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Epi's in Meridian Last August, we had a unique dining experience, at a place with a unique name!  The restaurant's sign greeted us, rising above a white picket fence. It offered a hint about the food! Little Red House I'm not sure if that's really supposed to be Grandma Epi's image. But, Maria Epifania Lamiquis-Inchausti, is the woman behind the recipes that are used inside the sweet little red restaurant.  We of course knew to expect Basque food before we arrived, last August. Don and I were visiting my brother and sister-in-law in Boise. They've raved about Basque food for years, but this was our fist shared Basque feast. Happy Customers We drove less than 30 minutes to Meridian and arrived before 8. A large party of happy diners had just exited. Enthusiastic voices filled the small yard and Chris and Karen struck up conversations with a few.  Everyone seemed delighted to tell us what they'd eaten and how fantastic their meals had been. Full Tables When we opened the door to enter, I felt like we were heading into a happy house party of some kind. The small space was filled with mostly large tables and family groups. Lots of voices, laughter and delicious smells!  My photo is from much later. We were the last to finish. Our table for 6, was tucked into the front corner, near framed photos, flags and trophies. Epi and David I assume this is Epi and her husband, David. In 1925, they married in Spain and had their first (of 7) child. In 1929, David headed for America and Epi soon followed with the baby. They settled in Idaho.  Epi spoke no English but got a job cooking for sheepherders. The couple ended up in Hailey, ID in 1936, where they opened the Gem Bar. Their family grew and Epi's reputation as a wonderful cook and host also flourished.  Famous folks from Ernest Hemingway to Colonel Sanders, enjoyed Epi's cooking. The Gem Bar was in business until 1954. Epi continued cooking for the community, but passed away in 1983. Her granddaughters carried on her legacy, by opening Epi's in 1999. Her great grandson now owns the popular restaurant. Angie Angie was our server. She greeted us with the same kind of enthusiasm and confidence that I imagine made Epi so well loved.  I don't believe Angie was related to Epi, but I think she'd been working at the family biz, maybe since it opened. (must have been a kid!) It became pretty clear that anyone who works or dines at Epi's, is family. A Bit About Basque Region We asked Angie if she spoke Basque. She laughed and said she knew a little... numbers, colors etc. She said her daughter (who had just handed us menus) had just returned from a month in the Basque region, between north central Spain and south western France.  Angie and her daughter could have told us lots more about the Basque culture, but we were eager to learn about the food. I should have at least asked about this sweet piece of art. Maybe this couple looked like Epi's parents, when she left them to move to Idaho. Odd Tangent And for a quick detour! The artwork at Epi's, (with old couple, dog and fireplace) reminded me of a framed image I'd admired hours before, in Chris & Karen's home.  This wonderful framed print was passed down through my grandmother. Chris and I (along with our sibs) loved imagining the story behind the praying woman and her hungry husband. So sweet and odd, that I would study the similar pieces, in the same day. Kroketak & Kalamareak Back to dining! We enjoyed some champagne with a couple of appetizers. The Croquetas de Jamon was pretty amazing. Delicious round treats, with creamy béchamel sauce, diced jamon serrano, battered and fried golden! Yum!
The calamari was another decadent, breaded & fried, goodie. Served with spicy aioli! Salad & Soup Next we ordered red wine to enjoy with the rest of our meal. The sweet salad was made with Grandma Epi's original dressing recipe.
I chose cream of mushroom soup and savored each tangy spoonful. Honestly, I could have just ordered a few more bowls and been totally satisfied! Oilaskoa!!! I'm actually glad I didn't have an all soup meal. My Smothered Garlic Chicken was outstanding! Angie seemed downright giddy when I ordered it. She said she'd pushed to get that dish back on the menu!  The tender chicken was lightly breaded and sautéed, with a rich butter sauce... onion, garlic, button mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes! Just fantastic, along with the paella that came with all orders. Pepper Snakes Our feast came with a special shared surprise, that I will call Pepper Snakes.
