You know him as Chris the Saladman. His food truck frequented Hyde Park Street Fair and other outdoor events, serving up better-than-average fair food.
Owner Chris Olson sold the truck and has taken up residence in the former Jeffrey’s Next Door space, 1716 S. Broadway Ave., next to Ves’s Broadway Bar.
He kept the same menu of fresh and delicious salads and wraps, such as crab Louie — the most popular, he says — Tex-Mex, cobb and big green. Salads run $6.50-$8 for lunch size, $7.50-$9 for dinner.
He added cold deli-style sandwiches and a hot side with burgers, hot dogs, cheesesteaks, BLTs and other made-to-order sandwiches and fries.
He also has something on the menu called “chicken fried bacon.” Yep, that’s breaded and deep-fried bacon. And he serves a vintage Boise finger steak recipe from one of the city’s oldest drive-throughs.
Right now his homey little spot is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. In the spring he’ll stay open until 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, adding a dinner menu of steaks, salmon and pasta.
Phone: 866-2780. Online: Saladman-ChrisOnBroadway.com.
SHIGE EXPRESS MERIDIAN
Shige and Deborah Matsuzawa have opened a second Japanese restaurant in Meridian. The couple, who have been slicing up raw fish in Idaho for more than 20 years, opened a second Shige Express, 450 S. Meridian Road, suite 90 A, in the Meridian Marketplace.
Both Express restaurants feature a floating boat bar that brings $1 sushi, plus an array of appetizers, desserts and entrees to each diner.
This Express also serves the full menu from the Downtown Shige. And this looks to be one of the largest sushi bars in Idaho, with 40 seats.
The Matsuzawas opened Shige Japanese Cuisine in 1992. Since then they’ve opened the first Shige Express, Shige Red Carpet Fine Dining and Shige Japanese Steakhouse in nearby suites at the Capitol Terrace Garage, 150 N. 8th St., in Downtown Boise.
Last year, they opened Shige Teriyaki, also in the Meridian Marketplace, a fast-casual Japanese restaurant that serves chef’s selection of sushi, teriyaki bowls, bubble teas and daily specials.
Shige Express Meridian is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch, 5 to 9 p.m. for dinner Mondays through Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch, 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Phone: 922-6436. Online: ShigeJapaneseCuisine.com.
A MARDI GRAS DINNER
You’ll find beads, drink specials and some pretty amazing food on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Bella Aquila, 775 S. Rivershore Lane, Eagle.
Chef Dave Knickrehm has put together a menu of Mardi Gras fare, including shrimp gumbo by the cup and bowl ($7 and $12), catfish beignets with lime beurre blanc ($15), fried oyster po’ boy sandwiches ($14), a Cajun mixed grill ($14) and blackened prawn jambalaya etouffee ($17).
They’ll serve this special menu for lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. to close. Phone: 928-1900. Online: BellaAquilaRestaurant.com.
‘TEA TIME’ AT GUIDO’S
Guido’s does not serve a British-style tea. Last week Guido’s ran an ad in the Statesman that used the term “tea time.” It was a bit confusing when people showed up at the Downtown shop asking for tea.
To un-confuse you, think of “tea time” as happy hour.
Guido’s Original New York Style Pizzeria now offers a happy hour deal — $1.50 for any slice and $1.50 any beer — from 3 to 5 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays. There is no tea involved.
The offer is ongoing at both locations: 235 N. 5th St. and 12375 Chinden Blvd., Boise. Online: GuidosDowntown.com.
WINE AT A’TAVOLA
Lisa Peterson’s gourmet deli and market a’Tavola, 1515 W. Grove St., is serving beer and wine.
Peterson got her wine and beer license last week. So a’Tavola now has a small selection of house red and white wine by the glass and bottled beer.
Look for the selections to increase as the weather warms up and built-in coolers get installed.
It also now has Wi-Fi.
ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE OPENS IN BOISE
The Original Pancake House, a franchise out of Oregon, moved its location from Eagle to Boise and is now open. It’s at 5900 Fairview Ave. They serve a mix of pancakes, waffles, crepes, omelettes and more from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Phone: 321-2614. Online: OriginalPancakeHouse.com
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