After spending much of 2020 writing “Tales of Takeout” articles in the midst of a pandemic, in 2021 I returned to reviewing restaurants in person. I am grateful to all of the hard-working and resilient restaurant workers and owners who continue to weather the storm and feed me the fodder which allows me to produce this weekly food and drink newsletter. I am especially grateful … [Read more...]
Archives for December 2021
January Foodie Events
Unique 3-Star Michelin Experience @ Blue Sky The Lodge at Blue Sky Auberge Resorts Collection in Wanship has unveiled a special event: Usu-Zan by Healdsburg, California’s SingleThread Farm-Restaurant-Inn, presented by Chase Sapphire, January 20-30, 2022. The singular wintertime hot pot dining experience, inspired by SingleThread Chef Kyle and Katina Connaughton and their … [Read more...]
Easy Chicken Cacciatore
Chicken cacciatore is an easy to make dish that is perfect for a cold winter night. It’s essentially an Italian-style chicken fricassee with tomatoes. This version of chicken cacciatore couldn't be easier to make, but has a deep, rich flavor. I like to serve it with thick pasta or noodles to enjoy with the sauce and I also add some red chili flakes to give it a little kick, but … [Read more...]
A Great Grower Champagne
During the holidays - and especially for New Year’s - many of us will pop open Champagne. Recently, thanks to my wife and a recommendation from wine expert Francis Fecteau of Libation, Inc. I discovered a sensational non-vintage French Champagne that sells here for about $43 but drinks like a million bucks: Roger Coulon Heri-Hodie 1er Cru Brut Champagne. The Coulon family … [Read more...]
Top Five Coffee Shops in Ogden to Warm Up in this Winter
OGDEN ― With a population of just under 87,000 residents, this mountainside city boasts its fair share of unique coffee shops. Kaffe Mercantile “We have a really strong coffee community in Ogden and everybody has their own kind of specialty that they all do, which is cool,” said Nick Morris, who co-owns two Kaffe Mercantile locations with his life partner Lance … [Read more...]
EAT IN, SKI OUT: Five Distinctive Winter Dining Destinations
From Yurts to Desserts If, like me, you’ve been mostly cooped up during the pandemic and not venturing out very much, maybe now is the time to do so. I’m ready to get back in gear and explore some of the more unique winter dining destinations at our local resorts — options ranging from Mongolian yurt dining to a raw bar ensconced in a cabin. Here are five can’t-miss picks for … [Read more...]
BOWLS OF FLAVOR: Deer Valley’s New Fresh Tracks Kitchen
Last week, I finally got my first ski day of the season. And I did it at my favorite local ski resort: Deer Valley. One reason I love Deer Valley Resort so much - endless powder notwithstanding - is the amenities. Deer Valley Resort has the best dining options around, including a new eatery I visited called Fresh Tracks Kitchen. Fresh Tracks Kitchen is located in the … [Read more...]
Utah Foodie Holiday News and Events
Tupelo Reopens in Park City I am thrilled on behalf of hardcore food lovers to announce that Tupelo Park City has opened in a new location. This past Saturday, owners Matt Harris and Maggie Alvarez reopened Tupelo restaurant - which was previously located on Park City’s Main Street - in the space at 1500 Kearns Blvd. that was the previous home of Adolph’s. “We are thrilled … [Read more...]
Cheese Fondue
One of my favorite foods to enjoy on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve is classic cheese fondue. It’s fun, festive and a great way to share food with company and loved ones. This is a pretty straightforward, classic Swiss-style cheese fondue. Enjoy it with cubed bread, blanched or raw veggies, fingerling potatoes, etc. Ingredients: 1 medium clove garlic, peeled and cut in … [Read more...]
Frescobaldi Wines for the Holidays
If you’re in the market for tasty but affordable Italian wines to help celebrate the holidays, I suggest you check out Frescobaldi. I recently tasted three different wines from Frescobaldi and was impressed by the quality of these Tuscan wines. Frescobaldi brings one thousand years of family history to their winemaking efforts and has been making wine in Tuscany for over 700 … [Read more...]