I'm not really sure what these slimy, hot peppers were called, but they were quite an adventure to eat!  Don and Chris looked like they were devouring snakes or slugs. I was hesitant, but enjoyed a couple of my own! Just Us By the time we were ready to order dessert, we were the only guests.  For the first time, it was quiet enough to hear the background music. I heard an accordion! Which made me wonder about the nearby photo of Jimmy and Domingo. Who were they? Was this taken years ago at The Gem Bar? Sweet Ending I hardly had room, but I'm glad we went for some shared desserts.  The Apple Bread Pudding was above and beyond any bread pudding I've eaten!  I'm no flan expert and it's not usually my go-to dessert. But suddenly I could understand why people rave about good flan. Something about that sweet magical melting! No chewing required! Just absorb and smile! Smiling With the Chefs It was 10:00 when we stood to leave. Chris tried with every word he could conjure, (and he knows a lot of them) to express his gratitude. He thanked Angie and asked her to please tell the chef how much we enjoyed our delicious meal.  I think Angie knew Chris needed a little more closure, to complete this magnificent evening. She called the chefs from the kitchen. I wish I could recall their names!  The staff was probably ready to call it a night, but who isn't happy to hear a compliment or two? Especially from Chris, who expresses his joy and appreciation like no one else I know! What a fun finish! We're Off! The little red restaurant was glowing against the black sky, when we headed off after 10.  I imagine Angie and staff had a few chuckles about those happy diners, after the door closed. We sure had good things to say about them, as we headed back to Boise.
A satisfying Basque Dining Adventure, for sure!
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Small Town Drive In It was a pretty August day, when we arrived at Fairfield's little drive-in restaurant. A little restaurant, in a little town, of about 400.  Don and I were traveling with my brother and sister-in-law, to Sun Valley Lodge. Chris and Karen knew all about Wrangler's great burgers. The 4 of us knew this could be a tasty budget meal, before our costly visit to the famous Idaho lodge. Fellow Diners It was clear that we weren't the only travelers on US 20, stopping in for lunch.  It looked like we might be sharing the tiny dining room, with a lot of bikers. At least there were outside tables, if needed. Painted Windows! I was pretty delighted to see the colorful windows as we approached the western style cafe.
The 2024 Olympics had just ended, but the festive windows were still celebrating with bright messages! I started thinking Parisian Cafe, instead of Old West Diner. More Colors We headed for the doors, with colorful flag and flames.
I paused when we stepped inside, to admire the red and yellow gum-ball machines. Behind the tall one (holding my favorite, Double Bubble) I saw the word, Scrumdiddlyumtious! I knew this was my kind of positive place! Chris Orders My bro Chris stepped up to the window first. He and Karen knew a little something about Wrangler's big menu and ordering process.  I should have studied the menu. Instead, my eyes examined the 2-toned structure, making up the counter and window. I tried to find clues about the age of this place. Months later, I still know nothing about Wrangler's history. The internet tells me little. Home of the Original Snow Bunny Burger While waiting to order, I was tempted to take interior photos, but I didn't want to disturb the bikers hanging around, waiting on orders. So I studied the wall mural and wondered why the woodwork covered the part of the bunny mural.  The bikers were actually quite gracious and shifted around. Suddenly one of the 8 tables was available. Burgers and More Soon Don and I were at the window, taking in the details of the large hanging menu. We could have gotten a shrimp basket, or a chicken club wrap, or finger steaks. But our mouths were already watering for burgers.  There were over a dozen burger options, some with crazy names. The popular Roadkill Patty Melt, or Powder Pig Burger! How about a Rugburn Burger, or a Power Bunny? We did not order the 2-pound, Jack-a-Lope, for $49.00! Milkshake & Curly Fries Chris and Karen knew what Wrangler does best. They shared a milkshake, that required a spoon.  Along with burgers, they shared fresh, cut to order curly fries. And of course some containers of fry sauce.  Don and I got cheeseburgers and tots, with some of that famous fry sauce. Too bad we didn't have a birthday to celebrate with a candle. The sauce was so thick, it would have supported a flaming candle, with no danger! Thanks Karen and Chris! We've done some fun dining with these 2! So glad they knew about this popular place!  It was the perfect stop between Boise and Sun Valley! Restroom Adventure I do love to mention a restaurant restroom, if there's any bit of adventure involved. Wrangler only had one and it was tucked back in a hall, near these saloon doors.  There seemed to be about 8 people working the kitchen and an endless stream of diners coming and going. A very odd line was forming for the restroom, even though I believe there was a sign of some kind telling us to avoid lines that blocked the path for kitchen workers. It was sort of amusing, like when you're on a plane and you can't decide whether to break the no standing in the aisle rule, when you need the restroom. Okay, that was not really a worthy story. Off We Go I left our little western oasis, feeling nicely nourished. I probably could have benefited from a hike near Sun Valley, to work off my burger feast.  Instead, I enjoyed my satisfied stomach, while I took in the view!
