#387 Best place to stay and play while you're at Bogus Basin

This weekend 9 of us were up at Bogus Basin, staying in the Pioneer Condos for two nights.  My friend got an awesome Groupon, which made the entire trip about $35 per person.  It is nice you can cram 9 people into this place because that really makes the stay cheap.  Normally it would be about $500 for two nights, so even without a Groupon, the price is still right when you have 9 people in one condo.

You can drive almost right up to the condos and can look out the window and see a chair lift about thirty feet from the porch. We had a fireplace and plenty of wood available to use.  There were two hot tubs and a sauna (for the entire complex), plus free washers and dryers.  We had two showers and two toilets, two bunk beds, a table that turned into a (very comfortable) Queen bed, a normal Queen bed, and a pull-out couch (very uncomfortable).  We also brought an inflatable mattress.

In addition to plenty of beds, the condo also came stocked with dishes, pots, pans, cooking utensils, and a few key kitchen items like coffee, sugar, olive oil, salt and pepper.  There was a fridge, kettle, microwave and oven.  We also had two TVs and a DVD player, which didn't get any use.

Here are some pictures from the condo.  I highly recommend staying there sometime!  We were in 202A.

#027 Best Place to Buy Athletic Gear

A few weeks ago, I wandered into See Jane Run, #027 Best Place to Buy Athletic Gear.

If you have never heard of See Jane Run, it is a really cool store.  They focus on athletic gear and focus exclusively on women.  They facilitate events, lead jogging groups, and sponsor marathons, among other things.

I didn't end up buying anything, but I was pleasantly surprised that they also carried a lot of cute dresses and clothes that would be good for everyday wear and not just working out.  My problem was that the quality of the clothing is almost TOO good for me.  I didn't want to pay a premium for something nice when average would work just fine.  I wouldn't say this store is overpriced, but it absolutely does not fall on the cheap spectrum of clothing stores.

I think this store is totally inspirational.  If you are trying to gather motivation for a new workout routine or want to be more gung-ho about fitness, I would make a pit stop here.  I think it would breathe some new life into your workout routine and give you the boost you are looking for.  Adorable workout gear certainly makes it easier to get the motivation to get fit.

The employees here were excellent. I can't stand when employees hover around me and stare at me while I shop, or are too intent on asking if I need help with anything.  It makes me uncomfortable and I just want to shop/wander in peace!  They let us do our own thing, but also made it obvious they were willing to help if need be. 

There aren't many reviews on yelp.com, but from what I found, See Jane Run is renowned for their customer service.  In fact, one cool feature is they can analyze your gait in-store and recommend shoes that would work good for you.  They even have a treadmill in the store (maybe this is the gait-analyzer) that I thought was a great idea for testing out the shoes.

See Jane Run has a half-marathon they sponsor in Seattle, Boise, Alameda [CA], and Austin.  The marathon is called "I run for chocolate and champagne" which I think is so cute.

Sadly, this year has already passed for Boise (June).  The only one coming up is in Austin in October, but maybe if I start getting my fitness on, a half marathon would be a good thing to shoot for!  I honestly can't imagine running a 5K, but I think having a tangible goal would totally make running easier.  To be honest, I still get kinda worried running (this makes it sound like I run a lot....it has been once).  I feel like I need a giant dog to protect me or something. In the meantime, I stick to lots of yoga.
If I did decide to run a marathon, you better believe it would be this one! You get chocolate tastings, complimentary champagne, a commemorative champagne glass filled with chocolates, sport massages, and finishers food. 

In closing, check out See Jane Run if you are serious about exercise or want a jump start to dig into a new routine.  You will feel totally comfortable inside the store, and the staff is helpful and friendly.

#025 Best Place to Buy Designer Fashions

The next few days are going to be busy with lots of fun and exciting things to do :)  Tomorrow a few of us from work are going to watch The Princess Bride at the Idaho Botanical Gardens.  It is so fun to go, and now that I invested in a reuseable snow cone cup, I can get snow cones for $2.  We are also having a bit of a picnic.  I think I am going to make hummus and bring a bunch of vegetables.  So far the line up also includes pasta salad and orange-soy riblets, so I think it will be a very tasty evening.

On Thursday, I am volunteering at the Shakespeare Outdoor Festival.  They said we can expect to stay until 11:30ish (OMG) which is a bit late for me on a work week, but then it's Friday so I won't be toooo behind on sleep.  I actually think my problem might be I go to bed TOO early, so this will be a great experiment.  This is also an opportunity to bring your own food, and I am contemplating making lemon-yogurt fritters.  I am a bit worried they won't be as good the next day (I have to make them the night before) but I love little things to snack on during both plays and movies.  Have any of you seen The Taming of the Shrew?  I don't think I am familiar with it, althought I know I probably should be.

In other news, I love rainy, dreary weather and now that I have a "real job" I am looking forward to fall weather even more (however, I do NOT love snow.  We are talking RAIN solely).  I have been eyeing this scarf for a while now, and I have a 20% coupon+free shipping, so I think I am going to finally cave in and buy it.  What do you think? I think it is the PERFECT scarf for Idaho! I also want to do a home improvement project and hang hooks in my room so I can display my scarfs come cooler weather.  I tend to forget all the options I have, so I would love to have them all staring me in the face.

While I have you here, a quick review on #025 Best Place to Find Designer Fashions: Fancy Pants. It is located right downtown, which makes it really easy to find from the various parking garages scattered around in Boise.

I feel like I cannot possibly be the best judge of a designer fashion store.  As you can see above, I consider an American Eagle scarf a splurge and I have been dreaming of a $60 sweater for a few weeks.  I really don't spend much on clothes and never really have.

