88 replies to this topic

[docsconz]

I will be staying at The Canyons towards the end of the month hopefully to do a little skiing in addition to dining. I have a reservation for Metropolitan, want to hit The Red Iguana and Takashi. Is there anyplace else that I really must hit either in addition to or in place of the restaurants I just mentioned? Canyons area? Park City? We wil be in a condo with a kitchen. Any good food markets?

Thanks for your help.

[hathor]

I will be staying at The Canyons towards the end of the month hopefully to do a little skiing in addition to dining. I have a reservation for  Metropolitan, want to hit The Red Iguana and Takashi. Is there anyplace else that I really must hit either in addition to or in place of the restaurants I just mentioned? Canyons area? Park City? We wil be in a condo with a kitchen. Any good food markets?

Thanks for your help.

If you come back in January, come up to Snowbird and I'll feed you!! I ship a lot of food out there (meat from Ottomanelli's, fish from a guy up in Port Washington, Wa.) I think its Wegmans, they have an online service and will deliver groceries to your condo.
The restaurants up at Snowbird are not so fantastic, mostly we eat in.

[docsconz]

I will be staying at The Canyons towards the end of the month hopefully to do a little skiing in addition to dining. I have a reservation for  Metropolitan, want to hit The Red Iguana and Takashi. Is there anyplace else that I really must hit either in addition to or in place of the restaurants I just mentioned? Canyons area? Park City? We wil be in a condo with a kitchen. Any good food markets?

Thanks for your help.

If you come back in January, come up to Snowbird and I'll feed you!! I ship a lot of food out there (meat from Ottomanelli's, fish from a guy up in Port Washington, Wa.) I think its Wegmans, they have an online service and will deliver groceries to your condo.
The restaurants up at Snowbird are not so fantastic, mostly we eat in.

Judith, that is a truly tempting offer, but alas, I will not be able to take you up on it this time! I do like the idea of Wegman's though. I will look into that. Thanks.

[hathor]

Fa niente! Maybe another time!
If you want my fish guy info, PM me.

[estufarian]

Quick report. Thanks to bad weather in Chicago we had an abbreviated trip,and only got to Metropolitan and Red Iguana.

Red Iguana was superb - great Mexican. The mole poblano was the highlight although I'm still not sure that turkey was my favourite ingredient. By comparison the cochinita pibil was bland (but tasty). Eventually tried dipping the pork from that into the mole sauce and that was my favourite combination.
Our appetiser was the Rajas de Chile Poblano con Queso y Chorizo - also great.
And can't beat the wine prices either - a Chilean Carmenere was $16 (not the one on the menu, but nobody seemed to mind). Great food and value.

Metropolitan was OK but may be a disappointment for 'Big City' visitors. The food is 'correct' but uninspired - didn't seem to take full advantage of local ingredients. And seasoning was erratic - liberal salting and aggressive vinaigrette were the lingering memory. However, the service was exceptional (by Toronto standards) - very friendly and helpful - always eager to please. I almost feel like a grinch but the food was unmemorable (actually an excellent succotash - the only thing that I recall). I'm obviously aware of the reputation for relatively bland food in SLC and Metropolitan seems to play it safe. Having said that, mostly competent, no disasters (OK maybe the vinaigrette) and huge portions. The wine list was also 'safe' (national distribution brands) - a pleasant meal without any peaks or valleys.

[Malaclypse]

Quick report. Thanks to bad weather in Chicago we had an abbreviated trip,and only got to Metropolitan and Red Iguana.

Red Iguana was superb - great Mexican. The mole poblano was the highlight although I'm still not sure that turkey was my favourite ingredient. By comparison the cochinita pibil was bland (but tasty). Eventually tried dipping the pork from that into the mole sauce and that was my favourite combination.
Our appetiser was the Rajas de Chile Poblano con Queso y Chorizo - also great.
And can't beat the wine prices either - a Chilean Carmenere was $16 (not the one on the menu, but nobody seemed to mind). Great food and value.

Metropolitan was OK but may be a disappointment for 'Big City' visitors. The food is 'correct' but uninspired - didn't seem to take full advantage of local ingredients. And seasoning was erratic - liberal salting and aggressive vinaigrette were the lingering memory. However, the service was exceptional (by Toronto standards) - very friendly and helpful - always eager to please. I almost feel like a grinch but the food was unmemorable (actually an excellent succotash - the only thing that I recall). I'm obviously aware of the reputation for relatively bland food in SLC and Metropolitan seems to play it safe. Having said that, mostly competent, no disasters (OK maybe the vinaigrette) and huge portions. The wine list was also 'safe' (national distribution brands) - a pleasant meal without any peaks or valleys.

If I may ask what did you have at Metropolitan? As for the wine, it's a touch tougher in Utah to get some of the wines we would like as all wine sales are through the DABC (Dept of Alcohol Beverage Control) so what we can buy is limited to what they bring in.

