Category Archives: Things To Do

Our 26th Wedding Anniversary Dinner

15 Wednesday Jul 2009

Posted by in Celebrations, Dessert, Food, Main Dish, Party Time, Things To Do, Wine Dinners

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For our 26th Wedding Anniversary, we went to Le Cafe de Paris in Boise and, as usual, it was fantastic. For starters, the Foie Gras with Brioche Croutons and Pickled Cherries was fantastic as was the Buttered Poached Lobster Tail with Local Field Greens and a Tarragon Vinaigrette. The 1983 Chateau de Sales bordeaux, from our cellar was big, dark and hot – high alcohol. Good acidity but the fruit was fading somewhat. Dark cherry with mushroom and tobacco overtones. It went quite well with the Halibut Papillotte with Roasted Morrel Mushroom Consomme, Saffron Potatoes and Petit Pois. It also went extremely well with the Filet Mignon with Potato Puree, Haricut Verts and Truffle Compound Butter. Well, you be the judge. Watch the slides. Cheers!

Brick 29 Bacon Feast

15 Wednesday Jul 2009

Posted by in Celebrations, Food, Interesting Information, Party Time, Restaurants, Things To Do

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I received this from the Brick 29 in Nampa this morning. If you have never been to this restaurant, you really should go. Well worth it.

Hi Bob and Robin,

I wanted to let you know about the Blue Ribbon Bacon Tour that is coming to I’m Treasure Valley on August 1 at Brick 29 Restaurant. The event is making a stop in Nampa to celebrate local blogger Bacon Unwrapped and author of Bacon: A Love Story, Heather Lauer.

There will be lots of bacon themed food and drinks featuring bacon prepared by celebrated local chef Dustan Bristol. The event will also feature a bacon eating contest.

Representatives from Bacon Salt and Bakon Vodka will also be in attendance and serving samples of their products.

There will be lots of fun, eating and drinking. We would love to have you at the event and if you could mention the event on your blog linking to Bacon Nation.

Please let me know if you have any questions, would like to speak to Heather or need more information.

Thank you!

Sincerely,
Nina Simmons

So there you have it. I guess it really is a “pork fat thing!” Cheers.

26th Anniversary Menu

11 Saturday Jul 2009

Posted by in Celebrations, Food, Things To Do, Wine and Food, Wine Dinners

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Yes, it really is a celebration! Here is the menu from Cafe de Paris on 9th Street in Boise. Anyone who would like to join us for dinner must make a reservation. We are also bringing a 1983 Chateau de Sales Pomerol to share. Auction price $162.00. Did I mention this is a magnum? Well, it is! Here is the menu:

First Course
Foie Gras
brioche crouton, pickled cherries

Butter Poached Lobster Tail
local field greens, tarragon vinaigrette

Two Course Dinner
Champagne Aperitif
Main Course
choice between
First Course or Dessert
$29/person

Three Course Dinner
Champagne Aperitif
First Course
Main Course
Dessert
$35/person

Main Course
Filet Mignon
potato puree, haricot verts,
truffle compound butter

Halibut Papillotte
roasted mushroom consomme,
saffron potatoes, petits pois
Dessert

Chocolate Soufflé
berry jus, white
chocolate sauce

For Reservations
Call 208-336-0889

Hope to see you there and to share some fantastic wine with you! Let’s celebrate!! Cheers.

Rhubarb Custard Pie

09 Thursday Jul 2009

Posted by in Dessert, Recipe By: Robin Young, Things To Do

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Here is a good recipe for a rhubarb pie. Not made with strawberries as are most rhubarb pies, but rather with apple – Pink Lady apples, to be exact. Robin makes an awesome Whole Wheat Pastry Flour crust with cinnamon that simply goes extremely well with the filling. You can find the recipe at AFMom’s Rhubarb Custard Pie. We got this recipe from an acquaintance of ours from American Falls, Idaho, thus the name of the recipe. Enjoy this rhubarb pie. Cheers!

Food Watch

04 Saturday Jul 2009

Posted by in Bread, Food, Photos, Recipe By: Bob Young, Things To Do

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Ah! Many thanks to Paul and Helen (Kate) for bringing us these beautiful kokanee! Awesome and just look how they prep out? A nice brine with tarragon, basil and English thyme.

And then after smoking at 225 degrees F for 4 hours over hickory with some alder added in ….. fit for a King!

But wait, can’t have these delicious morsels without some fresh bread and Strawberry/Rhubarb Jam! Such a treat!!

A dinner such as this makes one dream of rich, blue skies with whipped cream clouds and a sprig of mint or basil.

So there you have an awesome meal! So much fun to do. So many thanks to friends Kate and Paul! Cheers!