For those who are fashion fanatics, this seems to be the place to go.  Every review I have seen refers to the shop owners by their first names, which I think is really cool.  It is almost like customers have personal shoppers willing to help them with exactly what they need, and of course that type of service comes at a premium.  I think Fancy Pants is so popular for those craving fashion because it offers what most of Boise does not - designer goods, hard to find brands, a rotating selection, and an overall love of fashion.  From what I have heard, the designer denim collection is to die for.

I thought this store was adorable and could have easily bought the majority of the clothes, but it was SO EXPENSIVE.  This isn't the fault of the boutique owners as it is simply the name of the game, but seriously.  I thought I would be able to go in and wander around, find something on sale, and leave a happy camper.  As soon as I walked in, I realized I had made a mistake and was a bit sheepish.  I pretended to look around and I am sure it was apparent I had no intention of buying, so I quickly made my way out of there!

I think it is great Boise has a store like this, but I won't be shopping there until I get a few promotions :)  In the meantime, I will enjoy salivating over things at Macy's and waiting for coupons.

#045 Best Place to Get a Mani/Pedi

I think no matter when or where you move, you always have to go through the process of establishing your favorite new places.  For me, that involves finding "my" grocery store, gas station, coffee stand, restaurant, and of course -- salon.  I might be different than most in that I enjoy going to different hairdressers.  I am always pretty conservative when it comes to my hair, so finding new hairdressers guarantees the same hair cut always comes out a bit different each time.  I think I always hold out with a tiny hope that maybe *this* will be the person who can transform my hair into the fabulous style it was always meant to be.  This has yet to happen, but you never know, right?

In Moscow, I started by pulling up a directory of salons and beginning at the first one: A Heavenly Salon and Spa.  Very clever marketing to put an A in front of the name so they would end up first in the phone book!  I liked going there, but it wasn't life changing.  I went to the next, and eventually I ended up at Hair and Face.  This place was great.  I was always open for any stylist (you can usually book must faster that way) and they got a new one (Angie) who I genuinely looked forward to chatting with.

Then, my friend Chalayne said her hairdresser was looking to take on more clients, and I decided to give it a shot.  She cuts hair out of her home in Troy, which is about a thirty minute drive.  The drive was a pain, but it is a pretty drive and it is nice to be one-on-one with your hair dresser.  She also had the most adorable kids and the cutest dogs, so it was fun to go there.  Much more "homey" of a feeling.

To get to the point, I am now in a new town and have been trying to figure out where to get my hair cut.  I decided to do a combo of yelp and living social hunting to figure out where to go, and ended up choosing (after putting it off for waaay too many weeks) Graeber and Co #045 Best place to get a mani/pedi.  Yes, I realize a haircut is not a mani/pedi, but I really didn't feel like spending another $30 for a manicure or $40 for a pedicure!

According to yelp, Angie is a really great stylist.  I went in blind and didn't even know who I signed up for.  It ended up being a guy (not Angie!).  On the other hand, other reviews say that Carrie is terrible.  They also have some reviews saying the staff is a bit spacy, and can sometimes schedule things and then have appointments "disappear."  I didn't have any sort of problem, so I was pleased.  However, it was sort of awkward when I arrived.  They basically told me someone would be with me, and didn't show me where the waiting area was.  I akwardly stood in the entrance way, looking earnestly at each person who walked by.  Eventually one of the stylists took me to the waiting area, but I thought it was rather rude the girls at the counter didn't mention I could wait around the corner.

The hours at Graeber and Co are really great.  Not only are they open Saturdays, but they are also open until 7 pm Tuesday-Friday.  A hair cut ranges from $32-$65 (I think mine was $38?).  A shampoo/style is $20+ (not extra...just if you want only that and no hair cut).   They also offer a full salon with nails, facials, body care, massage, and waxing.  I wanted to get my eye brows waxed but there weren't any availabilities.

The one thing I can't stand when I get my haircut is when the hair stylist won't shut up about how dead/fried/dry my hair is.  OBVIOUSLY that is why I am getting a hair cut! Yes, I can understand a few comments.  But I have had some who go on and on and on and it drives me nuts.  Here, I didn't get too much of that. 

My hair stylist was actually quite nice.  The one thing he did that drove me crazy was he did act very superior...I decided to finally pay attention to how the hair stylist was doing my hair, in the hopes I would be able to re enact it at home.  To be fair, this meant I was asking a lot of questions and seemed very interested in buying product.  What really irritated me was when he asked what shampoo I used (hate that question; always feel like it is quite judgemental sounding).  I told him, and then to make it less awkward, asked what he would recommend.  He started rattling off really expensive brands, and I interjected with, "well is there anything at the drugstore you would recommend or can you even do that?" And he said there was NOTHING at the drugstore he would recommend (citing "you never know what is in that stuff, even plastic.").  I understand you get what you pay for, but there must be a lesser of two evils.  I have read numerous articles where high priced hair stylists recommend drugstore brands, so some suggestion would have been nice.

Overall, this place is great.  You do have to pay for parking ($2/hr) and I think it would be better if they validated it.  However, it was clean, stylish, and decently priced.  I always feel a bit out of place at salons, and they didn't go over the top to make me feel welcome, but no one was rude.  I don't think I will go back.  I might still be searching for that elusive hair stylist who makes my hair magical.

#020 Best Place to Stock Up on Survival Gear

I just got back from a dinner party and all the food in my belly is making me quite sleepy.  However, I am building up a big queue of things to post about, so wanted to say I made it to #020 Best Place to Stock Up On Survival Gear: Boise Army/Navy a few days ago.

It is officially located in Garden City, which made it a bit more difficult to get to.  It is only open til six during the week, so I had to go during the weekend.

I will make this post short and sweet, and promise to write more this weekend (I want to try out some bread pudding on Saturday!).  Boise Army/Navy is the place to go if you literally want to stock up on survival gear.  They have a TON of stuff and all of it looked quite legit/authentic.  They also have a big section of the store devoted to rafts, another devoted to guns, and another full of outdoor shoes.

