Tag: foodie

BOI Bucket List Foodie Review: Ripsnort Food Truck

by boisebucketlist, posted in Food & Cuisine, Food Truck Friday

 

Last week, I had the chance to visit with Shane and Shiela — founders and owners of Ripsnort Food Truck. I met them at the College of Western Idaho , Boise location.  It was their first time serving the students. During my visit, I witnessed how busy they were.

Ripsnort Food Truck is a newly food truck to bless the Treasure Valley Food Truck scene. Up and running since July, Rip Snort has enjoyed sharing its delicious and rather extraordinary burritos throughout the Treasure Valley,  including: College of Western Idaho (Boise location), Payette Brewery,  PreFunk, and various local festivals. Although the menu may seem small, it provides you with exactly what you need for your evolving palette:

  • The OG: Roasted butternut squash, sauteed mushrooms, onions, garlic, Parmesan rice, and bacon
  • The Don Jon: Gallo pinto (Costa Rican rice and beans), Pico de Gallo, sour cream, avocado, and cheese; named after Shane and Shiela’s friend in Costa Rica
  • The Yardbird: Grilled Chicken, cilantro lime rice, avocado, Pico de Gallo, and crema sauce; named simply after chicken and egg
  • The Gaucho: grilled steak, roasted potatoes, black beans and Chimichurri sauce; named is of a Argentinian cowboy
  • House Salads
  • Soups
  • Other specials including sandwiches and chicken bacon tacos

 

Ripsnorting Good Time

Ripsnort Food Truck beginning roots stem from when Shiela used burritos as a means to feed her family. Breakfast burritos are her jam! (hence the name of the OG burrito).  Shiela then started to share the burrito with friends and family. Over the course of 10 years, Shane and Shiela were encouraged to start their own burrito food truck.  On July 25th, 2017 this married couple did exactly that — started a food truck here in Boise that serves not your average burrito.  Shane and Shiela are happy to return to Shane’s home state after living in Denver for some years.

Like me, you’re probably  wondering where Ripsnort came from. Pretty awesome story, actually. When Shane and Shiela were thinking of a name to call their food truck, they kept coming across the standard (and already used ) burrito food truck names. One day, the Merriam-Webster word of the day was ripsnorter,  a term used to describe something exciting and extraordinary.

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Shane and Shiela also imagined that when eating their burritos, it’s a ripsnortin’ good time! Plus – their family dog snorts a lot. Seemed like a perfect name for their food truck.

 

Is it a Mexican Food Truck?

Shiela recognizes that her burritos are inspired by Mexican culture, especially with the use of soft flour tortillas.  There were also inspired by their time in Costa Rica. The Don Jon is named after their friend, and it includes authentic Costa Rican sauce and spices. That said, the burritos represent the eclectic cultural mix of food & spices they personally love and enjoy.

 

Boise Bucket List Review:

Roaming Hunger said it best when describing Rip Snort Food Truck that its food is authentically unauthentic. I couldn’t agree more.  When Shiela asked me what I wanted to order, I decided to go all-in. I ordered The Gallo, added a freshly cracked egg to the mix, and topped it with Shane and Shiela’s pineapple sweet hot sauce — secret sauce that is wildly popular among their customers. It’s looking like they may even start bottling this sauce and selling it. How exciting!

The burritos are rich with flavor filled with fresh vegetables, the tortillas are indeed soft yet strong enough to securely hold all the ingredients without spilling, and the mix of the pineapple sweet hot sauce coupled with spicy Chimichurri sauce kept my taste buds guessing.


Are you a vegetarian or vegan? Ripsnort has options just for you. You can order the OG sans bacon, or the Don Jon without sour cream and cheese.

It goes without saying that I am an avid fan of the food truck scene here in Boise. I’m privileged (and my belly is cursed) to have food trucks near my job every day.  If you’re looking to try authentically made burritos comprised of new flare and tastiness, head over to Ripsnort & let yourself have a ripsnortin’ good time each time you take a bite.


Fun fact: Shane restores vintage motorcycles on the side. In fact, they will be at the Petroliana Motorcycle Show from on 9/10 from 10am – 5pm. Shane may even bring one of his bikes.

Big thanks to Shane and Shiela for serving me the best Gaucho around. Can’t wait to return and try the Don Jon!

Ready to become a ripsnorter? Follow them on social media for their weekly schedule:

Also – email Ripsnort for any catering needs at ripsnortfoodtruck@gmail.com. \

Thanks to Shiela and Shane for inviting me and sharing your extraordinary burritos! Can’t wait to try the Don Jon. Head over to their food truck and cross it off your #boisebucketlist

 

 

 

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#FoodTruckFriday: MakyJames Grill

by boisebucketlist, posted in Food & Cuisine, Food Truck Friday

Food truck culture is here and present in the Treasure Valley. As you’ve seen on @boise_bucketlist, I have shared photos of the deliciousness of some of the local food trucks.  After checking out my share of food trucks, I thought to myself: why not do #FoodTruckFriday? As the universe would have it, soon after I thought about this idea, I was tagged in this photo of an all-mighty burger by a food truck called MakyJames Grill. With my interested piqued, it only took a matter of time until I was right in front of their food truck, ready to feature them for my FIRST EVER #FoodTruckFriday feature!

