Produce Available From Spyglass Gardens!

28 Tuesday Jul 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Food, Local Farmers Markets, Local Markets, Things To Do

I received this via E-Mail this afternoon. Local produce; Local Goodness!

Yes it has happen! Summer is really here. We have CORN and Watermelons! Plus we have been picking Tomatoes, Green Beans, Yukon and Red Potatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers, Summer Squash, Peaches that are so juicy and sweet and of course Carrots, Beets and summer lettuce.

Come on out to the markets and check out our booth! Tues Evenings McFadden in Front of Meridian City Hall, Saturdays in Eagle-Downtown in the City Park and Meridian Farmers Market on Eagle Road north of Ustick. And if you are headed up north on Wednesday at the Alpha Nursery in Round Valley – Hwy 55 – north of Clear Creek. Steve went last week for the first time, and was greeted by the locals! They were so excited to have us come up we are looking forward to going again this week and thru the month of August.

Hope all is well with your families, Take Care – See you soon Steve and Wendy at Spyglass Gardens

Let’s support our local gardeners/farmers and purchase the goods that they produce! Cheers!

The Bacon Nation

23 Thursday Jul 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Food, Food Prep, Local Markets, Main Dish, Restaurants

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Join us on Saturday, August 1, 2009 in Nampa, Idaho for the next stop on the Blue Ribbon Bacon Tour presented by Vande Rose Farms! Click Here To Purchase Tickets.

Time: August 1, 2009 from 11am to 3pm
Location: Brick 29
Street: 320 11th Ave S
City/Town: Nampa, ID 83651
Website or Map: Brick 29
Phone: (208) 468-0029
Event Type: Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival
Organized By: Heather Lauer

Presented by:
Vande Rose Farms

Event hosted by:
Brick 29

Farmer’s Markets and Other Great Information

09 Saturday May 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Food, Local Farmers Markets, Local Markets, Wine and Food

≈ 1 Comment

I have been asked several questions about local Farmers’ Markets, and trying not to make the “Comments” list so big, I will try to answer some of the questions here. (For those who may not know, if you Left Click on any photo, you will get a Full Screen view. Easier to see some of the images.)

Farmer’s Markets –

Robin and my intention this morning was to visit the Nampa Farmer’s Market, the Kuna Farmer’s Market and to deliver the last of the Idaho Wine Competition medals to Hells Canyon Winery. Oh well, two out of 3 isn’t bad. Nampa will have to wait until next week.
Wendy asked, “I had no idea that there were so many markets in the area!! Is there a wide variety of vendors between the four different markets? I am very interested in this information! I know that Koenig is at the downtown Boise market, but we would like to see about getting in on the Caldwell market that is on Wednesdays. Do you have any idea how we go about that, or who we should contact?” There is some variation in vendors between the markets – not all vendors go to all the venues.

Contacting the Kuna Market is easy – the graphic on the left has the information and who to contact. As far as I can tell, there are about 12 Farmer’s Markets within 50 miles of Boise, Boise actually having/sponsoring two. I will list them below.

If you look at the second photo and on the back left of that photo, you will see Buck’s Barnyard. Interesting and an ingenius idea, and green. He takes old and headed for the dump fruit boxes, unuseable fabric and old packing material and makes “raised vegetable boxes” from them and sells the idea – installed, I might say – for $185.00 (I think). Contact them for more information. (I am sorry, but they do not have a webpage.)

OK, so where are these markets.
Emmett – Emmett Farmer’s Market, Blazer Park. Saturdays 8:00am – 12:00pm and Wednesdatys 4:00pm – 7:00pm June through October. Contact: Glen Schiller (208) 365-5088
Middleton – Middleton Farmer’s Market, Ridleys parking lot on Highway 44. Thursday 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Mid May through September. Contact: Kathy May (208) 571-3474
Nampa – Nampa Farmer’s Market. 1st Street South and Front Street. Saturdays 9:00am – 1:00pm. End of April through October. Contact: Suzette Boiling (208) 461-4807. Web Page
Eagle – Eagle Saturday Market. Heritage Park, corner of State Street and 2nd Street. Saturdays 8:30 am – 1:00pm. May through October. Contact: Dean Burrup (208) 631-3630 Web Page. Christmas Market, 1st Saturday in December
Meridian – Meridian Farmer’s Market. 3630 N Eagle Road, Ustic Market Place II. Saturdays 9:00am – 1:00pm. May through September. Contact: Donna Egner (208) 376-2610. Web Page
Meridian – McFadden Co-op Farmer’s Market. Meridian Cioty Hall parking lot, Main Street and Broadway. Tuesdays 5:00pm – 8:00pm (This may change to Saturdays also) May through October. Contact: (208) 862-0432
Kuna – Kuna Farmer’s Market. See the graphic above.
Mountain Home – Mountain Home Farmre’s Market. Railroad Park (Center Park) Main Street. Saturday 8:00am – 1:00pm. May through October. Contact: Beverly Lucia (208) 587-3134

I did not list the Boise (Capitol City Public Market). If you are interested, contact me through this blog. Please do not hold me responsible for incorrect or outdated information. If you find too many mistakes of this sort, contact Lacey or check the Idaho Agriculture Department Web Page. Spelling typos will be the only thing I can correct. Hope this gives you some good information and the world of Blog Blips continues to forward adequate information. Cheers!

