Long before Guy Fieri raved about the pork belly with braised white beans and Carolina BBQ sauce on his Food Network show Diners Drive-Ins & Dives, I was singing the praises of Park City’s Silver Star Cafe. It’s a somewhat hidden gem, situated adjacent to Park City Mountain Resort and Park City Golf Course with spectacular mountain views and excellent food and ser … [Read more...]
OFF THE EATEN PATH: Authentic Thai Cuisine in Sunset
The Davis County enclave of Sunset, Utah isn’t well known for its adventurous dining options. But I recently happened upon a terrific little hole-in-the-wall Thai cafe called Ros Ni Yuhm Thai Restaurant. For the past few months, Ros Ni Yuhm has occupied the space that was previously home to a good Vietnamese eatery called Saigon Cafe Vietnamese Noodle House. I always like S … [Read more...]
The Deer Valley Difference: New Menu Items for the Winter Season
Every year, the good folks at Deer Valley Resort invite a group of food writers and media to the Resort the week before Thanksgiving, to get a sneak peak at new menu items that will appears on various Deer Valley restaurant menus during the coming season. I’ve been attending the Deer Valley Winter Tasting for some 23 years, dating back to when it was just a handful of food w … [Read more...]
Pig Out: Pig & a Jelly Jar 3.0
In the beginning there was Pig & a Jelly Jar. And it was good. The original SLC Pig & a Jelly Jar restaurant opened in 2012 and was such a success with local foodies that owner Amy Wanderley-Britt soon launched a second location in Ogden. And now, there’s a third outpost of the comfort food Mecca, this one in Holladay. It’s a formula that works, and I wouldn’t be surpr … [Read more...]
Pho Saigon 2: Oodles of Noodles and So Much More
Located at street level of the Home 2 Suites by Hilton in Murray (4907 S. State) is a gem of an Asian eatery: Pho Saigon Noodle House 2. The “2” is indicative that this is the newer, sister restaurant to the original Pho Saigon Noodle House in West Valley, a restaurant I’ve loved for a long time. Pho 2 offers a more modern ambiance than the original location, with vibrant col … [Read more...]
Tupelo Restaurant on a Roll: Park City Restaurateurs Living in the Fast Lane
Chef Matthew Harris has been on quite a roll. He and his wife Maggie Alvarez - who are co-partners as owners of Park City’s Tupelo restaurant, as well as in life - were invited to New York City in September to be part of a five-person team of chefs from Park City restaurants to present their craft at an exclusive James Beard House dinner. While he was in town, Matt also made … [Read more...]
Molise 2.0: New Digs for Venerable Caffe Molise
In the Beginning … I first reviewed downtown SLC’s Caffe Molise - named for the Molise region of Italy - back in 1994. Shelley DeProto opened the restaurant that year and it was a modest affair. The dining room was festooned with white plastic patio furniture and the menu was limited. The food, however, was excellent and I still remember how much I enjoyed Shelley’s aio e oio a … [Read more...]
Saffron Valley: 2018 Biryani & Kebab Festival
An Annual Celebration Each fall, Saffron Valley celebrates Indian cuisine from the north and south of India with its annual Biryani & Kebab Festival. It’s a terrific opportunity to sample some dishes that might not appear on the regular Saffron Valley restaurant menus. The festival features, as you might have guessed, kebabs and biryani. Biryani Biryani is one of my f … [Read more...]
Avenues Bistro: New Owners; Timeless Appeal
A Neighborhood Joint I’ve been a fan and follower of Chef Michael Richey’s culinary talents since back when he cooked up at Solitude Mountain Resort. I enthusiastically reviewed his Fireside on Regent restaurant when it opened last year and still think it’s one of the best places to dine in downtown SLC. For many years I’ve also thought that Avenues Bistro on Third - operate … [Read more...]
Killer Kitchen: A Modern Take on Lebanese Cooking
In Arabic, “laziz” means enjoyable, tasty and lighthearted. With that in mind, owners Derek Kitchen and Moudi Sbeity could not have picked a more appropriate name for their restaurant: Laziz Kitchen. The food is tasty, indeed. The vibe at Laziz is nothing if not enjoyable, and both the food and ambiance is lighthearted, never heavy-handed. This place just oozes friendliness. … [Read more...]