Hello!
Well, just like that, we’re off and running in August. We’re cranking out menus and new dishes and cocktails on both sides of the restaurant. Fortunately, this is one of the best times of the year…for ingredients at least. The nightshades are starting to show up. We’ve had a few weeks of tomatoes but the peppers and eggplants are just starting. The melons have been great this season and we’re eagerly anticipating watermelon. Then of course, there’s everyone’s favorite, sweet corn. It’s fun to have so many ingredients to be able to play around with, in fact, it’s more often that we have to pass some by which is always a little bitter sweet.
Part of the reason we’re so busy is actually that August is traditionally one of our slowest months in terms of bringing in revenue. It’s those dog days and last summer trips. The temperature and air quality don’t help and definitely won’t this year. So, we made a premeditated decision to really try to hustle up some fun events and menus. Of course, that tends to lead to a whole lot of work to break even but thus is the life of owning a restaurant. At least we’re aware of it and having a good time.
We just wrapped up our first go at our “Family Meal” menu, everything being a little looser, with family style shared plating, a lower price point and shorter experience. It was really fun, a good change of pace and as far as we can tell, it was really well received. We’re hoping to scatter some of these menus throughout the rest of the calendar year as well.
The Boise Design Week Lecture Series went really well. It was really fun to collaborate with Lars Larsen, Rob Dennler and Alex Caves. Here’s a little video that we worked on together that was presented at the event. There’s also a link to the presentation itself but it gets a little chopped up here and there.
DESIGN WEEK VIDEO FEATURING KIN
Our part of the presentation goes on at about the 49 minute mark
Upcoming Events
Art Haus Fair Pop Up Menu
Wednesday-Saturday, August 19th-22nd
Art Haus Bar
With the Western Idaho Fair coming to town we thought we’d roll a little bar pop up menu in Art Haus, all themed around those fair food and drink classics, albeit maybe not all of them come out of the fryer. It’ll be a small, fun side menu alongside some of the Art Haus classics that will still be available. We have a handful of ideas but if you have anything in mind let us know. Unfortunately, it looks like Sir-Mix-A-Lot is already booked so you’ll have to go to the actual fair for that one.
Idaho Shakespeare Festival Collaboration
Monday, August 24th
Art Haus Patio
As many of you may know, the patio and hillside outside of our space was the original home of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. They are celebrating their 50th anniversary and returning to their original home, here! We are collaborating on a fundraising event with them. There will be a live performance directed by ISF legend, Michaell Hoffman. We’ll be bringing back all our tiffins from the old piKINic series. It should be a really fun, unique experience.
Tickets are handled through the Shakespeare Festival so please reach out to them if there are any left. They sold most at their Gala a couple weeks ago but there may be a few left to snag.
Back to School Tasting Menu
Wednesday, August 26th-29th
KIN
It’s hard to believe that school is back in session this week. It feels like it just keeps getting earlier and earlier. My kids are still young enough that they’re really excited to get back and see all their friends. I’m ready for it too. So, we’re running a one week menu inspired by those classic yearbook superlatives. You know the ones, “most likely to succeed”, “most dramatic” or “best dressed” as Remi unsurprisingly was anointed…well, in addition to he and his high school girlfriend being voted “worst couple”. Instead of people though, we’ll be voting on ingredients, dishes, drinks and all things food. Any of you former students or fellow parents out there are more than welcome to get together and celebrate the return to a little rhythm and all things education.
Tickets can be purchased through OpenTable “Experiences”. The price reflects everything all in; food, beverage pairing, tax and gratuity.
Art Haus & Ampersand
Matt’s been busy overhauling the bar food menu alongside all these new ingredients. Come on down and try the cucumber & plum salad, Tomato Katsu and Shishito Popper Burger special. The bar’s slinging out some delicious melon refreshers and the AC is cranking!
Days Open: Wednesday-Saturday
Hours of Operation: 4-11p
Happy Hours: 4-5p & 10-11p
KIN
It’s a new menu week! We’re on Menu 84 and it’s all about salad dressings. We’re calling it All Dressed: Salad Edition. A few menus ago we had a chilled ranch soup and later a 1000 Island Macaron. We figured, why not just make a whole menu inspired by different salad dressings. Makes sense. It’s Catalina, Green Goddess, Honey Mustard and more. It’ll run through August with a few pop up menus dancing around in between.
KIN seatings for August
Thursday, Friday (and some Wednesdays) : 7p
Saturday: 6p & 9p (Supper Club)
Staff Shoutout
Here’s Tanner! Tanner’s behind the bar and often up in Ampersand. He’s been with us for about 18 months now. He’s the one with the frosted tips with the permasmile. Seriously though, Tanner is always a bright spot and always makes the room and happier place, plus he’s awesome in the well. As we’ve gotten to know him we also see how humble he is as little things about him leak out. He’s an incredible artist. He played D1 football as an outside linebacker for Eastern Washington. He’s a good grandson and hangs out with his grandma a lot but not in a weird way. All in all, we’re really lucky to have Tanner around not only for his tending skills but for all the intangibles that he brings to make the team better.
Favorite Fruit: Avocado
Primal Zodiac: Marmot
Death Row Meal: Abalone & Lobster
Why he’s on Death Row: Inappropriate, semi-threatening jokes about a certain former president of a certain country.
Current Series of Interest: Mr. Robot
Culinary Weapon of Choice in a Zombie Apocalypse: On of those meat pounding mallet things.
Below is an image of Tanner cooling down in the beverage walk-in cooler.
As always, we really appreciate all of your support and we hope to see you down here soon!
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