Root Beer Sign The big mug lured us, while traveling last August.
We were driving on Highway 20, headed for Montana. I spotted the overflowing mug and the little bear statues beneath. I urged Don to put on the breaks. A Real Drive-In It was an old school drive-in, with both dining room and car service!  We already had lunch packed in the car, but I insisted we pull in. Since 1965 Ashton's little root beer biz looked a bit different, back when it opened in 1965.  Since opening, I believe there have been about 9 owners. One owner changed the name to Mug Jugs, for a short while. That name and ownership didn't last long. Frostop Name I wonder if they changed the name on the mug? Hopefully not, because it was back to Frostop's, when the next owners chose to embrace the franchise.  The original Frostop opened almost a century ago in Springfield, Ohio. That was 1926 and by 1958, there were 350 locations in the country. There are about a dozen, still in business today. Drive-In Parking Don parked our car on the turtle side of the covered lot.  The colorful animals were a bonus to our quirky lunch stop! Ordering with Addy We studied the menu beneath the roof. Pretty soon, Addy came to our window and we placed our order. She was pleasant and chatty.  I didn't ask to take Addy's photo, although I kind of wanted. A&W in 1977 My brother kind of wanted to, back in the 70s, even though there was no blog excuse. We were traveling with my mom, in the Missouri Ozarks. Chris popped out of the car and took a photo, mostly because that's the sort of silly thing Chris would do. His camera snapping preserved the time and experience quite well! (car, uniform, food tray, coin belt)  A&W photography became a habit, with my goofy siblings. Sometimes a quick stop for root beer, became a paparazzi moment. No cellphones then, but at least 3 of us carried cameras when we traveled. I sure hope we tipped well, especially the time 3 of us hopped out, to photograph a rather confused carhop. (I behave better now) New Colors Before the food arrived, I hopped out of the car (with my cell-cam) and headed for the teal and red building. Hopefully the pig and bear at the entrance, weren't embarrassed when I snapped their photo.
I found an old photo on Roadside America, that showed the old brown and tan exterior. I was curious to step inside. Spiffed Up Interior Once inside, I chatted with Addy a bit about the bright interior. Evidently the McCausey family did a big makeover, after an ice storm a couple of years ago.  The ceiling was lifted and lots of new paint and furnishings, made the counter and table dining, much more inviting. Nostalgia I loved the hints to the past. Lots of goodies were older than the 60 year old building.
