Utah Bites

Festa Italiana SLC Returns, Hogle Zoo Fundraising Gala and More Foodie Events

Festa Italiana SLC Returns to The Gateway. BTG Sommelier Selections Wine Dinner. Hogle Zoo Fundraising Gala. French Country-Style Dinner at Franck’s.

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Festa Italiana SLC Returns to The Gateway

Festa Italiana SLC of Salt Lake City, hosted by the Italian-American Civic League, returns to The Gateway Saturday and Sunday, September 17th and 18th. From the organizers: “Every September, we welcome you and your entire family to enjoy the surroundings of beautiful downtown Salt Lake City while exploring the culture, entertainment and culinary diversity of Italy. This year’s festival will be held at The Gateway along the street from 100 S to the Fountain and Piazza at North end. Admission is free. Hours are Saturday 12pm – 10pm, Sunday 12PM – 7PM.”

“During the two day festival, highlights include live Italian entertainment, food booths highlighting the regions of Italian cuisine, Italian beer and wine garden, arts & crafts, historical displays, bocce tournament, live raffles, exotic Italian cars and much more.”

“Proceeds from the festival will support local and national non-profit charitable organizations supported by the Italian-American Civic League of Utah. This year we are happy to partner with Catholic Community Services and proceeds will be donated to their homeless outreach services.”

BTG Sommelier Selections Wine Dinner

BTW Wine Bar and Sommelier Louis Koppel invite guests 21 and over to enjoy and evening of sommelier-selected wines paired with a four-course dinner on Thursday, September 8th at BTW Wine Bar. 

The specially selection wines being offered include Jackie Blot, Brut Tradition Chenin Blanc, Loire, France; Château Soucherie, Rosé of Loire, France; Bastianich, Schioppettino, Friuli, Italy; and Lamadrid, Cabernet Franc, Argentina. Louis Koppel will talk with guests about the wines throughout the four-course dinner. 

The cost for the Sommelier Selections Wine Dinner is $50/food and $50/wine ($100 per person). There is very limited seating for this event; call 801-359-2814 for reservations. 

Hogle Zoo Fundraising Gala

On Thursday, September 8th, Utah’s Hogle Zoo will hold their 25th annual Zoo Rendezvous: Wildlife Elevated fundraising gala for conservation. The evening will feature “a gourmet walking dinner from Taste Catering, live music, silent & live auctions, and several up-close animal experiences. Your donation gives you entry into this 21+ event is a unique evening for friends, business associates, and animal lovers.”

100% of all gala proceeds will go to Hogle’s new Aline W. Skaggs Wild Utah exhibit, which will feature all Utah native species when it opens in 2023.

VIP Admission Donation advance tickets are $229 and General Admission Donation advance tickets are $149, with tickets at the door for $169. Visit hoglezoo.org for additional information and to purchase tickets. 

French Country-Style Dinner @ Franck’s

On Monday, August 22nd beginning at 6:00 p.m. Franck’s restaurant will host a “French Country Side” four-course dinner with optional beverage pairings. The cost for the dinner is $175 for food with beverage pairings or $125 for food only. 

Menu highlights include a Duck Liver Pate amuse followed by “Sea Water” brined Mary’s Poularde paired with Veuve Clicquot Champagne. The second course is Perch Quenelles with Sauce Nantua and Olivier Leflaive Bourgogne. Beef Belly Bourguignon paired with E. Guigal Chateauneuf-du-Pape will be followed by a dessert of French Lavender Cake paired with a gin, lavender, honey and lemon cocktail. Call 801-274-6264 to reserve your spot. 

FOR MORE RESTAURANT REVIEWS GO HERE.

THIS CONTENT IS FROM UTAH BITES NEWSLETTER.

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Food writer Ted SchefflerOriginally trained as an anthropologist, Ted Scheffler is a seasoned food, wine & travel writer based in Utah. He loves cooking, skiing, and spends an inordinate amount of time tending to his ever-growing herd of guitars and amplifiers.

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