With so many great places to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it can be difficult breaking away from the convenience of a drive-thru milkshake or the abundantly played-out fro-yo shop. We’ve all eaten an ice cream cone or the lackluster alternative of ice cream in a cup that might entice your tastebuds by a few toppings and drizzle of syrup.
You might find yourself bored of desserts, and that’s never a good thing in my world.
That’s where BITE ME steps in and takes the cake—or should I say ice cream!
This has been my go-to dessert spot ever since it opened in March 2020. I always had the feeling there must be an interesting story to the concept of Bite Me. I discovered that was truer than ever after meeting up with the owner, Lauren, at her shop located in The Village at Meridian.
Once Lauren began to explain the shop's inception and her vision of incorporating all the things that make her happy into the shop's look, it really showed me how passionate and creative she is.
Her shop wasn’t even made to lease; it was originally for storage, but she was persistent enough to convince the Village into letting her build her shop there. And she did just that. With a vision in mind, Lauren let her father, with his lifelong experience in construction, take the lead, and they turned that storage room into the elegant shop you see today.
Her pups are incorporated into the adorable painting in the back hall, and her love for greenery is displayed by all the hanging plants. The heartfelt message “Wish You Were Here” in remembrance of her mother really solidifies the passion and love put into building this shop.
Prior to Bite Me, Lauren earned an MBA and was a CFO of a Native Organization in Kodiak, Alaska.
She moved part-time to Boise on her birthday in 2018, and after nine months of back-and-forth flights every two weeks, she decided to settle in Boise to be near her lifelong friend.
Shortly after settling into Boise, she flew to visit family in California where the spark for Bite Me began after spending time at a small shop with family enjoying ice cream and frozen bananas. The infectious atmosphere of the shop stuck with her the rest of the trip, and over the course of the flight back home, she mapped out a business plan, eager to put it into effect.
Bite Me opened its doors at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic on March 13, which just so happened be Friday the 13th. It was a rough start, but Bite Me has taken off and is now a favorite dessert shop for many customers, including me.
Lauren has many plans for the future, including an ice cream bike she hopes to have ready by spring 2021. Customers can look forward to exciting new flavors on her upcoming fall menu and the introduction of a vegan and dairy-free ice cream bar.
Head over to The Village at Meridian and check out Bite Me.
You can choose between a vanilla ice cream bar, rice krispy treat, or frozen banana to dip into warmed chocolate that forms a crunchy shell.
And it doesn’t stop there! You can choose a “Specialty” or “Vintage” bar or create your own. Flavors include Campfire (S’mores); Yabba Dabba Do (Fruity Pebbles); Dark Side (Oreo); and my favorite, The Turtle, that’s rolled in pretzels then drizzled with peanut butter and salted caramel. They even top it off with ground salt. It is amazing and a must-try. Drizzles include but not limited to marshmallow, chocolate, peanut butter, strawberry, and even pineapple.
The possibilities for toppings are unlimited if you think about it, and Lauren’s wheels are always spinning. You can even dip a vanilla ice cream bar into orange, strawberry, or root beer soda to make a float!
Lauren is great at adding new toppings and coming up with fun new menu items throughout the seasons. If you’re not in the mood for ice cream, you can enjoy strawberry basil lemonade, tea, kombucha, golden milk, or nitro cold brew.
There is no other dessert shop that can offer as much or satisfy as many people as Bite Me. You really are missing out if you haven’t been here. Do yourself the favor and get bit at Bite Me.
Do you live in Boise Valley or looking to visit Idaho? Read my article about my off-the-beaten-path Boise Valley eateries. Be sure to follow me on Instagram at @BoiseFoodCritic.