Natalie Plummer of the Boise Bubble podcast and Hello Meridian joined the City Cast Boise podcast this week to talk about how to navigate the too-often unspoken expectations that come with Valentine’s Day. Boise is no Rome, and many of us can’t afford the finest of dining experiences — so what to do?
🥡 The Mini-Staycation
For the first decade of their marriage, Natalie and her husband Shane didn’t have a consistent babysitter or family to take the kids on date nights. So they made do by putting their kids’s favorite movie on and ordered takeout for an intentional night in.
“We would try to spend just two hours really just talking, enjoying our food, not watching television … It was more about the investment in each other and then really we splurged on like our very favorite restaurant and we brought it in. That was the time of a good decade of our life and that was just how we had to do our romance, and it worked out great.”
🍸 The Apps & Drinks Budget
If you don’t have the budget for a full-course meal but still want to get out of the house, plan a happy hour with appetizers and have fun with it. Dress up, get a nice drink and some sides, and then get out of there.
Here are some of Natalie’s picks for an ambiance-filled evening on a budget:
🥩 The All-Out Dinner
If you want a Valentine’s Day reservation at Chandler’s, you better already have one.
We’ve written about some of Boise’s best fine dining options before, but as Natalie points out, not all experiences should be taken as equal. If you want smooth jazz and a steak, go for Chandler’s. But if you want to feel tucked in, try Little Pearl. Want to dress up and be seen? Try Barbacoa. The options are endless once you and your beloved (friends included) communicate what you want.
Valentine's is about much more than romantic partnership, so make a plan with a friend and tell them you love them. (@sawtoothwinery / Instagram)
City Cast Boise’s Picks
Executive producer Frankie Barnhill: “I think Ochos patio (with blankets and heaters) is still very top for me. Tiner’s Alley bar in the Avery is veryyyyy cool and sexy so I would totally grab a drink there to cap off the night. Same with Art Haus.”
Guest host Nick Quah: “A lil cozy dine at The Modern is always great; same goes with the bar-top at Red Feather.”
Producer Evelyn Avitia: “If I was doing a Galentine's I'd probably go to Sawtooth Winery for mimosas and charcuterie board.”
🌌 🍌 Space Banana
And for a rowdy Wednesday night to time travel away from Valentine’s Day, there’s a new cocktail bar and microclub opening on Feb. 14.
