“Idaho’s Basque Tables” feature wins two awards

The magazine feature article, Idaho’s Basque Tables, written by Patti Murphy for Sun Valley Magazine, recently received two awards.

The historical feature was honored with the First Place Award of Excellence in the Idaho Press Club Best of 2010 Awards for magazine writing, and the Merit IMPACT Award from Capital City Communicators in the Feature Writing division.

Idaho’s Basque Tables explores the history of Basque cuisine in Southwest Idaho and how the unique dishes and flavors were brought into the state by Basque sheepherders who immigrated from the Basque country, which is situated at the base of the Pyrenees mountains along the borders of Spain and France.

For the story Murphy interviewed various local Basque restaurant owners, a Boise State University Professor of Basque Studies, Boise Mayor Dave Bieter who is Basque, and others who have a historical and cultural connection to Idaho’s Basque beginnings. Southwest Idaho is recognized as having the largest per capital Basque population outside of the Basque country.

Murphy has been involved with the local Basque community for several years. She served on the Board of Directors for the Basque Museum and Cultural Center, and sang with the Basque Choir “Biotzetik,” which means “from the heart” in the Basque language. As a member of the choir, she toured the Basque Country in 2006 and performed in concerts throughout the area including a private reception with the Basque president.