Monday water cooler 1.29.07

It's tough love week in the U.S. Senate. "Just one more chance?" pleads the Boy Who Cried Wolf. "NO!" say the Senators, in one way, shape, or form (although probably not through Joe Biden's resolution). Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton accuses George W. Bush of scheming to pass this problem onto the next president:

"The president has said this is going to be left to his successor. He has said that on more than one occasion," Clinton said during a town-hall meeting Sunday morning. "I really resent it. This was his decision to go to war."

Her comment quickly reverberated at the White House, where a spokesman issued a statement denouncing Clinton for a "partisan attack that sends the wrong message to our troops, our enemies and the Iraqi people." (More here.)

See, this is how the reactionary Republicans always respond: Criticize the president and his policies, and be labeled a partisan who attacks America. The only problem is, this war is no longer a partisan issue (if it ever really was, since way too many Democrats fell for it in 2002-2003). Now pretty much everyone agrees we need to wind down the war ASAP, and the "why do they hate America?" refrain rings totally hollow.

Hey, not to totally change the subject, but I read in the Statesman last Friday that Boise now has a Filipino restaurant. That was one of the only major international cuisines we were lacking, and now the niche is filled. What sort of other restaurants (not chains, but cuisines or concepts) would you still like to see hereabouts? What will be the big Boise restaurant trend of 2007? (I think it's fair to say that creative local pizza joints were hot stuff in 2006.)

This is your weekly open thread.

Comments

[Adam Graham]

On the Filipino Restaurant, where is it? What's the name?

[Julie Fanselow]

Ooops, good questions:

Pista Sa Nayon, 8716 W. Fairview Ave.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/109/story/68819.html

[Idagreen]

"I really resent it. This was his decision to go to war."
Gee, Hillary, know what I resent? Lame-ass Dems who won't own up to making a huge mistake in supporting W on invading Iraq, and more importantly, will not acknowledge the overall failure of national foreign policy that gets us in these messes in the first place. Get over the Margaret Thatcher thing and be a candidate for the 21st century.

OK, for restaurants, I want to see more local foods in restaurants and more quality, fresh ingredients. We have almost quit eating out because we get half sick about every other time, and the quality of most places can't match home.

I'd love to find a place that would prepare my garden fresh vegetables, I'd pay extra nd wait longer for that. There used to be a place in Twin Falls that prepared ducks and other game for customers, don't know why they couldn't fix an eggplant.

I'd appreciate suggestions for places to get decent food, especially salads and veggies, but not necessarily vegetarian.

[Julie in Boise]

Idagreen,

I hear you on Hillary. She'll probably have my vote if she's the Dem nominee, but I hope it doesn't come to that.

In some ways, though, I think we do need to look ahead to the mess the next president will inherit - and not behind to who voted how in 2002. I think she was right to call Bush on his crap of syaing it'll be up to the next president to resolve this. No - we need a plan NOW.

[Julie in Boise]

As for restaurants, Richard's in Hyde Park does a nice job with lots of local ingredients - but it's not the sort of place you can afford to eat all the time!!

The Snake River Grill is the place in Hagerman (near Twin Falls) where Kirt Martin (the chef) will fix your wild game. We did that one time with some elk and venison a friend gave us, and it was great.

That would be a novel idea for a restaurant - bring in your own produce (or perhaps something you've picked up from the Saturday market when it's in season) and have the chef fix some treats for you.

My husband is currently reading The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan. (I've dipped into a bit, too, and plan to read it when he's done.) Its emphasis is on why it's best to eat fresh and local. It made a bunch of best-of lists for last year:

http://www.michaelpollan.com/omnivore.php

[Chris]

On the local food front...

http://www.100milediet.org/

and

http://www.localharvest.org/

...are two great resources for eating closer to home.

I'm all about fresh, fresh, fresh. My wife and I have come to the conclusion that it's cheaper and the food is way better to prepare it yourself. Plus it makes for a great time when you are entertaining guests. Best part of home cooking, is the wine is significantly cheaper! I get tired of paying top shelf prices for mediocre wines.

