Richard’s Re-Opens in Boise!

11 Saturday Feb 2017

Posted by Bob and Robin in Boise Farmers Market, Boise Food Adventures, Boise Restaurants, Buy Idaho, Celebrations, Chef Richard Langston, Classic Cuisines, Comfort Food, Cooking Styles, Dinner At Richard's, Food Photos, Idaho Chefs, Idaho Greens, Idaho Trout, Idaho Vegetables, Idaho Wine, Inn At 500 Capitol, Local Markets, Party Time, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Richard's, What's For Dinner?

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Chef Richard Langston, Inn At 500 Capitol, Richard's

Yes! Chef Richard Langston has re-opened his restaurant at the Inn At 500 Capitol, Richard’s Restaurant. We were lucky enough to attend the grand opening and it was fantastic. The Inn At 500 Capitol is a superb hotel, and you can get information about it by following this link Inn At 500 Capitol. It is located at 500 South Capitol Boulevard, Boise, Idaho, 83702 USA. (208) 227-0500. (Left Click any of these photos to see them enlarged.

Wines that were offered

Conference room. Notice the lighting. Made in Boise. Art Glass.

Tables and flowers.

Table centerpiece and wines!

The balcony looking at Boise.

Richard’s bar.

An open kitchen in the dinning area is always interesting.

Appetizers – Squash Bruschetta

Ham and Cheese on Rosemary Focaccia.

Trout on Endive Leaves.

Caprese

3 Horse Ranch Vineyards Wine Dinner at Bella Aquila

01 Wednesday Feb 2017

Posted by Bob and Robin in 3 Horse Ranch Vineyards, 5-Stars, Appetizers, Arugula, Asparagus, BBQ Beef, Bella Aquila, Carrots, Chocolate, Dinner With Robin, Dinner With The Winemaker, Eagle Hills AVA, Food Photos, Green Salad, Local Harvests, Photos By: Bob Young, Salmon, Special Dinners, What's For Dinner?, Wine Dinners, Wines - Idaho

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Bella Aquila Restaurante in Eagle, ID sponsored the 3 Horse Ranch Vineyards wine dinner. A full 6 course dinner was served with as many 3 Horse Vineyards wines. The participation was superb and the crowd enjoyed themselves. It was good to see the Cunninghams again – it has been a while. They are the owners of the winery. Also they have added Brandon St-Martin to their staff as the winery manager. Just look at this menu. (You can Left-Click any of these photos to see them enlarged.)

Gary Cunningham, owner of 3 Horse Ranch Vineyards, talks to the crowd.

Brandon St-Martin, Manager

The menu. Look what you missed!

Passed Appetizers.

Arugula Leaf Salad tossed with White Pear Vinaigrette, Fresh Pear, Polenta Croutons and Truffle Cheddar Cheese

Baked Idaho Trout with a Strawberry Beurre Rouge, Roasted Almond Rice Pilaf and Asparagus

Braised Leg of Lamb servedx over Creamy Risotto

Braised Leg of Lamb served over Creamy Risotto

Pepper Crusted Smoked Flat Iron Steak, Bourbon Glaze, Twice Baked Fingerling Potato and Baby Carrot

Chocolate Lava Cake with Raspberry Coulis

The Chefs are congratulated on a meal well done! Bella Aquila Manager is in the background.

Very good 2014 Vivacious™ wine.

Good Snowy Weather To Make Sauerkraut! Here’s How.

04 Wednesday Jan 2017

Posted by Bob and Robin in Boise Farmers Market, Cabbage, Canning, Captain's Shack, Classic Cuisines, Comfort Food, Food Photos, German Food, Homemade Sauerkraut, Idaho Pork, Idaho Potatoes, Idaho Vegetables, Local Markets, Main Dish, Oktoberfest, Photos By: Bob Young, Pork, Pork Tenderloin, What's For Dinner?

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There have been many people asking how to make their own sauerkraut. Well here is a great link – Kraut In A Jar or the entire site by Holly Howe, Make Sauerkraut. Both resources are superb and chock full of some great information from recipes to keeping the kraut from going bad.