My favorite was the aisles of cookware.  I was in HEAVEN! I had no idea there were so many options for outdoor cooking.  It made me want to buy a tent, buy all the gear, and go camping just so I had an excuse to cook outside.  It seemed so adorable to make tea in a cast iron tea kettle over a fire, while your little egg pan cooks eggs and corn roasts in tin foil.  Mmmmm delicious!

Is this even an egg pan?  I assumed it was.  Whatever it is, it looks badass.

sooo many adorable dishes!

#042 Best Fries

 I went to #042 Best Fries: Boise Fry Company (BFC) a few weeks ago and am finally getting around to writing about it.  Hopefully being in Boise this weekend will let me settle down and spend some time writing cool posts about exciting places.

Boise Fry Company is VERY unique and I think if anyone was being all tourist-y in Idaho, this would be the perfect place to go.  Whenever I tell someone not from Idaho that I am living from Idaho, I inevitably get some sort of potato comment and the BFC embraces the potato culture whole heartedly.  The funny thing about potatoes is we really can't deny it.  They are everywhere! 

This place is pretty tiny when you walk in.  It is also located in a pretty crappy looking strip mall (if you take Broadway and go past Front/Carls Jr. etc, you will see it on the left).  There are a few tables outside, which help expand the space on a nice day, but I think you can't help but feel crowded whilst waiting for your order.

The mission of the BFC is to provide you with the most incredible fries, burgers and service a company can offer.  I don't eat hamburgers so I cannot attest to the quality of the burgers, but can totally say they have incredible fries and service.

You should know by now I am very picky when it comes to service.  I have always said I do my jobs with a smile, so I see no reason why someone deserves extra money for doing their job with a smile.  I could go into the whole concept of tipping in an entirely different post -- let me know if you feel the need to debate.  And before you start arguing -- YES, I DO tip and I tip just fine. Anyway, back to the point -- I really appreciate and love good service.

The staff here was phenomenal.  Everyone was super friendly and approachable.  I asked for a recommenation -- should I get Okinawa or yam french fries?  The cashier responded with, "Actually, you should try purple fries and they are delicious with garlic aoili and rosemary salt." He really knew his stuff, offered up a suggestion, and was totally nice about it.  I couldn't say no to such a confident response, so it was the purple fries for me.  He also made sure I got to-go cups for whatever sauces I wanted.  When I saw the sauces and realized I wanted more, he had no problem getting more for me. 

Another awesome thing about BFC is the focus on the fries.  In fact, burgers are called "sides," which I think is hilarious. 

The reviewers on yelp seem to like BFC, but a lot had very high expectation and didn't think the french fries were the *best* they have ever tasted.  That may be the case -- I have had some damn good french fries, and I don't know if this knocked my socks off.  However, I liked this place because it was just so much fun!

Here is a link to the menu 

You choose among seven types of potatoes, and then you choose the cut (options vary depending on the potato).  I got a medium and it was a good amount of fries.  They have very few hamburger choices - when I was there, it was basically a beef, bison or veggie choice (with the veggie one getting rave reviews).  There was also a quinoa side salad, which I ordered.  It was only $3 and it was delicious!  The lettuce wasn't iceberg but a tasty mix of hearty spring greens, and the pear vinagrette was to die for.  In fact, my salad was almost gone by the time I got home (yes, I ate it with my hands!).

I got my fries and salad to go, but I would recommend scheduling some time to stay at BFC.  The fun part is in all the options once you get your fries.  There are TEN different fry sauces and what seemed to be about fifteen kinds of salt.  Some salts included cajun, horseradish, sea salt, vanilla, jalapeno, and garlic rosemary.  Some sauces included sweet mustard, blueberry, chipotle, garlic aoili, fry sauce and sour thai. 

They also have something for you real fancy people: the Bourgeois.  This includes their finest cut French fries fried in duck fat, garnished with truffle salt (for $8).

For my fries, I tried the garlic aoili and sour thai.  I have to be honest and say I didn't like the sour thai at all.  It seems to me like you could make some sort of delicious thai dipping sauce, but this just tasted off.  The garlic aoili was great, but a bit like dipping your fries into straight mayo (very thick).  I mixed it half and half with ketchup, and it was phenomenal. 

The rosemary garlic salt tasted great, but in hindsight, I wish I would have added more.

Regardless of how good the food is (mine was good) BFC is a really cool place because of it's novelty factor.  This would be great fun for kids or out-of-town visitors always giving you a hard time for Idaho "The Land of the Potatoes."  Finally, it is a bit expensive, so I would recommend meeting up with friends here for Happy Hour.  It is M-F, 4-6 pm, and buy one get one free on beer and small fries. 

#011 Best Place to Zen Out

Well I owe you all an apology for being quite the negligent blogger!  I am not even sure how it happened...but I feel like the last week has been super busy.  I have been going past my bedtime regularly (10 pm makes that easy to do) and my boyfriend was in town this weekend.  I promise to jump back on the blogger bandwagon, and the good news is I have tons of places to talk about.

Last night I went to the Idaho Botanical Gardens, (IBG) rated #011 Best Place to Zen Out.

The IBG is a beautiful garden that feels a bit like you might imagine the Secret Garden feels.  It looks small from the outside, but as you wander around, it seems to go on forever.  There are flowers, trees, benches, a wooden swing, a koi pond, and plenty of paths.  The garden is located adjacent to the Old Penitentiary, which gives it a slightly creepy but interesting vibe (in fact, one of the women we were with told us they rent out CELLS at the Old Penitentiary on Halloween night. How creepy would that be?).  One of the coolest things about the IBG is all the events they put on. 

