Celebrating Valentines Week

16 Saturday Feb 2019

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5-Stars, Acme Bake Shop Breads, Baking, Breakfast At The Captains Shack, Captain's Shack, Cookies, Crab, Dessert, Dinner At The Captains Shack, Dinner For Robin, Eggs Omelets, Food Photos, Food Prep, Greens, Herbs, Hollandaise Sauce, Homemade Sauce, Housemade Hollandaise Sauce, Housemade Sauces, Housemade Soup, Idaho Eggs, Idaho Greens, Idaho Potatoes, Lobster, Lunch For Robin, Omelet, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Potatoes, Recipe By: Captain's Shack, Recipe by: Robin and Bob Young, Recipes, Recipes - Dinner, Recipes - Sauces, Salad, Sea Scallops, Seafood, Special Dinners, Vegetables, Watercress, What's For Dinner?, Wines - Idaho

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crab omelet, Eggs Benedict

This week in mid February, 2019, was dedicated to the one I love. (There ought to be a song written to that phrase!) A week in the kitchen. Planning. Finding. Testing and tasting. Preparing. Serving. It was an exciting week and very fulfilling. I know she liked the meals – they are all gone! That’s always a good sign. Here are some of the dishes we had. And to answer the question – someone did ask – yes I did make all of this. There are recipe links where available. Enjoy! (Left-Click any of these photos to see them enlarged.)

Eggs Benedict are always liked. Especially on a Sunday morning.

Crab Louie salad is awesome.

Or maybe a Crab Omelet one weekday morning.

Scallop and Watercress Salad makes a great dinner.

The absolute best meal, and the one that took the most time, patience and tasting, was this one. The sides that Robin wanted are checked in red. The salad and the entree are fixed.

Valentines Day Dinner Menu
We had a 2014 Indian Creek Winery (ID) Chardonnay with this dinner

Caprese Salad

Stuffed Lobster with Crab
Brussels Sprouts in Balsamic Reduction
Parsley Potatoes
Two sauces were made for the entree – Lemon Butter Sauce for the lobster, and Brandy Mayonnaise Sauce for the crab.

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
Peanut Butter Cookies

After all of these delicious seafood meals and all, we had to make something, well ………. more subtle. Like some Robin’s Vegetable Soup. But this is not your standard peas, corn, tomato, etc soup. Try some leek, celery, turmeric, etc soup. It is delicious!!

Robin’s Vegetable Soup

So there it is – Our Valentines Day (Week) in the kitchen. Nothin’ says lovin’ like something from the kitchen! Cheers and enjoy the recipes.

Great Shellfish Boil

09 Sunday Sep 2018

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5-Stars, Braising, Brunch with Robin, BSU, Captain's Shack, Clams, Comfort Food, Cooking Styles, Corn, Dinner For Robin, Dinner With Robin, Food Photos, Food Prep, Gameday, Garlic, Herbs and Spices, Idaho Potatoes, Kitchen Adventures, Lobster, Made From Scratch, Main Dish, Mussels, Pasta, Photos By: Bob Young, Potatoes, Recipe By: Bob Young, Recipe By: Captain's Shack, Recipe by: Robin and Bob Young, Recipes - Dinner, Recipes - Pasta, Recipes - Seafood, Scallops, Sea Scallops, Seafood, Shell Fish, Special Dinners, What's For Dinner?

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Since Boise State was playing the University of Connecticut, (BSU 62, UConn 7) we thought it would be fitting to have a shell-fish boil. Just did not have any sea water to boil the packs in nor any sea weed. Nonetheless, it was good. No! It was fantastic!
Per package, we used 1 lobster tail, 9 clams, 6 mussels, 1/2 ear corn and 8 small potatoes that we left whole. That was plenty per person. Wrapped the articles in cheese cloth, tied it into a package and placed it in sea salted boiling water for 20 minutes. Made some brown butter for dipping and some good wine and had a feast. Here are some photos. Left Click them to see enlarged. Enjoy!

Making the cheese cloth packages.

After cooking and plated.

