03 Tuesday Mar 2009
Posted in Celebrations, Photos, Restaurants
Ah yes, he really was here! After seeing him win the 2nd season of the Foodnetwork’s Newest Star, Guy Fieri was pleasant to meet. I was glad, in my own small way, to have something to do with this production. The program should be aired 3 to 6 months from now.
Now all I hope is that I won’t miss the airing of the program.
02 Monday Mar 2009
Posted in Photos, Restaurant Reviews, Restaurants
On Sunday, March 1, Robin and I went to the 36th Street Bistro, 3769 Woody Street (Hill Road and 36th Street) in Boise, and it really was a treat. You can call them at (208) 433-5111. Usually we rate restaurants from 1 to 5 Stars, 1 Star says, “That’s good enough for this year” and a 5-Star restaurant is superb in all aspects. The 36th Street Bistro is a 3-Star Plus restaurant. The food is quite good, the service is friendly and good and the overall quality is very good. Prices range from $6.00 to $18.00. Their hours are: Tuesday – Saturday 8:00am to 9:00pm; Sunday Brunch 8:00am – 6:00pm.
As photographed here, and there was no problem taking these photos, shows the open ambiance and space. They are trying very hard to be “green”. That is, they use thermal heat (from hot springs right here in Boise). The highest windows are thermostatically controlled: If the temperature goes too high, the windows automatically open and evacuate the heat. Likewise, the windows in the restaurant area are carbon dioxide evacuators: If the level of carbon dioxide gets too high, the windows automatically open and evacuate the air.
From Left to Right: Joe, the Chef; Rob, the Floor Manager; and Megan, our Waite Person. These folks were extremely friendly and polite. They blend in with the ambiance of the restaurant. The one criticism that we have is that it would be nice if they used heated plates and coffee mugs in order to keep the food warm longer. They do have some wines available and some are from Idaho. All in all, our experience was really a good one. We will be going back at some time – maybe for dinner or another brunch. We do suggest the 36th Street Bistro for your enjoyment.
28 Saturday Feb 2009
Posted in Celebrations, Interesting Information, Restaurants
“To our friends and family,
As some of you may already know, Chris was recently named a semi-finalist for the 2009 “Best Chef Northwest” award by the James Beard Foundation. It is a tremendous honor to be considered and came as quite a surprise to us. We at Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen are humbled to be listed among so many of Seattle and Portland’s great chefs and restaurants.
This news has given us a moment to reflect on how grateful we are to be in Walla Walla and to have supporters both locally and nationally. Walla Walla has and will continue to build a reputation for having amazing wines and restaurants that highlight many of the Valley’s rich agricultural gifts. We are blessed and proud to be apart of this valley.
Since our opening, we have been fortunate to have talented people working with us. Some of them have come, gone, come back and most have been with us since day one. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our dear restaurant family, Justin Anderson, Henry Baumgartner, Jenna Bicknell, Robert Brannon, Guillermo Corro, Ryan Crane, Michael Espinoza, Kimi Galasso, Rex Grigg, James Guzman, Brandon Hardy, Rudy Hernandez, Benjamin Humbert, Hannah Israel, Lindi Kauer, Noe Martinez, Luana McKinley, Kimberly Nemeth, Sandra Perez, Julia Russell, Jamil Scherief, and Boe Stevenson. Thank you for inspiring us in your pride and dedication to your work.
It’s been nearly two years since we’ve moved our family (our two beloved Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Alabama and Bahari) and opened Saffron’s doors, with Pho Sho following six months later. In that time, we’ve made many friends and developed wonderful working relationships within our community. This incredible recognition has every thing to do with the love and support you show us, in your words and in your presence. We thank you sincerely.
Chris & Island Ainsworth
—
Have a great day!
Red Dog Productions, LLC dba
Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen & Pho Sho
125 West Alder Street
Walla Walla WA 99362
P 509-525-2112
F 509-525-2909
http://www.saffronmediterraneankitchen.com
http://www.phoshowallawalla.com”
If you have never eaten at the Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen you really need to make the commitment to go. But make your reservations! You absolutely will not be disappointed. It was really great to receive this email from Island and to know that Chris was “… named a semi-finalist for the 2009 “Best Chef Northwest” award by the James Beard Foundation.” Chris is to be commended! Kudos to you Chris!