Almost every Thursday in the summer (June 2nd to September 29th) they have outdoor concerts called "the Great Garden Escape."  I haven't made it to one yet, but I would love to check it out.  These concerts are a bit more expensive though.  It normally costs $5 for a non member to visit the garden, and these concerts are $10 ($7 for members). 

I love that the garden lets you bring your own food/drinks/alcohol.  I am not sure if that qualifies for every event, but we could bring anything we wanted when we went last night.

Last night we went to the first of the IBG Movies for a Cause.  Whoever did the movie selection did an excellent job.  Yesterday was Singing in the Rain, and we have The Princess Bride, Grease, and Casablanca to look forward to.  Surprisingly, I haven't seen The Princess Bride or Casablanca yet, so I am really excited to see them.

To go to the movies, you simply pay $5.  I thought that was a great price.  The atmosphere is awesome.  We had a light blanket each, low chairs, and a few pillows.  My friends packed an excellent picnic of Doritos Flamas (try them -- delicious), sandwiches, nectarines, and peanut butter and jelly bites.  I tried to provide my fair share by purchasing everyone a sno-cone (mostly to make up for the price of my chair).  We bought the super-jumbo $5 cups, because we can get refills at the other movies for $2.  I got Pink Lemon Sour with Mango flavoring, and it wasn't that good - ha! I am a bit of a sno cone specialist, and these were more the sno cone you get from the ice cream man, and certainly no shaved ice.  The ice was rock hard and you had to chip into it with your spoon.  Oh well though.  A bad sno cone is still better than no sno cone.

As for Singing in the Rain, I absolutely loved it! This is how a movie should be.  Funny, smart, entertaining...all around fabulous. 

 If you plan to go to any of the other movies, the movie started a bit after sundown, which was around 9:15 pm last night.  We got there around 8:00, but it was fun to hang out.  The gardens were open, which means we got to check them out for free.  There was a little labrinyth path laid out in the grass, and we got dizzy running around that for awhile.  There also weren't many people at the movies.  Attendance might increase once word catches on, but last night there were only a few families. 

The next movie is Wednesday, August 24th (The Princess Bride).  I don't think i can miss this one because apparently I am one of the only people in the world who hasn't seen this movie.  I always thought it was some girly movie, but I guess it is a movie boys like as well.  Then, I am going to have to think up some costume for Grease.  It is a singalong (the words will go across the screen) and they want to encourage people to dress up.  Who should I go as?? I am thinking John Travolta, but I am going to need to hone my thrifting skills.

I think one of the best parts of this movie series is I didn't have to worry at all about the set up! I used to assist at these type of events at my college, and it was awesome to be a spectator and not involved in the planning.  Yes, it was a bit weird and of course I missed that feeling of running the show, but it was also nice to be able to just relax.  As we were leaving, I couldn't help feeling bad for whoever had to stay and tear down. 

Definitely check out the IBG movie series.  I can't vouch for the other events, but this series is excellent and a great price.

#036 Best Burger

I flew out of town this weekend and got back into town around 4:00.  Similar to most times I fly, I was exhausted upon returning and nothing sounded better than a movie with some smuggled-in snacks.

I decided to check out Chef Lou's Westside Diner, rated #036 Best Burger.  The website is pretty awesome because it lists all sorts of deals, and there are also coupons, so check it out if you plan on eating there.

This place has a big reputation, as it was on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.  It also seems like Chef Lou is known as a semi-celebrity chef in the Boise area, as I have even caught people at working talking about him.  I think all the hype has led people to be wary of Westside Diner, as many reviews on Yelp expressed reservations about visiting the place.

One unhappy reviewer says to watch out for the fish and steak fries as they have "waaaay too much batter and not enough fish/steak."  Another went to try out the milkshakes (as they have a sign advertising the best shakes in Boise) but found their peanut butter/chocolate milkshake "neither chocolatey or peanut buttery enough."  Another said their burger "tasted alright but was TINY....seriously the thinnest patty I have ever got."  Another claims the only thing they have ever eaten that was delicious there was the shake.   Finally, even the french fries don't seem to have much acclaim, as a reviewer found them "very disappointing." 

I think it is important to highlight all these negative reviews, as I went to a place seemingly rated as "best burger" but I don't eat hamburgers, so I didn't try it out.  I also didn't try much on the menu at all.  I was a bit disappointed I didn't get to try more, but I was trying to choose a small enough amount of food to leave room for a milkshake, and food that I could eat quickly and/or sneak into the movie theater.  

I ended up getting a small Cookie Monster milkshake and a small sweet potato fries.  I have to admit that the price did seem rather expensive.  For both, it was about $7.00 (I think the sweet potato fries were $3.29, meaning the milkshake was also around $3 something).  I usually complain that restaurants always have huge serving sizes, so normally I would be pleased that the milkshake small was actually fairly small.  However, I paid three dollars for it and I was hoping it would last for the majority of the movie, so it was disappointing my milkshake was a very small "small."

At first I thought I got the wrong milkshake, because it was blueberry flavor.  However, I discovered big chunks of cookie and slowly realized Cookie Monster must be some blueberry/cookie mixture.  I LOVED the milkshake (besides the size).  It was delicious with plenty of blueberry and plenty of cookie.  It was also the perfect consistency, as it was easy to suck up the straw, but it wasn't runny.

The sweet potato fries were also incredible.  There was a good size in the serving (it totally kept me full for a suitable amount of time).  They were also served PIPING hot.  In addition, they came with a cinnamon frosting that was one of the best dipping sauces I have been served with sweet potato fries.  It was like a cinnamon whipped butter that melted wonderfully on the hot fries. I don't think I have ever had better sweet potato fries.

