WINESIPPER SAVVY SAUVIGNON
2013 FLEUR DU CAP SAUVIGNON BLANC, $8.99 From the Cape Floral region near the tip of South Africa, this sauvignon blanc displays a subtle elegance in a style reminiscent of France’s Sancerre. The aromas open with sweet guava and melon, with touches of flint and sage. Tropical fruit flavors mark the palate (ripe citrus, papaya, mango) complemented by spring greens and spicy green pepper. This wine is a definite bargain. 2013 SEVEN OF HEARTS CHATEAU FIGAREAUX SAUVIGNON BLANC, $20 Washington vineyards produce some of the Northwest’s best sauvignon blanc grapes, which explains why this Dundee, Ore., winery sourced the grapes for this wine from the Columbia Valley. The nose is an herb-laced mix of clover, basil and tropical fruit. The flavors are a rich and round mix of peach, pear and melon, while the persistent finish is smooth and creamy. 2013 WHITEHAVEN SAUVIGNON BLANC, $15.99 New Zealand sauvignon blanc, with its pure expression of the variety, has a devoted fan base. Whitehaven, while unmistakably Kiwi, is a bit more subtle than some. Lovely lime and mandarin orange aromas lead off, colored by touches of Anaheim pepper. Grapefruit flavors, so typical of New Zealand sauv blanc, fill the mouth, while citrus zest comes through on the crisp finish that lingers nicely. —David Kirkpatrick 20 | APRIL 22–28, 2015 | BOISEweekly
FOOD
TAR A M O RG A N
Every year I like to mark the death of winter with a spring favorite: sauvignon blanc. Those first few days when you don’t have to scrape ice off the windshield herald the end of frigid weather, but this year I’m a bit too late. After a few weeks of warmth, we dipped into freezing temps before warming back up again. Here are the panel’s picks for this unpredictable spring.
EL CAFETAL COLOMBIAN RESTAURANT A filling Colombian feast TARA MORGAN Some lunches necessitate a nap. Indian buffets, for example, with their rich coconut curries, fried samosas and plump pakoras, always have me yawning before I’ve finished my naan. Now there’s a new cuisine to add to my list: Colombian food. Teeming with carbs of every kind— plantains, potatoes, rice, corn, yucca—this fare If you don’t need a nap after this savory South American meal, you’re doing it wrong. is not for the faint of appetite. At El Cafetal, between Kibrom’s Restaurant leg bobbing on the surface. The soup got its heft lena is, in fact, a popular snack served in various and The Goodness Land in the Boise Internafrom a hearty chicken broth and was thickened tional Market, the deep fryer is always sputtering. forms across Central and South America. even further with starchy hunks of yucca and Speaking of popular dishes, perhaps one of Empanadas, smashed green plantain cakes and potato. The boiled corn imparted a sweet hominy Colombia’s most beloved bites is the arepa, a bulbous potato balls are submerged in hot oil, essence, while fine bits of cilantro gave off an fried golden and scooped into red plastic baskets. small, fluffy pancake made from ground maize. earthy perfume. The stew was accompanied by El Cafetal’s grilled arepas are served with an Colombian empanadas, unlike their baked a mound of white rice, slices of fresh avocado, a assortment of toppings: shrimp, cheese, chorizo, and flaky counterparts, are small pockets of crisp sausage-shaped strip of fried plantain and a simple even pineapple and ham. cornmeal fried to a deep, EL CAFETAL COLOMBIAN RESTAURANT The arepas are also available iceberg salad with a vinegary dressing. egg-yolk yellow. El Cafetal’s Before I could polish off the soup, a familiar rellena, or cut in half and half-moon turnovers ($5.99 5823 W. Franklin Road, Boise, 208-571551, facebook.com/ElCafetalColombianstuffed with shredded chick- sleepiness started to take over. Even after a sip of for three, $8.99 for five) are RestaurantBoise Postobon Manzana, a joltingly sweet Colombian en, beef or pork rinds. I stuffed with beef and potakept it simple with the arepa apple soda, my eyelids started to droop. I knew toes and best with a squirt I’d have to wait for a subsequent visit to try campesina ($4.99), topped with melted queso of mild green aji salsa flecked with cilantro. El Cafetal’s bandeja paisa ($11.99), a colorful blanco and a pat of butter. The arepa campesina The papa rellena ($3.99), which I pictured as platter loaded with rice, kidney beans, pork would’ve made an ideal savory breakfast with a a modest croqueta, was actually a baseball-sized full-bodied cup of Colombian coffee, but it was a rinds, chorizo, grilled beef, sunny-side up eggs, beast. Crunchy tempura batter gave way to a avocado, sweet plantain and corn cakes. The bit too bland for lunch. mashed-potato crust, which concealed a lightly Boise International Market’s Grand Opening It did, however, take well to a plunge in El seasoned mound of shredded chicken and rice. Celebration Saturday, April 25, might be the Cafetal’s excellent sancocho de gallina ($10.99), Though it seemed like a sinister invention from perfect excuse to return. the creator of KFC’s Double Down, the papa rel- a rich green stew with a corn cob and chicken
FOOD/NEWS ZEN BENTO AND THE ART OF RICE BOWL EXPANSION Zen Bento is bringing its veggie-laden rice bowls to State Street. The popular fast-casual eatery, with locations in downtown Boise and Eagle, plans to open in early May in the former Kana Girl’s Hawaiian BBQ space at 3912 W. State St. Zen Bento owner Rene Iwamasa said they’re not doing any major renovations to the space besides painting the outside of the building. The new State Street location, or ZB3, will feature an ordering counter and more seating than the company’s other restaurants. It will also stay open until 9 p.m. in the summer. “It’s going to have the same menu as our downtown location, and we’re actually looking to add more new items,” said Iwamasa. Iwamasa said Zen Bento is planning to open more restaurants over the next year or two, most likely in southeast Boise and Meridian. “Wherever a healthier option for eating is needed is where we’re going
to go,” said Iwamasa. “That area along State Street just looked like a good opportunity because it seemed like there was nothing in the area that did what we did.” In booze news, Red Feather Lounge and Bittercreek Alehouse are hosting an Earth Day/Arbor Day Tree Party Wednesday, April 22-Friday, April 24. According to a Facebook post, the adjoining restaurants will feature “woodaged and wood-influenced beers on tap, a few extra oaky wines to choose from and forest-inspired cocktails.” Cocktail options include A Birdsey Eye View (Birdsey Northrop is generally credited with globalizing Arbor Day), made with High West Campfire whiskey, black walnut bitters, lemon and demerara; along with the El Ejido, made with Bookers whiskey, Cynar, house tonic syrup and cacao bitters. Anyone who purchases one of these featured drinks will receive a tree seedling and a small bag of worm castings to help their tree grow. There will also be a raffle benefiting the Idaho Conservation League featuring photographs from artist Peter Lovera. —Tara Morgan BOISE WEEKLY.COM