Foodie Notes: Beer, Beer, Potato Boi

Let’s cover the beer first.

Payette Brewing Co. added three beers to the permanent lineup. Raspberry Vanilla Porter. Yes! Urban Surfer, a citrus wheat light beer with 100 calories. Also, this one I can’t say on the air.

Win free beer for a year from Lost Grove Brewing. Just stop by Saturday afternoon. Food trucks will be there for the Leap Day party. Sign up to win, and you do not have to be present when they draw the winner.

Western Collective in Garden City is tapping a new brew Saturday. Pineapple Imperial Hazy IPA.

Mother Earth Brewing in Nampa also adding a new beer. Mystic Alchemy Hazy IPA, described as a “tropical fruit bomb.”

Mad Swede Brew Hall coming to Downtown Boise on Bannock. Beer, wine, cider and events. No kids allowed. Details at BoiseDev.com.

Also from BoiseDev.com, Guru Donuts is opening a second location in Eagle. Parking will be easy at the Bridges at Lakemor, near the Intuit building.

Flying Pie Pizzeria and Bistro will open soon on Overland near Five Mile. They’re also hiring.

At Boise Fry Company, check out the yam French fries, loaded with vitamins. And there’s a new honey habanero topping at the salt shaker bar

We have a new food truck in town called Potato BOI. Some of the menu items: baked potatoes piled with hot pastrami, fried potato hash brown sliders, and vegan potato chili. Buy food ahead of time as part of a kickstarter. Next soft opening dinner date is March 1^st, on South Latah at the Big Blue House.

Kanak Kitchen 11-11 held a grand opening. At open at 1111 Jefferson, suite 450 in the Boise Plaza building.

James Beard restaurant award nominations have been announced. Two Boise names on the semi-finalist list. Congrats to Petite 4 and Janjou Pâtisserie. Note that Janjou is changing their hours beginning this weekend.

Congratulations to Chandlers and Capitol Cellars. Both winners of Diner’s Choice awards from open Table.

Check out Smitten Sweets. A new local bakery giving away four packs of salted toffee chocolate chip cookies when you order online.

Don’t forget Sweet Zola’s Candy Shop in Downtown Meridian. They’re stocked for Easter with packaged treats and espresso chocolates and truffles that can be purchased individually.

Sweet Valley Cookie Company in Downtown Eagle closed? Here’s their story.

Moss Coffee and Tea in Boise is serving a bee pollen latte. Thank you to Edible Idaho for bringing this to my attention. It’s on my tasting list.

Lent is here and that means clam chowder is back on Friday menus. Fort Street Station at 8^th and Fort in Boise is serving chowder in a bread bowl, but look at that bread. All fluffy with crisp edges. Perfect.