I have only seen three blue pumpkins this year. Maybe we’ll start a trend!
Happy Halloween!
It Must Be Halloween In The Bronco Nation!
28 Friday Oct 2011
Category Archives: Photos
Gameday Reubens
25 Tuesday Oct 2011
Posted in BSU, Gameday, Party Time, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, What's For Dinner?
On Saturday, October 22, BSU had their first home game in the new conference, the Mountain West. They played Air Force and won. We needed to come up with something new, so here is what we did. We both like a good Reuben sandwich. But we didn’t want beef. So we used lean ground turkey and grilled these burgers. We made our own sauerkraut and Russian dressing. Put that all on an Onion roll with local lettuce and a slice of local tomato and you’ve got one awesome Tailgate Sandwich! Add a good IPA, and sit back and enjoy the game.
Sofia’s Greek Bistro, Boise
23 Sunday Oct 2011
Robin and I both grew up with the Greek culture, albeit, somewhat small. But the food …. We always did like the food. We were so happy to hear of the opening of Boise’s newest Greek restaurant, Sofia’s Greek Bistro in the Plantation Shopping Center at State and Glenwood Streets. Really good Greek food! Out of 5, we’ll rate this a 4. A solid 4! The serving sizes are quite large; the service very good and the ambiance interesting. Probably my only “bad” comment was that I think the food was salty. The olives and the fete cheese in the salad made that salty, but even more, was the fish dish. That was very salty. Besides that, the taste was excellent. Here are some photos of our experience. Enjoy!
The ambiance is simple, but interesting. I do like the paintings. There is room for about 30 people with an area that could be used for expansion. Very Greek music in the background. The owner and all of her staff were extremely friendly.
Vin De Crete
A dry red wine that went very well with the dinner.
Greek Salad with Greek Beer
ripe olives, fete cheese, onion, lettuce, tomato, olive oil dressing, Greek herbs
Gyro Plate
lamb, French fries, feta cheese, pita bread, dressings, Greek olives
Sunday Special: Plaki
market fresh fish baked in a thick tomato and onion sauce with Greek seasonings, rice
If you get the chance, and I urge to to do so, try this new Boise business. I think you will be surprised at how good it is. If you like the Greek Festival every June on Bannock Street in Boise, you will definitely like this. And when you visit Sofia’s Greek Bistro, tell them that you saw this review. Cheers and let us know what you think. And remember: Opa!
The Buzz New Breakfast Dishes
22 Saturday Oct 2011
Posted in Breakfast, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young
Robin and I went to the opening of the New Breakfast Menu at the Buzz, this morning. This was an extremely good breakfast and well worth the trip to the Buzz. Great coffee, too. When you go, say “HI” to Tommy and Cristie for use. Enjoy!
Eggs Benedict
two poached eggs with Canadian Bacon serve on an English Muffin with Hollandaise sauce
$7.00
Home-style Skillet
three eggs with sausage, mushrooms, green pepper and onion served over a bed of home-style potatoes with a biscuit and gravy
$7.50
(This is a HUGE dish! The gravy is made on-site. Good price on this selection!)
The New Breakfast Menu
Oktoberfest Brats and Onions
16 Sunday Oct 2011
Posted in Brats, Oktoberfest, Party Time, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Recipe By: Robin Young
I am sure glad that BSU got their running game back and their passing game improved against Colorado State. BSU had 724 offence yards – a school record. Final score: BSU – 63, Colorado State – 13.
And while watching the game, Robin came up with this Bratwurst with Onions, Apples and Sauerkraut
Oktoberfest / Football and what a great dish it was. Here is her recipe. Enjoy it with a Deschutes Inversion IPA or a Stella Artois. Or maybe one of each. Enjoy!
Bratwurst with Onions, Apples and Sauerkraut:
Oktoberfest and Football
Oktoberfest and Football
Ingredients:
1 t Caraway seeds
1 t Fennel seeds
1 T Wondra flour
½ t ground Black Pepper
4 c Sauerkraut (preferably fresh), rinsed, drained, squeezed dry.
