[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 113 (Monday, July 8, 2019)]
[Senate]
[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.

                          ____________________