Savor Idaho

You Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Menu at Cucina di Paolo

Idaho Wines — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:34:34 +0000

It was during his sojourn in Italy that Paul Wegner realized that his perception of Italian cuisine as a boy from small town Idaho was a pale reflection of the genuine article. “The culture of food and wine is what Italy is all about, and I was in absolute shock and awe of the simplicity of Italian cuisine, and at the complexity it achieved by using the food for what it was meant to be, and not some grandiose production. It was just really good, simple food – and I couldn’t get enough of it.”

The Chocolat Bar: Can You Smell the Love?

Idaho Wines — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:32:27 +0000

The Chocolat Bar’s mission can best be described has bringing the true experience of chocolate to its grateful customers. “Chocolate makes people happy, and when you have a high quality chocolate, you enjoy the experience even more. We use 100 percent chocolate with high cocoa content and all the cocoa butter that should be there to create a quality experience,” says owner Chris Preston.

La Cantina Sociale

Idaho Wines — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:30:22 +0000

The most immediate way to connect with the culinary possibilities that line the shelves of La Cantina Sociale is to simply come in with a dinner dilemma. In my case, it was to put on a meal that would resemble something Mama Veneziano might have set in front of me in Motta San Anastasia – in under 20 minutes! Under Giuseppe’s guidance, my shopping basket was full in a matter of minutes, and I had my marching orders.

The Brick Oven Bistro: 25 Years…But Who’s Counting?

Idaho Wines — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:28:00 +0000

For 25 years, the Brick Oven Bistro has been a culinary fixture in the downtown Boise scene. And while its menu has evolved toward toward “new adventures in comfort food”, one thing has remained consistent: slow food served quickly using “from scratch” recipes, and served in an environment as unpretentious as the kitchen table at home.

Bar Gernika Keeps Faith

Idaho Wines — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:23:34 +0000

On January 1, 2008, Jeff and Stephanie May became the owners of a restaurant that is equal parts pub, cultural icon, and historical landmark: Bar Gernika. As its owners, Jeff and Stephanie have become the keepers of a flame that was kindled back in 1991, when Bar Gernika’s previous owner, Dan Ansotegui, first opened the restaurant in what would eventually become Boise’s Basque Block.

Vive Le Cafe de Paris!

Idaho Wines — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:16:14 +0000

Le Café de Paris follows the model of a French bistro rather than the more “hoity-toity” stereotype that Americans often have of a classic French restaurant. As owner Mathieu Choux explains, “What I’m trying to do is casual French food. What I do at Café de Paris is mix three things to fit in the same place – a bakery, bar, and a restaurant. We try to do a nice presentation with our food, but it’s not overdone. Good food doesn’t have to be all fancied up.”

Michael Mohica Brings the Islands to Boise

Idaho Wines — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:14:40 +0000

Close your eyes and listen to the gentle sounds of the surf in the background as Michael Mohica whispers in your ear, “our kalua pig is just as you would find it in someone’s backyard, cooked for 12 to18 hours, seasoned only with salt and pepper. It’s the smokiness and steam that keeps it moist and flavorful; it falls off the bone.” Michael, you had us at “slow cooked”.

Homestead Natural Foods Returns to Greener Pastures

Idaho Wines — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:12:33 +0000

Homestead Natural Food’s approach to a more sustainable and healthy food supply is to begin with the soil itself. “We’re all of us grass farmers first, and beef and poultry is the by-product,” says 6th generation Idaho rancher Ed Wilsey. “My granddad always said, “take care of the land and it will take care of you. We’ve cut our soil erosion down to practically nothing – our animals don’t take anything out that they don’t put back in.”

Bella Aquila: The Eagle Has Landed

Idaho Wines — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:10:37 +0000

It’s early evening in late May, and you’re sitting on the patio of Bella Aquila Ristorante Romantico. Just repeat the name to yourself and it might as well be the setting sun in Tuscany warming your face. As it is, the fragrance of cottonwood trees and the sonorous voice of a nearby river remind you that where you are is every bit as romantic as any fantasy you could entertain. The tenor of a waterfall forms an audio canvas for Old Blue Eyes’ rendition of “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”.

Burgers on the Side: The Boise Fry Co. Story

Idaho Wines — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:07:06 +0000

“Fries with burgers on the side.” It’s a clever little marketing tag that begs a larger question: why would anyone create a restaurant concept that makes a leading man out of America’s favorite culinary sidekick, the humble french fry? For Blake Lingle, co-founder of Boise Fry Co., the answer is simple. He just wanted a great fry.