City Market – Boise Saturday Market #2

28 Saturday Apr 2012

Posted by Bob and Robin in Boise Adventures, Buy Idaho, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, What's For Dinner?

It’s 9:30! Ring the bell. And she did and the second week of the Saturday market was opened! I talked for a short while with Garrett Goldberg, Square Companies, a wine storage company, and he said the Guy was supposed to be coming to the Market. Guy Hand from NPR. I told him I know Guy and to tell him he is late and that I had already been here and gotten some great photos. Here are just some of the vegies that are available. The new header photo was taken at the Market just this morning. I also get our eggs here from Meadow Lark Farms, Janie Burns. Great source for local eggs, lamb and chicken. Cheers!

Radishes and carrots from the City Market. This is also the new header photo.

Wow! Tomatoes that are not “hard as rocks”. That smell like tomatoes and best yet: They Taste Like Tomatoes!

Meatless Friday – High Fiber Dinner

28 Saturday Apr 2012

Posted by Bob and Robin in Food Prep, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, What's For Dinner?

≈ 2 Comments

Actually, this was a great dinner on this cold and stormy night. The rains may be over, but the mountains got snow.

Wild Rice
with
walnuts and dried fruit

Basamati Rice
with
Knorr Spinach Dip, sour cream, light mayo, cucumber and hard cooked eggs

Red Cabbage Slaw and Tomatoes

Happy 10th Birthday Le Café de Paris in Boise

27 Friday Apr 2012

Posted by Bob and Robin in Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Things To Do, What's For Dinner?

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Even though we woke up to snow on the mountain this morning – yup! 91 degrees last weekend and snow this weekend, 34 degrees over night – we want to congratulate Le Café de Paris on 10 years in Boise. And what an exciting epicurean trip it has been! Thank-You Mathieu and Thank-You to all of his staff who greet us, serve us and prepare fantastic meals for us. Tonight’s dinner was superb!!! Take a look.

Mathieu Choux, Owner of Le Café de Paris, with his party streamers.

Soraya and Olli. Soraya is the Manager of Le Café de Paris

Proud Mama!

Two of the wines we bought to share. Don’t ever say that a white wine, in this case a Chardonnay, won’t cellar well. This one, from 1974, was great and, in my humble opinion, out performed the French wine!!

And we also brought an good Cabernet Sauvignon. We are happy that we were able to share our wines with the folks at Le Café de Paris.

HOR d’OEVRES
Plateau de Charcuterie
Fois Gras
with
Cherry Gastrique
Pâté and Rilette
Fresh Baked Bread

Escargots de Bourgogne
escargot sauteed in maitre-d butter, served in voul-au-vents

Fois Gras
with
Cherry Gastrique

SOUPE et SALADE
Salade de Chèvre Chaud
field greens, confit tomatoes, mustard vinaigrette, baked goat cheese on crostini

Potage Paysan
creamy provençal soup made with potato, onion and swiss
(This soup was awesome!)

POISSONS
Duo de Poissons
Braided Salmon and Halibut Fillets
with
beurre blanc

Bar aux Herbes
thyme encrusted seabass, served with rice pilaf

VIANDES
Steak Frites
Medium Rare Tri-Tip
green peppercorn brandy sauce,
served with Handcut Fries

Poulet aux Ecrevisses
Local Free Range Chicken
Crawfish
sauce nantua

Handcut Fries

DESSERT
Crêpe Suzette
delicious crepe served with buerre suzette, flambéed with Grand Marnier

Crème Brulée
pistachio custard with topped with burnt sugar

And this is specially for Mathieu. We were talking about the Shrimpcargot from The Buzz and how great an appetizer this is. Enjoy this Mathieu!

Thank-You all for a fantastic and fabulous meal and dining experience. You are still the best! Cheers and see you next time.

Another Great and Different Dinner

26 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by Bob and Robin in Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, What's For Dinner?, Wild Rice

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Here is another fantastic dinner we had. Yes, we do eat well!!

Sauteed Crimini Mushrooms
with
Beef

Wild Rice
with
Mint and Walnuts

Carrot Salad with Green Olives

What you say? Carrots and green olives? The steamed carrots are sweet. The olives add a tartness to the salad. The dressing is olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar. Have you ever had a Green Olive Soup? Olives are a surprisingly wonderful addition to some dishes.

Grilled New York Strip Steak

25 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by Bob and Robin in Mushrooms, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Shrimpcargot, What's For Dinner?

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What a super dinner. It’s been a while since we had a good grilled steak. Here’s what we had tonight.

Grilled New York Strip Steak
with
Garlic Sauteed Crimini Mushrooms

Fennel and Tomato Salad

Shrimpcargot

1988 Dolcetto D’Alba Cascina Bordino

Tommy’s Salmon Marinade

22 Sunday Apr 2012

Posted by Bob and Robin in Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Salmon, Seafood, What's For Dinner?

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Tommy’s Salmon. Hot off the grill! Yum-O!!!

Wow! This is one awesome salmon recipe. Thanks to Tommy Takeda from The Buzz here in Boise for his recipe. Look how easy this is.

Tommy’s Salmon Marinade

Ingredients:
2 T Brown Sugar
1 T Ginger, fresh grated
Soy Sauce – I used Mitoko Johsen Organic Shoyu Traditional Soy Sauce. Available at most Asian markets.

In the photo, 2 – 5oz Salmon Steaks. Enough for 2

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl. You want just enough soy sauce to make a paste.

Let sit for 1 hour refrigerated.

Spread over salmon steaks and let sit for 30 minutes. Grill over med-high heat until done. Eat slowly to enjoy every, luscious bite!!

Meyer Lemon Steamed Talapia

19 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by Bob and Robin in Food, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Recipe: Bob and Robin Young, Talapia, What's For Dinner?