This photo is from Holly’s site and some kraut she made in a jar.

Shredding the cabbage using a mandoline. See the belnd of red and white cabbage. 4 heads of white cabbage to 2 medium heads of red cabbage. Nice color blends.

Shredding the cabbage using a mandoline. See the blend of red and white cabbage. 4 heads of white cabbage to 2 medium heads of red cabbage. Nice color blends.

Enjoy the links I have listed and have some fun and make some sauerkraut. Let us know how it comes out! Make a pork roast in the oven. Add to that some mashed potatoes – Idaho potatoes of course – and some of your fresh made sauerkraut and you’ll have a great meal. Wash it all down with a good Spaten. Think of this dinner for Oktoberfest. We just put up 14 pints of kraut. Cheers!

Pork mit Kraut

New Years Eve and 2017, Day Two

03 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by Bob and Robin in Appetizers, Bacon, Basil, Buddy, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Celebrations, Dinner At The Captains Shack, Dinner For Robin, Eggs, Falls Brand Bacon, Food Photos, Heirloom Onions, Herbs, Herbs and Spices, Idaho Eggs, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Scallops, Sea Scallops, Seafood, Shell Fish, Shrimp, What's For Dinner?

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Snow! Cold! Great time to stay inside by the fireplace. Snow keeps falling. Lots of food. Seafood mostly for New Years Eve. Then vegetarian – roasted spaghetti squash. Look. And look, too, at the wonderful Beef Wellington that Chris and Anna made. Awesome!

New Years Eve

Shrimp
Bacon Wrapped Scallops
Rice and Cheese Balls
Deviled Eggs
Variety of Wines

2017 Day Two

Baked Spaghetti Squash
Steamed Cabbage and Onion
Roasted Herbed Tomatoes

And then, check this out! Chris and Anna made this beautiful – absolutely beautiful – Beef Wellington. Look at this.

Beef Wellington
Note the Brussels Sprouts in the background! Wow! Looks like a super dinner. You and Anna should really be proud, Chris.

Beautiful!

Visit to Das Alpenhaus Deli

29 Thursday Dec 2016

Posted by Bob and Robin in 4-Stars, Acme Bake Shop, Acme Bake Shop Rye, Beef, Boise Area Food Adventures, Comfort Food, Cooking Styles, Das Alpenhaus Deli, Ethnic Foods, Food Photos, German Food, Housemade Sauces, Housemade Soup, Lunch With Robin, Photos By: Bob Young, Potato Salad, Potatoes, Sauerkraut, What's For Dinner?

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Das Alpednhaus, reuben sandwich

Das Alpenhaus Deli in Boise was a treat. Robin and I both had a Reuben, German Potato Salad and some Split Pea and Ham Soup (It’s 23 degrees outside!) The sauerkraut on the Reuben was superb – liked the Allspice. And both of us rated the deli 4-Stars out of 5-Stars. You can find more on the Reuben Sandwich at the following posts on this blog: History of the Reuben Sandwich, The Reuben Sandwich Challenge and Rachel Sandwiches for Lunch (Yes, there is a difference between a Rachel and Reuben sandwich!)
They are located at 1340 S Vista Ave, Boise, ID. They are open Monday-Friday: 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. and Saturday: 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Seating is limited, but their take-out service is good. They do not, however, “… *not* take reservations or phone-in orders.”
Their menu changes weekly and the menu can be found on their website, listed above. For this week, here is a Weekly Menu Sample.
“Das Alpenhaus Deli is a luncheonette. This means that we serve a single daily hot special for lunch, served until it’s gone. If we have either run out, or you aren’t a fan of that day’s special then we also have daily soups and make custom sandwiches. It is a rotating menu and every week will differ from the previous week’s menu so be sure to check this page for the current menu. You can also find the menu on our facebook page, where it will be posted every weekend. Guten Appetit!

