boiSee.com

December 29th, 2004

2004 wasn�t so bad. Yes, we all miss the Blues Bouquet, but thankfully the family of friends and coworkers are hanging together. This time last year I personally was on a hot streak. High powered job as an editor and all good on the personal side.

My father often said that all things are cyclical. Life is a circle, ashes to ashes, really. . . it is a series of ups and downs. The best we can hope for is each ride of life’s roller coaster to take us higher. It does seem even though my world was headed down for much of the last year, the wheel should start turning up. I can almost hear the carney calling �all aboard.� Stick around, I�m sure 2005 well be entertaining.

One more thing before I close out the year, thank you to all who read and commented on this site. It is so fun to hear your ideas, comments and suggestions-good or bad.

December 16th, 2004

“It is perfect for Boise! We like to think of ourselves as a big city.” My daughter summed up the feel of the Milky Way well. It does have a metropolitan feel. Something “west coast.” The decor is open, maybe a little to open; our table had a rewarding view of an alley, service trucks included; the tall glass windows, industrial carpet, metal chairs, stark furnishings and the open grill all contributed to give the diner a pure and efficient atmosphere.

Since I had not eaten at the new Milky Way, my expectation was of something more like the old basement location. The previous Milky Way was tiny, intimate and a reveled in a cramped- kinda kitchy vibe. There are elements of the old in the new eatery, but it has mostly to do with the food and style of service. Expect the same well prepared entrees and desserts, combined with servers that are well versed and efficient. Our sever Shea, was amazing as she rattled off 3 or 4 minutes worth of �Tonight’s Special.� She cheerfully described��salads, sauces, and food preparation with a sly confidence.

One of the specials was a �trifecta.���It arrived exactly as expected, steak, salmon and a spicy sausage over a bed of baby greens. The salmon was a bit too good. My daughter told me it was better than mine! That hurt, but she was, as usual, right. The fish was grilled to that hard to match firm outside tender inside state and drizzled with a light cream sauce. The steak was as it should be. The winner of this trifecta was the sausage. Also grilled, this was a spicy delight — the blend of meats and spices is so subtle that I am not sure what the sausage was made of. It tasted of pork, like a chorizo blended with cilantro, and maybe anise.

The daughter enjoyed her �hanger� steak and her not so easily impressed palette was more than happy with the bbq sauce. She was however underwhelmed with the mashed potatoes. To the Milky Way�s defense, I�m not sure anyone can cook mashers that will please my native “spud girl.”

I can tell you that the positive nature of this review had nothing to do with the out-of-the-world bacon and I believe mozzarella wrapped grilled shrimp, that now star chef, �Pat the Wonderback� sent to the table. However, it didn�t hurt. Thanks Pat.

December 16th, 2004

In a world of Walmarts and gobalization, we should tip our hats to St. Lukes. Instead of a turkey, or some funny gift. St. Lukes gives a $50.00 gift certificate to it’s employees(something like 4500). Here is the great part. The certificate is to the shops, restaurants, etc of Downtown Boise, not the Mall or some other generic place. The money goes right into the Boise economy, it helps local merchants, their employees-basically all of us.

These generous dollars helped my girls and I have a wonderful holiday dinner at the Milky Way. (review coming soon) This is the sort of enlightened thinking that makes St. Lukes such a good place to work. A happy staff is naturally more caring. Where is caring and happiness more important than at a hospital? If I get sick in the next couple of weeks, I hope my nurse and/or doctor have just come from a great dinner on the company as we had downtown. Couldn’t hurt

December 11th, 2004

Why is it that anything in a Martini glass is now called a martini? I was offered a Bloody Mary martini the other day. The Statesman had a so-called recipe for a Smoked Salmon Martini. Come on, a martini is vodka and vermouth, shaken or stirred-period. If you want Gin it is a Gin Martini-period. The glass does not make the drink. If you put milk in a coffee mug, it does not become Milkee. The way things are going, soon we will have the Moooootini, yes, milk in a martini glass. That way some fancy bar can charge you eight bucks for a glass of milk.

How about dirtini?

�Today’s special. So fresh, the bean garnish is still growing in the finest Idaho farm ground. Shoveled into your martini glass directly from the hole in the basement. Ask your server.�

What we are talking about here is lazy bartenders. It used to be that care was taken in naming a drink. The Kamikaze is basically a sweetened martini. Today it would be called a limetini, which would undoubtedly confuse the Gimlet drinkers.

I know this is an uphill battle, but the consumer is getting the short end of this deal. Owners are loving that people are paying huge prices for a cheap drink in a fancy glass. Drinker wise up, bartender quit taking the easy way out and go back to creating AND naming your drinks.

December 6th, 2004

co-owner Christine Reid told us. As longtime fans of her and partner Gil’s wonderful Park Center Mall Restaurant, Aubergine, we were anxious to check out Pair. Pair may have the best location in Boise, on the corner of 6th and Main, across from City Hall in Old Boise.

Pair is hip without being pretentious. The decor is a contrast of light and dark. A hardwood entry, makes way to black floors and the purple columns stand out against light green walls. (You can bet they have a designer name for the color.) Inviting coaches, tables and chairs give Pair the feel of someone’s living room. O.K., a living room of someone way cooler than most
of us, still it works. This is what China Blue across the street tried and failed to be. The sword of �trendy� can be wicked. Just a little too much and it becomes a parody. In an earlier review, I described China Blues as the place where all the cool kids in high school would go. At Pair you are more likely to find the kinda� average girl you though was cute and nice and you didn�t talk to until the last day at high school. She�s the type that will go to Pair after work at the bank. (She�s still cute.)

Pair is a full day affair. Breakfast at 7:30, lunch at 10:00, dinner at
5:00 and a full bar for cocktails till 2:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Be a
trend setter and come down to 601 Main.

December 3rd, 2004

Fish and chips are basic fare. At the Cottonwood Grille they are outstanding, the Reefs were way over spiced for me. The best, well the best fish and chips I have enjoyed in awhile were in one of the most unusual places. The State Court Cafe!

Hand buttermilk battered cod. Both the chips and the fish were that hard to find combination of crisp on the outside and still soft in. Come to think of it maybe the fact that the State Court isn�t so fancy is the key. There menu features dishes made the �old� way. The hollandaise for the eggs benny is scratch built and buttery smooth. Real bacon on a BLT. You get the idea. If you are used to fast food, slow down, overlook the odd decor and step into The State Court Cafe for real, honest food.