Back in the 1800s, many Basque immigrants left northern Spain and southwestern France and settled in Idaho. Today, Boise is home to the largest concentration of Basque Americans in the United States. Matthew Larrinaga is a fourth-generation Idahoan Basque; Barbie is Vietnamese whose family inspired her and her love for cooking. Put the two together and you get Basquenese- the delicious fusion of both cultures.
In 2023, the pair started their culinary journey with a food truck- the only Basque and Vietnamese combo in the country! Now, that unique offering can be found at The Warehouse Food Hall, giving guests two new cultural cuisines to try. From Basque favorites like croquetas or a chorizo hoagie to Vietnamese noodle soup and banh mi, there is no shortage of flavor at Basquenese. We checked in with Barbie to learn more about their new fusion concept and The Warehouse.
BASQUENESE (Basque-can-neese)
Founder(s): Matthew & Barbie Larrinaga
What does your business do?
We sell Basque & Vietnamese food. We keep it separate to respect the food from both cultures.
How did you get started?
Matthew strongly encouraged me to share my love of cooking and food to the community. He's said this for the past nine years of our relationship. FINALLY, in the beginning of 2023, I listened to him, and we started the process!
What would you say is unique about your business?
We have a special niche. We are the ONLY Basque & Vietnamese combo/fusion food truck in the entire United States! Matthew is a fourth-generation Idahoan Basque, and his family has contributed to the community dating back to the early 1900s. We wanted to honor his heritage and family name. My mother owned a pho restaurant in Saigon, Vietnam and my father owned a small coffee shop when they first met. She has played an incredibly influential part in my life, especially when it comes to cooking.
When you hear “The Warehouse,” what does that mean to you?
VARIETY! You can take a crowd here and every single person will be able to find something they'd enjoy!
What does it mean to you to be part of The Warehouse Food Hall?
It means a great deal to us to be a part of the Warehouse because we're given the opportunity to share our food with so many foodies in a beautiful building, at the heart of Boise!
Why do you want to be a part of The Warehouse?
We want to be a part of The Warehouse because we appreciate the culinary diversity it currently provides, and we are excited to provide two more cultural cuisines to the mix!
In one word, how would you describe The Warehouse Food Hall?
COMMUNITY-DRIVEN!!
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