Boise, ID, restaurants to be on “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives”

Guy Fieri has hosted “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” since the series launched in 2007.

Guy Fieri has hosted “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” since the series launched in 2007.

Food Network

After Food Network hype man Guy Fieri traveled to Boise with a production crew in February, clues trickled out about which restaurants might be featured on his series, “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”

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Now it’s time to pull up a chair and eat.

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The first restaurant to get reality-TV recognition from the recent visit will be Alyonka Russian Cuisine, 2870 W. State St. The small, locally owned operation will be highlighted on episode 12 of season 45.

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The half-hour show, “A World of Meats,” airs at 10 p.m. Friday, March 31. (Confirm that time with your TV provider.)

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The Food Network blurb: “Guy Fieri’s digging into meaty mashups, starting in Boise, Idaho, where a Russian joint is servin’ lights-out lamb, and a Pakistani spot is cooking flavorful goat. In Ocala, Florida, a barbecue pro is puttin’ his spin on brisket mac and cheese-stuffed sausage.”

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How do we know that the “Russian joint” is Alyonka? Because owner-chef Elena DeYoung wrote on social media that her restaurant would appear in the episode.

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But what’s this second Boise place?

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The “Pakistani spot” serving “flavorful goat”?

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Let’s just say it might be Taj Mahal, 150 N. 8th St. After all, the downtown Indian and Pakistani destination posted a “Guy ate here” photo on Facebook last month, thanking Fieri and Food Network. The restaurant had closed temporarily the prior week for a special event — an indication that a film crew could have been on location.

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But here’s what really gets a guy strokin’ his goat beard. Taj Mahal’s menu happens to include goat biryani.

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In all likelihood, Alyonka and Taj Mahal won’t be the only two Treasure Valley restaurants hyped on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” in the near future.

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Sunshine Spice Cafe, an Afghan eatery at 6911 W. Fairview Ave., is Fieri’s cup of tea. He posted an Instagram photo of his son, Ryder, and himself there — explaining that they were filming.

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And based on its own brief shutdown — and some online scuttlebutt — Argentinian restaurant Tango’s Empanadas, 46 E. Fairview Ave. in Meridian, looks like another strong candidate.

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An entertainment reporter and columnist, Michael Deeds chronicles the Boise good life: restaurants, concerts, culture, cool stuff. Deeds materialized at the Idaho Statesman as an intern in 1991 before taking on roles including sportswriter, features editor and music critic. Over the years, his freelance work has ranged from writing album reviews for The Washington Post to hyping Boise in that airline magazine you left on the plane. Deeds has a bachelor’s degree in news-editorial journalism from the University of Nebraska.