I had previously thought of going to Westside Diner with my friends, but then thought that it wouldn't work for a group of people if we all had to sit in our cars and eat.  This is not actually the case.  There are plenty of little chairs and tables, and there is even shade to sit in (under table umbrellas).  You can sit in your car, or go to the pickup window, or hang out in the drive thru.

Overall, I thought my two items were phenomenal and I would totally go back and/or take someone again.  However, I wouldn't take my extremely frugal friends, as this place was absolutely on the more expensive side.  Maybe wait until you find a coupon you like and then go here to indulge.  Either way, it was fun to check out and I would love to go back (next time I am either getting a foccacia sandwich or a french dip...yum!).  They have a HUGE menu, so most people should be satisfied.  I don't get take out much, but if I did, I would probably go back and get it from this place.

My other favorite part was you get a fortune cookie with your meal :)  My fortune? Now is a lucky time for you. Take a chance.

#047 Best Thai Iced Tea

Last week, a group of us from work went to check out Chiang Mai, which was rated #047 Best Place to Get a Thai Iced Tea. I love thai food, so I was particularly excited for this adventure. It was also in a part of town I haven’t been to before, so it was fun to check out it (even though this was far from being considered a “nice” part of town). To get there, you take the freeway, take the Orchard St (Exit 52) Exit, and then follow that until you get to Emerald Street. It was right next to a shabby looking bowling alley and a shady looking establishment called “The Navajo Room.”



It was one of those Thai restaurants with plenty of decoration, which is always fun to see. The bathroom was quite interesting – there were paintings hanging on the wall, but they were slanted so the bottom was touching the wall and the top was hanging out a few inches, so it was an odd look. The bathrooms were also huge with one little toilet, and mine had two fake fruit trees…


Anyway, my main goal was to check out the thai iced tea, so of course I had to get one. My friend Sam and I used to always go to the Thai House in Pullman, WA, and she was the one who introduced me to thai iced tea. You will very rarely see me order a drink at a restaurant. I usually stick to water, so the fact that I order thai iced tea should attest to how delicious they are. Emeril Lagasse has a recipe on The Food Network.com. I haven’t tried it myself, but if you are interested, here is how it is made:






THAI ICED TEA


Ingredients


6 cups water


1 cup thai tea


¾ cup sugar


6 tablespoons cream


6 tablespoons condensed milk.






Directions


In a kettle, bring the water to a boil. Place the tea in a teapot or glass container. Pour the water over the tea and let steep until bright orange in color, 3 to 5 minutes. Strain into a clean container, such as a pitcher (or if in tea bags, remove the bags). Add sugar and stir to dissolve. Let cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.


Fill six tall glasses with crushed ice and add tea to ¾ full. Add 1 tablespoon cream and 1 tablespoon condensed milk to each glass.


Serve with iced-tea spoon so guests can swirl the mixture themselves.


I think it is the condensed milk that I really like about this tea. I am going to have to try condensed milk in my normal tea, and see how that tastes! Maybe that is the way to get the ultimate chai I am always searching for…


Anyway, we were at Chiang Mai, and I ordered a thai iced tea. It was very, very good. I am not sure how the other thai iced teas around town rate, but this could easily qualify as “the best.” I think it was $2.25, but you get a pretty big glass. My friends who got one were able to use some restraint, but mine was long gone before the food arrived.


To eat, I ordered chicken pad thai, with two “peppers” (their spicy scale is 1-5). I think it was $9.75. At thai restaurants, I was ponder trying something else because everything sounds so delicious, but I always end up with my standard favorite. Usually I also order crab wontons (crab and cream cheese deep fried in a wonton – YUM), but they are a good appetizer to split and I didn’t want to have to either share them with everyone or eat them by myself. The plum sauce they come with is usually fantastic, and I highly recommend ordering those if you ever get thai food.


Before our meals came, everyone at the table was served a big bowl of rice. I have never been to a thai restaurant where everyone gets rice before, so that was interesting. I ate a little bit with soy sauce, but saved my appetite.


My food arrived and it looked great. However, the noodles were a bit odd. I have eaten a lot of pad thai in my day, and the noodles are ALWAYS the flat type of noodles. The noodles I was served were more like spaghetti noodles, in that they were thin and round (but a little thinner than spaghetti). It was kind of weird, but didn’t taste bad.


My food in general was fine. It wasn’t the best thai food I have ever had, but it was also tasty. However, it was a bit spicy, which kind of irritated me. It is always hard to know what “spicy” means at each individual restaurant, but I would have thought two peppers was on the less spicy end of things. Don’t get me wrong – it wasn’t crazy or anything, but I prefer my pad thai pretty mild.


Here is where the weird thing happened. I want to preface this and say I have NO IDEA why it happened, but it did and it kind of sucked. About two bites after digging into my pad thai, I got super super sick feeling. My heart started racing, my stomach was upset, and I even started sweating a little. It was really odd (no, I don’t think it was from the spice level, because it really wasn’t that spicy). I couldn’t finish my meal and I had to push I away. Even looking at it made me feel really sick. The feeling lasted the entire meal and I honestly thought I might have to make a beeline and puke in the bathroom. This probably makes no sense, but I got my food to go in a little box.


Once I left the restaurant, I started to feel better, and by the time I made it home I was basically fine. Then, I stupidly decided to eat my leftovers because I was hungry! Thankfully I was totally fine, so I am not sure the root cause of the random illness.


As for the rest of my friends, the consensus was split.  One got teriyaki chicken, and said the chicken was really tough and it was overall not good at all.  The rest of my friends thought their food was good (curry and rice dishes) but there wasn't much raving. 

For those of you who like REALLY spicy, make sure you ask for it.  My friends wanted their food off the scale spicy, and they basically had to beg and it still wasn't "that spicy" according to them.  However, one friend was sweating so much he literally looked like he had gone swimming, so that was entertaining to watch.

