choice contest. “Are you serious?” she asks, obviously multi-tasking with phones and people talking in the background. “Can I call you back?” Sure you can, but only if you have time, something Waller probably doesn' t have a lot of. The positive leader is often the voice and face of our little town when national media need a sound bite. In fact, last year USA Today ran a story where Waller was quoted talking about the layout of the town and street names and parking. Her response was: “The intent is to make it better for all of the city and not to make it negatively impact anyone.” We' re thinking that' s how she won this award, as the more people like Waller in the world, the more we can get done. You also told us Bryan Furlong and Cassie Jones are great to work for. Best educator Larry Barnes Larry Barnes loves his job. Larry Barnes loves helping kids. That combination is what led Barnes, a biology teacher at Wood River High School, to win this award. “There' s a lot of good teachersŠ” Barnes said upon hearing of his award. That might be true, but not all teach electives, zoology and advanced biology with the passion that Barnes does, “I guess the students say I' m organized, rigorous,” Barnes says, when forced to explain how he might' ve won. “I' m very much engaged in my topic, I love my topic. I love the subject matter, though I' m sure there' s plenty anxious not to have me again.” That might be true, as he is a biology teacher, which makes the award that much more impressive. “I just love being able to teach something I love,” he says. “Some days it feels like I' m teaching, but other days it' s like ‘ wow! They' re paying me for this?' “ With teachers like Barnes, it' s likely more students would be interested in biology. We never did find runner-up Prof. Williams-Spanish teacher, and third place went to Assistant Superintendent Mary Gervase. Best coach Willie Felton There are a lot of good coaches in the Wood River Valley. For example, Lane Kirkland from Carey, who guided his eight-man football team to a state championship. Or last year' s winner, Mike Glenn, who' s overhauled the football team at Wood River high school in just his second year on the job. But this year' s winner, as voted by the community, was won by Community School JV girls basketball coach Willie Felton. “Whoa, it feels great,” he said. “I didn' t even know there was such a thing (Readers Choice contest).” Coaching at a school like Community School means dealing with low turnout and teaching fundamentals without expecting a ton of wins in return, something Felton realizes. “We just want them to have a good time, to enjoy themselves,” Felton says. “They did a really good job improving, I think because they were enjoying themselves. The goal is to have a good time and we want everybody to get lots of playing time.” And how did he think he won the award as a JV coach? “I was very open to their ideas,” Felton said. “When they said ‘ let' s go to a full-court press,' I said ‘ why not?' “ Felton' s JV squad went 3-8 last year. “The record is secondary for the JV program,” Felton said. Dave Bingham and Mike Glenn proved popular with their athletes and fans as well. Best athlete Alexa Turzian How do you name just one best athlete in an area where everybody competes? Well, this year it was a pretty obvious choice, as Alexa Turzian was the fastest Nordic skier in the entire United States. For all age levels. Did we mention she' s a senior in high school and was competing against former and future Olympians? “I think that' s crazy,” Turzian says, “I never expected that many people to pay attention. That' s crazy, that' s so cool.” You see, Turzian is a humble 18-year-old whose parents should get a lot of credit for the humility their daughter possesses. Remember, she was featured in the New York Times, played soccer on Wood River high school' s state play-off team, plays tennis, alpine skis, road bikes and is going to attend Middlebury college next fall. We didn' t ask her coach, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Director Rick Kapala about this specific award won by his prodigy, because we knew he wouldn' t be able to stop gushing about her qualities, which read something like this: tremendous work ethic, driven, smart, good kid, level-headed and dominant. It' s those qualities that not only won her award, but are sure to win her many more in her bright future. “I like the sense of community,” Turzian said. “I just think this is so cool!” Lauren Morenthaler and Devan Annan also have quite the fan base. Best religious leader Bob Henley Bob Henley, as you' d expect, was humbled by wining the award as best religious leader in the Wood River valley. “I have absolutely no idea” why people would vote for me, he says. “I have no idea. It' s nice recognition.” Henley has been in ministry for 40 years and is the current pastor at the church of the Big Wood in Ketchum. “It' s an affirmation and you have to appreciate it very much,” he says. “It' s a nice affirmation.” Leading a church as big as his, it' s hard to keep everybody happy, but it' s something Henley has done with skill and grace over time. “I' m just happy to be thought of this way,” he said. Mike Hendrix and Wendy Collins too demonstrated faithful followers. Best location for people watching Baldy If you' re like me, you love to look at people. That' s why you wear dark sunglasses, right? Not to sound too much like a creeper, but there aren' t many things in life better than pulling up a chair in a crowded area and watching people. Look, those people over there are fighting! Look, that person only has one eyebrow! We all do it, whether it' s in a mall, at a restaurant or on TV (why do you think reality television is such a big hit?). Locally, you the reader informed us that the best place to stare at people is Baldy, and you couldn' t have been more right. The lodges are perfect for being anonymous while staring at people. The lifts are even better, as you can look down on the mountain and comment on people' s skiing techniques, sometimes voicing your opinion. People from all over the world congregate in places like River Run Lodge or Warm Springs Lodge, making it perfect for us people watchers to sit back and relax. And watch. Ketch' em Alive and the Pioneer are also great places to check out the sights and put out the vibe. readers choice, journal, wood river, the journal, the, choice, readers, best, best in the valley, valley, ketchum, people watching, food, restaurant, dining, shopping, mexican, bellevue, hailey, sun valley, pizza, hamburger, bar, night life, religious, local, mountain, cook, price, deal