Most recipes for Vietnamese-style pho begin with charring and/or roasting pork or beef bones for broth. From there, the broth typically has to simmer overnight - making it a multi-day project. However, I recently gave this quicker recipe from America’s Test Kitchen a try and was very impressed. It brings the cooking time for the pho broth down to under an hour. G … [Read more...]
Sip O’ the Week – All-New Conundrum
In past years, one of my favorite white wines was an unusual white blend made by renown Caymus winemaker Charlie Wagner, Sr., called Conundrum. It was very fruity, but well-balanced with gorgeous honeysuckle aromas - an exotic wine that paired well with a wide range of foods, from sushi to spicy curries and Mexican fare. But then in recent years my love affair with Conundrum … [Read more...]
Ringing in 2019: Top Choices for NYE & Beyond
Title : Ringing in 2019: Top Choices for NYE & Beyond I have very mixed feelings about New Year's Eve. On one hand, I do enjoy being part of noisy and indulgent NYE celebrations. On the other, I dread going out on "amatuer night."where I'm almost always disappointed in restaurants' overpriced prix fixe dinners and pre-midnight (here in Utah where the sidewalks roll … [Read more...]
Classic Cheese Fondue
For New Year's Eve this year, my wife and I are planning to celebrate at home by opening a great bottle of wine and enjoying homemade cheese fondue. This is a basic recipe for classic Swiss-style cheese fondue that's easy to make and pretty much foolproof. Ingredients: 1 garlic clove, halved 1 pound Gruyère cheese, grated 1/2 pound Emmentaler cheese or o … [Read more...]
Gruet Brut: A Bubbly to Help Celebrate New Year’s Eve
If you're looking for bottled bubbly to help celebrate New Year's Eve - one that won't break your budget - a very good choice is Gruet Brut, which is on sale through December here in Utah for a mere $14.99/750 ml (normally $17.99). Since Gruet Brut is a domestic sparkling wine, it's not proper to call it Champagne (which technically only comes from Champagne, France). … [Read more...]
Dali Crepes: Sharing the Best of the Balkans with Utah
When I hear the name “Dali,” I naturally think of the great Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali. But I recently discovered another great artist named Dali: Dalibor (Dali) Blazic, founder and owner of Dali Crêpes. His European-style crêpes are delicious edible works of art. Originally from Serbia, Dalibor Blazic emigrated to Utah in 2011. However, he missed the crêpes that … [Read more...]
Finding The Fat: A Visit to Bountiful’s Fat Fish
For many years now, I’ve been following the restaurant fortunes of Mai Nguyen and Sean Dang. They are the couple who first opened the now closed Pho Green Papaya in West Valley City - one of the first pho outposts in Utah where now there are many. The husband and wife team would go on to open Sapa Sushi Bar and Asian Grill - a beautiful addition to the SLC dining scene with f … [Read more...]
Etude Pinot Noir
If you’re in the market for a great holiday gift for a wine lover, or just looking for an excellent red wine to serve with Christmas dinner, I’d consider Etude Pinot Noir, Grace Benoist Ranch, Carneros Estate Grown. According to Etude winemaker Jon Priest, this Etude Carneros Pinot Noir “hails from our estate vineyards tucked away in the far Northwest corner of the Carneros a … [Read more...]
A PROPER MEAL: Stratford Proper Opens in Sugar House
In the beginning, there was Avenues Proper, the “Restaurant & Publick House” that opened in The Avenues in the spring of 2013. And it was good. Avenues Proper begat Proper Brewing Co. and Proper Burger Co., which opened simultaneously in 2016 on Main in SLC. The food was less fancy, but more focused, and it too, was good. This month, the Proper crew lau … [Read more...]
Sip O’ The Week—Brenda’s Holiday Cheer
It goes without saying that historic Log Haven restaurant in pristine Millcreek Canyon is a perfect spot for holiday celebrations. The rustic atmosphere, Chef Dave Jones’ superb cuisine, and the friendly, professional service staff make Log Haven a no-brainer for Christmas joy. One of those outstanding staffers is talented bartender Brenda Gomez. If there’s a dr … [Read more...]