When I eat thai food again, this won't be the place I go to.  I prefer Thai House on Overland.  I didn't get a thai iced tea last time, but those are pretty hard to screw up.  I went there for lunch with my boyfriend, and the layout was a lot more date-y.  There are more booths and less tables and the interior looks cooler.  We went at lunch and got an AWESOME deal...entree, appetizer, soup and salad for about $8 and it was all delicious.

However, you shouldn't discount Chiang Mai too much.  My friend just called me and asked where it is, because he is bringing two other people back to eat there.  He must have enjoyed it!

#032 Best Chocolate Shop

This weekend, during my adventure to the library and my trek to the Co-op, I decided to check out Goody’s Old Fashioned Soda Fountain, rated #032 Best Chocolate Shop. Goody’s is located in the North End, which is basically Boise’s version of a trendy district. From what I have seen, the houses are absolutely gorgeous (along Harrison Street) and feature gargoyles, giant pillars, and the works. Many are from the beginning of the twentieth century. From what I have heard, the yards are tiny, the people are yuppie hippies, and there might be a drug problem (gotta love gossip).



To give you an idea of the general buzz about the North End, it is the place Boise-ians (Boise-ites?) in college tell you to get an apartment in. It is the place where aforementioned apartments cost more simply because they are in the North End. It is the place where, when a coworker mentions she just bought a house in the North End, people ask if she is obsessed with recycling and if she only shops at the Co-op as they make jokes about driving a diesel truck through her neighborhood whilst tossing garbage out the back.


Basically, the North End is charming, trendy, slightly hippie, and has a cute little district called “Hyde Park” that is essentially a little shopping mall/restaurant area. This is where Goody’s is located.


Goody’s doesn’t have a parking lot that I could find, but it is right on the edge of Hyde Park, so it is really easy to park along the streets in the neighborhoods surrounding it. It is also fairly close to the Boise Co-op, so it is nice to check out both if you are ever in the area (but I am not sure if it is in walking distance – I get very confused how far I have driven when I try to navigate the one-ways).


Goody’s has fantastic hours. I think most nights they are open until 10:30 pm! It also smells delicious, like fresh ice cream. I was surprised by how authentic it looks. When you walk in, it really looks like you have gone back in time to an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. One review even said they make their own sodas by mixing the syrup in themselves, so they are extra delicious. They are two big bars, and a few small round tables. The majority of customers were sitting outside, where they will deliver your ice cream and treats and where there are a bunch of tables to enjoy the nice weather.


Goody’s also has a bunch of stuffed animals and beanie babies on shelves around the store. I used to LOVE beanie babies, so this was a nostalgic display. In addition to drinks and ice cream, they also sell lots of candy. However, a lot of it was behind the counter in glass jars, which made it hard to peruse. Up on one shelf, they had a giant lollipop for sale for $48!


Some tasty things that stood out on the menu were the homemade ice cream bars – they had Ol’ Nutty Marion, as well as a Cookie Jar Bar. They also had a popcorn machine, with caramel corn available ($10 for a large box, $5 for a medium box and $2.50 for a small box).


Brownie sundaes sounded amazing, and for $6.50 you could get a brownie, your choice of ice cream, hot fudge, caramel, whipped cream, nuts and a cherry.


The ice cream flavors were:


• Vanilla bean


• Strawberry


• Oreo cookie


• Coffee bean


• Chocolate almond


• Chocolate


• Cake batter


• Butterfinger


• Vanilla Yogurt


• Cherry Yogurt


• Frozen pink lemonade


I prefer exotic ice cream flavors, which may have been where I went wrong. I ended up ordering a single scoop of Cake Batter ice cream on a cake cone, for $3. I thought the price was very reasonable and the serving size was perfect. However, the ice cream just didn’t thrill me. I am not sure of the root cause of the issue, and engaged in some discussion with my coworkers. First of all, I had very high expectations, as the reviews on Yelp were phenomenal. In fact, one guy said the ice cream wasn’t very good, and I had to wonder what was wrong with him before I had even visited Goody’s. Maybe this was a case of too high expectations? Second of all, I have read numerous studies that say when you expect something to be good, you envision it as good, as expectations shape your experience. This would refute my previous comment about high expectations. What do you guys think?


Anyway, when I mentioned I didn’t really like it to a Boise local, she said she LOVES their ice cream and I think the large crowd outside would attest to this. I just found the cake batter really bad. If I hadn’t known what I had ordered, I would have thought it was just an especially buttery vanilla ice cream. It didn’t taste at all like cake batter, and here is where we decided the problem lies. I may have just gone too new school at an old school place. Clearly Goody’s specialty isn’t fancy, new and modern. Maybe my ice cream was just out of their league, and I should have stuck to something like Oreo…a classic.


However, another disappointing issue was the cone. Normal franchise places like Baksin Robbins have AMAZING ice cream cones and they even make their own waffle cones. I guess I figured Goody’s would have delicious cones, but I have to vote otherwise. True, I didn’t get anything fancy like a waffle cone; I just got a cake cone. But, I have had better sugar cones straight out of the box.


If I make it to Goody’s again, I think I will have to try their frozen chocolate bananas for $3. They also had yummy sounding dark cherry chocolate dips for $10/lb and all sorts of jawbreakers ($.75 for a medium, $1.50 for an extra large). I used to love Jawbreakers from our version of a candy shop, Hallmarks. It is now out of business, but I loved to get jawbreakers from there and always ended up licking them until my tongue was raw.


One thing I purchased and did love at Goody’s was Jelly Belly jelly beans. The quality really does vary depending on where you buy them. Sometimes they can be super fresh, and other times they taste really stale. These ones were fantastic, and $8.50/lb. A lot of the reviews seemed to find the candy prices astronomically high, but all the candy was around $8.50/lb and I think that seems reasonable.


