Awesome Mother’s Day Weekend in the Kitchen

08 Sunday May 2016

Posted by Bob and Robin in Bacon, Baking, Blue Crab, Boise Farmers Market, Boise Food Adventures, Breakfast At The Captains Shack, Breakfast With Robin, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Cast Iron, Chicken, Comfort Food, Cooking Styles, Crab Cakes, Creamed Spinach, Dessert, Dinner At The Captains Shack, Dinner For Robin, Dinner With Family, Food Photos, French Foods, Green Salad, Herbs and Spices, Housemade Sauces, Housemade Tartar Sauce, Idaho Eggs, Idaho Greens, Idaho Vegetables, Idaho Wine, Indian Creek Winery, Local Markets, Morels, Mother's Day, Mushrooms, Party Time, Peaceful Belly Farms, Photos By: Bob Young, Pinot Noir, Popovers, Recipe: Bob and Robin Young, Recipes - Breakfast, Recipes - Dinner, Recipes - French, Recipes - Seafood, Salad, Special Events, Spring Vegies, What's For Dinner?

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coq au vin, crab cakes, Pinot Noir, popover

Just a super fun and good weekend celebrating Mother’s Day with Robin. Exciting coming up with meals that were different and surprisingly good. Fun to make. Easy to make, although some were rather involved. Great to have Marnie over for Sunday dinner. Even Ray, her Golden Lab, had a good time with Buddy.
Some of the photos that follow of the dishes I prepared, have the recipe hotlinked in the article. Please feel free to use the recipe if you would like. The Coq au Vin – Chicken in Wine – is not difficult to do, but it does take some time. The Popovers are quick and easy. The Crab Cakes are different. We had these for both dinner a breakfast! the remoulade is a pretty basic sauce and can vary widely. “… Rémoulade (English pronunciation: /reɪməˈlɑːd/; French: [ʁemulad]) is a condiment invented in France that is usually aioli- or mayonnaise-based. Although similar to tartar sauce, it is often more yellowish (or reddish in Louisiana), sometimes flavored with curry, and sometimes contains chopped pickles or piccalilli. It can also contain horseradish, paprika, anchovies, capers and a host of other items. While its original purpose was possibly for serving with meats, it is now more often used as an accompaniment to seafood dishes, especially pan-fried breaded fish fillets (primarily sole and plaice) and seafood cakes (such as crab or salmon cakes).” Ours is mayo, chilli sauce, ketchup and green tomato relish. And a touch of horseradish.

Crab Cakes on Biscuits with Strawberry Fan and Rumalade

Crab Cakes on Biscuits
with
Strawberry Fan and Remoulade

Here is the recipe for the Old Bay Crab Cakes. They are differently good.

Strawberry Pie

After the Crab Cakes, we just had to have this Strawberry Pie Recipe. I’m not a baker, but this is wonderful!

Crab Cakes and Eggs

This was an awesome breakfast! Nothing better than seafood for breakfast.

Popovers

Fresh from the oven. Great with butter and jam, too!

Popovers
with
Creamed Spinach Filling

Another suprisingly easy recipe. Popover with Creamed Spinach Recipe

Coq au Vin – Chicken in Wine – getting happy!

Coq au Vin Popover with Creamed Spinach Fresh Green Salad

Coq au Vin
Popover with Creamed Spinach Filling
Fresh Green Salad

One awesome and fun to make dinner. Here is the recipe for Coq au Vin, Chicken in Wine. Enjoy this one. It is a superb French classic!

Add to this dinner a very good

2008 Indian Creek Pinot Noir

and we had a fantastic experience. Plus the Coq au Vin had some in it too!

Special Food – Special Family

18 Monday Jan 2016

Posted by Bob and Robin in 4-Stars, Boise Restaurants, Breakfast With Robin, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Comfort Food, Dinner With Family, Eggs, Eggs Poached, Flying Pie Pizza, Idaho Bacon, Idaho Eggs, Idaho Grains, Idaho Polenta Floriani, Idaho Pork, Italian Food, Local Farmers Markets, Meadowlark Farms, Next Generation produce, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Pizza, Pizza and Brew, Restaurants, Salad, Special Dinners, Special Events, What's For Dinner?