1 large Onion (about 1 pound), halved lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise
3 large Golden Delicious Apples (about 1½ pounds total), peeled, cored, thinly sliced [2 GrannySmiths amd 1 Macintosh]
6 whole smoked Bratwurst (about 1 pound), pierced all over with skewer
4 Bay Leaves
1 c Beef broth [stock]
2 T Dry Vermouth [Pernod]
2 T Ketchup
1½ T Butter, melted with 1½ T
Pumpernickel bread or whole grain
Preparation:
Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 400°F.
Place flour, pepper, caraway seeds and fennel seeds in spice grinder to blend.
Spread sauerkraut over bottom of 13x9x2-inch glass or ceramic baking dish. Sprinkle 1/3 of flour mixture over. Arrange onion slices over; sprinkle with half of remaining flour mixture. Spread apple slices over, then sprinkle with remaining flour mixture. Place bratwurst over apples, then arrange remaining apple slices around bratwurst. Tuck in bay leaves. Mix broth, vermouth, and ketchup in measuring cup. Pour broth mixture evenly over. Cover tightly with foil.
Roast bratwurst 45 minutes. Uncover; brush with melted butter. Roast uncovered until edges of apples and sausages begin to brown, about 25 minutes longer. Serve with bread and some great beer!
Mont Gras Winery (Chile) At The Buzz
12 Wednesday Oct 2011
A wonderful evening at the Buzz exploring the wines of the Colchagua Valley of Chile and the Mont Gras Winery. Overall, a high scoring wine dinner and wines. There are not many times I give a wine a score of [20] out of [20], but the wine pictured to the left is one of those. A rich, deep purple cab and wonderful bouquet of spice, pepper and huge cherry. Long lasting without the “barbs” of some cabs. This was an awesome wine. Enjoy the photos and our dinner. Especially look at the Tommy’s Meatloaf below and my comments.
Runza Pockets
(Originally an old German dish that was adopted by the settlers in the Mid-West, Nebraska. It is a meat and cabbage filled yeast roll.)
2007 Mont Gras Quatro
14.5% alc, [18], $18.00
A good wine that went very well with the cabbage of the Runza Pocket.
Ice Berg Salad
ice berg lettuce, cucumber, grape tomato, carrots, ranch dressing
2010 Mont Gras Reserva Sauvignon Blanc
13.5% alc, [15] [19], $14.00
Interesting thing about this wine. Look at the double score! In my opinion, don’t even think of drinking this without food, the [15] score. This wine went superbly with the Ranch Dressing of the salad and the raw onion, the [19] score. Just goes to show you: Drink wine with food!!!
Wild Rice Soup
2009 Mont Gras Reserva Carmenere
14.5% alc, [17], $14.00
Sorry but a carmenere is not one of my favorite wines. But still a good score.
Tommy’s Meatloaf
Scalloped Potatoes
Green Beans
Herb Biscuit
(This meatloaf, Tommy’s Meatloaf, is awesome. Joe Swan, Swan Vineyards, Forrestville, CA., once made the comment that you can not get a good meatloaf at any restaurant. I am sorry he did not get this one. Usually one compares the meatloaf that Mom made with one made in a restaurant. Tommy’s Meatloaf is very close and I suggested that they put it on the menu along with the Scalloped Potatoes. An awesome plate and it went extremely well with the wine!!!)
2009 Mont Gras Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon
14.5% alc, [20], $14.00
This wine is superb! See the description above. Think about having it with a meatloaf, beef or lamb, or a Rib-Eye or standing rib roast. Wow!
Apple Pie Ala Mode
2009 Mont Gras Bicentennial 200
14.5% alc, [19], $18.00
Another superb job of pairing a wine with the food. Cristi has done an excellent job and we look forward to the next Wine Dinner at the Buzz! You should also! See you at the next Buzz Wine Club Dinner.
Birthday Dinner For Marnie
10 Monday Oct 2011
Posted in BBQ Sauce, Party Time, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Tomatoes, What's For Dinner?
October 12th is Marnie’s birthday, but because both she and Mac have to work, she decided to have her dinner this past Sunday. One of the few days this week that we could see the sun and were able to sit outside without getting wet from the rain. So Mac made BBQ BabyBack Ribs that were really tender and juicy- Great!