The best way to sum up Goody’s was a little girl I saw in line with her grandparents. Her hands were clasped and she looked up at her Grandma, “Granma, can I pwwweeease have some ice cream?” It is an adorable little nostalgic shop, but I could think of five places to go and get better ice cream. Pick your poison, I guess!

#057 Best Place to Get Local Wine

Today I had to make a library run to drop off my previous book on CD, pick out a new one, and decide on a book for interesting reading material for the weekend.  I have the worst time choosing a book (I usually take recommendations from a magazine).  I researched all the books that had peaked my interesed prior to heading to the library, and none were available (I have decided Nampa is the least literary of the surrounding cities, as they had many of the books I desired).  I also decided I have great taste in books, as many had multiple holds on them.

Anyway, I grabbed the girliest looking book on CD and ended up picking Confessions of a Shopaholic, which I have heard of before.  The library makes it difficult to pick based on covers, as many audio books are placed in crappy library covers, but I managed to make do.  I then beelined for the new book section and spent quite a bit of time here.  I feel like every book is an opportunity to learn something, so if I choose one book, that means I don't get to learn about the contents of another book.  I ended up getting a book based on "the psychology of spirits and the meaning of the afterlife" or something along those lines.  Less religion and more evolution of the mind, from what I skimmed out of it.  I love books on the brain, psychology, thinking, etc.  I also waffled between getting a book on UFO's, a business book, a book on big foot, or a book on war.  It was a very tough few minutes but in the end I just got the spirit one.

This library is pretty awesome though -- they have a self-checkout station.  It always takes me awhile, but I think it is really handy.

From there, I was already downtown so I headed to the Boise Co-op.  I have already been here before, as not only was it rated #057 Best Place to Get Local Wine, it was also rated #012 Best Place to Sample Wine.  While driving there, I noticed there is a whole additional wine STORE that is across the parking lot and associated with the co-op.  They have a lot of wine in the normal place, so I can't imagine how much more is packed in that store.  It was closed though, so I stuck with what I knew and went in the normal co-op. 

Once I got to the store, I knew I wanted to get the same wine I got last time, but a different flavor.  That would make it more fun to taste and compare the two, rather than comparing two random brands.  I had a momentary freakout because I could not remember which flavor I already had.  Thankfully, I was able to pull up my blog on my phone, look at my last post, and figure out which wine flavor I had gotten! I was so excited.

I ended up getting the Merlot, so now I have Crow Canyon Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.  I should have gotten a local wine, but I wanted to start cheap...plus California is on the same coast at least.  Does that count??

I also got one additional item, but apparently my Dad is sneaky and I didn't know he reads my blog occasionally...I think it is only so he can figure out his birthday presents, like he did last time I went to the Co-op! Therefore, I can't let you know the other thing I picked up, but you will like it Dad!
 

#017 Best Cheap Trip Around the World

This weekend I went to check out Eyes of the World Imports, which is rated as the "Best Cheap Trip Around the World."

This place is located in the Linen District, which I think is quickly becoming one of my favorite parts of town. The area is also the home to Big City Coffee, the Linen Building, Donnie Mac's, and The Modern Hotel and Bar. I especially love it because it is easy to get to (right off of Front street) and there is always plenty of free parking. Eyes of the World is located almost directly across from Donnie Mac's -- in fact, you can see it from the restaurant if you are sitting outside on one of their trailer trash couches!

I was excited to check this place out, because normally quirky stores are excellent places to get gifts for people. However, the store fell flat in my mind. Right when I walked in, I noticed a sign that asked guests to check in backpacks and large bags, which is completely understandable. However, they asked for my purse. It wasn't even one of those giant bags that have become so popular. I would say my purse was of medium size, and I think I was slightly uncomfortable my entire time in the store because my purse was sitting behind their counter.

I think the best way to describe this store is stereotypical. I was expecting treasures and exciting things from random parts of the world. Instead, it was your standard hippie fare, overpriced sunburst mirrors, lots of incense, and Tibetan prayer flags. The website boasts about all their hemp products- hemp lipgloss, hemp clothing, hemp clothing.  The clothes were the usual earthy, tie-dyed type designs with no real structure and "one size fits all." That kind of stuff can be awesome, but not when it is $20-$40 dollars! I liked reading some of the stories about the items around the shop, but most of the cool jewelry and items are locked up in glass cases, so it is hard to get much of a glimpse at them anyway.

I think I might be spoiled here, because I grew up in the Seattle Area, and we had the Ye Old Curiousity Shop, which is the most amazing "treasures of the world" type store you could expect to find. They have mummies, magical pianos, two headed animals, you name it.

However, Eyes of the World did have some interesting home décor items, like sunburst mirrors, tea sets, and salt lamps, but they were too expensive for me to be intrigued. You can get similar items at World Imports or Urban Outfitters, and for a much better price. For instance, the tea sets were cute put some were over $50 dollars! I did like this little blue dishes they had that were 30%, but even at that price a full set would have been spendy to assemble (about $2/tiny little plate). If you eat a lot of sushi at home and have a use for cute little saucers, then I would totally spring on that. I couldn't really justify it.

To sum it up, this place reminded me of those turtles with the bobbing heads you can get in Mexico (if you have ever gotten one, you will know what I mean). I even thought about those bugs that come in a little container and you pop it open and it looks like their legs are moving. When you first go to Mexico, these seem like the perfect souvenir and you buy a bunch for your friends. Then, as you get older and travel more and start paying attention, you realize any crappy gift shop sells those dang turtles and bugs in a container. They aren't anything special and they certainly aren't a good representation of Mexico. Hopefully that makes sense -- Eyes of the World is one of those stores where you walk in thinking its unique and end up finding out its just the same old "trendy" items masqueraded as worldly.

