Want to eat your way along Boise’s Idaho Potato Trail? Here’s a deal to butter you up
Once upon a time, the Oregon Trail passed through Idaho as an essential connection between the Missouri River and the Pacific Northwest. The trail passed through Boise and can still be walked today at the Oregon Trail Recreation Area in Southeast Boise.
Now that the Oregon Trail is long gone, get ready for something else: The Boise, Idaho Potato Trail.
To celebrate September being National Potato Month, Visit Boise has launched the Potato Trail Pass to highlight all the ways a potato can be made and presented in Boise.
Have you ever tried peanut butter mashed potatoes? Or a beer made from potatoes? You will once you’ve completed this pass.
The potato trail is free to sign up for and lists 19 food spots in Boise to sample Idaho’s rich potato heritage. Once you sign up, you’ll receive access to a dashboard in which you can check off the places you’ve been and earn points, which can be redeemed for potato-themed prizes.
Here are the 19 restaurants and food recommendations to decide if you want to embark on this epic spud adventure.
10 Barrel Brewing Boise - 826 W. Bannock St.
Steak “Not Just” Nachos - Seasoned potato chips, steak bits, bacon, jalapeno, bleu and mixed cheeses, four-cheese sauce and green onions.
Bear Island Brewing Co. - 1620 N. Liberty St.
Idaho Potato Ale - An IPA-style beer made with the addition of Idaho Russet Potatoes. The potatoes are used alongside specialty hops to create a “not overly bitter but well-balanced and drinkable” beer.
Bittercreek Alehouse - 246 N. 8th St.
Classic Poutine - House-made fries, braised pork, Ballard curds, house gravy and scallions.
Boise Fry Company - 204 N. Capitol Blvd.
Boise Fry Co. Famous Fries - Five choices of potatoes: Russett, gold, purple, red and bourgeois (Russet fries flash fried in duck fat and garnished with Italian truffle salt).
Diablo & Sons Saloon - 246 N. 8th St.
Patatas Diablo - Smashed fried Russet potatoes, horseradish-lemon barbecue sauce and scallions.
Fork - 199 N. 8th St.
Rosemary Parmesan Idaho French Fries - A shareable side of fries coated in rosemary and Parmesan cheese.
Goodwood Barbecue Company - 7849 W. Spectrum St.
Idaho Potato Skins - Fresh Idaho potatoes mixed with cheddar cheese, bacon bits and chives. Drizzled with sour cream and served with made-in-house ranch dressing.
Guru Donuts - 928 W. Main St.
Cinnamon Sugar Donut - A gluten-free doughnut made from Idaho potatoes and rolled in cinnamon sugar.
Idaho Candy Company - 412 S. 8th St.
Idaho Spud Bar - A cocoa-flavored soft marshmallow center drenched in a dark chocolate coating and sprinkled with coconut. This is one of two items on the trail that don’t actually include potatoes.
Madre - Boutique Taqueria - 1034 S. La Pointe St.
Idaho Spud & Chorizo Tacos - Tacos made with Idaho potatoes, chorizo, Mojo seasoning and jalapeno pesto.
Owyhee Tavern - 1109 W. Main St.
White Cheddar Tots - House-made tots with white cheddar and chipotle aioli.
Pie Hole - 205 N. 8th St.
Potato Bacon Pizza - Sliced potato and bacon bits on a tomato and cheese base.
Sid’s Garage - 1003 W. Main St.
Truffle Parmesan Fries - Idaho potato fries coated in truffle and Parmesan flakes.
Taphouse Pub & Eatery - 760 W. Main St.
Nacho Fries - In-house-made fries heaped with melted cheddar and jack cheeses, Mojo Rojo pulled pork and jalapenos.
The Basque Market - 608 W. Grove St.
Patatas Bravas - Spiced and fried potatoes tossed in a homemade brava sauce and topped with roasted garlic aioli.
The Brickyard - 601 W. Main St.
Peanut Butter Mashed Potatoes - Fire roasted red bell pepper, smoky chipotle sauce and peanut butter hand-mashed with Yukon Gold potatoes.
The Wylder - 501 W. Broad St.
Gem State of Mind Pizza - Fingerling potato, caramelized onion, rosemary and sage with a Parmesan cheese sauce.
Trillium Restaurant - 245 S. Capitol Blvd.
Smoked Trout Poutine - Steelhead trout, lemon cream, ballard cheese curds and Idaho french fries.
Westside Drive In - 1929 W. State St.
Westside’s Famous Idaho Ice Cream Potato - Vanilla ice cream shaped like a potato, dusted with cocoa powder and topped with whipped cream, Oreo pieces, peanuts and chocolate sauce. The trail’s second item that has no actual potato involved.
