The humble spud is a versatile starch.
As Samwise Gamgee of “Lord of the Rings” attests to, you can “boil ‘em, mash ‘em, stick ‘em in a stew.” And chefs, bakers, and candy makers have added even more ways to enjoy Idaho’s famous crop.
Visit Boise has corralled dishes, from donuts to fries, into the Boise Idaho Potato Trail Pass. You can search the interactive guide by map for a nearby location, or scroll a list of potential potato dishes to satisfy your palate.
The Pass launched in 2024, with more than 1,500 spud seekers trying it out since then.
“We wanted to put together a fun pass for visitors to use while exploring Boise, that highlighted both our agricultural roots and the many amazing restaurants we have here,” Visit Boise Convention Services and Digital Marketing Manager Taylor Barton said. “The response has been great. We're always open to adding new ones if there is a great potato dish out there in Boise that we might be missing.”
And if trying new potato dishes and restaurants isn’t enough incentive for you, the Pass also offers prizes. You get check-in points to use for potato-themed rewards, such as pins, dipping sauce holders, and spud stress balls.
On an August evening, I set out on the trail.
Appetizer: Fork, 199 N. 8th Street
It’s hard to beat a good French fry. The Rosemary Parmesan Idaho French Fries at Fork are billed as enough for 2-3 people, and they’re not wrong.
Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, these potatoes lean into the parmesan more than the rosemary, creating a salty snack that’s highlighted by the accompanying dipping sauce.
Entrée: Pie Hole, 205 N. 8th Street
Ever thought a baked potato should be more portable? Pie Hole’s Potato Bacon Pizza is your answer.
Thin slices of potato, crispy bits of bacon, an alfredo sauce, and cheese top a crispy crust, available by slice or pie.
It shouldn’t work, but it does.
Dessert: Westside Drive-In, 1929 W. State Street
There’s nothing quite like the joy of mentioning an Idaho Ice Cream Potato to a Boise visitor and watching their face as they try to fathom what, precisely, this dessert is.
For the uninitiated, this Westside Drive-in staple is not a tuber, but instead a wonderful companion to a burger and fries. The slight bitterness of the cocoa powder “potato skin” provides a counterpoint to the vanilla ice cream potato. Add in the whipped cream “sour cream,” topped by chocolate cookies and nuts, and there’s no denying this potato lookalike deserves its spot on the Pass.
To download the Potato Trail Pass, or its companion, the Boise International Cuisine Trail, head to visitboise.com/eat.