Boise

Goldy’s, Boise, 10/21/23

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exterior – 108 S Capitol Blvd, Boise, ID 83702

Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro opened in 1999 in downtown Boise.   It offers made-to-order breakfast using as many local ingredients as possible and lots of options for customizing your order.  With only 56 seats and taking no reservations, there is most always a line, but it moves quickly.  We got there early and were seated immediately.  There was a second floor with more metal tables and downstairs was a small semi circular bar with seating.  A tile floor was opposite the high ceiling on the first level where you could also see into part of the kitchen.  Lots of articles decorated the walls along with an interesting light fixture.  Parking is on the street and music is played in the background.  It served quality foods that were basically well prepared.  I would recommend it for breakfast or lunch. Continue reading →

Amano, Caldwell, ID., 10/20/23

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building – 702 Main St, Caldwell, ID 83605

Amano is owned by Chef Salvador Alamilla who was inspired to cook from watching his mother.  He started as a dishwasher and worked his way up to Executive Chef quickly and also spent time as house manager for several restaurants in Boise. In 2019 he opened Amano in downtown Caldwell, a 30 minute drive from Boise.  Since then he has been nominated twice for a James Beard Award.  It shows in the popularity of the large place.  The room was divided into sections set with small tables and various seating options.  The very high “plaster” ceiling was actually made of wood to look like plaster and music was in the background.  There was dining on the second floor also and a full bar with seats downstairs.  Our server stated that the bar squeezed their own juices so we did try one cocktail.   Service was friendly but not particularly efficient.  Overall the food was acceptable but not as inspiring as I’d hoped it would be. Continue reading →

Ansots Basque Chorizos, Boise, 10/20/23

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sign on building – 560 W Main St, Boise, ID 83702

Ansots was a medium-sized place set below street level.  Owned and operated by Dan(husband), Tamara (wife), and Ellie (daughter) Ansotegui.  Dan’s maternal grandmother was a seamstress by trade but became very well known for her cooking at the Basque boarding house she ran.  Famous folks like Ernest Hemingway and Bing Crosby were known to have eaten there and she has a small cookbook.  The evolution now has become Ansots  and the inside dining area is supplemented by patio tables and a second room which is also available for rental.  Lots of windows, photographs and musical decorations surround the pretty wood tables and chairs to make it feel homey and casual.   The food is all made in-house from family recipes and many of the plates are meant to be shared.  In addition, several of the plates were offered in half-size so we were able to try a lot of their options.   Service was efficient and super friendly as well as helpful.  This is a strong recommendation to put on your list to try. Continue reading →

KIN, Boise, 10/19/23

~ hsnixon ~ 1 Comment
sign outside – 999 W Main St Suite P101, Boise, ID 83702

KIN was a five course tasting with an optional beverage pairing or drinks from the full bar.  Each menu runs about 5 weeks and is unique and changes with the seasons along with being designed to reflect the art on display.  This season the art was by Esther Oppenheimer, another Boise resident.  The communal seating was at a long line of adjacent 2-top tables and the menu.  Due to the set-up they do not accept odd number party reservations.  Chef Kris Komori is a fan of the farm-to-table movement and works with the growing seasons of Idaho along with being active in his community.  His abilities won him the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mountain Region in 2023 after being a semi-finalist five times.  Next to the dining room was a lounge and a cocktail bar.  Various members of the kitchen staff introduced each course including Chef Komori who also came out to greet the diners after the meal.  Another member of the staff closed the evening with an acapello song.  It was a lovely evening and one you should reserve if you are in Boise.   One note was that the beverage pairings were very small pours so you might want to allow time for a drink in the bar first and the noise level made it hard to talk to your partner across the table. Continue reading →