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[Page S4696]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING SNAKE RIVER GRILL
Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, small businesses make up a
significant portion of the retail and food services industry in my home
State of Idaho and around the country. In Idaho, small businesses
employ 68 percent of workers in the food services sector. As a member
and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship, I am proud to recognize Snake River Grill as the
Idaho Small Business of the Month for July 2019. Located in Hagerman,
Snake River Grill has provided exceptional service and quality food in
a welcoming environment for more than two decades.
Like many Idahoans, Kirt Martin fell in love with the beautiful
scenery and the genuine people in the Gem State and decided to call
Idaho home in 1988. Kirt served our country in Vietnam as a member of
the U.S. Navy and developed an appreciation for culinary practices
around the world during his tour of service.
After graduating from the College of Southern Idaho and Le Cordon
Bleu culinary school in Ottawa, Canada, Kirt capitalized on his
passions and opened Snake River Grill in 1995. As a third-generation
cook and an avid fisher and hunter, he uses his expertise in French
cuisine to put a unique spin on classic Idaho meals. Snake River Grill
offers dishes such as Idaho sturgeon, steelhead, trout, and alligator.
Chef Kirt uses locally sourced fish, game, and seasonal ingredients
from local farmers markets. Kirt hosts a weekly wild game dinner at his
restaurant, bringing specialty dishes to patrons from across the
region.
When he is not on the job, you can find Chef Kirt hunting and fishing
and spending time with his triplet sons, Daniel, Andrew, and Benjamin.
Kirt's wife, Carol, helps him run Snake River Grill and even makes all
of the homemade pies herself. Chef Kirt is often found catering events
and teaching cooking classes throughout the Magic Valley. He has been
known to teach at the College of Southern Idaho and Hagerman High
School, as well as overseas in Macau and Hong Kong. He starred in the
PBS Outdoor Channel television series, ``Cooking on the Wild Side,''
which featured hunting field trips through Idaho followed by lessons
from Kirt on how to cook wild game. He has authored cookbooks and
produced cooking videos so people everywhere can learn how to prepare
wild game.
The State of Idaho is proud to be a home for creative small
businesses like Snake River Grill. Chef Kirt's commitment to providing
unique meals and experiences allows his customers to enjoy an excellent
product produced in their own community. I would like to extend my
sincerest congratulations to Chef Kirt Martin, his wife Carol, and to
the employees of Snake River Grill for being selected as the July 2019
Idaho Small Business of the Month. You make our great State proud, and
I look forward to watching your continued growth and success.
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