The culinary table is the place we gather to enjoy food, life and each other. It’s the center of community life, says Lisa Peterson, and that’s what she wants her newest venture to become.
A’Tavola, which means “of the table” in Italian, is a gourmet deli, bakery, market and cafe. It opened last week in Boise’s Linen District.
Peterson ran the Boise Co-op deli for 20 years before branching out with Peterson Catering and the Idaho Shakespeare Festival’s Cafe Shakespeare. She will operate all three ventures with her husband, Peter.
The Petersons transformed the former Donnie Mac’s Trailer Park Cuisine space at 1515 W. Grove St. into a spacious, simple European-style cafe and market.
The deli, bakery and grab-and-go sections are up and running. She’s starting with recipes she originated at the Boise Co-op, such as olive, chickpea and feta salad, and favorites from Cafe Shakespeare, such as curry chicken salad, but this is very much a work in progress, she says.
“We wanted some familiar things to start with,” Peterson says. “I have customers that expect these things, but they’ll be rotating and it will change and grow as we go forward. We’re looking at this as a little playground where we can be really creative.”
Peterson is waiting for a beer and wine license to start selling a selection of beers and wines by the glass and bottle. More retail shelves will be built in the next few weeks.
The central space is filled with large tables laden with high-end olive oils from California, exotic salts and French Staub Cookware. There are candles, flatware, placemats — everything you need to set a beautiful table.
“We have lots of treats and treasures. These aren’t things people need necessarily, they’re things that make you feel good. And people need to feel good,” she says.
There is a long farm-style table you can book for large parties in the evening or any time. In the summer, the patio cafe will open with longer hours and a late afternoon menu. Peterson also is considering starting a weekend farmer’s market.
One of the more unique features is the culinary library, composed of Peterson’s large personal cookbook collection.
“I used to be picky about them, but life is short. I hope people will come down and enjoy them and get inspired,” she says.
A’Tavola is open from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Expect the hours to change seasonally.
Phone: 336-3641. Online: http://atavolaboise.com
• Ladies Night is now seven days a week in Boise — at least for beer drinkers. Chick Beer, brewed in Wisconsin by Minhas Craft Brewery, is being distributed in Idaho.
You can find it around the Valley at the Boise Co-op as well as convenience stores and gas stations.
“Created by a woman, exclusively for women,” according to the makers, it is a “superior light lager with a big beer taste” that “weighs in at only 97 calories and 3.5 carbs.”
At the moment, Chick Beer is only available in three states. Founder Shazz Lewis says she will donate 5 percent of net profits to charities that empower women, primarily in the communities where the beer is sold.
• The Crux opened in Downtown Boise earlier this month. It serves brew two ways: coffee and beer, throwing in some cool music on the side. It is located in the former Brown’s Gallery space, 1022 Main St., Boise. It serves Portland’s rich and smoky Stumptown Coffee by the cup and by the pound, and a selection of Northwest craft brews are on tap such as Dagger Falls IPA and Land Shark Lager.
The Crux will have bands Fridays and Saturdays, plus an occasional mid-week concert. On Jan. 30, Salt Lake City’s Max Pain and the Groovies will play. Music starts at 8 p.m. The Crux is open 6 a.m. daily until late.
• Ono Hawaiian Cafe, 2170 Broadway Ave., changed ownership this week.
Boise businessman Ed Scott is the new owner and says he plans to keep the name and menu created by founder Mike Mohica. The staff will stick around, too.
Mohica will focus on his Kanak Attack Catering, which he will settle at the PowerHouse Event Center, 621 S. 17th St., Boise.
Ono will close Jan. 30 and reopen Feb. 1 under the new ownership.
• The corner at Fairview Avenue and Eagle Road in Meridian is hopping again with two new restaurants.
The Muse, 1435 N. Eagle Road, started serving up fine wines, craft brews and dinner three months ago.
There are 136 wines on the menu, 20 by the glass, and some craft-style beers in bottles.
The menu by chef Alan Rumsey changes each week but always includes fresh soups, house-baked breads, house-made pastas, ice cream and desserts.
Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Phone: 895-1900. Online: http://musebistroandwinebar.com
The new Boise-based company that owns The Muse, Red Star Hospitality, plans to open Varsity Pub in the former Bull’s Head Pub, 1441 N. Eagle Road, Ste. 200, on Feb. 2.
It will have comedy night and dueling pianos Thursdays through Saturdays, says general manager Kyle Mallatt.
The menu includes seafood, sushi and a variety of sandwiches, burgers, wings and nachos.
It’s open 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturdays and 4 p.m. to close Sundays.
Submit restaurant news to scene@idahostatesman.com at least one week prior to publication.