I wish I could have met Hannah McCausey and her family, when they owned the place for 15 years. Hubby Wayne farmed, while Hannah ran the kitchen. Sometimes along her little daughter playing nearby, with her own small kitchen. They sold the biz a couple about 2 years ago. Dining Room The dining room felt homey and clean. I'm guessing the diners were locals, the way many greeted each other.  There were checkered curtains, with shelves of goodies above. I spotted an old payphone and gum machine that could easily be original from th 1965 opening. One thing wasn't original. A new colorful mural, added during renovation. Old Mural (One more tangent here!) I got curious and went to town on the internet. I learned that there was another mural, before the Frostop & Truck mural of today.  Luckily the Mesa Falls mural, was not just painted over. The artwork created by Don Ricks years ago, was removed from the diner and is now displayed in a local museum. (photo from Museum of Henry's Fork website) Burger & Tots! I felt only slightly guilty that we only ordered one meal to split. But we tipped Addy well, for her pleasant service.  There was no one else dining at the picnic tables, so I pulled out our packed salad. We shared it with the decadent bacon-cheeseburger! The tots were especially good with the fry sauce.  We enjoyed our little feast, with our nearby animal friends. The giant mug sign stood tall, nearby! Such a perfect mini dining adventure. Except for one thing. Oops! How could I have NOT ordered a root beer? I just totally forgot, the When in Rome rule!  I took one last look at the mug before we pulled away. What a fun little dining oasis, sitting right near an intersection, filled with traffic lights.
After we drove away, I realized I forgot to do one more thing. I didn't pay attention to see if that mug was rotating. I've read recently that it still does, but I honestly did not take note. We'll have to go back and check! World Famous! It was a hot Saturday in August and we had time to kill!  The red sign called to us! World Famous! Amazing Pies and Soups! RV park and cabin rentals! Who can resist! Boise to Idaho City Don, and I were with my bro and sis-in-law. Chris drove us from Boise to Idaho City, to enjoy a day outing. Scenery was fun and we were excited about a 1:30 appointment.
Idaho City is actually more of town, but it was bigger than Portland back in the mining days. There wasn't much going on in I.C. when we visited. We found some bars that were open, but we needed food while we killed time for our appointment. Hopping at Trudy's Just outside of the tiny historic town, we found Trudy's, with a packed parking lot.  The flower baskets on the patio, were inviting. Welcoming The window with lace curtains and the neon OPEN sign, looked welcoming.  The notices on the wooden door, looked less so. There were 2 signs about dogs... mostly some requirements about good dog behavior.  There was an order from the mayor to conserve water. There was a reminder about not bringing your own food and there was a colorful poster about an upcoming rodeo. Inside It was near 90 outside, so we peeked in. There was a brick fireplace and a lots of decorative doodads... like an old saw on the wall.  But it was crowded and noisy. The tables were all full anyway. Patio Time We chose the covered patio, with food covered tables. Pictures of food!
A young server handed us menus with lots of welcoming words. Love...Vacation.. Neighbor...Kids... Laugh...Family... Food Photos While we studied the menu I overheard a few conversations with some of the young staff. Some older locals were chatting with 2 teen workers about some high school events. It sounded right neighborly. The menu words fit.  We studied the food images on the table for only a moment. They were actually not very appetizing. Maybe the shellac had yellowed the photos. Ruebens for Us! The Ruebens we ordered were actually much better looking than the photos.  The 4 of us split 2 and our young server was kind enough to bring extra plates. She didn't even treat us like old people, who split orders. We appreciated that and tipped well.  One half order was just right! We had places to go and appointments to keep. Restroom Adventure Before hitting the road, I headed back to the restroom.  The restroom was in the far back and I had to pass through this added little room, with windows. As I stood in line for the one restroom, I spied on diners through the windows. Some local families I'm guessing and some bikers and some guys in camo apparel. Patriotic Walls There were three women waiting before me, but I was in no hurry. There was lots to look at on the wall.  Idaho City is a very patriotic town. There are less than 500, but I'm guessing many have connections to the military. One of the women saw me studying the wall and she made sure I didn't miss the uniform in a nearby case.  I peeked at the uniform, but I was more intrigued with the sign outside of the restroom. "Whatever" The sign was amusing, mostly because we were in Idaho City, not Portland or Austin. I think a lot of folks in this part of Idaho aren't so used to unisex restrooms.
