Best of Boise

 

Best of Boise

I recently spent two months living in the Boise, Idaho area living with good family friends and completing my last clinical internship.  While in Boise, I was able to explore a little bit of the area.  Although I do not profess to know all of the greatest spots in Boise, I thought I would share with you some places I discovered while I was there which made my experience extra special.  As a preface, most of this post is about food 😉 .

Food

Boise has a fun and thriving food scene.  I feel like I only scratched the surface while I was there.  Below, I have categorized some of my favorite spots by type of establishment:

Dinner – Saint Lawrence Gridiron and Tin Roof Tacos

My favorite sit down restaurant in Boise so far is Saint Lawrence Gridiron.  I like to think of it as an upscale barbecue restaurant that also serves great cocktails.  I was initially drawn to this restaurant because one online reviewer from Texas said the Gridiron had the best brisket outside of his home state.  High praise coming from a native Texan who knows his way around quality barbecue.  The Gridiron is known for their brisket, and although it is phenomenal, my favorite dish was the pork belly.  It is so deliciously rich in flavor and is served on a bed of smoked apple puree and perfectly cooked cider-braised greens.

If you’re looking for a grab-and-go spot that also has a sit down option, Tin Roof Tacos will not disappoint.  This taqueria was started by two sisters from Texas who relocated to Boise and started a taco shop to share a bit of their Tex-Mex culture with the Pacific Northwest.  Let me tell you, these are some of the best tacos I’ve had in my life.

Pastries – Gaston’s Bakery and Janjou Patisserie

Gaston’s Bakery makes several of croissant-based pastries and sells many types of bread.  Although they do have a storefront, my impression is that they receive most of their business by catering to the many coffee shops in the area.  I did visit their storefront one time, but it’s very easy to miss because it’s concealed inside a large warehouse.  Gaston’s also had a stand at the Boise Saturday Market and I always came away with a pastry to celebrate the weekend.  My favorite is their kouign amann (pronounced “queen-ah-mahn”).  I have yet to find another bakery in Oregon or Washington that can rival theirs.

My first experience with kouign amanns happened quite by accident.  I was going to pick up a pastry and a loaf of bread at their store after church one Sunday and was fully intending on getting an almond croissant.  However, they were all sold out, and so I was faced with choosing an alternative.

I had seen kouign amanns in coffee shops before and always shied away from getting one because I had no clue what it was and even less clue how to pronounce it.  However, this particular day, I was feeling a bit adventurous and decided to try one.  Oh my goodness.  Best decision of that day.  Kouign amanns are shaped like a beautiful giant muffin made out of lovely folds of croissant dough with layers of caramelized sugar between.  They melt in your mouth as soon as you take a bite.  Maybe one of these days I will be bold and create a recipe to share with y’all.

Janjou Patisserie is another pastry shop I fell in love with.  It is upscale and their pastries are a work of art.  I always spent at least ten minutes looking at the pastries behind the glass, contemplating which one I should choose.  Their chai is also fantastic, the perfect blend of sweetness and spice.

Coffee Shops – Form and Function

I have never been much of an expert on coffee, but I love a good chai latte.  During my two months in Boise, I made it my mission to find the best coffee shop as graded by the following:  chai, pastry cabinet, and ambiance.  Form and Function was the only place I went to that met all of these requirements (and I went to quite a few trendy coffee shops).

I love Form and Function because the inside has a warm industrial feel to it.  If Joanna Gaines were to design a coffee shop, I imagine Form and Function may look something like that.  It is warm and inviting with plenty of seating since it’s a two-story shop.  Not only is their chai fantastic, their iced tea and black coffee are great as well.  Quite possibly one of my favorite things about the shop is their pastry cabinet and abbreviated menu.  They have an array of scones, muffins, and pastries in addition to a good selection of gluten-free options.  On their short menu, they have different kinds of gourmet toasts including AVOCADO TOAST!!!  They also sell oatmeal and grain bowls.  Once I found Form and Function, I stopped looking for more coffee shops.  I had found the perfect one.

Health Food – Revitalize Juice Bar

I love Revitalize Juice Bar.  They have gourmet toast (you can never have too much avocado toast), acai and pitaya bowls, smoothies and cold-pressed juices.  It was the perfect place to indulge myself without being unhealthy.  Just make sure to check the mirror before you leave if you get a smoothie bowl.  I left with what looked like horribly applied bright purple lipstick on my mouth and didn’t notice until an hour later haha.

Outdoor Adventures

Boise is a great community for people who love the outdoors.  I really should have gone on more hikes while I was there.  However, I enjoyed the ones I did explore immensely.  The first hike I went on was at Table Rock.  It starts at the Old State Penitentiary and winds its way up in the foothills to a plateau with a giant cross on top overlooking the city of Boise.  The hike is neither terribly long nor rigorous, although it does have a mild-moderate incline.  The trail is well-traveled and it’s a perfect hike to bring your dog along.

Another favorite hike is at Camel’s Back Park.  There are a series of winding trails that you can climb that offer more gorgeous views of the foothills and the city.  Since there are so many trails, you can spend hours exploring all the directions they go whether that be on foot, horseback or mountain bike.  Camel’s Back also have many beautiful wild flowers so be sure to bring your camera along!

About a little over an hour north of Boise in Idaho City is The Springs, a hot springs resort.  It feels so nice just to sit and soak in warm bath-like water overlooking the mountains and woods, breathing in the crisp air rich with the scent of pine.  They do require reservations due to limited space, so be sure to call in advance.

I hope someday you are fortunate enough to visit Boise.  It truly is a hidden gem and will always hold a special place in my heart.

Blessings on your home and table,                                                                            ~Natalie