Robin and I put together this platter of slice Fall tomatoes. Dixie Golden Giant – the gold tomatoes; A very large orange beefsteak that produces fruit very well. 1 – 1.5 pound tomatoes are great for slicing or diced in salads or salsa. Aunt Ruby’s German Green – the green tomatoes that are really sweet; A sweet delicious flavor with a hint of spice. 12-16 ounce fruits have a light green skin with a dark green interior when fully ripe. These look great when sliced on a plate with some dark red tomatoes and Black Krim – the deep, almost blood red, red tomato; Another black variety …fruits are a super dark red with greenish tops. Sweet and tasty flavor. All of these are Heirloom tomatoes and they are awesome. Sprinkle a little fresh chopped basil on them with some coarse sea salt and that could be dinner!
Bob made Corn Pie – Marnie’s favorite summer dish from the last of the corn. Here is everything plated. It was a scrumptious dinner. For Dessert Marnie got a Key Lime Pie and a Banana Cream Pie. Add to that a cup of good coffee, and ………. well, you get the idea. Happy Birthday, Marnie!! Thanks to Margaret and Chris for joining us.
Mint and Lime Marinated Lamb
03 Monday Oct 2011
Posted in Lamb, Party Time, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Side Dishes, What's For Dinner?
Good foodie Day! The photo on the left shows the Best of Boise celebration, where those restaurants in the Greater Boise area are selected as being the best in their category. Several of the places we have been to, appeared on the list. Then, it was home and to a wonderful lamb dinner. A Felzien Farms lamb dinner!
Grilled Marinated Lamb Chop
fresh rosemary, mint, thyme, garlic, lime oil, mint oil, olive oil
Fresh Steamed Brussels Sprouts and Red Cabbage in Reduced Balsamic Vinegar
rosemary sprigs, thyme sprigs, balsamic vinegar
Fresh Green Salad with Old German Tomatoes
Shellfish Night at Le Café de Paris
30 Friday Sep 2011
Posted in Party Time, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Seafood, Shell Fish
All I can say is: WOW! If you missed this dinner at Le Café de Paris in Boise, you missed a good one! We were happy to have Gerry and Pamela join us. It was a great dinner. And, of course, we had wine with our meal. A 2007 Domaine Coste-Caumartin Pernand-Vergelesses which was a fantastic white wine that went superbly with the seafood. We also had a 2010 Domaine Tabordet Sancerre that was superb! Such a perfect evening. Just look at the dinner. Enjoy!!
Calamari Caesar Salad
Parmesan dusted and fried calamari, heart of romaine, roasted red pepper Caesar dressing, shaved white truffle cheddar
Lobster Pizza
manchego cream, lobster tail, caramelized cippolini onions, shaved truffle, salmon roe
Amaretto Scallops
pan-seared scallops, amaretto cream, rice pilaf, lemon asparagus
Cioppino
Classic Italian stew, herbed tomato broth, mussels, shrimp, ocean fish, crab
Key Lime Tarte
Just let me say this about that! We have been to Southern Florida, albeit not to the Keys, and we have tasted Key Lime Pie. But this Key Lime Tarte was AWESOME! Superb! Delicious! You get the idea.
NOTE: I just received confirmation that Soraya made the pie!!! It needs to go on the menu as a regular dessert. It also needs to be in the showcase!!!
Meatless Monday Broiled Salmon
27 Tuesday Sep 2011
Posted in Locavore, Main Dish, Meatless Monday, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Salmon, Seafood, Vegetables, What's For Dinner?
The Fall of the year brings with it a variety of different garden fresh vegetables that are very suitable for your Meatless Monday dinner. Garden fresh Green Zebra and Giant Red Tomatoes, Garden fresh Tarragon and Chives. Garden fresh Zucchini and Summer squash. And fresh pulled Red Onion. What a delight! And nothing fried! Here is the menu. Enjoy it!
Meatless Monday Menu
Fresh Baked Banana Pumpkin Bread
Broiled Salmon
tarragon, chives, Green Zebra tomato slices
Caramelized Medley of Garden Fresh Zucchini and Summer Squash
chives and red onion
Fresh Green Salad
Romaine lettuce and Giant Red tomato slices
Fresh Baked Banana Pumpkin Bread
Boise Foodie Guild 