A central question propels Patrick Shepherd-Blalock and Noah Espinoza: What does it mean to thrive?

The energetic chefs behind Pocatello’s newest food truck, Thrive: Artisanal Bowls and Wraps, focus on internationally-inspired food with Idaho tastebuds in mind.

Countless beds of fresh herbs, wandering chickens and a greenhouse bursting with bright red tomatoes take habitat in Angelo Brunson's backyard. It's the kind of small operation that makes Angelo's Ristorante in Coeur d'Alene, one of the city's standout farm-to-fork establishments. 

Executive chef and owner Brunson's European heritage and passion for organic ingredients guide his business model as well as his personal mantra: To eat good quality food and know where it's coming from.  

Last March, Al Zohiry opened My Ice Cream Roll in the Lynwood Shopping Center in Twin Falls.

Ice cream wasn’t his initial intention. Al Zohiry actually planned to open a high-end European cafeteria with a rolled ice cream corner in a building in downtown Twin Falls. After ordering the machines and powder base for his ice cream, the sale of the building fell through. That’s when he found the property in the Lynwood Shopping Center and decided to focus solely on rolled ice cream.

On a sunny evening after a week of April snow, Groundwork Brewery’s outdoor patio was packed nearly shoulder to shoulder on a Wednesday night in Lewiston. While local musician Ben Wagner performed on a small stage crafted from a shipping container, customers of all ages enjoyed drinks and food.

“Music nights are my favorite,” said Amanda Rigney, co-owner and manager of Groundwork. “The environment is fun, the music is fun and it’s a good way to make people happy. That’s pretty easy with pizza and beer.”

When it opened, Radio Brewing Company was the first brewery in the town of Kellogg—and five years later, it remains the only one. Owners Ashley and Fred Mehaffie bring years of brewing experience to Idaho’s Silver Valley, and they’re planning to use those skills to expand. . The Mehaffies recently purchased the former Kellogg City Hall, Library and Firehall building that is next to their current taphouse.

Shortly after Russia began its horrific, internationally condemned invasion of Ukraine, Boise’s Mad Swede Brewing Company heard about the resistance efforts of Ukrainian brewery Pravda Brewing, who are using their equipment to manufacture molotov cocktails and have asked brewers around the world to “brew for Ukraine.”

In the heart of a once booming North Idaho mining community, customers are striking it rich once again, not with silver, lead and zinc, but with homemade pies.

Since opening Dec. 20, Mae’s Market in Smelterville is gaining a reputation as a place to buy delicious, homemade food items. One in particular is gaining popularity: the pear pie.

The old adage that word of mouth is better than advertising certainly holds true for The Pie Safe Bakery & Kitchen in Deary, a town of about 500 people east of Moscow. Owners John and Grace French have never taken out a paid ad to promote their bakery and restaurant, yet people from all over North Idaho and the Palouse find their way there.

It must be the pie that draws them in.

Himalayan Flavor is the creation of Nepalese native Roshan Kumar, who came to Idaho to study finance and accounting at Idaho State University. After he graduated in 2016, Kumar opened the Himalayan Grocery and Smoke Shop near ISU. His next ambition was to open a restaurant.

When Nicole and Conor Hammons bought a historic building on the up-and-coming end of Coeur d’Alene’s East Sherman Avenue in 2019, it seemed like a great opportunity to start a business.

The couple faced construction woes, opening setbacks and impending closures due to the pandemic – but it turns out the challenge was worth it. The Hammons opened Wine House in July 2020, and the wine bar has become a neighborhood hot spot.