It’s been eleven-plus years since Ryan and Colleen Lowder opened The Copper Onion restaurant in downtown Salt Lake City, and it had been far too long since I had visited the inviting urban bistro, what with pandemics and such. So, I remedied the situation by enjoying dinner there recently with my wife and stepson and was reminded why I had sung the restaurant’s praises so … [Read more...]
A SUPERB SPOT TO DINE ABOUT: An Enchanted Evening at Ghidotti’s
I am already on record as saying that Bill White - the Park City owner of eight successful restaurants - is the smartest, most creative, and hardest working restaurateur I’ve ever personally met. And that includes the likes of Danny Meyer, Mario Batali, Todd English, Thomas Keller, Jean-Georges Vongerichten and other high profile restaurateurs with multiple eateries. Even … [Read more...]
SKEWERED! A Visit to Beirut Cafe for Kababs, Gyros, & More
My heart breaks for the good people of Lebanon as the economic crisis there grinds on, medicine shortages persist, fuel and food costs soar, political corruption abounds, and the pandemic relentlessly continues. In Beirut, which was once called “the Paris of the Middle East,” and where once there was a thriving nightlife, now is a ghost town after dark. I was told “It’s scary … [Read more...]
HOME COOKING: A Visit to Silver Star Cafe
When I reviewed Park City’s Silver Star Cafe a decade or so ago, I ended the review by saying, “Silver Star Cafe might not have the dazzle of some of Park City’s and Deer Valley’s more hoity-toity restaurants. But Silver Star has a special sizzle all its own.” Today, I still stand by that sentiment. I was referring primarily to the ambiance and decor of Silver Star when I said … [Read more...]
25th Street Newcomer: A First Look at Ogden’s Table 25
When I learned of the opening of the new bistro-style restaurant, Table 25 in Ogden, I was excited. In part, that’s because pretty much any new eatery to open - especially in the midst of a pandemic - is exciting. But also, it’s because the married couple who opened the restaurant - Jaimie and Justin Buehler - had most recently worked for a number of years at the Copper Onion … [Read more...]
A WANSHIP WONDER: Yuta Restaurant at Blue Sky Ranch
With the exception of the much loved - and since it closed, much missed - Spring Chicken Inn, Wanship, Utah was never much of a magnet for foodies. But that has changed in the past couple of years - since Wanship became home to the spectacular Blue Sky Ranch and The Lodge at Blue Sky - an Auberge Resorts Collection property - which is where you’ll find one of the … [Read more...]
FLAVORS OF AFGHANISTAN: A Visit to Afghan Kitchen
Afghanistan has been in the news here for the past 20 years, but never more so than the past couple of weeks. The Afghan people are facing - and have faced - challenges of the sort that most of us couldn’t even imagine. It’s a small gesture, but my wife and I wanted to show our support of the Afghan people and the Afghan owners of a terrific little restaurant by dining there … [Read more...]
OFF THE EATEN PATH: Utah Dining Worth a Detour
Not all of Utah’s best dining destinations are in its big cities. There are plenty of restaurants that lie off the beaten path, but are well worth a detour to get to. Here are a few “off the eaten path” favorites. At Wild Thyme Cafe in Kanab, the focus is on freshness. Meals are prepared from scratch in small batches, often utilizing ingredients from the owners’ own … [Read more...]
MOTOR CITY MAGIC—Bill White’s Gearhead Grub @ Billy Blanco’s
Last week’s Summit County wildfire, which threatened structures in Summit Park and Pinebrook, had me worried. I used to live in Pinebrook and have many friends in both Summit Park and my old neighborhood and I feared for them. I also feared damage to some of the businesses in the area, not the least of which is one of my favorite Park City eateries: Billy Blanco’s Motor City … [Read more...]
Frog Bench Farms
You could drive right past it a dozen times and not even know it’s there. But tucked away on a quiet, residential street in a neighborhood near Foothill Boulevard is an urban farm that supplies produce, cut flowers, microgreens, and more to many of our area’s finest restaurants. It’s called Frog Bench Farms. Nearly 10 years old now, Frog Bench Farms was created in 2012 by … [Read more...]