McFadden Market Coop, Meridian

07 Thursday May 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Interesting Information, Local Markets

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Thanks to Tammy McLure, Indian Creek Winery, for pointing me in this direction. I always enjoy new out-door markets opening in the area.
This market/coop is opening in Meridian, and here is a short “blog blip” about them, taken from their web site.

“McFadden Market Co-op started with a simple vision: to highlight the work of farmers and producers in the Treasure Valley area, to share high-quality fresh food with others, and to help restore historic downtown Meridian, Idaho.

What started as a dream is becoming a reality: The historic 2nd & Broadway building has been purchased and plans are underway to restore and add to the beautiful brick building that housed both the McFadden Market and the Meridian Exchange Bank for years. Working with the city of Meridian, the owners are making plans to revitalize the 2nd and Broadway area, including wider sidewalks, restaurants and ample parking. And a committed group of farmers, producers and community members is meeting regularly to bring the co-op into existence… New! McFadden Co-op is proud to present the McFadden Farmer’s Market:

Kick-off Event: Earth Day Celebration & Farmer’s Market April 25, 10am-2pm Meridian City Hall Parking Lot, Main & Broadway.

Weekly Market: Tuesdays, 5pm-8pm Meridian City Hall Parking Lot, Main & Broadway.

Vendor Information: If you are interested in being a vendor for the market, please contact event coordinator Melenda Stave, or Check here for more information on becoming a vendor.”

So there is the “blog blip” about the new McFadden Market and Coop in Meridian. See their web site for more information. Cheers!

Foodnetwork Is Coming To Boise!!

25 Wednesday Feb 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Celebrations, Cooking Programs, Interesting Information, Local Markets, Restaurants

≈ 1 Comment

Harken, all ye who love food! On 3 March from 9:00am until 5:00pm, the Foodnetwork and Diner’s, Dive’s and Drive-In’s with Guy Fiere will be at the Westside Drive-In, 20th and State Streets for a filming. Want some great food and be on TV? Chef Lou saw me at home and relayed this info to me. He also said that the Westside Drive-In was the Number 1 Requested Restaurant in the state of Idaho for this program. I am happy to say that I was one of those people who contacted the Foodnetwork for this purpose. They wanted to come last November, but Chef Lou Aaron told them that they did not want to come to Boise in November. Hope to see some of you there. If you have time, you may want to walk down the alley – east on Madison Ave or Tin Pan Alley – and say Hi, if we are not there! You can find a review of Westside Drive-In that Robin and I made at Restaurant Review. You can also look at their Web Site.

La Cantina Sociale and Pottery Gourmet Kitchen

12 Thursday Feb 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Interesting Information, Local Markets, Restaurants

≈ 2 Comments

After the Mr Lincoln Birthday Party and unveiling of his statue in downtown Boise – and in the snow, I might add – we rode our bicycles to La Cantina Sociale, a delightful Italian produce shop and wine bar at 707 W Bannock (across from the old main post office). A quaint establishment owned and operated by Giuseppe Veneziano, a really delightful character who is full of exuberance and tales. A wide selection of Italian wines – one, and only one, from Idaho – and Italian cheeses and grocery items. An interesting place where you can purchase a bottle of wine and sit down and enjoy it with a fresh made Italian sandwich or cheese platter. Here is a link to their Web Site, well worth looking at. I have also placed a link in the sidebar. Visit the store and let us know what you think.

Somewhere between the two shops and painted on a wall. Look for it if you are walking East on Bannock.

But then at around 811 W Bannock, one comes across the Pottery Gourmet Kitchen. The closest store like this is probably Rudy’s – Cooks Paradise in Twin Falls. Only, this one is smaller. Lot’s of pottery items here with a Polish and German influence. There are some really great kitchen utensils, also. Look at their Web Site to get an idea of the resource. Really a fun day doing the Lincoln Birthday Party and Statue Unveiling here in Boise. And yes, it snowed! But V President Joe Biden still made it! Such an aircraft, Air Force 2!

Rudy’s , Twin Falls, Idaho

30 Friday Jan 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Cooking Programs, Food Prep, Local Markets, Photos

≈ 1 Comment

On 29 January, we took a very, very exciting trip to Twin Falls to see Rudy’s – A Cooks Paradise. Here are some photos.

You can see Rudy’s on the web at Cooks Paradise. A very pleasant place to shop. The staff is extremely helpful and the owner, Tom Ashenbrener is very pleasant to talk to. Go and visit them, either in person or via the web, where you can sign-up for their Newsletter. Enjoy! (See the larger piaella pan?)

Basque Market Newsletter

28 Wednesday Jan 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Food, Local Markets

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Hi All – Earlier in the month, we signed up for the Basque Market (Boise) Newsletter. Some very interesting articles and news! Classes! and more Classes! Look for the Newsletter Here and do enjoy it. We have signed up for the Paella and Tapas Class in March along with Geno and Debra. Enjoy!