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Flying Pie Pizza

Well, tomorrow at this time who knows where I’ll be. Open heart surgery to start at 0530. Do people actually move around at that hour? But I am so thankful for Marnie, Mac, Carlynne – Robin’s sister who came to help all the way from Delaware – Chris and my Super RN’s who are always in my thoughts – Robin, Roli and Cristi. They will hold my hand as will my sister Peggy and my brother Alex, although they will be long distance.
But one must eat first. Carlynne took us all out for pizza last night at Flying Pie Pizza and it was super, although I think the service is really getting slooooooow. The pizza is still great; The service is not. Thanks Carlynne for this treat. I also came across this chart which helps to figure out recipes if you must change the size and servings. A conversion chart of sorts. Enjoy and I will see you all in about a week. Cheers! Left-Click any of these photos to see them enlarged.

Idaho Breakfast
Next Generation Polenta
with
Meadowlark Farms Poached Eggs
Falls Brand Bacon
(Twin Falls)
Blueberries
(not from Idaho)

Flying Pie Pizza
White Pizza
with
Artichoke and Cheese Variety

Flying Pie
Meat and Vegetable Pizza

Tonight? Seafood dinner by Marnie, Mac and Carlynne. Homemade and good! Cheers!

Wonderful Christmas Dinner!

26 Saturday Dec 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in 4 Hour Goose, Appetizers, Captain's Shack, Dessert, Dinner At The Captains Shack, Goose, Herbs, Herbs and Spices, Idaho Wine, Indian Creek Winery, Joseph Swan Vineyards, Local Farmers Markets, Meadowlark Farms, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Special Dinners, Special Events, What's For Dinner?

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Christmas goose, tiramisu

(I just love this photo of Robin. It’s my wallpaper for my IPhone!) And everyone was here for dinner! Marnie, Mac, Sophia, Chris, Robin and me. Good food! Good wine! Great time! And the goose came out superbly. Moist. Crispy skin. Great flavor. Fresh goose from Meadowlark Farms (Janie Burns) in Nampa, ID. Robin spent a lot of time on the appetizers – the Christmas Tree Vegetable Platter, the different dips – Caramelized Onion and fresh Ranch Dressing! And then she made a wonderful Crepe Tiramisu. How good is that? Every thing was well worth the two loads of dishes.
Here are some photos of the dinner that we had. Please enjoy them as much as we enjoyed the preparation and devouring the meal. Great to hear all the laughter around the table. Left Click any of these photos to see them enlarged.

Robin made this awesome Christmas Tree Veggie Spread. ()The initial idea came from my Neice, Meg Devine! Thanks Meg.)

Robin made this awesome Christmas Tree Veggie Tree. (The initial idea came from my Neice, Meg Devine! Thanks Meg.) Robin also made an awesome Caramelized Onion Dip and Housemade Ranch Dressing for the veggies.

Good wines with dinner. The best of the reds was the Swan. The Indian Creek was good, but a lot of the fruit was gone.

Housemade Sauerkraut with Green Apples and Dried Corn.

Mac made these awesome rolls.

The goose, from Meadowlark Farms in Nampa, ID. was superb. Moist and done perfectly. Stuffed with Chestnut Stuffing. Delicious. Gravy made from the goose drippings.

For dessert, Robin spent several hours making this Crepe Tiramisu. Oh so yummy!

Want a slice of the tiramisu?

