There is a well-worn saying that you only have one chance to make a first impression. Well, in my opinion, that’s as true of food as it is of social relationships. And, it’s especially true of restaurant food. The first impression we get of a dish in a restaurant is a visual one. And, we can’t help but make a quick judgement about that dish, depending on how appealing it is to … [Read more...]
Class is in Session—A Shelf of Great New Cookbooks
For many of our kids and for some adults as well, it's the back-to-school season. And for those of us who enjoy cooking and learning new skills and recipes, fall is a good time to get back behind the stove after a summer of grilling and barbecues. Here are five terrific new cookbooks for the home cook, including one for teens. Cook Like a Local: Flavors That Can Change How … [Read more...]
The pioneering flavor
A quartet of Utah’s culinary pioneers It occurred to me just a week or so ago that I’ve had the privilege of writing about food and drink in Utah for a little over 25 years. When I first began reviewing restaurants for a tiny publication called the Private Eye in the spring of 1994, I wouldn’t have bet that I’d last 25 months as a restaurant critic, never mind 25 years! … [Read more...]
Best farm to table restaurants—separating the pretenders from the contenders
Table X Restaurant & Garden The phrase “farm to table” gets thrown around a lot in the restaurant world these days, and it can mean different things to different people. At its purest, a farm to table restaurant is literally an eatery that is located on (or at least near) a farm and the ingredients—most, anyway—that go into the restaurant’s dishes come straight from that … [Read more...]
The Damned with Radkey and The Darts at The Depot
During October 2018, The Damned toured the United States to support the release of their new album Evil Spirits. On This tour they stopped in Salt Lake City and played to an intimate audience. The smaller size of the crowd was surprising. Especially since The Damned played on the Friday before Halloween. However, getting a chance to see them up close was well … [Read more...]