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About MakyJames Grill

During my lunch break this past Wednesday,  I headed over to the SKYES section of HP  to meet with James and Mary — mother and son team who owns & runs the MakyJames Grill truck. This isn’t Mary’s first time at the food truck rodeo. Prior to her being the Queen of Grill Master here in the Treasure Valley, Mary used to run a food truck which sold custom and unique waffles.  Due to Mary’s love for comfort food, it only makes sense she transitioned into a grilled-based food truck. Think about it: juicy burgers or chicken breasts with a side of crispy fresh fries = comfort food Americana.

 

 

Wondering where the name MakyJames came from?

Makalyn is one of Mary’s sons. Around friends and family, Makalyn goes by “Maky”

James is Mary’s other son. He typically goes by Jimmy, but for the purposes of the food truck it’s James

Maky + James = MakyJames Grill Truck

Mother and Son: Good Combination?

Mary and James thought it’ll be a worthwhile venture to combine forces given their unique experiences.

Mary: prior food truck and business experience

James: marketing and communication experience

Makes sense, right?! It’s a win-win.  And it appears to be a successful partnership.

MakyJames Grill: Where Art Thou?

If you’re on the hunt for MakyJames Grill Truck, you can currently find them at the HP location in Boise, near the SKYES complex. MakyJames also appears at local food truck events as they pop up. Most events are advertised through the Southern Idaho Food Truck Association — acts like a middle person to help coordinate food truck events.

Want MakyJames at your next event?

  • email them at makyjamesgrill@gmail.com

  • Direct Message them on Instagram or Facebook

  • Call them at 208-914-0735

BOI Bucket List Review

I want you to close your eyes and imagine a warm summer night BBQ: smell of charcoal filling the air, sounds of meat sizzling, family chatter. Now imagine your mom preparing this juicy delicious burger, topped with melted cheese, fresh lettuce, tomatoes & red onions — all on a soft and warm burger bun. The type of burger you know is prepared from the heart and joy of feeding your loved ones with a perfected grilled piece of work.

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That’s how Mary grills her burgers.

You witness how grilling comfort food is Mary’s passion. Mary prepared me a special version of the Western Burger:

  • large beef patty
  • thick strips of bacon
  • slices of avocado
  • fresh lettuce, tomato and red onions
  • melted cheedar cheese
  • two crispy onion rings
  • BBQ sauce

Let’s not forget the side of crispy fries hot & ready when served. Mary asked me if I wanted ketchup or homemade fry sauce. I opted for the FRY SAUCE! (note: I knew nothing of this thing called fry sauce until I moved to the Mountain West. Now, I’m hooked!)

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James and Mary instructed me to go to my car & eat because it’s best when eating the burger HOT & FRESH. I followed said directive, headed to my car, and took my first bite.

WOW

WOW

WOW

I’ll admit: the burger could not completely fit in my mouth. But boy, that first bite was juicy, packed with flavor, and brought me back to this time of family summer BBQs. I see why she’s the Queen of the Grill.

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And let’s chat about the homemade fry sauce. Mary did share her secret in giving it its unique flavor (which I won’t share ;))

All I could say while slowly chomping away at this Western Burger was OMG, OMG, OMG! This is ahhhhmazing!  It didn’t matter that slices of the avocado was spilling onto the fries. It didn’t matter my hands were dripping, and messy, and absolutely worth licking.  It didn’t matter that I was (thankfully ) sitting privately in my car because it would have been utterly embarrassing to eat in front of others.

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If you want that authentic burger fresh off the grill, made from the heart of Mary to the point where you think you’re her family, stop by MakyJames Grill. As James said, EMBRACE THE MESS!

MakyJames Grill: What’s On Your Bucket List?

At the end of our conversation, I asked James what would be the first place he would suggest to someone visiting Boise for the first time?

MakyJames Grill!

I laughed and said, what would be the 2nd place he’d suggest.

Definitely Camel Back because of the view you get of Boise.

Grab your MakyJames Grill burger, eat in your car, then drive over to Camel Back to burn it off + get an awesome view of Boise!

Want to be featured on my @boise_bucketlist Food Truck Friday? Email me at theboisebucketlist@gmail.com or direct message me on Instagram.

 

This post has been sponsored by MakyJames Grill, but all my opinions are my own.

 

Let’s Tango: BOI Foodie Review

by boisebucketlist, posted in Uncategorized

Let’s Tango.Better yet — let’s tango in Argentina. Not literally, but it’s on my life bucket list.

By chance, I ended up seeing Tango’s Empanadas, a locally own restaurant which serves over 45 different empanadas. Yes, I say over 45!

