Everything likes food. Trees. Plants. Whales. Dogs. Humans. It’s something everyone craves.

Some crave it for survival, others for enjoyment, and still more for both. Humans can either eat the same thing for their entire lives or continuously seek out new things to try. Some like the happy medium of a bit of both.

For those who delight in new dishes, there are local ways to discover them.

In 2010, Instagram was released and is now a tool used the world over to communicate. It uses pictures as its key piece and the user is able to add a caption or description if they choose.

Spokane has multiple accounts dedicated to the local culinary scene. @spokaneeats, @gatherandsavor and @spokaneglutenfreeeats are three of many.

@gatherandsavor was initially called @prodigiouseats. As an avid Jane Austen fan, Sarah Carleton loved how the word, which according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary means “causing amazement or wonder; extraordinary in bulk, quantity, or degree,” captured why she started the page. Alas, it didn’t communicate that to others and thus @gatherandsavor became the name of her adventure to share pictures of her meals “and see where it all went”.

“In choosing the name I wanted it to encompass much, the gathering, the connecting, the savoring of food and memories and it sure does,” Carleton said.

A personal connection with the community is what Carleton works toward. When you receive a response to a DM to @gatherandsavor, she’s who you’re talking to.

“I want to be the one interacting with the people,” she said.

The meals you see on Gather and Savor’s page are ones she’s paid for. Using money to vote is something she believes in. Her mission includes bringing “a greater awareness of the importance of eating and supporting local.”

Last week, Carleton hosted a workshop for local business women to connect and learn how they can build their connections and companies.

Want to learn more about how to gather so you can savor the food and community that Carleton encourages? Visit her Instagram page or website (https://gatherandsavor.com/).

@spokaneeats is run by Dan and Chandler Baird. This husband and wife team started the page and blog as a “creative outlet on a whim [that] took off almost immediately.” Food isn’t the only thing on their plate. Fashion, health, and the natural world surrounding Spokane all help to create the “Best Local instagram” according to the Inlander for the past two years.

A communications major in college, Baird found a passion for writing about food while she pursued her education.

“I studied abroad in college and that is where my journey in food writing really began” Chandler Baird said.

There is a blog they’ve paired with the Instagram page, http://spokaneeats.net/.

Mandy Mclver started @spokaneglutenfreeeats in 2017 as a way to share her growing knowledge of spots in Spokane where fellow celiacs can grab a bite. According to the Mayo Clinic, celiac disease, which can also be called celiac sprue or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is “an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.” Finding places to go out to is a task that’s not always easy, with some places calling themselves gluten free when gluten friendly is more appropriate. This is something Mclver believes should change so that those who avoid gluten can do so and still go out and enjoy a night on the town.

“What I love most about this is how many people tell me I am helping them and their families find safe and fun places to enjoy that understand Celiac disease and gluten intolerances,” Mclver said.

Want to find out where to head for gluten-free meals? There’s a website (https://spokanegfeats.weebly.com/) that goes with this Instagram page.

One of the local companies that has experienced the impact of these local accounts is the Sweet Dreams Cookie Company(@sweetdreamscookieco), owned and operated by Christina Lundin. They meet your cookie cravings where you are, literally.

Having an Instagram account has increased the company’s connection with the community. It’s also highlighted the positive environment of local businesses and the support that owners have for one another.

“A rising tide raises all ships, and the Spokane small business community is a wonderful example of that!” Lundin said.

To learn more about how to order from Sweet Dreams Cookie Company, you can go to their Instagram page or their website (https://sweetdreamscookiecompany.com/).

Community was a common theme for what fuels these local Instagram influencers. Baird moved to the area in 2014 and has fallen in love with her new home.

“People care so much about [Spokane] and they work diligently to make it a better place,” she said. “I’m constantly amazed by the talent, kindness, and diligence from local business owners.”

And it’s not always about the food. That taste of fellowship is what they crave.

“Of course all the amazing food I enjoy is a highlight but really it’s about the people and their stories that keeps me coming back for more,” Carleton said.

Food is a necessity, but can do so much more than fuel your physical body. The individuals behind these pages have found a way to use food as way to build friendships, businesses and lives filled with tastes and flavors of Spokane that only found on one’s plate.

As these local instagram foodies explore the tastes and flavors of Spokane, they’ve found numerous places that they adore and encourage others  to check out. Here are their suggestions. Enjoy!

@spokaneeats has two posts on her blog with tips for where to grab a bite without it taking one of your wallet.

Suggestions from @gatherandsavor for college students wanting to try a new restaurant:

Because being able to stay within a strict budget is likely a factor I recommend check out new places during their happy hour times. Not for the drinks (if you’re an underage college student of course) but for the deals they have on food. The portions are typically the same but the price is often significantly lower. Some restaurants have all day happy hour on certain days of the week for instance Downriver Grill on Wednesdays and Cascadia Public house on Sundays. Another suggestion for being able to go out but still protect that budget is to take some friends and share some dishes, simple as that.

Places @spokaneglutenfreeeats is loving right now are:

• The Melting Pot Spokane
• Wild Sage
• Wileys Downtown Bistro
• Coles Bakery
• Boots Bakery
• High Tide Lobster
• Cochinito Taqueria
• Method Juice Cafe