5 Events in Boise & Beyond - May 10th - 12th

Photo Credit: FamVeld   5 Events in Boise & Beyond 1. Boise Music Week - Cinderella Where: Morrison Center When: Saturday, May 11 Time: Times Vary EVENT DETAILS HERE   2. Build a Bouquet at the Bloom Bar Where: The Village in Meridian When: Saturday & Sunday Time: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM EVENT DETAILS HERE   3. Roaring Springs Opening Day Where: 400 W Overland Road When: Saturday, May 11th Time: 11:00 AM EVENT DETAILS HERE   4. Mother’s Day at Payette Brewing Where: 733 S Pioneer Street When: Sunday, May 12th Time: 11:00 AM EVENT DETAILS HERE   5. Mother’s Day Brunch at Telaya Where: 240 E 32nd Street When: Sunday, May 12th Time: 11:00 AM EVENT DETAILS HERE    

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Best Tacos & Margaritas in the Treasure Valley

With Cinco de Mayo around the corner, we're sharing our favorite tacos around the Treasure Valley. There is something for every taco lover on this list that breaks down Boise’s best.   Most Unique: Funky Taco Photo credit to HappyCow. This downtown Boise restaurant offers tacos with a unique emphasis on Asian, Indian, Mexican, and Americana ethnicities and styles of food. It prides itself on locally sourced, farm-to-table ingredients and has a selection of seasonal tacos to highlight the current harvest. Menu highlights include the Thaico, a Thai curry chicken taco with Asian slaw and toasted sesame aioli, and Piggy Stardust, a slow-roasted Yucatan-style pork taco with lime crema and shaved cabbage. They offer delicious options for vegans and vegetarians as well. In terms of drinks, the Funky Taco offers multiple signature “Funktails” and beer options.   Best Street Taco: Calle 75 Photo credit to Calle 75. Calle 75 offers authentic Mexican street food created using locally sourced ingredients. Previously a taco truck, Calle 75 has opened up two locations in the last few years, one in the Village in Meridian and one in downtown Boise. They make authentic corn tortillas daily in-house, making a noticeable difference in the taste of their tacos. The menu features classic street tacos including Carne Asada, Pollo Asado, and Carnitas. They offer a variety of unique margaritas including hibiscus flower, tamarind, and habanero margaritas.   Overall Favorite: Amano Photo credit to the Boise Dev. Located in Caldwell, Amano has a unique menu influenced by SoCal, Michoacan, and Oaxacan style Mexican food. Owner and Chef Salvador Alamilla was born and raised in Mexico, where he grew up learning his culinary skills from traditional Mexican cuisine. Using ancestral cooking methods, Amano prepares food with authentic ingredients for an immersive cultural experience. Served alongside this flavorful food is a beverage list featuring over 40 different Mezcals and Tequilas, craft and Mexican beer, and Sunnyslope region wines. This year, Amano made the New York Times America’s Best Restaurants list, an extremely competitive list featuring only 50 restaurants across the United States!    Best Deal: Parilla on Taco Tuesday Photo credit to the Idaho Statesman. Parilla Grill is a unique Restaurant-Cantina dedicated to quality food at a great value. With locations in Hyde Park and Downtown, Parilla is the perfect lunch or to-go spot. On Tuesdays, they offer an amazing deal on tacos, with $1 classic chicken and beef tacos. Parilla has a fun and energetic atmosphere with a wide selection of margaritas (try the Jalapeno one for a little spice!) and plenty of TVs with sports games playing.   Best Fish Taco: Reef Photo credit to Reef. With an atmosphere inspired by a tropical vacation, Reef offers island-inspired eats, tropical drinks, and live music. The restaurant has a rooftop deck and a tiki-themed full service bar, perfect for an escape from reality without leaving town. This restaurant offers a variety of dishes, from Jerk chicken, sushi, and Polynesian food. Reef’s fish taco is a delicious combination of grilled Mahi Mahi, queso fresco, crisp cabbage, and mango cumin vinaigrette that is sure to hit the spot!   Best for Vegetarian: Coa de Jima Photo credit to Coa de Jima. Coa De Jima, located in downtown Boise, offers innovative Latin cuisine, one-of-a-kind hand-crafted cocktails, and art-filled walls to celebrate Latin culture like never before. Head Chef Enrique Martinez and owner Nikolai Castro created Coa de Jima with the mission to serve upscale authentic Mexican food with an exotic twist. There is a variety of vegetarian options available here, from roasted mushroom tacos to chilaquiles and burritos. Coa de Jima has a delicious margarita and a wide selection of tequila and mezcal.   Honorable Mentions: Tin Roof Tacos. A classic Boise staple, Tin Roof Taco serves up Texas street-style tacos. This locally owned restaurant is beloved by Boiseans, and you will often find a line out the door on a summer evening (don’t worry, their service is super fast!). They offer a variety of tacos at super affordable prices and all ingredients, including the tortillas, are made from scratch. We recommend the fried chicken taco and the Baja shrimp taco!    The Matador. Situated on historic 8th St in energetic downtown Boise, the Matador has been a part of the city's restaurant and happy hour scene since 2010. Matador offers Mexican-inspired food and tequila with an energetic and vibrant atmosphere. There is also plenty of outdoor seating for the summer months. Currently, Matador has a must-try strawberry basil seasonal margarita.

