Congrats Miren and Jose Mari!

A week too late, but here you have the news about the opening of the new Basque restaurant Leku Ona in Boise:

Jose Mari Artiach realizes dream with the Leku Ona

He left his home in Muxika in 1966 to herd sheep in Idaho

Jose Mari Artiach left his home in Muxika in 1966 to herd sheep in Idaho. Besides herding sheep, he has also worked in lumber mills, driven hay trucks, finally to purchase his own trucking company in 1975 (still operating today), and run a cattle ranch. Even after all these accomplishments, Jose Mari still had a dream that he finally realized on December 6th with the official opening of his restaurant the Leku Ona (The Good Place) on Boise’s Basque block. “He has been very sentimental over the last several weeks remembering all that he had to go through to get to where he is today.” said his wife Miren (née Rementeria). “In testament, there is a wall mural that shows him tending a flock of sheep.”

The restaurant is located directly across from the Basque Center at 117 S. 6th Street. It features three floors of restaurant space, each complete with bar, and a card room on the middle floor. The basement level is ideal for private parties, or larger gatherings, while the top floor is reserved for finer dining specializing in Basque family-style service. Both top and middle floors include outdoor patios, the latter connecting to a five-room hotel next door.

Chef Ramon Barquin, who is in charge of the kitchen, is originally from Idaho but has spent more than 10 years cooking in the Basque Country. His menu includes upscale traditional dishes such as seafood soups, salt cod, paella, lamb shanks, and grilled steaks smothered in pimentos. His lighter fare also includes various pintxos.

Even after years in the U.S. Artiach still holds a special place in his heart for his friends in Muxika. Miren continued, “If they ever come to visit us, they will find that their pictures are in collages on the walls of the restaurant.”

For more information on the fascinating life of Jose Mari Artiach refer to: www.basquemuseum.com/oralhistory. And for more information regarding the Leku Ona call (208) 345-4296.

I'm looking forward to my next visit to Boise so I can dine at the Artiach's place.

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