Earlier this week, we had an awesome Scallops and Peas with Garlic Pasta. Here it is. Easy to do – Sear the sea scallops (the large ones), 4 per person, in butter with a little minced garlic. In the meantime, make about 1/4 pound angel hair pasta until adente. Add frozen peas and cook until peas are soft, if using frozen ones. Add to the seared scallops and mix well. Plate and top with chopped Italian parsley. Eat slowly and enjoy!

Scallops and Peas with Garlic Pasta

And then tonight, we had an awesome Baked Salmon with Green Beans, Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Israeli Melon. Simply delicious and quick and simple.

Baked Salmon with Green Beans, Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Israeli Melon

Valentines Dinner at Parma Ridge Winery Bistro

12 Monday Feb 2018

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5-Stars, Appetizers, Beef, Bistro, Bistro - Parma Ridge Winery, Buy Idaho, Classic Cuisines, Cream Sauces, Dinner At Parma Ridge Restaurant, Dinner With Robin, Food Photos, Housemade Sauces, Idaho Wine, Idaho's Bounty, Lobster, Mushrooms, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Pork Belly, Risotto, Seafood, Special Dinners, Special Events, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food, Wine Dinner at Parma Ridge, Wine Dinners, Wines - Idaho

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Chef Storm Hodge, pork belly, Sous Chef Megan Hartman

We have been to several 5-Star restaurants in Boise – Richard’s, Chandler’s, Cottonwood Grill, Andrae’s (when it was open) and Bern’s Steak House in Tampa, FL – and the dinner that Chef and Winemaker Storm Hodge and Sous Chef Megan Hartman prepared for us, and 50+ others, last night at the winery, gives any of these restaurants a very serious challenge. This dinner was every bit a 5-Star dinner. It was amazingly delicious. Kudo’s to the Chefs, their kitchen staff and the wait staff! I sincerely urge any of you who are in the area, to visit the Bistro on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday Brunch and have superb meal. (Here is more info at Parma Ridge Winery – Snake River AVA Happenings) Look at what they prepared and we enjoyed! (Left-Click any of the photos to see them enlarged.)

Let’s start with the way the butter, for bread, was presented. Beautiful.

Saffron Risotto
with
Butter Poached Lobster and Chive Oil
Parma Ridge Quattra
(super wine paring)

Fried Gnocchi with Char-Grilled Smoked Pork-Belly
and
Kalamata Gouda Cream
2016 Parma Ridge Issac Storm
(The gnocchi was made in-house and the pork belly was smoked 8 hours in-house! Good wine paring.))

Fillet Au Poivre with Crispy Caramelized Onion Polenta
Cognac Tarragon Mushroom Sauce
and
Lemon Grilled Asparagus
2016 Parma Ridge Big Red
(Chef Storm came up with the sauce. Delicious! Robin had some steak this morning for breakfast with an over easy egg! And yes, the asparagus went with the wine! Superb paring with the wine.)

Tiramisu Trifle with Espresso Rum Caramel
2017 Parma Ridge LaRea Dolce
(Super wine paring – almost a TBA! The tiramisu Chef Storm made from scratch without egg yolks. Amazing!)

Birthday Dinner at Alavita in Boise

18 Friday Sep 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in 4-Stars, Alavita, Arugula, Birthdays, Boise Adventures, Boise Restaurants, Buy Idaho, Chevre, Classic Cuisines, Cocktails, Comfort Food, Cooking Styles, Cream Sauces, Dessert, Dinner At Alavita, Dinner For Robin, Dinner Reviews with Robin, Dinner With Robin, Fennel, Feta Cheese, Food Photos, Green Salad, Homemade Pasta, Idaho's Bounty, Lobster, Locavore, Main Dish, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Restaurant Reviews, Restaurants To Try, Salads, Seafood, Shell Fish, Special Dinners, Things To Do, Vegetables, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food, Wines - Italian

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Alavita. Italian food, feta cheese, Heirloom Beets, Italian restaurant

