Food Notes: Boise Farmers Market opens for the season

The Boise Farmers Market starts its fourth season April 2 in the big parking lot at 10th and Grove streets across from the JUMP project.

The food-centric market, which sets up from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, is having a birthday party on opening day to celebrate its success in recent years. The festivities will include birthday treats made by Sweet Valley Cookie Co., drawings for prizes and live entertainment.

In addition to the flagship agricultural vendors and food artisans in the market, don’t be surprised to find new vendors such as Sweet Valley, Mobley’s Hand-Crafted Ice Cream and Insomniac Cheesecake Shack, to name a few. New produce vendors include Fiddler’s Green Farms, Ribier Gardens and AC&D Farms from Fruitland.

C&G’s Wild Alaska Salmon will be at the market through the end of May. Then it’s time for them to head back to Petersburg, Alaska, for the start of the salmon fishing season.

Big Lost River Meats (those yummy sausages from Mackay) are back at the market this season after taking last year off.

Also, Owyhee County ranchers Ed and Debbie Wilsey are now selling their naturally raised beef products under the name Desert Mountain Grass-Fed Beef. They used to be part of the Homestead Natural Beef cooperative that was dissolved last year.

New beverage vendors this year include Frenchman’s Gulch Winery (from Ketchum) and the friendly folks at the Idaho Kombucha Company, who will be on hand with all kinds of fizzy elixirs.

Online: theboisefarmersmarket.com

New outdoor market in Nampa

Canyon County Co-op, a food cooperative that opened in January in Nampa’s Belle District, is adding an outdoor market starting April 2 (It will run through Oct. 29).

The Summer Community Market will take over the store’s parking lot, at 1415 1st St. S., on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Here, you can score impeccably fresh produce and other local foodstuffs. Of course, the produce selection will get larger as the growing season progresses. Shoppers also will find some grab-and-go food items that they can nosh on while perusing the market.

Online: canyoncounty.coop

Big Jud’s comes to Meridian

Big Jud’s Custom Burgers debuted a second Treasure Valley location March 28 at the corner of Overland and Eagle roads (3030 E. Overland Road) next to Pita Pit. The Boise restaurant is at 1289 S. Protest Road near Boise State University.

The menu is a carbon-copy of the Boise menu, meaning you will find a lineup of big burgers served with hand-cut fries and thick ice cream milkshakes.

Besides burgers, the popular burger joint also puts out chicken sandwiches, fish and chips and finger steaks served with ubiquitous fry sauce.

Big Jud’s is known for its 1- and 2-pound burger challenges, which gives diners the opportunity to have their photo placed on the wall of fame if they can consume one of the huge burgers (with fries and a drink) within 30 minutes. Those who complete the 2-pound burger challenge win a free T-shirt.

Online: bigjuds.com

Freddy’s on Broadway

A new Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers is being built at 2141 S. Broadway Ave., next to Sonic Drive-In. It should be open by the end of the summer.

The Wichita-based, fast-casual chain is setting up shop across the Treasure Valley. Last May, Freddy’s debuted in Caldwell, at 5009 Cleveland Blvd., after the company opened stores in Meridian (3180 E. Lanark St.), near the corner of Eagle and Franklin roads, and in Nampa (1305 N. Happy Valley Rd.) adjacent to the Insterstate 84 and Garrity Boulevard interchange.

Freddy’s is known for serving Midwest-inspired frozen custard (swirled with all kinds of sweet treats) and grilled-to-order ground steak burgers. The menu also has patty melts, grilled chicken sandwiches and Chicago-style hot dogs topped with mustard, chopped tomato, marinated sport peppers, onion, pickle and a dash of celery salt.

The company, with more than 150 locations nationwide, draws inspiration from the original Freddy’s in Wichita, which was opened by Freddy Simon in the 1950s. His sons Billy and Randy Simon, along with longtime restaurateur Scott Redler, took the company public in 2002, and they started offering franchise opportunities in 2004.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers are open 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

Online: freddysusa.com

This story was originally published March 31, 2016 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Food Notes: Boise Farmers Market opens for the season."