Silver City Wine Weekend

17 Wednesday Jun 2009

Posted by in Things To Do, Wine and Food, Wine Dinners, Wine Tasting

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So you say you need some time away from the big city? You need to see the part of the world where the deer and the antelope play? You need peace! You need quiet! Don’t want to answer the telephone? Or watch the TV? Or listen to the radio? You want to see how laid back Idaho really can be? Then here is where you need to be —

Silver City Wine Weekend
July 10 & 11, 2009
Where: The Idaho Hotel in Silver City, Idaho

Friday Evening– Wine Tasting at 7 PM:

Bring two bottles of wine – same or similar varietals, different vintner or a different year vintage & food bite to pair with and share with all!

6 PM – Happiness Hour (a little surprise for those who make early!) Please “BYODG” bring your own decorated glass!

– You must be 21 years old to attend –

–
Saturday – Wine Dinner and special tour.
A special dinner paired with wines to compliment each entree.
$30 – includes tax and gratuity.
Dinner starts at 7 PM.

Saturday & Sunday
Breakfast Buffet 8:30 – 10:00 AM. $8.50.

Hotel rooms start at $75 per night, stay for two nights only $125 (regular room) – Wine weekend only.

Hotel and Dinner Reservations are required.

For more Information & Reservations call
Jerri at: 208-863-4768 or at the Idaho Hotel: 208-583-4104.
email: Jerri-nelson@hotmail.com

Sooooo, Cheers! And see you there! Always a great weekend!

Zorba’s Grilled Sandwich

16 Tuesday Jun 2009

Posted by in Bread, Recipes, Things To Do

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To make this Grilled Sandwich correctly, one must start witn Zorba’s No Knead Bread. An awesome bread, even though it does take some time to make.

The bread has wonderful crumb, open and fresh. Chewy, but not tough. A crunchy crust.


And the star of this show is Zorba’s Grilled Sandwich. Made with Zorba’s No Knead Bread, fresh tomato slice, Yarlsberg cheese and Brie. Then a small amount of anchovie. Grill this. Awesome!! Jut a great Comfort Food! Better than Mac ‘N Cheese! Cheers!

Duck l’Orange

14 Sunday Jun 2009

Posted by in Classic Sauces, Food, Things To Do

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So, what’s for dinner on a rainy, muggy Boise, Idaho Sunday afternoon? Not your conventional “Old Peoples” dinner – Chicken Mashed Potatoes and Gravy and Peas. Nope! None of that. Try a great Duck l’Orange with Smashed Turnips on a bed of Greens and a Watercress and Orange Salad with a Balsamic Dressing. Ahhhh! So good! Cheers!

Where In The World Is Gail and Robert Parker?

30 Saturday May 2009

Posted by in Party Time, Things To Do

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I think we’ve found ’em! I received this from Gail this morning – Not the photo, just the email:

Hi, Robin and Bob,
I seem to have the magic touch on Scottish computers. One touch and they die. After a couple of days the one at the Selkirk Arms is up and running again–with some help from the desk person. This hotel, which has been renovated, was once a stopping place of Robert Burns. Guess one of his favorite ales was Selkirk Grace–we tried it, of course. A bit bitter for my taste, but good. From what we hear they’ve kept it place-specific, but are now distributing it more widely in UK.

I’ve tried a number of Scotch whiskys and find I prefer the ones from the Isle of Islay–peaty, smoky and rich. Glennfiddich and The Glenlivet, the 12 year olds, seem more alcohol and less taste to me. But you know everyone’s palate is very different.

Hagis is OK, but not my favorite thing. At least I’ve tried it–tastes sort of “livery” to me. Blood sausage is sort of tolerable, but it is so black, it kind of turns my stomach a bit. I’ve had a lot of wonderful salmon. Very good and fresh. We are right on the Solway Sound which is salt water–we see the tides go up and down. Seems mostly down when we are out and about, so what we see is acres of mud. Every where we look we see darling, sweet little lambs gamboling about on the rolling green hills. How anyone could eat them, I don’t know…

These are our last few hours in Scotland–we are on to Carlisle, England (Hadrian Wall) tonight and Oxford tomorrow and on to the plane on Monday around noon. I am not looking forward to getting across London to the airport. Also, the flight is so long.

It is unseasonably warm here–about 70+ degrees. We have one short sleeved shirt each–brought mostly sweaters, which we really needed in the Highlands, so will be wearing the same thing from yesterday until we get home. We will probably have heat prostration when we get back to Idaho and it is just normal there.

Will see you soon–Board meeting on Tuesday, I guess.

Take care,
G&B

It really sounds like they are having a Great time! Hope so. Cheers!

Idaho Travels

28 Thursday May 2009

Posted by in Things To Do

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This may not be entirely associated with food, but then again … it might? Did you find a great restaurant on your travels? Need a place to travel to? Try Visit South West Idaho to find a place for your sojourn. Tour the Snake River AVA (Wine Country) or the McCall Area – find information from SWITA. This posting may end up in the Archive, but I have also placed a “blog blip” in the sidebar. Cheers!