But we ladies stood patiently. We've done it before. Then a man who looked like he'd been fishing with his buddies that morning, tried to stroll past us. "Sorry Ladies!" He laughed as he moved on by, expecting to find an empty men's room. It took him a moment to realize he belonged in the back of our line. He shook his head and returned to his table. We 4 ladies were mighty amused by that! Appointment Time So after a quick and pleasant lunch, (with a funny bathroom adventure) we headed off to our appointment. It was very important!
Nearly 30 years ago, I remember visiting The Springs, with Chris and Karen and our kids! The hot springs pool from my 1994 memory, (near Idaho City) looked a little bit more like the black and white photo.
In 2022, we stepped into a lovely new building and spent a couple heavenly hours enjoying the hot (but not too hot) natural springs pool! I love appointments like that!
What a fun lunch and spa adventure, with Chris and Karen! Homemade Ice Cream in August Sometimes, I have to throw in an adventure that involves something sweet.  This little house in Boise's Hyde Park Neighborhood, offered us something cold and sweet on a hot day, last August. Or Salty? Don and I were visiting my bro and sister in law, for a few days. I said I wanted to step inside the little ice cream parlor. "Let's Just step in and look." is what I said. That's not what I meant.  The first thing I saw when we stepped in, was the popcorn machine. I often choose salty over sweet, so this suddenly made it hard. I adore good popcorn. Sweet Smells If I'd smelled the popcorn, I might have gone no further. But the sweet smells of ice cream and chocolate were more overpowering than popcorn!  I followed my nose further. I can only imagine how exciting this place would be to a child. Ice cream, candy AND lots of stuffed animals. My SIL reminded me that she had been hear many times with our nephew Andy when he was a little guy. I wish he'd been with us! Candy Goody's makes their own ice cream and chocolate. They've been doing it for over 30 years. They also have tons of candy. It was fun just looking at it!  I spotted no penny candy, but it's nice that you can still buy candies for a dime! And what a selection of gummy sweets! We could have gotten sharks or flamingos. Or what about fried egg or chicken feet candies? Kids and Candy While we studied the chocolate options and the ice cream flavors, we listened to the kiddos nearby as they debated ice cream flavors. I'm sure their parents were somewhere nearby, but I loved the way they pulled out their own money. I was reminded of being a kid and buying candy with my own money at The Little Store. down the street. Sometimes, my older bro, Chris went with me.
When Chris suddenly asked the girls if they were treating, I felt like I'd gone back in time. He used to tease me that way. The girls picked up on the joke and smiled at each other. Then one firmly answered with two words I remember using. "No way!" Seating After ordering, we had lots of options for seating. (Where was everybody on this hot day?) Seeing the white stools at the counter, I was reminded of Cunningham Drugs, in Grinnell, Iowa. Dr. Grimmer used to give "us kids" prescriptions for ice cream, after our yearly check ups. We took our paper prescriptions to the ice cream counter at Cunningham's, not the pharmacist.
But we 4 adults (all being in our 60's) chose a table, with slightly more comfortable chairs. Not Just Looking So we came in just to look and ended up with some yummy treats. Karen and I both went for the chocolate almond ice cream. Good minds think alike. I went over the top with the big sugar cone!  Chris, never goes along with the crowd. He's always a little different. He ordered something that I'm sure he used to order, back at Cunningham's. A chocolate egg cream. He took a sip of the foamy drink and reminded us, enlightened us, just as he would have when we were kids.
"You know, there's no egg in an egg cream." And no cream, either. Cheers to ice cream and sweet memories! |
The Dining Blog
This is a blog about Dining Adventures. Sometimes, I talk about food. Below, you can read how this started. On July 4th 2011, I set a goal to try 50 culturally diverse restaurants in one year! (I knew that was possible, living in the Houston area) I spent the year pulling in friends and family to join me, on some unusual dining adventures. I met some curious people, tried some scary foods and explored places and cultures I never would have otherwise. Even though I met my goal, I learned too much to end my adventures in dining. I have continued blogging about memorable dining adventures of all kinds, near and far... and all the discoveries and funny things I've learned along the way! Locations and types of dining adventures, are listed further down. Archives
April 2025
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