There are a few things of note -- this may be a good place to get incense, as they had a lot of selection. I also found myself wishing I had bought a satchel of lavender they had near the front entrance...I might meander back if I am enjoying a coffee at Big City or some custard at Donnie Mac's, for that lavender and for not much else.

#016 Tastiest Way to Fight Breast Cancer

Big City Coffee is rated #016 Tastiest Way to Fight Breat Cancer, as they donate many profits to breast cancer.  The funniest part is their signature blend is called "Big Titty" and it is apparently not only a do-good cup of coffee, but also a tasty cup o' joe. They also have decaf Double D, and both blends feature a bra on the front.

Interestingly this coffee shop also has a relaxed and casual dining room. Not only can you get drinks, but you can also get a variety of food.  I will attest to the importance of yummy coffee shop food, as there were many times I ended up having to interrupt a study break for a food run. They serve their complete menu all day, and are open 6 am - 6 pm Monday-Saturday, 6 am - 4 pm Sundays. 

Down to the details, this place accepts credit cards, which is also helpful for me as I very rarely carry cash.  There was a $3 credit minimum, so your only problem is if you somehow only wanted one pastry and nothing to drink. 

Big City Cofffee obviously doesn't take reservations (what coffee shop does??) and there isn't a ton of seating, so it is more a grab and go place, or a "hope you can find a spot" place.  However, Boise has tons of parks and plenty of places to go, so even if you weren't able to find suitable seating, I am sure you would be fine.  They also have outdoor seating, which is always nice for a quick stop before the sun roasts you.  When I went this Sunday at noon, there was plenty of seating.  However, it isn't intimate, romatic seating.  You might be at a table sitting right next to another family, but it is Boise and that kind of thing is charming.

One yelper says, "the pumpkin spiced chai muffin is phenomenal," and another raves "the veggie sandwich is so good and fresh."  It is known for its cool atmosphere and easy-to-get-to location at the center of the Linen District.  I love that it has a free parking lot for customers, as it can be difficult (and typically costs money) to park near some of the other local coffee shops (Thomas Hammer and The Flying M).

I didn't even bother to look much at the menu, because I knew the selection of sandwiches would make me sad! I had decided to limit myself to a muffin because I was planning to take whatever I got with me to the movies, and a sandwich seemd a little extreme.  I am going to have to go back sometime for a sandwich -- they were all in the $5-$8 range, from what I could see.

Once you get up near the counter, you can see all the pastries in the display case, and HOLY COW they are HUGE! I don't really know how to explain how big they are.  I got a muffin, which is smaller than a scone, and it took up my entire hand. The scones wouldn't even fit on some normal sized plates, from the looks of them!

You can kinda see the tiny bit of muffin shaped bottom in the picture above.

I decided to go with the pumpkin chai muffin, based on the recommendations of other yelpers and my own personal affinity for chai.  It was delicious, and more a pumpkin chai BRICK than a muffin shape.  My favorite was the frosting.  It was also very filling...I ate half of it about three hours ago and I am still satsified and full.  It was more pumpkin-y than chai-y, but some people say chai tastes like pumpkin, so I guess it is hard to tell where one flavor stops and the other begins.  I got my pastry from the discounted bin, and it was $1.50.  I assumed it was discounted for being a day old, but didn't bother to ask.  Either way, it was delicious and a wonderful price.

I also got a 16 ounce iced chai and it was much better than my chai at the Flying M.  It tasted like I expect chais to taste.  The only thing of note was that this was a fairly sweet chai...I am still looking for the *ultimate* chai and I think I will only find one when I get a hot chai made with loose leaf tea...might not happen until winter, if it ever happens.  My chai here was $3.75.  While they didn't have chai loose leaf tea, I was excited that all the tea they did have was loose leaf, which is so much better than the standard Stash tea sold at most places.

Other things of note:
They have a bunch of daily quiches that sound amazing.  Today's features were bacon and brie, feta artichoke basil and sundried tomato, sausage feta and swiss, ham and swiss, and bacon with mushroom.  I would have totally gone for the feta, artichoke, basil and sundried tomato. 

It looked like the majority of scones/muffins/brownies/cookies were about $2.50 (but keep in mind they are GIANT).

Italian sodas were listed at $2.95.  One speciality item that stood out (if I liked coffee I would have gotten it) was the Scandinavian.  This is a creamy white chocolate mocha with real whipped cream for $2.75.  If you stay and dine in, coffee is two dollars for as much as you want.  If you are getting black coffee to go, it is 12 ounces for $1.50, 16 ounces for $1.75, and 20 ounces for $1.89.

When it came down to my very important service standard, the baristas passed with flying colors.  As a matter of fact, one woman took my order while I was in line and my chai was ready before I had even paid for it!

After my fantastic experience at Big City Coffee, I went back to my car and worked my magic.  I had brought along a travel mug and my roomier, flat bottomed purse, with the plan to bring my newly acquired goodies along with me to my matinee movie.  I dumped my drink into the travel mug, and got it so it was resting inside my bag just fine.  The muffin fit in as well, and I was ready to go see Friends With Benefits.

There was only one tiny hiccup in my plan -- I got CARDED to see a rated R movie! I thought that was pretty funny.  I also finally got a Regal card, which was long overdue.  Last time I asked about it, they told me to do it online, but this lady hooked me up with one and all it took was my name and phone number.  My snacks were perfect for the movie -- much better than an overpriced pop and some candy.

Thankfully at this movie no one validated the movie-personal-space rules, and I could put my feet up on the seats.  I LOVED FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS!  It was better than most romantic comedies I have ever seen.  Neither character annoyed me -- Mila and Justin were both fantastic.  At some points, I was almost about to cry even.  Go out and see it.  i know the story line seems played out, but they somehow managed to make it feel fresh and new.