Great Night at Richard’s Cafe Vicino in Boise

04 Wednesday Nov 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5-Stars, Appetizers, Boise Farmers Market, Boise Food Adventures, Boise Restaurants, Buffalo, Buy Idaho, Chef Richard Langston, Cinder Wines, Classic Cuisines, Dinner With Robin, Dinner With The Winemaker, Duck, Gumbo, Healthy Eating, Idaho Chefs, Idaho Greens, Idaho Wine, Idaho's Bounty, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Local Markets, New Orleans Food, Oysters, Photos By: Bob Young, Restaurant Reviews, Restaurants To Try, Seafood, Shrimp, Special Dinners, Special Events, Squash, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food, Wine Dinners, Wines - Idaho

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buffalo, Chef Richard Langston

Actually, this restaurant used to be Cafe Vicino’s. Now it is known as Richard’s Cafe Vicino, owned and operated by Chef Richard Langston. It is a superb place to go. Every bit a 5-Star restaurant. Great date night or special occasion restaurant. The food and the service is superb. We were there for the South by Southwest Wine Dinner, featuring wines from Cinder Winery. Winemaker Melanie Krause and Joe Schnerr were both there to describe and talk about the wines. Here is what we had. Enjoy! We did. Left-Click any of these photos to see them enlarged.

The menu and accompanying wines.

Cornbread with Andouille Sausage and Mustard Greens
Grits with BBQ Shrimp
Oysters Bienville

Duck Confit Crepe with Raisin Mole

Crawfish Gumbo

Braised Buffalo Short Ribs
with
Winter Squash

Intermezzo: New Orleans Lemon Ice

Salted Caramel Upside-Down Cake
with
Pine Nut Brittle

Janjou Pâtisserie Revisited

17 Thursday Sep 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5-Stars, Birthdays, Bistro, Bistro - Janjou Patisserie, Brunch, Celebrations, Classic Cuisines, Coffee, Comfort Food, Cookies, Ethnic Foods, Food Photos, French Foods, Fruits, Idaho Chefs, Janjou Pâtisserie, Local Markets, Photos By: Bob Young, Restaurant Reviews, Restaurants To Try, Salads, Special Events, What's For Dinner?

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Today is Robin’s 43rd anniversary of her 29th birthday so when I asked her what she wanted for breakfast, she said a quiche from Janjou Pâtisserie. That sounded good, so off we went. (It’s only 2 blocks away from us!) If anything, it has gotten better. The Quiche Lorraine we had was delicious. The coffee is still excellent – we bought a pound – and the fruit tart we had was scrumptious. You must try it when you are in Boise. Make a special trip. You’ll love it. 5-Stars all the way. Enjoy these photos!

Wonderful fresh made and house made cookies!

Chocolate tarts

Fruit tarts

Raspberry Tart. We had one. Delicious!

Quiche Lorraine. Fresh made and scrumptious.

Robin enjoys her quiche!

“State and Lemp” – Awesome

17 Friday Jul 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5-Stars, Acme Bake Shop, Anniversary, Appetizers, Apricots, Beets, Boise Adventures, Boise Restaurants, Bread, Buy Idaho, Carrots, Celebrations, Chardonnay, Classic Cuisines, Dinner Reviews with Robin, Dinner With Robin, Food Photos, Friends, Heirloom Carrots, Heirloom Squash, Idaho Greens, Idaho Potatoes, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Restaurant Reviews, Restaurants, Restaurants To Try, Salads, Special Dinners, Special Events, Special Information, Things To Do, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food, Wine Dinners

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State and Lemp

I could, and probably should, fill up this page with the word awesome, but that would be boring! If you are in Boise and have been here for awhile, do you remember Andrae’s? That definitely was a 5-Star restaurant. And so is State and Lemp. It is every bit as good as Andrea’s was; If not better. But I can only give 5-Stars and State and Lemp earned every one of those stars. From the local art on the wall, as pictured here, to the outstanding service. Also outstanding was the plating of the different food offerings. We eat with our eyes first, and as you will see, the presentations were super good! The seating is limited to about 28 people, so call for a reservation. We did like the way they have the tables set, it gave us time to chat with our table “neighbors”. Here are some photos from the evening. Enjoy! We will return for another special celebration, whatever that may be!

Robin at our seating.

The seating arrangements.

The menu and our place card. Yes, it is that formal!

It is great to see that they use as much local products as possible. Here is Acme Bake Shop Sourdough Bread. For a complete list of their farmer suppliers, check their web site.

