Manoli’s One of my favorite Utah restaurants is Manoli’s, the namesake eatery of chef/owner Manoli Katsanevas. It’s hands-down the best Greek restaurant in our state, and Time named Manoli’s Utah’s best restaurant in their “Best Restaurants in Every State” roundup. Although labeling Manoli’s a Greek restaurant doesn’t quite do the place justice. … [Read more...]
Thai Shrimp Curry
Thai Shrimp Curry ... I love Thai curries and they are pretty easy to make at home as long as you get all of the ingredients prepped and ready to go. It actually takes longer to cook rice to accompany this Thai curry than to cook the curry itself. If you’d like it spicier, add some sriracha or hot chili oil to the dish. Thai Shrimp Curry ingredients: 1 Tbsp … [Read more...]
Italian flavor to savor—a visit to Bartolo’s in Park City
Bartolo's in Park City There is certainly no shortage of dining destinations in booming Park City. Even out in Kimball Junction, where only a handful of eateries used to exist, there are now a plethora of them. One of my favorites is a fairly new restaurant called Bartolo’s, which opened in December 2018. The restaurant is the creation of chef Alex and his wife, Rhia … [Read more...]
Instant Pot Tacos al Pastor
One of my favorite Mexican foods is tacos al pastor, a dish brought to Mexico by Lebanese immigrants. It is spit-grilled pork prepared in a similar manner to Greek gyros and the döner kebabs of Turkey. Making truly authentic al pastor is very time-consuming and complicated—best left to the pros. But here is a quick and easy Instant Pot version that I like very … [Read more...]
Kind of Blue: a visit to Blue Marlin in Sandy
Find the marlin in Sandy For the past few years, I’ve been following the ramblings of one of my favorite Utah chefs and restaurateurs, Batsaikhan Ariunbold, known to most folks simply as “Soy.” After having worked at various Japanese restaurants around town, Soy opened Rice Basil in Holladay, a restaurant I have missed very much since its closing. Following … [Read more...]
Scheff’s Table—Fried Vietnamese Spring Rolls
Les nems—Fried Vietnamese Spring Rolls My favorite working chef/restaurateur is Eric Ripert of the venerable Le Bernardin in New York City. Ironically, one of my favorite dishes (and one of his) isn’t a high-end, elaborate menu item from Le Bernardin, but are the fried Vietnamese-style spring rolls that his French mother used to make for him, called les nems. … [Read more...]
Sip o’ the Week—best recipe for a Classic Vermouth Cassis Cocktail
A classic summertime cocktail Ah, In summertime when it’s hot out, I like to enjoy a refreshing, light cocktail like this one: a classic French drink called the Vermouth Cassis, which pretty well describes what’s in it: vermouth and creme de cassis. For this straightforward cocktail, it’s worth it to splurge on the best dry vermouth you can find. I’m especially … [Read more...]
Breathtaking Dining at Snowbirds’ Full Moon Dinners
Under the Sun & Moon If you’re weary of routine restaurant dining, I have a way to break out of the culinary rut: Snowbird Resort’s Full Moon Dinners. Each month, in conjunction with a new full moon, Snowbird hosts an anything-but-typical buffet dinner. What’s atypical about it? Well, for starters, the Full Moon Dinners are held at 11,000 feet in The Summit … [Read more...]
Canyon Cuisine: Dog Days & New Summer Menu at Log Haven
Treat yourself to a canyon cuisine Log Haven restaurant—located in scenic Millcreek Canyon—is a special place to dine anytime. But it’s particularly appealing in summer when cool breezes help temper warm-weather dining on the restaurant’s outdoor dining decks and patio; and, since chef Dave Jones recently launched his new summer menu, there are lots of … [Read more...]
Best 7 books for food lovers
Food books that aren't cookbooks I’ve always loved reading about food, drink, travel, and restaurants. But especially in these challenging times, escaping into food writing seems particularly comforting. Lately—perhaps longing to be transported to a different era—I’ve been reading some classics of food writing such as Waverly Root’s The Food of France and … [Read more...]