Changing The Way We Start Our Mornings
By Haley Grugel
Photos by Kimberlee Miller
Breakfast is commonly referred to as the most important meal of the day, and for most people this holds true. Getting your day started with something not only delicious but also nutritious gives you the energy and focus required to be productive and overcome all of those little daily challenges that may seem to be an impossible feat. When looking at breakfast options it can sometimes be a hard choice, but on Saturday mornings many of Boise’s residents make that decision at the local Boise Farmer’s Market. The Farmer’s Market is a place where local entrepreneurs can all come together to highlight their creations and that’s where our breakfast club members really made a name for themselves.
Wanna Matcha
The first craveable breakfast place on our tour is Wanna Matcha. Wanna Matcha is Idaho’s first matcha bar providing a healthy alternative to morning coffee. Matcha is a type of tea made from only the baby leaves of the plant. After harvest, the plant is deprived of light which tricks it, and the leaves sky rocket in chlorophyll content. The results of this process cause an increase in antioxidants, caffeine, flavor, and nutrients. Austin and Ashley Townend started Wanna Matcha after a six and a half week honeymoon to Europe. They soon found that after the big day their energy was running dry and they were tired. As Ashley described it after the first time she tried matcha she was amazed at how much energy she had and how she wasn’t crashing after a few hours.
The matcha is sourced from Kyoto, Japan where the farmers have been growing and producing matcha for over 200 years. This healthier alternative is offered in a few forms including matcha lattes and matcha horchata. They also feature a matcha mocktail every month. Currently Wanna Matcha has a weekly stand at both the Boise Farmer’s Market and the Boise Flea Market. Outside of that they will also do the occasional pop-up at local shops. When asked if they had plans to open a brick and mortar location Ashley stated, “YES! We want to not only provide matcha and treats during the week, but also provide an amazing experience and environment. Soon Boise, soon.”
Muscle Donut
Our next breakfast club member is The Muscle Donut, a healthier alternative to a sugar fried donut. Yes, that’s right, a healthy donut. The struggle is very real in breakfast options, to eat something sweet and delicious or something healthy and nutritious to start the day. The Muscle Donut was born in 2016 and was the first company to introduce the healthy gluten free donut concept in the Treasure Valley and has been a booming online business since.
The Muscle Donut has found a way to help with that dilemma by offering donuts that are high in protein and fiber, gluten free, and low in sugar and carbs. Jackie Melesio and Bill Mcglen, owners of The Muscle Donut, are both fitness enthusiasts and donut lovers.
Jackie, an NPC fitness competitor, explained that she had always had a love for donuts and even when she was preparing for a fitness competition she still found herself craving them. Due to her strict diet when competing, she had to get a little creative. Her and Bill originally started giving the donuts to friends and family who then encouraged them to market the donuts. The Muscle Donut was born in 2016 and has been a booming online business since. They offer a wide variety of flavors including smore, birthday cake, choco-chip, and blueberry, to name a few. When asked what her favorite donut flavor is Jackie said, “It has to be the maple bacon one with caramel.” Their products are available daily at their online store with pick-up and delivery options Tuesday-Saturday mornings. Their products can also be found locally at the Boise Co-Op off of Eagle road, Jax Nutrition in Meridian, Hyde Perk Coffee House, and soon at Chardoney’s Coffee House in Meridian.
Waffle Me Up
Our final breakfast club member takes a timeless breakfast classic and makes it something unique and delicious. Waffle Me Up is located off of Capitol in the heart of downtown and is owned and operated by husband and wife duo Hector and Josie Garcia. The company, as Josie describes, has come from humble beginnings. “We started with one cheap waffle iron and a heavy metal table that we had to haul out of our apartment every Saturday morning.” With their roots of early Saturday mornings at the Boise Farmer’s Market, Waffle Me Up has now been serving Boise breakfast since 2012. They put a lot of importance on community and source as much as 90 percent of their ingredients from Idaho vendors and farmers.
Their waffles are made with GMO-free ingredients following a classic waffle recipe. The dough is made from scratch with real butter and Belgian sugar pearls giving the waffle a nice crunchy exterior and a soft warm center. Waffle Me Up offers a variety of sweet and savory waffles, so there is something for every palate. Their sweet options include many of the classics like strawberries, bananas, and blueberries but they give them a bit of a twists by adding things like cookie butter and Nutella. Their signature savory option is the BOB deluxe bursting in flavor with havarti cheese, a fried egg, bacon, basil, and syrup. Even with their brick and mortar location Waffle Me Up still comes to the Boise Farmer’s Market on Saturdays and sets up shop.
All of our breakfast club members give an exciting twist to breakfast with their creative and innovative ideas. And each of these local companies can be found at the Saturday Boise Farmer’s Market downtown where you can taste their delicious creations. With strong ties to the community these local entrepreneurs have given The Treasure Valley even more choices when deciding what to eat for the most important meal of the day.