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Exploring Boise’s Culinary Scene with Indulge Boise Food Tours

Photo credit to From Boise. As the first Boise food and culinary tour company, Indulge Boise is dedicated to helping visitors and residents enjoy the best food and cultural experiences the City of Trees has to offer. This venture was started by Angela Taylor, a creative strategist and entrepreneur who is affectionately known as "The Ambassador to Idaho" among her colleagues. Indulge Boise’s walking and bicycle culinary tours are given throughout the heart of downtown Boise, exposing the participants to exciting new gourmet experiences that would not be found otherwise. Indulge currently offers four different tours, all of which can be booked ahead of time on the website. Check them out below!   Tater Tour de Boise: Photo credit to Unsplash. This potato-themed food tour explores Idaho’s most famous root vegetable throughout Boise. It starts at George’s Cycles, where you will meet your guide and hop on a bike (rented or bring your own). Stops include Coa de Jima, Bardenary, and Madre Boutique Taqueria, and this 3.5-hour biking tour will also include drink tastings at each stop. Groups are small, with no more than 8 people per tour guide. Immerse yourself in the essence of Idaho potatoes by learning fascinating potato facts and histories while enjoying delicious foods from loaded fries to potato tacos. Tours are $105 for adults and $85 for children 12 and under.      Capital City Culinary and Cultural Tour: Photo credit to LBRE. Discover Idaho’s charming Capital City on a walking journey through the heartbeat of the city’s capitol district and historic neighborhoods. This 2.5-hour tour wanders through tasting locations that include the Basque Block, Old Boise, and the Capitol District. Knowledgeable tour leaders will share exciting stories and facts about the history of the City of Trees. This tour has eight stops, including Ansots Basque Chorizos & Catering, The Lively, Waffle Me Up, and Saint Lawrence Gridiron. This tour is $97 for adults and $79 for children 12 and under.     BoDo on the Greenbelt Sip and Savor Tour: Photo credit to Unsplash. This multi-course savor and sip progressive dining experience is designed to highlight diverse local cuisine in Boise’s BoDo neighborhood. Set around sunset, this walking experience includes small plates, classic dishes, a cocktail/mocktail, and of course, a lovely dessert, sprinkled with tons of great information and a relaxing stroll through the BoDo neighborhood. Other tour highlights include a walk by the Greenbelt, lush parks, eclectic museums, and the neighborhood’s anchor around performing arts. Stops include the Wylder, Smoke and Thyme, The Stil, White Dog Brewing, and Bodovino. This tour is $105 for adults and $85 for children 12 and under.     Downtown Boise Brunch and Arts Tour: Photo credit to Trip Advisor. This walking tour explores Downtown Boise, with sample selections from award-winning chefs and lots of information about the culinary scene during this unique foodie experience. Over two hours and 15 minutes, your energetic and knowledgeable tour leader will guide you through delicious food and discuss the Downtown’s history, culture, and architecture, dating back to the early 1900s. Stops include Lemon Tree & Co, BACON Boise, Stardust, Guru Donuts, and Olivin. This tour is $97 for adults and $79 for children 12 and under.  

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