Not that we don't eat out, but we always walk away unimpressed, and this goes for a lot of the "trendy" Boise eating locations.

[David Erin Anthony]

Its like watching a train wreck about to take place and you can't do a thing to stop it. "W" has under two years left in office. He no longer has control of either the house or Senate and no idea what to do about Iraq. Of course he plans on dumping it to the next administration. And unless by some miracle the next administration has a silver bullet to save us we will be seeing Vietnam happen all over again. Historians will blame the administation which inherited the problem and not "W."
Now on the plus side the administation is hitting the full blown CYA mode. Ari testified Scooter's story isn't the same as his... How's the story go, why do rats abandon a sinking ship?

[Idagreen]

I heard a speaker say once (I can't remember her name, she was sponsored by the Peace Coalition for a talk on globalization) that its' obvious that the current system is dying, but our job is to "provide hospice" for the old as we usher in the new. So we may not be able to stop the train wreck but we can treat the survivors (including ourselves if we're that fortunate).

Thanks for the tips on the local food, though I am familiar with those sites. We grow most of our produce and some fruit, will be doing more as we continue to settle in after moving a few years ago. I agree with the benefits of home cooking and eating, can beat the price or the quality of ingredients fresh from the garden (or the freezer, or mason jar). Just keep hoping some restaurant will take up the banner to a greater extent than is currently available. I have wondered at time if people in Boise have some taste bud deficiencies, as I have been similarly unimpressed with many places folks rave about. Guess I'm spoiled that way (and I love it!)

I'm happy to see so many people taking an interest in eating well, as evidenced by the explosion of the Farmers' Markets, Co-Op and local CSAs. If I didn't have a garden, I'd definitely go for a share in a CSA. I think this is a very important and fundamental aspect of "providing hospice" and building a new, sustainable system. At least that's on the days that I'm not convinced I'll be an old lady hunting cockroaches for food in the post apocalyptic world.

Hmmm, better get back to the seed catalogs for an attitude adjustment!

[sharon fisher]

I wish we had a real dim sum place. and decent Chinese food in general.

[David Erin Anthony]

Anyone know where we can get really good Greek or Fish and chips? I lived for 7 years in Europe and was pampered with good food and great wine!

[Idagreen]

Mmmm, fish and chips. I haven't had decent fish and chips here since Arthur Treacher's closed many years ago. That chain is still in business in the east, but none west of the Rockies.

Of course, Ivar's in Seattle area used to be good, don't know how they're holding up outside the waterfront. What a great treat for the ferry ride. Had hoped they would expand to Boise, but no luck.

I wonder if fish stocks are so depleted that it's getting more and more difficult to get quality ingredients. Seems like much of what is served is some kind of chopped, formed, processed stuff, rather than a piece of fish. Unfortunately, the breading is a convenient way to disguise the contents.

As for Greek, you may have to wait for the annual event put on by the Greek Orthodox Church, usually the first weekend in June. It's often crowded and a little spendy, but most things are tasty and reasonably fresh. Get there early for backlava!

[Chris]

While not authentic fish & chips, I have to say that The Reef's Hazelnut encrusted fish & chips are pretty darn good. Nice big hunks of fresh halibut with a good dipping sauce (I don't remember exactly what it was).

On that note too, the Reef is one of those Boise restaurants that stands up to repeat visits. I find that their menu is consistently good. Along with their enormous drink list.

I do second the question for a place to get some authentic fish and chips. My grandmother was British so we used to have homemade fish and chips (and chip buddies) on a regular basis when I spent summers in Kentucky (don't get my started on the catfish fry's we used to have, YUM...) . So I'd love to find a place around here to relive those childhood memories.

Of course, it might just be best to try and recreate them myself at home. But I might wish to indulge in them more than I should if I knew I could cook them at home. That and my wife's near insistence on "no-frying" in the house.