Good Spirits 2018 Vol 2 - 25

great bars
great Food

The chance to sit down to a fine meal is all the more enjoyable when the accompanying drinks
are equally exquisite and unique. Here are four of Idaho's very best places for the experience.

The WhiTe house Grill, PosT Falls
What drinks pair with garlic? At The White House
Grill, the potent little bulb makes an appearance
in many of the dishes-fortunately, though it's
not a regular in the drinks.
Turkish immigrant Raci Erdem opened his Post
Falls restaurant in 1996, after finding his passion
for food when working at a Turkish restaurant in
New York City. The White House Grill reflects
Erdem's heritage, filled with tastes of the
Mediterranean, like traditional koftë with beef or
lamb, curry, souvlaki, kebobs, gyro and baklava.
And the restaurant's presidential façade reflects an
appreciation for Erdem's new home.
The restaurant includes a full bar featuring handcrafted cocktails. Erdem also owns a nearby martini
bar that continues the governmental theme-The
Oval Office Bistro and Martini Bar-so the White
House cocktail menu includes what Erdem calls
"adventurous martinis."
"One of the things that we are keen on is Scotch,"
he adds, so the bar includes a carefully chosen
Scotch list
And, certainly, the bar stocks that traditional
Greek aperitif, ouzo. Ouzo plays with the flavor of
anise-if you're a fan of absinthe, aquavit or just
plain licorice, ouzo will float your boat. Anise is
added to a base spirit made of grapes (like grappa,
but stronger), with other flavors like fennel, coriander, and cloves. Naturally, the Greek spirit pairs
marvelously with Mediterranean flavors like stuffed
grape leaves and eggplant.
The bar also offers 12 beers on tap-including
trendy and seasonal craft beers, Northwest locals,
and cider-plus an extensive wine list, heavy on
Walla Walla wines.

"Our job is to put you in a great mood with some
cool music, delicious food and awesome drinks, all
for a great value that you won't find at any chain
restaurant," Raci Erdem told Northwest Sizzle.
A high-energy atmosphere matches the exotic
flavors at this Idaho Mediterranean restaurant.

MaMa inez, PocaTello
Longevity and long lines demonstrate the popularity
and quality of this favorite Pocatello Mexican restaurant. Open since 1995, Mama Inez is known for huge
portions, with a hearty lineup of burritos, enchiladas,
tacos, and fajitas, plus unexpected gems like barbecue
fajitas; stuffed pasilla peppers; a tortilla with crab,
shrimp, cream cheese and pimentos; and eggs served
multiple ways.
And what drinks pair best with Mexican cuisine?
Well, cerveza, of course. Mama Inez has 12 beers
on tap and serves Mexican beers including Dos
Equis, Modelo, and Corona Light.
But of course, a full bar can take the pairing
options even further. There's the ultimate Margarita;
and there are Mama Inez's house special drinks-a
changing list that takes advantage of fresh, seasonal
ingredients. During the summer, the Big Mama cocktail offers fruity tastes like pineapple and peach,
using New Amsterdam flavored vodka as well as fresh
juice. Look for a top-notch Mojito in the summer,
too, perfected with fresh mint.
Berry cocktails appear on the menu as the fruits
ripen, and the menu continues to morph into each
season-always with an eye toward getting fresh
ingredients from local farmers.
For the full experience, belly up to the Mama
Inez bar top, which seats up to 15 people.
¡Salud!

FALL | WINTER 2017-2018 25

Good Spirits 2018 Vol 2

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Good Spirits 2018 Vol 2