It is great to see that they use as much local products as possible. Here is Acme Bake Shop Sourdough Bread. For a complete list of their local farmer suppliers, check their web site.

Sardine
with
Micro Greens and Flowers

Strawberry & Cucumber Scallop. Cilantro. Shiso Patrick Bottex – “La Cueille” Gamay / Poulsard

Strawberry and Cucumber
Scallop. Cilantro. Shiso
Patrick Bottex – “La Cueille” Gamay / Poulsard

Summer Squash & Fava Beans Black Cod. Sea Beans Nasturtium Taft Street – Chardonnay

Summer Squash and Fava Beans
Black Cod. Sea Beans. Nasturtium
Taft Street Chardonnay

Carrot & Apricot Goat. Sesame. Fried Rice Maxime Magnon – “La Démarrante” Carignan / Cinsault

Carrot and Apricot
Goat. Sesame. Fried Rice
Maxime Magnon – “La Démarrante” Carignan/Cinsault

Intermezzo – Huckleberry Sorbet

Beets & New Potato
Pork. Gooseberry. Sorrel
Domaine Gayda – “Flying Solo” Grenache/Syrah

Currants & Cherry Ginger Ale. Vanilla Cream. Mochi Taylor Fladgate – “LBV” Port

Currants and Cherry
Ginger Ale. Vanilla Cream. Mochi
Taylor Fladgate – “LBV” Port

Those little ginger ale “balloons” just “popped” flavor in your mouth. I intentionally did not pick a “favorite” dish – they were all superior. The wines also were paired perfectly. Here is a little more about State and Lemp from their web site.

In our effort to showcase local and regional farmers, ranchers, and artisans we have utilized the following…
Purple Sage Farms /purplesagefarms.com – Waterwheel Gardens /waterwheelgardens.com – Rice Family Farms / ricefamilyfarms.com – Sweet Valley Organics / sweetvalleyorganics.com – Peaceful Belly / peacefulbelly.com – Dawson Taylor Coffee Roasters / dawsontaylor.com – Malheur River Meats / malheurrivermeats.com – Ohana Farm Inc. Frostenson Farms – Acme Bread Co. – Double R Honey Farm – Cloverleaf Creamery …. Ownership and management will maintain a constant presence on the floor as we interact with guests to ensure an unforgettable experience. We provide continuing education and training for all team members in order to better enable them as they assist guests with decisions. Additionally, we seek to advance all team members and enable their growth as hospitality professionals.

32nd Anniversary Dinner

15 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Anniversary, Boise Farmers Market, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Carrots, Classic Cuisines, Dinner At The Captains Shack, Dinner For Robin, Dinner With Robin, Ethnic Foods, Fennel, Food Prep, Fruits, Ginger, Green Peas, Green Salad, Harissa, Herbs and Spices, Idaho Lamb, Lamb, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Main Dish, Olive Oil, Party Time, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Raisins, Recipe by: Robin and Bob Young, Recipes -Tagine, Salads, Special Dinners, Special Events, Spices of Morocco, Tagine, Tagine Cooking, Tagine of Lamb, Tomatoes, Traditional Food, Vegetables, What's For Dinner?

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fennel, lamb tagine, tagine, tajine

A happy 32nd anniversary dinner tonight! Thank-You Robin for all that love and those many years! The gardenia pictured here is on our front porch. Last century, when Robin and I would go to a formal dance, I would get her a corsage of gardenia. This plant is fitting and brings back many fond memories.
The dinner tonight, Tagine of Lamb with Peas and Fennel, is a very traditional Moroccan dish and tonight we prepared it in a traditional way – in a tagine.

A tajine or tagine (Arabic: طاجين‎ tajin from the Arabic: طاج‎) is a historically North African Berber dish that is named after the earthenware pot in which it is cooked. A similar dish known as tavvas is found in Cypriot cuisine. The traditional method of cooking with a tajine is to place it over coals. Use of the tajine can be compared to stewing.