September 17th will always be a special day – It is Robin’s Birthday. This year we celebrated the 43rd anniversary of her 29th birthday at Alavita, a good Italian restaurant. Actually a solid 4-Star Italian restaurant. On their webpage, they say, “ALAVITA is all about fresh pasta and local ingredients—from Agnolotti to Tortellini to Garganelli, Linguini to Pappardelle—created freshly every day. A restaurant whose name means “to life,” (Well actually two words– ‘alla’ ‘vita’ –that we put together to create one) ÀLAVITA is a great place for celebrating life with good friends and family alike.
What we believe: great food need not be too convoluted or overwrought, but rather fresh, uncomplicated, relatable and well executed in order to get out of the way of the local ingredients and find the pleasure in their innate flavors and qualities. In the vein of a traditional Italian osteria as a casual, local gathering place (An Italian Joint) to discover food, friends, wine, and creative libations, our menu reflects a new twist on Italian fare that is inspired by local, regional ingredients. As we do at Fork (Our big brother concept located next door by same creators), we firmly subscribe to our mantra of being ‘Loyal To Local.’” And they adhere to these words, rigorously. Enjoy these photos of our visit. We will return.

Robin enjoys her Birthday Dinner!

We have known Kerry, the Floor Manager, for many years – we go back to the Andrae days – and it is good to “find” her again.

The open kitchen area.

How about a

Barrel Aged ÀLAVITA
Crater Lake gin + St. Germain + sweet vermouth + bitters (aged for six weeks in charred oak bourbon barrels). Salute To Life!

Yummers, but drink it slow!

A good white wine goes with seafood.

Alois Lageder Riff Pinot Grigio (12.5%)… Veneto, Italy

Potato, Leek and Fennel Soup

Robin had this really very good soup as an appetizer.

I had a very good –

Heirloom Beet Salad
rainbow beets, shavel fennel, arugula, Rolling Stone goat cheese feta, toasted pistachios and champagne vinaigrette

Tuxedo’ Linguine {gf}... squid ink & orange zest infused linguine, ÀLAVITA clam sauce, chili flake & Manila clams

Tuxedo Linguine
squid ink and orange zest infused linguine, ÀLAVITA clam sauce, chili flake and Manila clams

Robin had this and the clams were so very fresh – gout la mer!

Black Ravioli... stuffed with West coast lobster & fontina, butter poached shrimp & lemon-fennel-thyme infused local Cloverleaf cream sauce

Black Ravioli
stuffed with West coast lobster and fontina, butter poached shrimp and lemon-fennel-thyme infused local Cloverleaf cream sauce

I had this and basically, I would get it agin. But I did not get much lobster flavor.

Robin’s Birthday Cake. Kerry had this done for her.

ÀLAVITA Tiramisu
espresso lady fingers, Grand Marnier and orange zest

I finished with a

Dark Chocolate Mousse
hazelnut cream + crushed vanilla-maple spiced hazelnuts

Sinful!

Seafood Potpie For Dinner

28 Saturday Mar 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Boise Farmers Market, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Comfort Food, Dinner For Robin, Dinner With Robin, Green Peas, Housemade Pie Crust, Idaho Wine, Lobster, Onion, Photos By: Bob Young, Potpie, Reel Foods, Sea Scallops, Seafood, Shell Fish, Shrimp, What's For Dinner?, Williamson Vineyards and Orchards, Wine and Food, Wines - Italian

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fish stock, lobster, lobster meat, lobster shells, Reel Foods Fish Market, Sea Scallops, shrimp

This was an awesome recipe from Ina Garten for Seafood Potpie. Although I did alter it slightly. I could not find lobster meat – my seafood shop, Reel Foods Fish Market here in Boise was out of it – I used three small lobster tails. (We are really lucky here in Boise to have such an outstanding seafood market that brings in some really fresh product.) I removed the lobster meat from the shell and then stewed down the lobster shells and shrimp shells to make my own seafood stock. It made a fine rich stock. I also used a small jar of clam juice with the stock. Add to this dinner a wonderful glass of 2012 Williamson Vineyards Blossom, 100% Sangiovese Rosè, and we had a great dinner. Try the recipe. Let us know how you liked it and/or if you altered it at any step. Enjoy these photos. Cheers!

Seafood Potpie

This was really very good and we did like the housemade seafood stock.

Break open that luscious crust and one exposes peas, pearl onions, shrimp, scallops and lobster.

