Whether hearing the word “tupelo” evokes a love song by Van Morrison, or sensory memories of delicate tupelo tree blossom honey indigenous to the Southeast US, the term is both a cultural and culinary touchstone. As an Atlanta native who has traveled the world honing his culinary talents, tupelo Park City chef/owner Matt Harris hits all the right notes melding exacting … [Read more...]
A Cheesesteak State of Mind: Two Under-the-Radar Cheesesteak Emporiums
Since my son lives in southern New Jersey, just a stone’s throw from Philadelphia, I spend a good deal of time in and around the City of Brotherly Love. And because I do, I eat a lot of cheesesteaks - Philly's best-known food product. I always indulge in at least one when I’m there, even if it’s just to grab a cheesesteak at Pat’s on the way to the airport. I’ve tried all … [Read more...]
The Dish: Pretty Bird Eatery, Harmons Holladay Market , and screening of Soul Food Junkies
Viet Pham’s much-anticipated and long-awaited Pretty Bird eatery is finally real. It opened just this week at 146 Regent Street in the Eccles Theater building. This seems like quite a departure for Pham, who is best-known for his refined cooking at his previous restaurant, Forage, and for appearances on Iron Chef America (where he slayed Bobby Flay) and Extreme Chef. I say it … [Read more...]
Reef’s 3.0—Middle Eastern Fare Comes to Deer Valley
Moving on up Following a long run in its Marriott Plaza location on Main Street—Reef’s second—the restaurant relocated this December to its third venue in the Deer Valley Club, following a rent spike that the owners felt was unreasonable. It’s an interesting juxtaposition: a somewhat funky, Middle Eastern eatery situated in a posh Deer Valley lodge. I hope this location works … [Read more...]
Spanish Flare: A Visit to Venerable Cafe Madrid
Waaaaay back in 1997, I enjoyed my first dinner at Cafe Madrid. I’ve returned many, many times over the years. The restaurant was located on 3900 South back then, and was owned by Encina Arias and her husband Paul Peterson. In 2002 Cafe Madrid was named Best Neighborhood Restaurant by Bon Appetit magazine. Near the end of 2004, Gabrielle and Todd McAfee purchased the … [Read more...]
The Best of Local Shopping – 9th & 9th
In our Fifth Annual Neighborhood shopping guide we added a new component of a shopping map. And it was an easy choice as to which area would be best suited to launch this concept. The “local enclaves” in Salt Lake City area are well known; Sugar House, the Granary, 15th&15th, Pierpont, Broadway and Main Street, but the area that has the highest concentration of truly local … [Read more...]
Porcupine Pub & Grille Oktoberfest
Honestly, I always thought Oktoberfest was just a weird, hipster way to spell October. Does anyone agree? Thanks to Porcupine Pub and Grille, I am now an educated Oktoberfest-er. From Lederhosen and Dirndl, to schnitzels and bratwursts, no one does Oktoberfest better than these guys. With Bavarian pretzels, braised cabbage, sauerkraut corned beef, sauerbraten, and more food I … [Read more...]
Padeli’s Street Greek
It comes as a surprise to think that customizable restaurant food is still considered a relatively new trend. After all, it wasn’t until the late 1970s that the salad bar was finally introduced to Utahns, which is now so ingrained in our culture that it’s hard to imagine a time when they didn’t exist. In the last decade, however, salad bar-style eateries have popped up all over … [Read more...]
Tyler Stokes – Provisions
Provisions is one of my favorite restaurants in Utah. And one of the main reasons for this is the ever-changing, seasonal menu. Chef Tyler Stokes presents some of the best dishes in the city, and I am always excited to see what interesting, fresh ingredients he is showcasing each time I dine there. Tyler Stokes understands that what makes a dish exceptional, above all, are … [Read more...]
Curtis Lindley of Pago
Ever wonder where the “Farm to Table” style originated in Salt Lake? Who started the trend? Take a walk to the popular corner of 9th and 9th and you’ll see Pago, a local-sourcing dining experience. It is no wonder why Pago’s Head Chef, Curtis Lindley, fits right in with this fresh, authentic style of cooking. Pago stands out for its down-to-earth, inviting, and adaptable … [Read more...]