Ceramic tajines.
The traditional tajine pot is made of pottery, which is sometimes painted or glazed. It consists of two parts: a base unit that is flat and circular with low sides and a large cone- or dome-shaped cover that sits on the base during cooking. The cover is designed to promote the return of all condensation to the bottom. Tajines can also be cooked in a conventional oven or on a stove top.
Tajine is traditionally cooked over hot charcoal leaving an adequate space between the coals and the tajine pot to avoid having the temperature rise too fast. Large bricks of charcoal are purchased specifically for their ability to stay hot for hours. Smaller pieces of charcoal are reserved for cooking brochettes (barbecue) and other grilled meats.
Other methods are to use a tajine in a slow oven or on a gas or electric stove top, on lowest heat necessary to keep the stew simmering gently. A diffuser – a circular piece of aluminium placed between the tajine and burner – is used to evenly distribute the stove’s heat. European manufacturers have created tajines with heavy cast-iron bottoms that can be heated on a cooking stove to a high temperature. This permits the browning of meat and vegetables before cooking.
Tajine cooking may be replicated by using a slow cooker or similar item; but the result will be slightly different. Many ceramic tajines are decorative items as well as functional cooking vessels. Some tajines, however, are intended only to be used as decorative serving dishes. [Wikipedia]

Using the recipe link above, the vegetables are cut and placed in the tagine along with all spices.

At about 2 hours, or halfway through the cooking process, check to see if more liquid is needed.

The finished product still in the tagine. It could be served from this pot.

Tagine of Lamb with Peas and Fennel

Fresh Spinach and Tomato Salad
with
Meyer Lemon Olive Oil and Tarragon Vinegar Vinaigrette

Fire Pie Pizza at Houston Winery

07 Sunday Jun 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5-Stars, Baking, Basil, Boise Adventures, Buy Idaho, Chardonnay, Cheese, Classic Cuisines, Comfort Food, Cooking Styles, Dinner With Robin, Dinner With The Winemaker, Healthy Eating, Heirloom Tomatoes, Herbs, Herbs and Spices, Housemade Pie Crust, Idaho Chefs, Idaho Wine, Idaho's Bounty, Italian Food, Local Harvests, Locavore, Main Dish, Merlot, Organic Foods, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Release Parties, Smoking and Grilling, Special Events, Special Information, Spice Blends, Tomatoes, Vegetables, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food, Wine Tasting, Wines - Idaho

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Basil Pizza, fire pie pizza, Fresh Margarita Pizza, Houston Wine, Houston Winery, release party

Such a great Idaho afternoon with great Idaho pizza and some great Idaho wines from Houston Winery in Caldwell, Idaho – it was their Merlot release party. Superb Merlot was released today and it is well worth buying some. It went very well with the Fire Pie Pizza made by Jamie and Kitty Martin of Hagerman, ID. (See their link in the sidebar.) If you are looking for a treat at your next party, be it family or work, try Firepiepizza! Fresh made. Local products – and you know how I am with Buying Local – cooked in a fire oven. They will make any kind of pizza that you want, providing they have the supplies on hand. Enjoy these photos of the afternoon. Cheers!

Firepiepizza Banner

Kitty Martin creates a masterful pizza. And all from scratch and using local products, especially the vegetables. Jamie Martin tends the oven.

Pizza making

An extremely hot oven completely designed and built by Jamie Martin.

Pizza is ready!

More orders are coming in!

Margherita Pizza ! Add a glass of Houston Wine and Yummers!

Fresh Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza. I need more wine!

Robin discusses wine.

Gregg Algers, Winemaker at Houston Winery, Larry and Elaine Gibson, TVWS members, all enjoy the pizza and the wine.

There was a great crowd at this release party.

More fire baked pizza, please!

Boise Farmers Market Expands Program

23 Saturday May 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Boise Adventures, Boise Farmers Market, Buy Idaho, Comfort Food, Food, Food Carts or Trucks, Green Beans, Green Peas, Greens, Healthy Eating, Heirloom Carrots, Heirloom Squash, Heirloom Tomatoes, Herbs and Spices, Idaho Greens, Idaho's Bounty, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Meadowlark Farms, Next Generation produce, Onion, Peaceful Belly Farms, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Purple Sage Farms, Special Events, Special Information, Spinach, Spring Greens, Spring Plants, Spring Vegies, Traditional Food, True Roots Produce, Watercress, What's For Dinner?