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I know, some of you do not like talapia, a very mild white fish. Replace it with sole or halibut. As for the sauce.Think of it like a beurre blanc (white butter) but without the butter.

Before I get to the recipe. look at the dinner plated.

Meyer Lemon Steamed Talapia

Meyer Lemon Steamed Talapia In Marsala Sauce

Lemon Steamed Rice with Green Onion and Spinach

Winter Vegetable Medley
asparagus, Brussels sprouts, shallots

Lets start with the Meyer Lemon Steamed Talapia.
Ingredients: For the talapia
2 – 5 oz Talapia fillets or sole or halibut
4 T Vegetable oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/4 c Sauvignon Blanc
Juice of 1 Meyer lemon, reserving the peel
1 c Brown Basamati Rice
1/2 Meyers Lemon cut into pieces
2 c Spinach, chopped
2 Spring onions, diced

Ingredients: For the sauce
1/4 c Marsala
3 t Corn Starch
1/2 c Hot water

Directions:
Place the oil, salt and pepper and lemon juice along with the lemon peel that has been cut into pieces, in a saute pan. Bring to a low simmer. Add the fish fillets and the wine. Cover and steam until the fish flakes. You may have to turn the fish once.

Directions: for the sauce
Remove the fish from the liquid. Mix the sauce ingredients together until the corn starch is dissolved. Lower the heat to medium, if not already there. Add to the pan liquid and stir continually until thickened. Spoon about 2 T of the sauce over the fish.

Steam all of the vegetables together and add to the plate when done. Steam the rice along with the spinach, onion and the lemon until the rice is soft. Add to the plate.

This is really a yummy dinner and served with a Sauvignon Blanc – we had a 2011 Indian Creek Sauvignon Blanc that was awesome! It is also what we used in the sauce and to steam the fish. Enjoy!

Boise City Council Approves Community Farming

18 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by Bob and Robin in Community Garden, Food, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Locavore, Special Information, What's For Dinner?

≈ 1 Comment

This just in from the Idaho Statesman.

Boise City Council approves new rules for urban agriculture, but a vote on river jumping will wait
By ANNA WEBB — awebb@idahostatesman.com
Posted: 12:00am on Apr 18, 2012

The issue has inspired lots of passion and plenty of discussion. During a Boise City Council public hearing, several members of the public spoke in favor of the urban agriculture ordinance. No one spoke in opposition.

• Urban farms are now allowed in all zoning districts, along with community supported agriculture (CSAs), where customers buy shares of produce for pick up during growing season. The new rules also allow such operations to sell small amounts of produce.
• Urban farming retail spaces are limited to 500 square feet. New parking and overhead lighting is prohibited. Business hours are restricted to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Produce stands have been operating with six month permits. Now, they’ll be able to apply for yearlong permits.

Read more here: Urban Agriculture

Wine Dinner at The Buzz

11 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by Bob and Robin in Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Things To Do, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food

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Wow! What an exceptional wine dinner. Cristi you outdid yourself! The theme tonight for the April Wine Club was Social Media Wine Dinner. Cristi went through a fairly complete list of the social media that is available and the pluses and minuses of each. Interesting. The wines were very good also. With six wines presented, including Cristi’s Choice, the point spread was 1 point! A very close race. You will see my point spread as we progress through this post.
Cristi also had flowers and herbs that she has put into wine and beer bottle vases with a self-watering system. Here is Greek Oregano that I picked. It looks nice on our kitchen window.
Cristi’s Choice: 2010 La Cryma Christi Feudi di San Gregoro. A very pleasing and easy to drink wine. 12.5% alc, $20.00 [17]

Along with the wine, we have had folks who bring in one of theirs to share. Tonight was no exception as Joe brought in an Alaskan Blueberry and Merlot blend. I know, you say “Yuk!” But try this first. It is really surprising and not overpowering with blueberry. At least give it a try.

Appetizer
Crab Cakes
2010 Dry Creek Chenin Blanc
12.5% alc, great taste and finish, slightly lacking on aroma. [17] $14.00

Black Bean and Chorizo Soup
2008 Duragutti Bonardo
13.9% alc, full bodied and awesome taste. good finish [17] $16.00

Carrot and Ginger Salad
(loved these flavors!)
2010 Les Jemelles Viognier
13.1% alc, a wonderful Viognier, full of fruit and flavor that went very well with the salad. [18] $14.00

Brown Butter Sage with Ravioli
Chicken
2010 Fratelli Montepulciano
12.5% alc, another wonderful wine. easy to drink and was pared very well with the ravioli. [17] $14.00

Bourbon and Banana Crepe
Chocolate Cream
Morse Code Shiraz
great paring with the crepes [17] $14.00

Those scores are so very close. A great salute to Chisti’s ability to choose a wine that pairs well with any course. The wines were great and this was probably one of the top meals from the Buzz. Great job!!!

Great Easter Dinner

09 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by Bob and Robin in Celebrations, Ethnic Foods, Holiday Gatherings, Holiday Menu, Party Time, Passover Foods, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, What's For Dinner?

≈ 1 Comment

I can’t say that everyone had a fantastic Easter dinner, but we certainly did! It was great having Mac and Marnie, Sophia, Chris and Madison, Margaret and Robin. Family and friends always make for a great day. And Robin talked to her close friend, Nancy Bonney Chrissman in Florida and a nursing friend , Geisla, in Germany. Who can ask for more? The photo to the left is of our table center piece. I did not get the beautiful flowers Margaret brought, though.

Easter Menu
Roasted Gremolata of Boneless Leg of Lamb
Roasted Rosemary and Herbed Potatoes
Haroset Salad
Asparagus Mousse
Minted Carrots
Challah
Marnie’s Cake