European cuisine is the specialty of Wooden Shoe Restaurant, scheduled to open Saturday at 306 N. Spokane St., Post Falls. With seats for 53 customers at tables, a bar and in an atrium, the mini-mall site formerly housed the Milltown Grill.

A native of Holland, owner and chef Jan Dirk van der Kolk went to a culinary school there and worked in Switzerland, Austria and Spain. He moved to the U.S. in 2002 after visiting a friend here and married his wife who was his boss where he cooked in a home for elderly people.

"We will serve the most popular dishes from Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Holland, France, Ireland and Russia," he said. "We'll also have American food, all home-cooked. A specialty from Holland will be poffertjes, a small kind of pancake with powdered sugar."

The Wooden Shoe will begin with breakfast and lunch, opening at 6 a.m., and add dinner when it gets its license for beer and wine.

"We'll have wines that correspond with the dishes from those countries," Dirk said. "The only wine I cannot find is from Ireland."

He will begin with four employees and add more when the beer/wine license is approved.

Good Pickins opens on Fourth

A wide variety of thrift store items are available at Good Pickins, now open at 802 Fourth St., Coeur d'Alene. The inventory includes collectibles, gifts, antiques, furniture, arts and crafts and scrapbook specialties. Restaurant gift cards are given with purchases.

Many items are from monthly vendors who rent spaces, and more are needed, according to owner Melanie Browand, a native of Smelterville in the Silver Valley. The 3,000-square-foot store offers 10-by-10-foot spaces. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday by appointment. Phone 664-2729.

Cd'A Reporting on Front Avenue

Specializing in court reporting, CDA Reporting has opened in Suite 215 of the Bank of America building at 401 Front Ave., Coeur d'Alene.

Services include depositions, transcripts, hyperlinked exhibits, videographies and freelance court reporters for courtroom proceedings, arbitrations, public hearings, meetings and telephone conferences. The business has two conference rooms, one with views of Lake Coeur d'Alene and Tubbs Hill.

Owners and court reporters Valerie Nunemacher and Keri Veare met while students at legal-based Humphreys College in Stockton, Calif. They moved to their new location from Wallace Avenue where they had been for two years. Jackie Stefani is their administrative assistant. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Phone 765-3666. Check www.cdareporting.com.

Rep. Labrador opens Cd'A office

Congressman Raul Labrador has opened an office to serve Idaho's five northern counties in Suite 243 at 1250 Ironwood Drive. Regional Director Aaron Calkins and assistant Judy Morbeck offer citizen access and receive assistance from federal agencies and represent Labrador in local communities.

"We engage in efforts in which the federal government is involved and help the congressman remain on top of issues and news in the region," Calkins said.

Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Phone 667-0127.

Here's this week's tidbits:

• Last week we hinted at new yogurt and bakery businesses. They aren't quite ready for publicity.

• We'll have details soon about a new restaurant-martini bar in downtown Coeur d'Alene and a new tavern-brewery in Post Falls.

• Sahara Pizza in Hayden has closed. The one in Post Falls remains open.

• Now four weeks into school, the Culinary Arts Deli at North Idaho College is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, and Emery's Restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the same days. The new menu has seven items from $5 to $6. Phone 769-7763 for reservations.

• Watch for news on three new businesses on Fourth Street and a hookah tavern on Government Way.

• Contact Nils Rosdahl at nrosdahl@cdapress.com.