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Boise Farmers Market, Mobile Market, Next Generation produce, Purple Sage Farms, spring vegetables, True Roots produce

The BFM, Boise Farmers Market, has come up with a novel idea – Take the market to those who can least afford to attend the market at 10th and Grove or any other market in the downtown corridor. In other words, hook up a trailer to a vehicle and take the produce to different neighborhoods. New idea? In the 21st Century, maybe, but I can remember the farmers coming to our neighborhood – in Delaware – and my Mother buying fresh produce that way in season. Look at what they are doing. If you need to enlarge the photos to see them or to print them, Left-Click the photo. From the BFM website, “Spring produce galore! Look for strawberries, asparagus, lettuces, mustard greens, radishes, rhubarb, micro-greens and a whole lot of love. Plus, the debut of the BFM Mobile Market on Saturday, May 23rd!”

The schedule of where the produce trailer will be.

As this poster says, “The Boise Farmers Market and the Boise Parks and Recreation are bringing fresh local produce to your neighborhood this summer! Shop for Fresh-From-The-Farm fruits and vegetables while your kids play in the park. The Mobile Market accepts SNAP benefits. For more information, please contact Janie Burns at (208) 863-6947 or at info@boisefarmersmarket.com.” You can also check the website at The Boise Farmers Market.

The Mobile Market

Map of the service and schedule for the Mobile Market.

Boise Parks and Recreation are helping with this project. Thank-You Boise Parks and Rec!

Hopefully, some of these produce vendors will have some of their produce on the Mobile Market. I know you will be able to purchase fresh, farm eggs from Meadowlark Farms. And maybe bakery items in the future.

True Roots produce.

Purple Sage Farms

Maybe some live plants? If not, fresh tomatoes should be available in season.

Thousand Springs BNB and Feathered Winds Wine

09 Saturday May 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5-Stars, Breakfast, Breakfast With Robin, Coffee, Cooking Styles, Dinner With Friends, Dinner With Robin, Ethnic Foods, Grilling, Idaho Dairy, Idaho Greens, Idaho Lamb, Idaho's Bounty, Lamb, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Salads, Shrimp, Special Events, Vegetables, What's For Dinner?, Whats For Breakfast?, Wine and Food, Wine Dinners, Wines - Australia, Wines - Chile, Wines - New Zealand, Wines - South Africa

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Feathered Winds Wine, Hagerman, Thousand Springs BNB

Such a good time here. Good breakfast and wonderful rooms. We were lucky enough to make reservations – Thousand Springs BNB and Feathered Winds Wine – and be there for their monthly wine dinner. This particular dinner featured wines from south of the equator. Good and interesting food paring with the wines. Great time talking to the folks at our table and at other tables. Enjoy these photos and Left-Click to see them enlarged. If you go to Thousand Springs BNB, let them know you saw this blog post. Cheers!

The kitchen.

Colome Torrontes and Crois Tannat wines.

Empanadas
pared with
Colome Torrontes Wine (Argentina)

Shrimp on the Barbie
pared with
Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)

The grilled lemon – peel and all – was delicious grilled like this.

Lamb Sosaties pared with Riebeek Pinotage (South Africa)

Lamb Sosaties (Life Spring Farm Lamb)
pared with
Riebeek Pinotage (South Africa)

And as a note – This Icelandic lamb was awesome. It melted in your mouth!

Pavlova
pared with
Jacob’s Creek Moscato (Australia)

Other wines served with dinner were: Shingleback Black Bubbles (Australia), Jacob’s Creek Sweet Red (Australia), Massimo Malbec (Argentina) and 2012 Santa Rita Cabernet (Chile). Then the next morning, we had breakfast – no wine, although we could have had some.