Heading West to Idaho, Washington, and Wyoming - Part 2

The trip out west continued from Boise to Spokane, Washington. The flight from Boise to Spokane was a bumpy 46 minutes and after getting a car I headed out to my first Triple D place, "Waddell's Neighborhood Pub". A classic sports bar/restaurant. It's named for Hall of Fame baseball player Rube Waddell, who played at the turn of 20th Century. I don't know what his connection with Spokane was, but it's cool that they honored him. Sports memoribila and art adorns the walls of the restaurant, but the coolest thing are the hundreds of beer tap heads all over, even on the ceiling. The owner told me that those tap heads were used at least one time, meaning that they have had hundreds of beers on tap. I was hungry after a long day of waiting at the Boise airport for the flight so I decided to try the sandwich Guy had on his visit, "The Lambstrocity". The big sandwich, a combination of a Philly Cheesesteak (with shredded lamb instead of steak) and a French Dip came with au jus and a delicious pasta salad. It was delcious! Waddell's is a place I will definitely visit again when I'm in Spokane.

My first full day in the Spokane area began with a 40 minute drive east to the town of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. In the middle of town is a place called "Jimmy's Down The Sreet". Jimmy's is a busy place where the locals meet. On the front door it said, "Guy Fieri Loved Our Pecan Rolls!" so after I entered I knew that's what I wanted to try. The roll was huge, topped with a layer of caramel sauce and pecans,topped with a dollop of butter and little Americn planted on top. It beat me I coud only finish a little over half and I was full! I loved Jimmy's it's like what I imagined the Mayberry Diner might have been like on "The Andy Griffih Show". I was amazed at how fast they turned the tables, as I finished I went to use the restroom and when I came out my table had already been reseated. This is a place that anyone would love!

From Jimmy's I headed across town to to a popular place called "Capone's Pub and Grill". I arrived to find a sign in the door saying they were closed for a carpet installation, luckily they listed another location in the town of Post Falls, Idaho. My first impression on arriving wasn't that great. There was a sign stating, before entering scan the code to get the current menu prices due to changing food costs. I took a seat at the bar and the papaer menu had every price blacked out. The cynic in me thought, they can change their prices at will, I was not impressed. I decided to get the burger sliders and they were pretty good, 4 small burgers topped with cheese and onions. My server was ok, very busy and I could sense that he had no interest in knowing why I was there, so after finishing I headed out and back to Spokane, one of the few places where I didn't get the book signed.

Back in Spokane I ended my day at a fine ding place caled "Ruins". I was seated at a table by the window and chose the pan fried trout. The trout was stuffed with mashed brussel sprouts and topped with a crunchy crumb topping. It was really good, the mild white fish mixed well with the tangy sprout mash. My server was awesome, friendly and very informtive about all the menu items and she signed my book.

I began my last day in Spokane at a very unusual place, "Chap's Diner and Bakery". It looks like a rustic lodge but it's in the middle of a strip mall. As you enter you feel like you're in a hunting lodge. I was given table in one of the three dining rooms. I then went up to the counter to order and I decided on the Eggs Benny. The meal was delicious, and I don't usually eat eggs. The poached eggs sat ontop of 3 slices of hame and two crispy English muffins and topped with Hollandaise sauce. The sauce was perfect, thick with a lemony finish. The lemon flavor is the one thing that many places get wrong with Hollandaise, it's a must! My server asked me about my Triple D journey and she told me a little about Guy's visit, but it got so busy (they also do a huge carry-out business) that I was unable to get my book signed. Chap's is a place that I highly recommend and hope to visit again!

My last stop in Spokane was a neighborhood bar and restaurant called "The Elk Public House". It's in the middle of a neighborhood and has the feel of being in someone's home. I decided to do something lighter and tried their soup of the day, a tomato and bean soup and a blue cheese chopped salad. The soup was very good and hearty and seved with two slices of crusty french bread The salad was very good with chunks of bleu cheese and bacon with a light, cream dressing. I got me server to sign my book and he gave me one of their t-shirts, a very nice gift!

My time in Spokane was over so it was onto my last destination, Laramie, Wyoming. That's Part 3!

Heding West to Idaho, Washington and Wyoming - Part 1

I like to take most of my vacation durng the last few months of the year like to travel. I decided to get back on my Triple D adventure by heading out west to Iadaho, Washingtn and Wyoming. I headed to Dulles heading to Boise, and after a short onnection in Salt Lake City I arrived into Boise on a cool overcast afternoon. My first stop in the capital city of Idaho was a small place called "Madre Boutique Taqueria". I ordered the Pork Belly Bahn Mie. After a short wait my meal was delivered. It was a taco version of a traditional Vietnamese sandwich with the soft taco shell instead of a roll. The dicon and carrots were crispy an fresh and the feature was a large slice of pork belly. It was really delicious! I was able to meet the owner who came and signde my Triple D book and give m a baseball hat with the restaurants logo on it. A nice gift from a really great place.