Wine Meet-Up and Reel Foods Oyster Bar

04 Thursday Sep 2014

Posted by Bob and Robin in Appetizers, Caesar Salad, Dinner With Robin, Flatbread Neapolitan Pizzeria, Herbs and Spices, Idaho's Bounty, Italian Food, Lobster, Local Harvests, Locavore, New Restaurant Trial, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Pizza, Reel Foods Oyster Bar, Restaurant Reviews, Seafood, Shell Fish, Special Events, What's For Dinner?, Whats For Breakfast?, Wine and Food, Wines - Idaho

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Flatbread Neapolitan Pizzeria, Reel Foods Oyster Bar

On Wednesday, we joined the Wine Meet-Up group for a gathering at Flatbread Neapolitan Pizzeria in Boise at 800 W. Main, Suite 230, Boise, ID 83702 and their phone is (208) 287-4757. Not bad, overall, but their food, at least two of them that we had, were very spicy and Robin could not finish all of hers. It might be a good idea if the Wait Person would explain that some menu items are spicy. Our Waiter, Dallas, was very good, except he did not tell us of the spiciness. Their menu and bar offerings are readily available at Boise Menu. Here are some photos from our visit. I do hope that you enjoy it when you go there. Ambiance is really very good and children are welcome, they even have a childs plate of pasta, which Robin got. And they do advertise that their products are purchased locally as much as possible. I can not, however, give them more than 3-Stars out of 5-Stars because of the spiciness of the foods. Enjoy these photos. Cheers!

Robin at Flatbread.

Making pizza in a wood fired oven.

Part of the interior of Flatbread in Boise.

Claire Fenton, Organizer of the Meet-Up group, and Bev Fraser of Fraser Winery in Boise.

They list this as a

Classic Caesar
Artisan Romaine, Fresh Parmesan, Focaccia Croutons

but without anchovy it is not the classic version. Calling this a Classic Caesar Salad is like calling a Reuben Sandwich with Thousand Island dressing a “classic” Reuben. It is not!

Baked Goat Cheese

Robin had this and it was very, very spicy. She could not eat it all.

Pepperoni-Sausage-Mushroom Pizzetta

This is what I had, It too was spicy, but not as bad as what Robin had.

Robin then had

Pasta Alfredo
Picky and Proud!

A delightful change from the spiciness of her appetizer of goat cheese.

I had this

Summer Gnocchi
House-made Ricotta Gnocchi, Creminelli Proscuitto, Grilled Broccolini, Local Mushrooms, Roma Tomatoes, Pinot Grigio Cream, Shaved Parmesan
(available after 4pm)

It was very good with a nice cream sauce.

Then on Thursday morning, Robin said she would like to go to Reel Foods Oyster Bar for a Lobster Roll. Their address is 611 Capitol Boulevard, Boise, ID 83702, and their phone is (208) 342-2727 And who am I to refuse a good lobster? Here is their Menu, and it is a good one. Yummers!

Robin sitting on the patio at Reel Foods Oyster Bar waiting for our Lobster Rolls.

They now offer Sushi. too. This is not the raw one.

Lobster Roll and Fries

We could have had potato salad instead of the fries. We just love this seafood market and get 99% of our seafood from there. They even have a section of frozen, overstocked seafood selections at quite a price discount.

Scallops and Lobster For Dinner

12 Monday May 2014

Posted by Bob and Robin in Acme Bake Shop, Acme Bake Shop Breads, Acme Bake Shop Sourdough, Boise Artisan Bakery's, Boise Farmers Market, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Dinner At The Captains Shack, Dinner With Robin, Lobster, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Locavore, Photos By: Bob Young, Purple Sage Farms, River View Gardens, Salads, Scallops, Seafood, Sourdough Bread, Volcanic Farms, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food, Wines - California

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Acme Bake Shop, Boise Farmers Market, lobster, ravenswood chardonnay, ravenswood winery, seared sea scallops

Braised Sea Scallops in a Butter and Garlic Sauce. Farm Fresh Salad. 1995 Ravenswood Winery Sangiacomo Chardonnay and Toasted Acme Bake Shop Sourdough. The wine went very well with dinner. This is still a superb wine whose time has come. Time to drink it.