Das Alpenhaus Delikatessen is the Treasure Valley’s one and only German deli and market! From Beer and Wine to Europe’s finest assortment of chocolates, we pride ourselves in having the widest variety of German, Austrian and Swiss products that Boise has to offer. Our rotating lunch incorporates some of the area’s most popular dishes. Ranging from Käsespätzle to Wiener Schnitzel, there is sure to be something to satisfy your hunger.
Owners Jamie Webster and Greg Hanson opened the doors to Das Alpenhaus Delikatessen in October of 2016 and fulfilled their life-long dream of bringing a piece of the beloved Alps to the Boise area. Having been raised in a German family, the germanic culture has played a tremendous role in Jamie’s life. His love for the area was solidified when he spent an extended period of time living Thüringen, where he mastered the German language and gained an abiding love for the culture.
Many years later, Jamie and Greg are happy to share their love of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland with you. Whether you grew up in beautiful Germany, Austria or Switzerland *or* are simply looking for some great chocolate, it is their hope that Das Alpenhaus Delikatessen will have you feeling right at home. [Their Website]

Some available groceries

Wine and Beer selections.

Wine and beer.

Ordering area. Seating is to the left and just out of view. They were very busy.

We did a take-out.

Reuben Sandwich
Potato Salad
Split Pea and Ham Soup

We did like the Reuben – great horseradish in the Russian Dressing. Soup was good; Hearty. The potato salad was good. I missed the dill pickle slice with the Reuben and I think that the Acme Bakeshop here in Boise has much better rye bread – Old Wolrd Rye, as Acme calls it. Portions are very adequate.

Wonderful 5-Hour Roasted Duck

13 Tuesday Dec 2016

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5 Hour Duck, Apple, Beets, Captain's Shack, Dessert, Dinner At The Captains Shack, Dinner For Robin, Dinner With Family, Duck, Food Photos, Heirloom Beets, Heirloom Carrots, Heirloom Onions, heirloom vegetables, Idaho Vegetables, Idaho Wine, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Onion, Petit Verdot, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Prep Work, Raspberries, Recipe By: Bob Young, Recipe By: Captain's Shack, Recipe by: Robin and Bob Young, Recipes - Dinner, Recipes - Sauces, Roasted Vegetables, Snake River AVA, Special Dinners, Vegetables, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food, Wine Dinners, Wines - Idaho

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5 hour roasted duck, duck, duck sauce, Petit Verdot

Love to make this and it really is so easy. 5 Hour Roasted Duck and add to that some Roasted Root Vegetables and 5 Hour Roasted Duck Sauce, also really good with ham, and you will have a superb and wonderful dinner. A good 2013 Indian Creek Petit Verdot goes extremely well with it.

Several people have asked how to make the duck. Basically – season with Celtic sea salt and fresh ground Tellicherry Black Pepper, stuff with sweet apple and pear, prick the skin all over and cook in a 300°F oven and turn every hour for 5 hours. Last hour raise temperature to 350°F. Do not cover throughout the cooking process.

First of all, the moon must be full. If not, the recipe may not work.

Duck has been salt and peppered and stuffed with Braeburn Apple and Bosch Pear. Oven is preheated to 300°F

After each hour, turn the duck and prick the skin. This is after 1 hour. Pricking the skin at each turn, keeps the duck fat basting the duck.

At 3 hours, things happen. Starting to brown nicely.

Root vegetables are large cut and put into the bottom of the baking pan. This roasts the vegetables and keeps the duck off of the pan surface. The vegetables here are heirloom carrot, heirloom beet, local onion, parsnips and turnips.

Make stock from the vegetable pieces and the duck neck and parts. Simmer low and slow!

Lay the duck directly onto the vegetables and return to the 300°F oven. Cook for another hour.

At 4 hours last turn. It is smelling yummy now.

At 5 hours, remove from the oven and let cool, somewhat.

Yummy slices.

Here is the Cranberry/Cherry sauce for the duck.

Oh yes. Dessert – Pound Cake with Fresh Raspberries and Fresh Whipped Cream.

