Mai Thai, River Rock add menu items; Rick's wing contest

MAI THAI ADDS DIM SUM DOWNTOWN

The Downtown Boise restaurant creates cuisine that spans the Pan-Asian culinary scene with Thai specialties, sushi and now the Cantonese cuisine of dim sum.

The term "dim sum" means "heart's delight." Originally, it was served in the afternoons at tea houses along China's Silk Road. Today, dim sum is served at restaurants throughout the day.

Dim sum is small, one- to two-bite pieces of steamed dumplings, rolls and buns. Mai Thai Downtown serves dim sum at lunch and dinner.

Mai Thai chef Sophon learned to make dim sum at a five-star hotel in Bangkok several years ago.

Dim sum plates cost $11.95 each for different combinations, such as the Emperor's dim sum, three pieces each of steamed shrimp dumplings, ginger fish balls, and shrimp and crab balls.

Details: Mai Thai, 750 W. Idaho St., Boise, 344-8242. Open for lunch 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 2:30 p.m. Saturday; open for dinner 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday and 5 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday. http://maithaigroup.com

RIVER ROCK ADDS PIZZA

Eagle's Flame Neapolitan Pizza flamed out a few a weeks ago. The well-reviewed pizza place struggled in the changing economy, said manager Todd Lancourt, who also manages River Rock Ale House next door.

"It was the wrong time to do something new," he said.

However, Lancourt decided to move Flame's Wood Stone pizza oven over to the River Rock and add part of Flame's menu to River Rock's.

"We'll take the next month to figure it all out," he said. This is the first part of a plan to rebrand the restaurant in 2010.

River Rock will celebrate 14 years in Eagle in 2010.

Details: River Rock Alehouse, 228 E. Plaza Drive, suite Q, Eagle, 938-4788. Open 11 a.m. 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday.

GET YOUR WING ON

Rick's Press Room Grill and Bar is holding its first annual "Wiing Off" - a chicken wing eating contest with a grand prize of a Wii Game System - at noon Dec. 5.

Owners Rick and Julie Valenzuela came up with the idea after Guy Fieri's visit for his "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" television show highlighted the restaurant's hot wings. A friend suggested a contest and they ran with it. It will be during Meridian's Winter Wonderland street fair and parade.

Here's how it will work: Three heats offer different degrees of hotness. The first heat, with Fire wings, is open to all ages with a $75 gift card for first prize.

The other heats are for 21 and older only. The second heat, with Blazin' wings, has a $100 gift card first prize. The Insane heat has a grand prize of a Wii game system.

Details: Rick's Press Room, 130 E. Idaho Ave., Meridian, 288-0550. It costs $10 per heat to enter. To register to compete, call 288-0558. www.rickspressroom.net.

BLUE MOOSE CAFE ADDS WINE BAR FRIDAYS

This cozy restaurant with a log-cabin feel has been a favorite lunch spot in Eagle since it opened. Now, owner Marcy Anderson has added a Friday night special, the Full Moon Cafe and Bar, which serves dinner and specials from the wine bar starting at 5:30 p.m. Fridays and going "until the party's over," Anderson said.

She opened Full Moon a few weeks ago, and it's been packed each week, she said. You can reserve the space for any occasion on any other night. But on Fridays it's taken.

Anderson is programming live music with bands such as the Chicken Dinner Road Band, which will play on Friday, Dec. 4. There is a dance floor.

Details: 79 E. Aikens Road, Eagle, 939-3079. Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 5:30 p.m. to close on Friday. http://thebluemoosecafe.net/

Dana Oland: 377-6442