If you’re bored with Boise’s sea of chain restaurants, take a nearby detour to Argentina.
The Empanada Club recently opened at 1580 N. Stonehenge Way, off Fairview Avenue, west of Locust Grove Road in Meridian.
In July, co-owners Cecilia De Paoli and Tom Torkelson debuted the baked goods eatery. They’re providing “a true from-scratch revel in,” keeping with an information launch, “as they’re making a hundred percent of their dough and fillings in-residence.” De Paoli, a local of Argentina, evolved the recipes.
Idaho foodies are acquainted with pasties. An empanada is a comparable crammed pastry that’s a staple of Latin America. The Empanada Club serves nine types—at $3.50 each or $38 for a dozen. You can dine in, snatch a few to move, or order online.
Are you new to empanadas? Grab the Traditional, full of floor pork, onions, a tough-boiled egg, and olives. Or spice up your existence with a Carne Picante, full of beef chuck braised slowly in crimson wine with warm peppers and onions.
The menu includes several versions of tarts ($6.50) and mini-tarts ($four.50) — pies with pleasant fillings. The Zucchini and Goat Cheese tart is exactly what it feels like. (Sometimes, nothing beats easy.) Or remind yourself of a conventional American morning meal with the Breakfast All Day mini-tarts made with ham, eggs, and cheese.
Dessert goodies cost $4 and encompass two sorts of alfajores and pasta. “But be warned,” the information release says, “those commonly sell out soon after they hit the show instances.”
The Empanada Club also runs daily specials, including two empanadas and a Coke for $eight or an empanada and a craft beer pint for $8.
De Paoli and Torkelson, who are married, came to America five years ago from Mendoza, Argentina. De Paoli grew up there and has operated other meal-related organizations.
“More than whatever,” she says, “I want people to recognize that consolation meals exist everywhere. This is mine, and I want to share it with all people right here.”
The Empanada Club is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.