Braised Sea Scallops
in
butter and garlic sauce

Farm Fresh Salad
with
tomatoes and carrot threads

1995 Ravenswood Winery Sangiacomo Chardonnay
Toasted Acme Bake Shop Sourdough

The wine went very well with dinner. This is still a superb wine whose time has come. Time to drink it. And then we can open our 2005 supply of this fantastic chardonnay. Hope it goes as well with this great seafood combination. The components for the salad were all from the Boise Farmers Market as was the Acme Bake Shop sourdough bread. We always eat so well at The Captain’s Shack!

Delightful Visit at Sizzler In Boise

08 Thursday May 2014

Posted by Bob and Robin in Avocado, Beer and Food, Brocolli, Cuts of Beef, Dinner With Robin, Lobster, Main Dish, Photos By: Bob Young, Restaurant Reviews, Restaurants, Salads, Seafood, Shell Fish, Sizzler, What's For Dinner?

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lobster, salad bar, sizzler, steak

I know. It’s a chain. But let me tell you, this was a surprisingly good visit. The Service People were tremendous. Happy. Pleasant. They appear to like to work here. The service was tremendous. I met the Manager and he was very pleasant and a pleasure to talk to. And the food was very good. But what really impressed me was the salad bar. Huge variety of objects to put on your salad. Even 1/2 avocados. And fruit. They even have a taco bar. And a dessert bar. An again, it was all really good food. We had the Steak and Lobster. The steak was well prepared and delicious. It was by no means as tender as that we have had at Bern’s Steakhouse in Tampa, but the flavor was every bit as good! Think about that. The lobster was a little small, but again was cooked well. Not rubbery. I cut it with my fork. Just look at these photos. And here is a link to their Web Site. Enjoy. We did and we will return. For a chain restaurant, it is well worth 4-Stars out of 5-Stars.

Crab Salad

Salad Bar Choices

How many salad bars have avocados? Or Kiwi? And a good selection of fresh fruit?

At least 3 types of lettuce for your salad. And great toppings, too. I’d go back just for the salad bar! It’s that good.

Salad bar toppings.

Our Steak and Lobster dinners. Wonderful mushrooms and onions. And broccoli. You make the choices for steak toppings, rareness of the steak and vegetable selections. Robin had a baked potato with all the fixins’.

The Drink Bar and Waterfront Grill Visit

26 Tuesday Nov 2013

Posted by Bob and Robin in Beef, Bisque, Boise Adventures, Chowder, Dinner With Friends, Lobster, Main Dish, Photos By: Bob Young, Pubs, Sandwiches, Seafood, Shell Fish, Soup, Things To Do, What's For Dinner?

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Drink Bar and Waterfront Grill, Idaho humanists

The Boise Humanist group met at Drink Bar and Waterfront Grill on November 25. The restaurant is a nice setting right on the lake. But just a little cold on the Cabana when the temperature is in the high 20’s, even if the sides are shielded by plastic. They probably could have turned the heaters on an hour or so earlier so that the room would warm up a little more. People were cold. Here is their Cabana/Tiki Bar Page and menus.

The food was OK, but not much more. The clam chowder was tasty as was the lobster bisque. It would have been nice to have fries or something come with the burgers. They could probably do with better hamburger buns, too. These were “gummy”. I will rate this as a 3-Star ( out of 5-Stars) restaurant based on what we had. Here are some photos from the evening. Left-Click any of the photos to see enlarged. Cheers!

The Cabana

View out over the lake.

Some of the people who were there.

Lobster Bisque

Clam Chowder

The Haole Burger

The Big Wave Burger

WHIP Night At The Buzz and Lobster and Potato Salad

31 Friday May 2013

Posted by Bob and Robin in Captain's Shack, Lobster, Main Dish, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Salads, Seafood, Special Events, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food

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digital photography, Potato Salad, rye bread, self portrait, WHIP Night

The last Thursday of each month will be WHIP Night at the Buzz here in Boise. There is more information on the previous post here on the Foodie Blog. Attendance was low so maybe there will be more folks next month. Mark Your Calendars – Thursday June 27 from 5:00pm – 8:00pm. Different topics each month. Fun time. Good food and great wines.
This month – and repeated in June also – we talked about digital photography. The photo to the left is a self portrait. People say I don’t take enough photos of people. Left-Click any of these photos to see enlarged and please VOTE above. Thanks. Here is some food that we had. Enjoy!