Food notes The Office is open for business and Eagle has Russian food
April 16th, 2008, 5:11 pm Hobbies And Interests
You probably won’t see Michael Scott dancing on the table with a lampshade on his head or Dwight Schrute at The Office, a new lunch and dinner restaurant (6125 W. Fairview Ave. - formerly Rendezvous). But you might coerce some of your own office mates there.It opened Wednesday, April 2, and features casual dining and a full bar - “rock out when you clock out” is the joint’s tagline. The office theme carries over to the menu - which comes out clamped to a clipboard: get “stick it to ‘the man’” mozzarella sticks and “give ‘em the steak finger dinner.” Try a “Pink Flamingo” or camp the morning away on “Sunday Absolutely bloody Sundays.”With a jukebox, big screen TVs, a patio and 32 beers on tap, it’s basically a sports bar, said Bethann Catlin, manager. Hours: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Monday - Thursday; 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday. Happy hour: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily.FARE IS EASY TO ‘BEAR’ AT NEW RUSSIAN EATERYAt the Russian Bear (600 Rivershore Lane, Eagle) “people are not just eating the food - they’re inhaling it,” said co-owner Oleg Mironov.How did the cafe get its name? “In Russian fairy tales, the king of all animals is a bear. We don’t have lions in Russia,” Oleg said. “And the bear, he is very nice, he loves others, maybe a little goofy - but he always comes up with something for all the other animals.”Open since February, the Bear serves lunch and dinner from a menu that features authentic Russian food - “everything is homemade” Oleg said. Svetlana Mironov, Oleg’s wife, is the chef. They both hail from Russia but met each other in Boise five years ago. They have a 2-year-old son, Seva. “He’s the boss,” Oleg said. Try: Russian borscht, cabbage rolls, potato pancakes and 14 types of Russian crepes, which are “a little bit fluffier and melt in your mouth,” Oleg said.Coffee is Purple Bean, roasted by the Flying M. Beer and wine are not available yet, but “it’s all in my plans,” Oleg said.Hours: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday; 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday - Thursday; 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.OOH, LA-LA, IT’S ZHOO ZHOOThe three Robertson sisters - Hadley, Jocelyn and Bijou - wanted to do something with their friend Babette’s art. So, they founded the Zhoo Zhoo (say: szhu) wine label, under parent Hells Canyon Winery. Where did the name come from? “Zhoo Zhoo is a French term of endearment,” Hadley said.Hadley handles the PR, Jocelyn is the creative director and designer and Bijou is the winemaker.You’ll be able to sip some beginning Monday at 8th St. Wine Company., A New Vintage Wine Shop, Brick Oven Bistro, Berryhill %26 Co., Chef Lou’s at 8th Street, Cottonwood Grille, Piazza di Vino, SixOneSix and Woman of Steel.Then, go on a shopping spree and wine-tasting whirlwind tour from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 19. Just pick up a “treasure map” at one of the participating BoDo shops, then hop from one to the next, sampling different wines along the way. (Participating shops are Ella’s Room, Hansen, JuJu, Levi’s, Miss Molly, Piece Unique Clothing Co., R. Grey Gallery and Shoez.)When your map has all the stamps, go to the 8th St. Wine Co. for a barrel tasting and bottle signing by Babette - and pick up your complimentary wine glass with the Zhoo Zhoo logo.STEAKHOUSE GRAND OPENING LENDS OLYMPIC HANDThe Ruby River Steakhouse, featuring hand-cut, seasoned steaks, continues its grand opening through Friday (7751 W. Spectrum St., next to the Hilton Garden Inn at the Boise Spectrum). As a pledge to help the Special Olympics World Winter Games, the restaurant will donate 50 cents for every meal sold during the grand opening.The restaurant is also offering a free cheese fries coupon on its Web site at www.rubyriver.com that you can use to help raise money for the Games; Ruby River will donate the price of the fries. You can use the coupon through April.To submit dining-related news, e-mail foodnotes@idahostatesman.com.
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