Flip over the menu at Fletcher’s in Park City and on the back you’ll find an essay that begins, “All good stories start with a dog. And they end with an amazing meal among friends. At least, that’s how this story goes.” Fletcher - for whom Fletcher’s restaurant is named - is a dog. According to owners Sue and Steve Demarest, “Fletcher wasn’t always his name.” They are … [Read more...]
THIRD TIME A CHARM — Finca’s Third Location is a Magical One
Finca. In Spanish the word finca is commonly translated as “farm,” but more specifically refers typically to an “estate.” As Wikipedia puts it: “a piece of rural or agricultural land, typically with a cottage, farmhouse or estate building present, and often adjacent to a woodland or plantation.” Well, that description is not one that fits Finca restaurant in Salt Lake City … [Read more...]
WORD ON THE STREET: Afterword Raises the Culinary Stakes in Heber
Despite enjoying comfy spots like Spin Cafe, Tony’s Tacos, and venerable Chick’s Cafe, I don’t really get over to Heber City very often. However, that’s going to change. Because with the opening of Afterword By Tupelo Park City, Heber now has a dining destination that is well worth going out of the way for. Afterword is the creation of partners Maggie Alvarez and … [Read more...]
WILLKOMMEN TO WELLER’S—Excellent German Fare & More in Layton
Being of German and Austrian descent, I love my schnitzel, sauerbraten, spätzle and such. And yet, it’s easier to find Ethiopian fare - which I also love - in Utah than to find German cuisine. To my knowledge, the only German eateries here are Rimmels in Orem, which specializes in döners, Das Cafe in Spring City, and Siegfried’s Delicatessen in SLC. So I was thrilled … [Read more...]
THE BEST NEW BITES OF 2020—Food & Drink Highlights from a Pretty Crappy Year
I don’t have to tell you, It’s been a doozy of a year. The restaurants and bars I write about for a living have been hit hard. Many or most are struggling to stay afloat in the pandemic and far too many are permanently closed. Every restaurant or bar closure is heartbreaking, and I was especially sad to see some of my personal favorites shutter their doors in 2020. Among them, … [Read more...]
New St. Regis Deer Valley Dining Temptations: The New Yurt Village and Brasserie are Perfect Fits for Foodies
One thing you can say about the folks at the St. Regis Deer Valley is that they aren’t content to rest on their laurels. Last year, they rebranded J&G Grill as RIME Seafood & Steak - a welcome improvement of a restaurant that had gotten a bit stale, now with talented Chef Matthew Harris at the helm. I reviewed RIME this summer in Utah Bites. More recently, Brasserie … [Read more...]
Christmas 2020 Dining—Restaurant Meals, Take-Home Food Kits, & More for a COVID Christmas
Most restaurants would be closed on Christmas Day during normal circumstances. In a pandemic, there are even fewer places to dine on Christmas and Christmas Eve than would usually be the case. However, restaurateurs are getting creative. Some are offering holiday take-home meals kits and other resourceful options for dining during Christmas. Here are a few of them, including … [Read more...]
Fill ‘Er Up! Bargain Hunting at Lorena’s Mexican Restaurant
In the beginning there was La Frontera restaurant - a family-owned place that would go on, over time, to spin-off Mexican eateries such as La Puente, La Luna, La Fountain, Cafe Silvestre and Lorena’s. I won’t go into all the details and family tree here, but there’s a good article in The Salt Lake Tribune archives that gives an accounting of the “genealogy” of popular Utah … [Read more...]
East Side, West Side—Nomad Eatery Moves East AND West
In the beginning, there was Nomad Eatery. And it was good. Really good. Located near the Salt Lake City International Airport on West N. Temple, Chef/Owner Justin Soelberg’s hip cafe/diner served, among other things, outstanding pizzas, perfect French fries and a sandwich that I adored: fried mortadella. Unfortunately, the location was a bit challenging - just far enough … [Read more...]
FRENCH CONNECTION—A Gateway to France (sort of) via Courchevel
Courchevel is, of course, the famous ski resort in the French Alps. If you ever have the opportunity, you should go there. If not, don’t fret. You can enjoy a French getaway, of sorts, by visiting Courchevel Bistro in Park City. Courchevel and Park City are, by the way, Sister Cities, having first developed an alliance in 1984. Courchevel BIstro is a beautifully … [Read more...]