Wonderful Brunch at Parma Ridge Vineyards Bistro

11 Sunday Dec 2016

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5-Stars, Alaskan Salmon, Appetizers, Beef, Beer and Ale, Beer and Food, Bistro, Bistro - Parma Ridge Winery, Breakfast With Robin, Brocolli, Brunch, Brunch at Parma Ridge Winery, Brunch with Robin, Buy Idaho, Chef Storm Hodge, Chowder, Comfort Food, Dinner At Parma Ridge Restaurant, Dinner With Family, Food Photos, Grilled Vegetables, Parma Ridge Specials, Parma Ridge Winery Bistro, Photos By: Bob Young, What's For Dinner?

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Parma Ridge Bistro, Parma Ridge Restaurant, Parma Ridge Winery

“Foggy Vineyard“

I do not generally add articles to this blog that concerns a winery – there are specific blogs for that, i.e. AVA Happenings in Idaho or Treasure Valley Wine Society or the Treasure Valley Food and Wine Blog. But this was a special visit to the Parma Ridge Winery and Restaurant. A 5-Star winery and restaurant, and well worth this post. And it won’t break the bank. You will have an outstanding meal, whether it is a Friday night Happy Hour visit, a Saturday evening dinner or a Sunday Brunch. And the kids are welcome also! The weather was foggy and slightly wet. The roads were wet, but not icy, until you drove on the “back” roads.
Here is what we had. Go to the winery. Eat there. And say “Hi” to Stephanie, that’s her artwork and to Chef Storm, who comes up with the fantastic epicurean treats. You won’t be sorry you went. Some of these treats are new to the menu. The servings are very adequate and border on being large. Four of us shared the following dishes. We also had some awesome wines to go with the brunch.

Daughter Marnie, cousin Dorothy from Portland and an awesome wife, Robin.

Caprice Bites
Fresh Baked Baguette with Roma Tomatoes, Italian Basil, Buffalo Mozzarella and Balsamic Reduction $5.95

Walnut Crusted Warm Brie
with
Grand Marnier Brown Butter, Honey and a Balsamic Glaze $6.95

Cream of Mushroom Soup (Vegetarian) $4.95 cup, $6.95 bowl
(They also offer an awesome Creamy Northwest Clam Chowder Same prices as Mushroom Soup)

Brunch Burger
Quarter-Pound Black Angus Burger with Melted Double Cream Brie, Apple-wood Smoked Bacon, and Sunny-side up Egg with a lemon-tarragon aioli and Rosemary Garlic Truffle Fries $9.95

Storm’s Famous Salmon - $16.95 Brined, Lightly Smoked and Pan Fried with Rosemary Truffle Butter and Rosemary Truffle Mashed Potatoes accompanied by Grilled Asparagus Storm's Homemade Grilled Bread

Storm’s Famous Salmon
Brined, Lightly Smoked and Pan Fried with Rosemary Truffle Butter and Rosemary Truffle Mashed Potatoes accompanied today by Grilled Broccolini Storm’s Homemade Grilled Bread $16.95

And to finish dinner – wonderful chocolates!

2015 Storm Red – Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Carmenere (Wine Club Members Only) went extremely well with the salmon, burger and cheeses

2015 Parma Ridge Vineyards Storm Red
Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Carmenere
(Wine Club Members Only)
went extremely well with the salmon, burger and cheeses
(I’m rating this [19] out of [20]. Almost as good as the 2014 Parma Ridge Vineyards Estate Grown Syrah …. almost!)

5-Hour Duck Creamed Spinach with Grand Marnier Cream Baked Sweet Potato with Duck Gravy

5-Hour Roasted Duck
Creamed Spinach with Grand Marnier
Cream Baked Sweet Potato with Duck Gravy

And as we were leaving, I told Chef Storm that tomorrow night (Monday) I am making a 5 Hour Roasted Duck.

The cherry, cranberry, rosemary sauce for the duck.

I will probably also serve a 5 Hour Duck Sauce to go with it.
Chef Storm said he has never had a 5 hour roasted duck. And he asked me to
post photos – I will – and save him some. That may be more difficult as there are 4 of us eating it. I may have to make him one. That’ll be fun! Hmmmm!

