New this winter: visitors to the Highpoint Cider taproom in Victor, Idaho can now pair their ciders with bites from the Street Food food truck! The collaboration between Street Food and Highpoint Cider brings forth a unique dining experience where gluten-free eats meet delicious, locally-crafted ciders.
An Initial Connection
Street Food’s Amelia Hatchard and Marcos Hernandez, and Highpoint Cider’s Alex and Andrew Perez initially connected when Highpoint Cider was beginning operations and looking at the space now occupied by Sidewinders on Moose-Wilson Road, near Wilson. “We’ve joked about how this is almost full circle from the early days talking about partnering with Amelia and Marcos to work on a food program, when we originally looked at moving into the old Roadhouse Brewing space,” Alex jokes.
This crossing of paths laid the groundwork for the present-day partnership between the two businesses, but their friendship blossomed when Highpoint Cider ended up landing in Victor, Idaho. “They are both East Coast transplants, as am I,” Hatchard adds. “We had the food truck at Highpoint Cider once a week this summer, but had talked about the need for consistency. They approached us a few weeks ago asking if we would want to take the chance on five days a week, and we decided to give it a go, with their support.”
Going Gluten-Free
One of the driving forces behind the Street Food menu now available at Highpoint Cider is Perez, who leads a gluten-free lifestyle. “When I started thinking about the menu,” Hatchard recalls, “We wanted to do something different—we wanted to make it gluten-free, but contamination free as well. We had just been to a food show in Salt Lake City, where we discovered a brand, Mrs. Hewitt’s, making really good gluten-free breads and desserts. Talking with my purveyors and finding a few key gluten-free products, the menu developed from there.”
It was also important to both parties that the price point be kept low—from the fried chicken po’ boy to the Korean barbecue bowl, diners will find that everything on the menu is under $15. The menu includes four different bowls, each of which can be served over tater tots, rice, or greens. The tots were a suggestion from Kate Driscoll, Highpoint Cider’s taproom and events manager. “Kate had once mentioned to me a place that did loaded tater tots, and in an effort to keep the fryers gluten-free we thought it was a great starting point,” Hatchard explains. The result is a fun menu with items that many will be surprised to learn are gluten-free: like the fried cheese tortellini.
Perfect Pairings
“Cider goes with everything,” Hatchard promises, “and dare I say, so do tater tots!” Cider is a versatile beverage that pairs well with a wide array of cuisines, making it an ideal match for the diverse flavors offered by Street Food. Perez adds, “Everyone is familiar with food and wine pairings, but like wine, cider still offers some tannin and acidity which can help balance out rich, fatty, or carb forward dishes. However, cider is a bit lighter in ABV, more quaffable, and more refreshing than most wines. Additionally, a bit of carbonation can help open up the palate and enhance different flavors.”
While cider is known to pair well with quite a variety of dishes (think pork, cheese, pie, spicy food, etc.), the team is particularly excited about the combination of the “Send It” Dog and Highpoint Cider’s Spur cider. “The sweet ginger effervescence of the cider beautifully complements the bacon-wrapped dog, topped with gochujang and kimchi,” Hatchard explains.
Try this pairing, and many more: find the Street Food food truck at Highpoint Cider Monday through Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. throughout the winter season. The Highpoint Cider taproom is located at 7576 Lupine Lane in Victor, Idaho.