Fun fact: I grew up eating empanadas

What are empanadas? Funny you ask. An empanada is stuffed bread or dough filled common in Latin and Spanish-influenced countries. How empanadas are made, including whether stuffed with meat, cheese, or dessert filling, vary by country.

Today I tried empanadas made with Aregentina touch. Tango’s Empanadas is located in Boise and in Nampa. I went to the Nampa one.

I was greeted by a short, bubbly woman with a warm smile. She welcomed us (me and my company), asked if we’ve been to Tango’s before. We both answered with no, but made sure we expressed our familiarity with empanadas.

With over 45 choices, I felt like I was in empanada heaven! From the Gaucho (stuffed with ground beef, eggs, olives, onions,  bell peppers, and flavorful spices) to the Jugosa (stuffed with ground beef, bacon and beans), to vegetarian options including Cuzco and Chinese — you have your options to choose from.

I ended up ordering for the day:

  • The Gaucho
  • The Breakfast
  • The Brazilian (filled with nutella-like filling!)

Let’s just say the Gaucho tangoed on my taste buds! For only $2.50 each (yes, I said only. Some places in the south where I ordered empanadas charged over $3 for something half that size!) you get a LARGE, freshly made empanada made from soft crust, warm, and filled to capacity.

If you order more than one, all are placed into a box and labeled with a black magic marker. That way, you won’t forget what was ordered since they all look alike.

Whether you’re in Nampa or in Boise, I strongly suggest you get your tango on. You have a vast selection, you’ll never get bored, and you’re supporting a local business (#shopsmall).

What’s one of your favorite cultural restaurants in the Treasure Valley? Send suggestions to theboisebuckelist@gmail.com!

Aloha @ Rumbi Island Grill

by boisebucketlist, posted in Food & Cuisine

Cheers to my OFFICIAL first blogger event. Kinda cool to be invited to experience a local event because I’m considered a blogger. Hey, it’s the small joys in life I live for.

Last week I was invited to a special blogger event at Rumbi Island Grill in Boise. I’ve never  heard of Rumbi Island Grill, but it reminds me of a tropical-themed restaurant I frequented in Florida (Pollo Tropical for all my east coast readers).


After somewhat getting lost looking for Rumbi (it’s uniquely situated on Fairview Blvd, where you have to turn into a strip mall, it was easy to find once I got into the complex. Through the large windows facing the parking lot, I can see Rumbi Island Grill takes its island theme to a new level. I also saw leis, bright colors, and lots of children running around.

I walked in and greeted with smiles. Karly (the marketing coordinator who invited me) gave me a white lei after I told her I was the blogger behind Boise Bucket List. She walked me over to the display table which showed all the yummy meals I’ll be tasting.

I can’t eat all of this! I thought. At least they have to-go boxes.

After putting my coat down on a chair, I do what any blogger does: people-watch and take in my surroundings. I believe most of the bloggers present were “mommy-bloggers” or family-centric bloggers. The tables were properly equipped with child-friendly activities (crayons, coloring — you know, the standard) and covered with the tablecloths you can easy color on.  I also noticed the bright decor around Rumbi; it definitely gave me that tropical vibe & made me forget I was in dreary Boise, ID.

After snapping some photos, an outgoing woman stopped by to say hello. Heidi, who happens to follow my IG page and the woman behind my invite, introduced herself and personally welcomed me to this event. She told me food will be coming out soon, and for me to enjoy!


After the Little Kahunas were fed (which, by the way Rumbi has a good selection for kids meals), the Big Kahunas were served.

O-M-G: that looks tooooo good! (when the Sweet Pork Salad was being served).

Once I got my food, I immediately snapped a photo to capture its presentation. Soon thereafter I grabbed my fork and dove right in!

Let me just say, I’m not particularly in the mood for chilled salad if it’s cold outside. But this salad? OMG it was amazing. The jalapeno dressing (something I’ve never had before) gave it that extra kick and bold flavor. The sweet pork (sorry vegans!) mixed with layers of crispy greens, rice cooked in coconut milk,  black beans & corn all topped with shredded tortilla shavings trumped similar salads I’ve had in the past.

After slowly chipping away at my salad (slowly because I wanted to enjoy EVERY bite), the staff brought out the Sweet Pork Tacos.

Now, I sure love food but damn — I can’t be stuffing my eyes before my belly. I’m on this health conscious focus now. So, I did the 2nd best thing which was immediately put it in a to-go box.

Fun Fact: the to-go box is made from 100% biodegradable materials. The olive green colored bottom of the box caught my eye, prompting me to ask Karly if the box was made from some special material.

After letting my food digest, I decided to head home. Prior to leaving, Karly gave me the cutest party favor bag: filled with temporary stickers, erasers, brownies, and 2 additional coupons. Talk about WINNING!

Definitely add this place to your foodie #boisebucketlist.

#aloharumbi2017