Idaho Eats｜Tapas in the USA’s Biggest Basque Block

Who knew potato-country hides the best Spanish short-order counter this side of the Atlantic? 📍 Ansots Basque Chorizos 📍 Location: Basque District, downtown Boise (green awnings + garlic smell = beacon) 💰 Damage: ~$30 pp (wine included) 🌟 Vibe: lazy-lunch only (11 a.m.–3 p.m.), community tables, owner probably named Aitor, definitely chats you up. 🍤 What We Ate (and Inhaled) 1️⃣ Clams & Chorizo Motzak ⭐ White-wine + tomato broth bubbling with house-made garlic chorizo. Bread: baguette shards baked in-house, double-bake = shatter-zone. Move: mop the pot like you’re cleaning crime scene. 2️⃣ Croqueats (a.k.a. Basque croquetas) Choose 2: Serrano ham OR salt-cod. Bite: golden shell → creamy béchamel core + smoky ham flakes. Local at next table: “I drive 40 miles for these bad boys every Friday.” 3️⃣ Basque Meatballs Lamb-forward (yes, you’ll taste pasture), cloaked in pimentón tomato gravy. Sidekick bread: suddenly a sauce shuttle. 4️⃣ Basque Cheesecake Burnt-top drama, custard-center jiggle, hint of lemon. Portion: individual ramekin → no sharing guilt. 🍷 Drink Like You’re in Pamplona House sangria – red wine, brandy, citrus wheels, zero fizz = traditional. Txakoli by the glass – lightly sparkling, pour from height for tiny foam. 💡 Pro Tips Arrive 11 a.m. sharp – tables fill with retirees speaking Euskara by 11:30. Chorizo retail fridge – grab links to go (vacuum-sealed, TSA-friendly souvenir). Street parking: free 2-hr meters; if full, lot behind Basque Museum 3-min walk. 🎯 One-Bite Summary Ansots crams Spain into a Boise storefront: sizzling chorizo, brandy-laced laughs, and croquetas that could make Madrid jealous – all without jet-lag or European prices. #US #ID #Boise