What would Salt Lake City be without our restaurants and bars? The social fabric of our local communities depends on the hundreds of chefs, restaurant workers, and mixologists at bars and restaurants. There are also hundreds of ancillary businesses that depend on them such as this Utah Stories. Never before has there been a time when our hospitality industry has been so … [Read more...]
Local Restaurant Owners Chime in on How COVID Has Impacted Their Businesses
Eddee Johansen started his restaurant, Yoshi’s, in 2001 discovering that there was a great niche in fast casual rice bowls and sushi. “I didn’t want to eat any more burgers.” He has grown a great deal since he started, opening a second location and two food trucks. Fred Moesinger partnered with Caffe Molise’s owner in downtown Salt Lake City also in 2001 and worked to develop … [Read more...]
Two Old Guys World Tour, Restaurant Closures, and Lobsters on the Loose!
Two Old Guys World Tour If you’ve been missing the live entertainment at Feldman’s Deli since they’re only open for curbside takeout these days, take heart. Owner Michael “Deliman” Feldman - who is half of the Two Old Guys music duo with partner Tally Evans - is performing out and about in the coming weeks. Yes, there IS live music even during the pandemic. On Friday, … [Read more...]
Tupelo Park City: Global Flavors, Southern Accent
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...]