LAU R IE PEAR M AN
Just try to tear yourself away from the pastry case at Pamela’s. Go ahead, we dare you.
BEST PAVLOVIAN E-MAIL
Pamela’s Bakery, Cafe, Espresso 360 S. Eagle Road, Eagle, 208-938-6585, pamelasbakery.com Each week, the crew at Pamela’s in Eagle puts us through torture. On the surface, it looks like simple marketing, but they must not know the effect their weekly e-mail has on us. As soon as it pops into our in-boxes, the drooling starts. We don’t even know what the weekly lunch special is yet, but already we’re picturing beautiful plates full of spectacular, made-fromscratch food. Then, we open said e-mail, even though we should know better by now. Inside, described in painful detail, is a list of delectable sandwiches, salads and, of course, dessert. By this point, we’re nearly weeping, trapped in our downtown Boise office, plotting the next time we can make it out to Eagle, where we will no doubt deposit even more drool on the pastry case full of the most beautiful cakes, cookies and assorted goodies imaginable. There may have to be an addendum to the Geneva Convention to include Pamela’s weekly e-mails.
BEST PLACE TO GET YOUR DOG ON
Stan’s Char-Broiled Hot Dogs 818 S. Vista Ave., 208-342-1199 Stan’s know how fix up a foot-long. The Sahlen’s Smokehouse hot dogs are impor ted from the East Coast weekly and a comfor t-food meal can be topped off by a delicious dollop of frozen vanilla or chocolate custard. Stan’s is one of those have-it-your-way kind of joints. Order your meat. Watch it cook. Choose your own adventure when it comes to toppings. Go traditional with onions, relish, mustard and ketchup or walk on the wild side with pickles, jalapenos and gooey cheese sauce. Owner Stan Linkowski also offers a secret Bronco sauce, which took years to per fect. But if the man is a dedicated-enough fan to name his concoction after the Broncos, we’d recommend leaving your Ducks hat at home if you want a squir t of Linkowski’s special sauce.
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| SEPTEMBER 23–29, 2009 |
BOISEweekly
BEST SIDE OF TWIGS
Willowcreek Grill
2273 S. Vista Ave., Ste. 150, 208-343-5544; 1065 E. Winding Creek Dr., Eagle, 208-938-3010, willowcreekgrill.com
Willowcreek Grill lovingly refers to its fries as twigs. But not because they taste like bark or even resemble branches. Maybe it has something to do with the decor, which makes use of the aforementioned twigs like welcoming arms beckoning to customers. Diners have the choice of regular twigs, sweet potato twigs or a mix of yellow and orange crispy fried twigs. And Willowcreek is so accommodating, we bet they’d even ser ve fresh sushi from the adjacent RAW with a side of twigs. Can you say sur f and tur f?
BEST REASON TO DRIVE TO NAMPA
Brick 29 Bistro
320 11th Ave. S., Ste. 100, Nampa, 208-468-0029, brick29.com OK, maybe there are a few other reasons to drive to Nampa, but none this savory or locally sourced. With menu options like local lamb shanks with smoked mushroom risotto, and shrimp cakes with vanilla butter, we’re all about making the trek out to this old brick Masonic temple. That is, when we can find parking. Damn Boise foodies clogging the parking lot with their Subarus.
BEST MAC SALAD YOUR AUNTIE DIDN’T MAKE
Ono Hawaiian Cafe
2170 S. Broadway Ave., 208-429-6800, onocafe.net And best spam musubi, and best coconut rice, and best plate lunch and best place for an addict to get an IV of Hawaiian Sun juice. But back to that mac salad. It’s Hawaiian style, just like auntie used to make.
BEST PLACE TO FEEL LIKE YOU’RE PART OF THE FAMILY
Epi’s Basque Restaurant 1115 N. Main St., Meridian, 208-884-0142 Some places say they treat you like family, but at this Meridian institution, they really and truly do. From the warm greeting at the front door of the small, remodeled house on Main Street through the hearty meal accented by laughter in a room that feels distinctly like a living room, you’ll never feel more comfortable in a fine restaurant. And just like Mom’s house, you won’t leave without a pile of leftovers—but in this case, you’ll be hoarding them like precious Basque jewels. You may feel tempted to pop the top button on your pants, but remember, while you may be that comfortable, you’re still in public.
BEST SEARED SEA SCALLOP WITH SPICY CILANTRO PESTO LOUNGING ON A BED OF SWEET POTATO PUREE
Cafe Vicino
808 W. Fort St., 208-472-1463, cafevicino.com If you’re not en route to Cafe Vicino right now, we’ve lost all respect for your taste buds. We might even scrawl dirty rumors about them in the girls’ bathroom.
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