I headed out to the next place, a classic drive-in. The "Westside Drive-In" has the classic menu featuring burgers, fries, sandwiches, ice cream treats and on the weekend, Prime Rib The place has two drive thru lanes for cars and a walk up window. No inside dining here! I decided to get something small and cose the classic cheeseburger which I ate in the car. The burger was good, the best part was the toasted bun, a nice crunchy bite.

Next up was a place that featured one of my favorite foods: Empanadas. "Tangos Empanada House" is a small place seating about 20 but they make both savory and sweet empnads. I decided to try one of their sweet dessert empanadas. The crusty shell held a chocolate caramel filling and was hot, fersh out of the oven, sweet and delicious.

One of the things I enjoy the most of my Triple D journey is meeting great people along the way from the owners, staff and local restaurant patrons. Another great thing is catching up with old friends who live in the areas I visit. In Boise I have a friend I have known since the second grade at Mosby Wood Elementary School. Maureen and her husband Jay moved to Boise to get away from the DC rat race and I totally understand that! We agreed to meet for dinner at a small place in the downtown area close to the State Capital building. I met them at a small Basque restaurant called "Bar Gernika". The place is in the middle of the Basque area of Boise, that included a few more restaurants and a Basque Musuem. I asked Jay about the history of the area and he told me that the Basque people had emigrated to Idaho from the Basque that borders Spain and Portugal. The busy restaurant is small but we got a table at the back of the place. Maureen told me that since the pandemic BG, as people call it, had reduced their menu, featuring small plates and sandwiches. We each ordered sandwiches, Jay chose the Chorizo sandwich, Maureen the Chicken sandwich and I chose the pork sandwich. I also chose the side of deep friend potato balls. My sandwich was delicious with a thick pork slice topped with peppers and a tasty sauce on a custy baguette. The potato balls were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a mashed potato consistency. It was a great meal, the highlight was meeting up with and old freind over a delicious meal, this is the best part of my travels! I hope to get back to see Maureen and Jay again!

The first place I visited on my second day in Boise was not the best, in my opinion. I do like to keep these very positive so I won't give the details but I found the service very mediocre and food to be ok. The nxet place would be the highlight of my trip. "Alyonka Russian Cuisine" is a small place and features a food that I haven't been able to sample often, Russian. I arrived when they opened and met Elena, the owner. The restaurant is decorated with Russian and Eastern European art and memoribilia. I decided to try two appetizers instead of a main entree. The first was called a Chebureki, a fried turnover with a meat filling. It was very tasty and although it was fried, it was not greasy. The other was the Blini Platter, 6 crepe-like blinis with ground beef, vegetable and salmon filling and a side of sour cream, they also added spoonfull of orange salmon roe cavier. The fillings were great but the vegetble filling was the best of all! The blinis hd a pancake consistency and were delicious. I really enjoyed my meal and also talking with Elena. Many of her visitors are families from her Russian Orthodox Church not to far from the restaurant, it relly had a family feeling to it. I got to meet some of the other diners and one had lived in Vienna, VA very close to where I grew up. Even though I was full, Elena wouldn't let me leave without trying a slice of her Honey Cake, which I ate later back at the hotel! I definetly recommend Alyonka!

My next stop was about 20 minute drive east, in the mountains. "Hilltop Station" is a small place that serves American fare. The place has the feeling of a adventure outpost they also have a store selling camping provisions. I had to try the finger steaks which I heard is a Iadho thing. Finger Steaks are deep frined steaks bites cut like cheicken fingers, they were really good, although I found the batter to be a little thick, the steaks pieces were almost well done. Hilltop Station is worth a vist for both food and the scenic drive!

I headed back into Boise to the same area I had been the night before. "Saint Lawrence Gridiron" is within sight of the Capital building and is not what you'd expect from the name. It's an eclectic place with a fine dining menu, I decided to end my day with a hearty bowl of soup. The roasted pepper soup had a kick of spice and was very thick and tasty. As I was laeving I asked about the name, becuase I thought it might be a sports bar but they told me it was the name of the original smoker! there was not a TV on site!

My last place in Boise was about 30 miles west of the city in the town of Caldwell, and I enjoyed a very scenic ride to the restaurnt. "The Orchard House Restaurant" specializes in breakfast and lunch. As you enter the theme of Christmas hits you. The place can be called a Chrsitmas village. I chose the Biscuits and Sausage gravy and it was awesome. Te biscuits were fluffy and light, the gravy was thick and tasty, and a side of hash browns, a very hearty meal. I was a bit full to try their other specialty, pie, oh well, maybe next time.

From here I drove back to the Boise Airport to catch a flight to Spokane, Washington, Stay tuned for Part 2!