After Thanksgiving

29 Tuesday Nov 2016

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5-Stars, Acme Bake Shop Breads, Acme Bake Shop Sourdough, Asparagus, Blueberries, Boise Artisan Bakery's, Boise Farmers Market, Breakfast, Breakfast At The Captains Shack, Breakfast With Robin, Captain's Shack, Eggs, Eggs Poached, Food Photos, Idaho Eggs, Photos By: Bob Young, Pork, Recipe - Soup, Recipe By: Captain's Shack, Recipe: Bob and Robin Young, Recipes - Breakfast, Recipes - Dinner, Scrapple, Slow Cooking, Soup, Sourdough Bread, Special Dinners, Special Events, Tetrazzini, What's For Dinner?

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Rappa Brand Scrapple, scrapple, Tetrazzini, turkey tetrazzini

So much fun to make some of these. And not difficult at all. The Creamy Turkey Tetrazzini may be the most difficult, although you probably have most of the ingredients left-over from Thanksgiving in the refrigerator, except maybe for the mushrooms. If you don’t have Cream Sherry, use a good white wine that is slightly sweet, yet bold.

Creamy Turkey Tetrazzini

Crumbled Scrapple with Meadowlark Farms Poached Eggs
Acme Bakeshop Toasted Sourdough
Fresh Raspberries and Blueberries

Split Pea and Ham Soup

And here is the recipe for the Split Pea and Ham Soup that we made for the Williamson Orchards and Vineyards New Tasting Room Open House. It was superb and made from Idaho products – Ham Hock, Split Peas, Heirloom Carrots, Onions, Celery, stock and herbs.

Thanksgiving 2016

25 Friday Nov 2016

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5-Stars, Apple, Bacon, Baking, Captain's Shack, Carrots, Celebrations, Comfort Food, Corn, Dessert, Dinner At The Captains Shack, Dinner With Family, Dried Corn, Food Photos, Green Salad, Heirloom Carrots, Heirloom Onions, Heirloom Parsnips, Holiday Gatherings, Holiday Menu, Idaho Vegetables, Idaho Wine, Local Farmers Markets, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Snake River AVA, What's For Dinner?, Wines - Idaho

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Dried Corn, heirloom vegetables, Spatchcock, wilted lettuce

And a great day it was! Dinner finished almost on time. Marnie, Chris and Anna joined us. The turkey tuned out fantastic – the first time I have done a spatchcock turkey and it was awesome. Veggies roasted great. Turkey was moist, tender and delicious. I took several pictures on my phone – 3 – of the dinner plated, Marnie and Robin and Chris and Anna, but they never appeared on my phone. They’re out in La-La land somewhere. Here, though, are some photos of preparing the dinner and maybe I’ll make a photo of the plated dinner – at least close to it. Cheers – This was really fun to do!

Getting the Bacon Wrapped Dates ready. Stuffed with Chopped Almond.

Dates ready for the oven.

Mushroom Stuffed Puff Pastry.

Finished product.

Turkey has been spatchcocked (backbone removed) and sitting on heirloom root vegetables – carrot, parsnips and onion – to keep the turkey off the bottom of the pan.

Cooking in the oven at 400 degrees F. This after 1 hour. One more hour to go for a 14 lbs turkey.

Plated

Spatchcock Turkey
Robin’s Cranberry Sauce
Dried Corn
Wilted Lettuce Salad
Roasted Heirloom Vegetables
Stuffing Cups
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy throughout
2006 and a 2008 Indian Creek Winery (ID) Pinot Noir

Skillet Apple Pie

These wines were available for dinner. We only had the oldest one on the left.

These wines were available for dinner. We only had the oldest two on the left. Super paring and wines.

In order to do a dinner like this, one needs to make a “schedule of events”. Thursday, I also made a schedule like this hour-by-hour.

Korean BBQ Beef

12 Saturday Nov 2016

Posted by Bob and Robin in Asian Food, BBQ Beef, Beef, Bok Choy, Captain's Shack, Dinner For Robin, Food Photos, Idaho Beef, Idaho Greens, Korean BBQ Beef, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Main Dish, Photos By: Bob Young, What's For Dinner?

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Well, I thought this BBQ was good, but then, I like grilled meats. The recipe is in the file above, if you want it. Takes about 2 days, counting the marinating time. Very short to grill on a screaming hot grill.