27 Friday Feb 2009
Posted in Food, Photos, Restaurants
It isn’t often that I wait so long to write a critique on a restaurant. But this one, the Garden Cafe in Twin Falls, Idaho, is an exception. Usually we rate a restaurant on a 1 to 5 star basis, 5 stars being superb. With that in mind, the rating for the Garden Cafe is -1 Star!!!
And here is the reason why the rating is so poor. (1) The floor manager, Tom, needs some schooling in intra-personal relationships, (2) The floor manager should never be so arrogant as to tell customers, “No, you can not sit there because that area is used for large groups (the area is photographed below)”, or “No, we can not turn on the lights because this is the ambiance we like at this time of day (lunch time)”. “If you want to sit in a better lit place, go sit over by that wall”. “What are you doing? You can not take photos in here”. The photos that I was taking was one of the dining area above – which, by the way, is the area we wanted to move to. I don’t see any customers there, so I can not imagine why he was so offended and offensive. We have taken photos at many, many restaurants, but have never been refused the opportunity to photograph the interior.
But on the plus side, and there is one, the waiter we had was fantastic. Well schooled in how to treat a customer and attentive to our needs. Polite. The food was good, nothing really exceptional, but good. Since the floor manager, Tom, is the one in charge, the responsibility has to land squarely on his shoulders for such a poor experience. There is just nothing more that I can say about this experience. It was worse than bad.
25 Wednesday Feb 2009
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.
12 Thursday Feb 2009
Posted in Interesting Information, Local Markets, Restaurants
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!
03 Tuesday Feb 2009
Posted in Food, Main Dish, Photos, Restaurants, Wine Dinners
On Monday, 2 February 2009, we went to a wine dinner – with the winemaker – at Chandler’s here in Boise. Wow!! Food quality – Superb! Serving size – Large. Food presentation – Superb.
From inside of Chandler’s. The Bar area.
Seafood Trilogy: Escargo, Crab Bouche and Oysters Rockefeller. Served with a wonderful 2006 “La Brume”, Dry Creek Valley Chardonnay.
King Salmon with Eggplant Duxelle and Sauce Meurette. Served with an awesome 2005 Dry Creek Valley Syrah.
Pork Tenderloin with Herb and Stone Ground Mustard encrusted with Potato Cake and a Mustard, Red Wine Reduction. Served with a 2004 Dry Creek Valley Merlot and a 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon. The Merlot was used in the wine reduction.
Oven Roasted Rack of Lamb with Apple Couscous and a White Peppercorn, Port Wine Jus. Served with a 2002 “Deux Terres”, Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon which went very well with the lamb. However, I liked the 2004 Cab slightly better with the lamb.
Cheese Plate garnished with Chocolate Ganache and served with Belle de Brillet “Poire au Cognac” that was awesome.
At our table were:
(Dr) Will and Elaine Fredrickson
Mark and Carrie Matsko
Stuart and Maggie Dollinger
Kelsey was not sitting at our table, but she was there. She is a great Server and it was really good to see her again. She just bubbles and is an excellent dancer! I sent this photo to her Mom in Montana.
All in All a great evening with the winemaker from Michel-Schlumberger Wine Estate in Healdsburg, CA. These Wine Pairing Dinners are held the first Monday of each month at Chandler’s. Chandleer’s Web Site is a good place to go and get on their mailing list for these dinners.
24 Saturday Jan 2009
Posted in Food, Restaurants, Wine Dinners, Wine Tasting
Ah! Yes! Such exciting times and I thought some of you might be interested in this dinner. They are probably filling the void that Andrae’s created when they moved to Walla Walla. At any rate, this should be quite good and well attended.
It is my suggestion, that if you would like to attend, that you call soon for reservations. Robin and I hope to see you there!
Wouldn’t it be nice sometime to have an Idaho winemaker do a dinner like this. Jamie and Kitty Martin, Coldsprings Winery, Mike and Tammy McClure, Indian Creek Winery, Bill and Bev Fraser, Fraser Vineyards or Ron and Mary Bitner, Bitner Vineyards just as suggestions because I know there are more winemakers that could do this. Just a thought!
20 Tuesday Jan 2009
Posted in Food, Restaurants
OK, so we went out to eat again. But this time it was suggested by the Idaho Statesman reviewer, Tim Woodward. And this one is well worth posting here and on some other blogs – it’s that good. I will hold the food up to any other Mexican restaurant in Boise or Kuna. Here is Our Review. If you are looking for a very good Mexican restaurant in Boise, indulge yourself and go here. It’s not expensive, just good!
Boise Foodie Guild 