Idaho Food Shed seeks to broaden your food horizons
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VICTOR — It was once known as that little yellow house along U.S. Highway 31 in Victor, but lately it’s taken on new identity.
Nowadays it’s characterized more by the heavy scent of buttery almond and chocolate wafting from its back kitchen. It’s the new home of Food Shed Idaho, a high-end specialty market along the Teton Scenic By-way.
“This house is going through a renaissance,” owner Cecily Costa says.
Ancient grains, heirloom rices, Spanish olive oil, mustards made from burgundy wine — if you want it, Costa can likely get it.
If you have no idea what you are looking for, Costa will help you navigate flavors and ingredients you never knew you had access to with many produced in Idaho, including Maskel Teff based in Boise, Zursun Beans in Idaho Falls and Hillside Grain in Sun Valley.
“This is my passion, food,” Costa says. “I know I can offer something unique to this community.”
Food Shed Idaho is cradled between the Big Holes and the Tetons. Newly painted blue and green, the colors are an homage to Costa’s first impression of Teton Valley at the height of summer when she too found herself on the cusp of a new season.
Dropping out of the corporate world in San Francisco, the pandemic had given Costa a fresh license to explore. With her niece in Teton Valley establishing a heritage pig farm, Late Bloomer Ranch, Costa was compelled to create a new kind of platform where she could contribute to the region’s food community while seeking the kind of pace unique only to rural Idaho.
“I took my piggy bank and I shook it,” she said of establishing Food Shed. “I feel like I can make this work.”
Her eyes clearly smiling behind her COVID-safe mask, she motions with both arms toward the kitchen, the classic wood floors giving way to a clean and funky blue tile design. The timer is going off and in one smooth motion she’s taking the tray out of the oven and spinning to the counter with perfectly shaped cookies.
“I want to be in a place where I can feel inspired,” she says of the kitchen she hopes to build out to commercial grade for others to use and be inspired right back.
The shed just outside of the house is slated for a future phase of the business that will include 24-hour access to specialty foods and local meats. As for now, she’s open online at www.foodshedidaho.com giving local and traveling shoppers access to a local phone line and easy curbside pickup.
“For me, not only does it put me closer to family, but I’m excited to be a part of a growing community,” Costa says.