When a friend told me about the recent quiet opening of Nona Bistro on 900 South in Salt Lake City, I was eager to check it out. The reason for my enthusiasm is that Nona Bistro is the creation of Will and Emily McMaster, co-owners of one of the best pizzerias in Utah, Pizza Nono. Emily, of course, is also the owner and designer of her very successful Mabo kids clothing … [Read more...]
LAZIZ 2.0 Midvale’s New Laziz Kitchen
When partners Derek Kitchen and Moudi Sbeity opened Laziz Kitchen in 2016, it was an instant hit - a friendly neighborhood restaurant serving outstanding Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, with a leaning towards Lebanon, in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Fast forward to 2022 and there’s a brand spanking new Laziz Kitchen, this one in Midvale. Think of it as Laziz … [Read more...]
PIZZA PERFECT: A Trio of Can’t-Miss Pizza Joints
I’ve written numerous times about excellent pizza purveyors in our area, and you can find those in the online archives at the Utah Stories website. This week, I’m just doing a quick take on three pizza places that I really love but haven’t written about, and which might not yet be on your radar. Fellow food writer Alex Springer brought Victor’s Pizza Co. … [Read more...]
A TASTE OF BRAZIL: The Churrasco Experience at Tucanos Brazilian Grill
During graduate school as I was working on a PhD dissertation in anthropology, I took time off to travel to Brazil to study the Brazilian martial art called capoeira. It was in Rio de Janeiro during my time at Mestre Camisa’s capoeira school that I got my first churrasco experience. It’s a popular dining style in the southern states of Brazil, usually called churrasco … [Read more...]
FORTRESS OF FLAVOR: Red Fort’s Vibrant Indian Cuisine
Ever heard of India’s Red Fort? Me neither. But with the help of Google, I learned that what is called the Red Fort was originally built as the palace fort of Shahjahanabad - the new capital of the fifth Mughal Emperor of India, Shah Jahan. It got its name from the formidable walls that enclose the Red Fort complex, made of red sandstone. What prompted me to dig into a … [Read more...]
DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY: Grand America’s Happiest Hours
A couple of months ago I reviewed The Grand America’s wonderful new restaurant, Laurel Brasserie & Bar. It is a killer addition to the downtown SLC dining scene and maybe most surprising: it’s affordable. Well, even more affordable are the Happy Hour specials at Laurel’s bar, which I was barely able to touch on in my previous review since I had so much else to say about the … [Read more...]
APPLAUSE WORTHY CUISINE: A Delightful Dinner at Oquirrh Restaurant
As someone who is married to a restaurateur, I’ve never quite understood how marriages survive with couples working together in the same restaurant. But then, I guess that could be said of any business. I’m pretty sure working alongside my wife would not end well, because I would drive her crazy. But there are couples who make this situation work, like Angie and Andrew (Drew) … [Read more...]
FINE DINING NOT DEAD: A Visit to The Charleston
It’s sort of sad - to me, at least - that for every independent restaurant in Draper, Utah, there are probably 25 more chains and franchise eateries. In fact that might be lowballing the actual numbers. And, if you’re looking for fine dining in Draper … well, best of luck. There is however, at least one such option: The Charleston. To my knowledge, The Charleston in … [Read more...]
KILLING IT AT THE COTTAGE: Perfect Prix Fixe at The Nelson Cottage
I imagine that most readers and subscribers of Utah Bites are familiar with Park City based High West Distillery & Saloon and their award-winning whiskeys. What you might not be as familiar with is their sister establishment, the Nelson Cottage by High West. Just two doors up from the High West Saloon, the Nelson Cottage is a historic Old Town home that serves both as a … [Read more...]
SUPER BOWLS: A Baker’s Dozen of Sensational Soups
In pre-pandemic times, I used to host a Super Bowl get-together where I’d serve my guests what I called “super bowls” of cassoulet or chili to enjoy during the big game. With Super Bowl Sunday coming up, I’ve been reflecting on sensational soups served at some favorite restaurants. Here are a baker’s dozen of those super bowls. It’s a Sophie’s Choice sort of situation, … [Read more...]