Conquering the “Potato State” One Fry at a Time

🥔🍟✨Touchdown in Boise and the air smells like… freedom? Nope—deep-fried starch! Legend says you can’t leave Idaho without earning a “Tater Degree.” Challenge accepted. My syllabus: 5 types of fries + 10 dips + 1 very empty stomach. 📚🤤 Classroom: Boise Fry Company 📍 4 locations – I hit the OG on Capitol Blvd (river-view tables = fries with a side of sunset). 💰 Small $3.9 | Large $6.5 | Flight of 3 mini cones $5.5 (secret menu, just ask). 🎓 Philosophy: Burgers are the side dish—fries are the star. The Fab Five Potato Varieties 1️⃣ Russet – Classic Idaho workhorse. Fluffy middle, crunchy jacket, tastes like the couch-locked couch-potato of your dreams. 2️⃣ Gold – Yukon cousin, buttery soft; needs no ketchup, but we’ll get there. 3️⃣ Red – Pink-skinned, lighter density, almost sweet; the ballerina of the bunch. 4️⃣ Yam – Orange, earthy, Thanksgiving in fry form. 5️⃣ Sweet – Caramel edges, candy-like center; smells like Grandma’s pie had a fling with a carnival. 🍠💃 Pro move: ask for “Rainbow Sampler”—staff will split-basket them even though each cultivar has a different fry-time. They’ll tag them with tiny colored clothespins so you can ID your fave. Cute and educational. Salt Bar – DIY Snowstorm No pre-salting here. Instead, a magpie wall of shakers: ✨ Ghost Pepper Sea Salt – instant hiccups, addictive pain. ✨ Smoked Paprika – BBQ kiss without the sauce. ✨ Lavender Vanilla – dessert-mode, trust me on yam fries. ✨ Blue Cheese Powder – smells like gym socks, tastes like heaven. ✨ Sour Cream & Onion – Dorito nostalgia in granular form. Shake, taste, repeat. You’re basically a seasoning DJ now. 🧂🎧 Dip Roulette – 10 Sauces, Zero Regrets Truffle Mayo – basic bougie, starter pack. Chipotle Cherry – sweet heat that punches back. Basil Garlic Ketchup – Italy high-fives America. Jalapeño Ranch – cooling ranch with a lil’ kickflip. Curry Ketchup – golden, fragrant, should bottle & sell globally. Buffalo Bleu – wing-night vibes without bones. Tahini Miso – sesame umami bomb on sweet potato = mind blown. Huckleberry Mustard – Idaho’s state fruit meets French’s snobby cousin. Mango Habanero – tropical then volcanic 🌋🥭. Marshmallow Fluff – dessert dip; dunk a yam fry and hear angels harmonize. Combo Hall-of-Fame Sweet + Lavender Salt + Marshmallow Fluff = Thanksgiving S’mores. Russet + Smoked Paprika + Curry Ketchup = Bombay BBQ. Red + Blue Cheese Powder + Buffalo Bleu = Wing-ception. Burger? Sure—But It’s a Supporting Actor BFC burgers are 1/3 lb local beef or bison, served UNDER the fries so the potato grease baptizes the bun. I went bison, add huckleberry BBQ sauce; tasted like cowboy meets jam-band. 🍔🎸 Thirst Aid Huckleberry Lemonade – purple, tart, mandatory Idaho badge. Local Root Beer on tap – creamy, no high-fructose nonsense. Refills self-serve; don’t mix the two unless you want a fizzy lavender volcano. Pro Tips for Maximum Spud Glory Weekday 2–4 p.m. = happy-hour fry refills (buy large, get one free refill). Ask for “crispy tails”—the crunchy potato tips they usually toss; staff will bag them like golden nuggets. Bring wet-wipes; 10 sauces + 5 salts = Jackson Pollock on your fingers. Vegan? All fries cooked in rice-bran oil, separate fryers for yams. Gluten-free? Most salts & dips safe, just skip the malt-vinegar shaker. #US #ID #Boise