[estufarian]

If I may ask what did you have at Metropolitan?  As for the wine, it's a touch tougher in Utah to get some of the wines we would like as all wine sales are through the DABC (Dept of Alcohol Beverage Control) so what we can buy is limited to what they bring in.

Meal at Metropolitan:
Amuse – tomatillo/avocado/orange with Microbasil
The orange swamped other components – acid even wiped out texture of avocado.

Roasted Pistachio Soup (Charles de Fere Blanc de Blanc)
Roasted Red Pepper Bisque (Conundrum, Caymus)

I preferred the Bisque. The aromatics on the pistachio soup (? From a pistachio oil swirled on top) were excellent, but the flavour was muted in the soup. The Charles de Fere went well with both soups.

Crab cake with aioli and mixed greens (Soave-Anselmi)
Shaved Asparagus on squash, with White asparagus, cress and roasted garlic (Sauvignon Blanc – Matua Valley).

This was least successful course. Fierce vinaigrette on the mixed greens and asparagus dish was very salty. Despite the perfect ‘theoretical’ match of the N Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with the asparagus, it was actually too fruity.

Foie Gras with Pumpkin/mint
Foie Gras with Apple, Maple Syrup and Cream

No notes on the pumpkin/mint.
The maple syrup was just detectable on the aromatics. The apple was probably two different types as one was crisp slices (excellent textural contrast) but the foie gras was on a bed of ‘mushy apple’ – reminded me of a Golden Delicious texture, but not taste.

Seared scallop (two presentations)
One with roasted chard and ? (Elderton Semillon)
Second with corn succotash (Calera Chardonnay)

As I mentioned above succotash was superb.
The ? above, was because we were told it was potato, but it tasted sweeter (? Sweet potato). We were told later it was squash (didn’t record what type).

Palate Cleanser of Lichee Sorbet and kiwi soup

Didn’t work at all – much too sweet – almost like a dessert. Sweet rather than acidic/bitter.

Oxtail with parsnip (Cabernet Sauvignon – Hess Select).

A great ‘comfort’ dish. Well cooked and presented. I love parsnips anyway, and these were good – for my taste they could have been crisper, but that’s my preference, not a criticism of the presentation.

Dessert was a lime tart (Moscato d’Asti/ Taylor LBV).
Fine – nothing outstanding – but I finished it, so must have been OK.

And, of course, no coffee offered – but that’s a Mormon thing (I presume).

What surprised me most was no mushrooms anywhere (aren’t they in season?).
I thought the use of squash appropriate (although textures were similar). The pistachio soup looked great on paper, but didn’t quite work for me – perhaps throw in some pistachio crumbs to add texture.

All-in-all I enjoyed the meal – especially that they provided separate choices for each of us for many of the courses. And service was excellent all through. But when I wrote the first review I didn’t refer to my notes so you can see what the lingering recollections were – service, salt, succotash, and vinaigrette.

[docsconz]

I will be staying at The Canyons towards the end of the month hopefully to do a little skiing in addition to dining. I have a reservation for  Metropolitan, want to hit The Red Iguana and Takashi. Is there anyplace else that I really must hit either in addition to or in place of the restaurants I just mentioned? Canyons area? Park City? We wil be in a condo with a kitchen. Any good food markets?

Thanks for your help.

If you come back in January, come up to Snowbird and I'll feed you!! I ship a lot of food out there (meat from Ottomanelli's, fish from a guy up in Port Washington, Wa.) I think its Wegmans, they have an online service and will deliver groceries to your condo.
The restaurants up at Snowbird are not so fantastic, mostly we eat in.

Judith, that is a truly tempting offer, but alas, I will not be able to take you up on it this time! I do like the idea of Wegman's though. I will look into that. Thanks.

I looked up Wegman's online and they do not appear to have a store in Utah. Might it have been some other store?

[hathor]

OH!! I'm sorry!! It's Albertson's. sorry... I was going by my memory, and you see where that got us!

[docsconz]

OH!! I'm sorry!! It's Albertson's. sorry... I was going by my memory, and you see where that got us!

Got it. Thanks.

[docsconz]

Quick report. Thanks to bad weather in Chicago we had an abbreviated trip,and only got to Metropolitan and Red Iguana.

Red Iguana was superb - great Mexican. The mole poblano was the highlight although I'm still not sure that turkey was my favourite ingredient. By comparison the cochinita pibil was bland (but tasty). Eventually tried dipping the pork from that into the mole sauce and that was my favourite combination.
Our appetiser was the Rajas de Chile Poblano con Queso y Chorizo - also great.
And can't beat the wine prices either - a Chilean Carmenere was $16 (not the one on the menu, but nobody seemed to mind). Great food and value.

Metropolitan was OK but may be a disappointment for 'Big City' visitors. The food is 'correct' but uninspired - didn't seem to take full advantage of local ingredients. And seasoning was erratic - liberal salting and aggressive vinaigrette were the lingering memory. However, the service was exceptional (by Toronto standards) - very friendly and helpful - always eager to please. I almost feel like a grinch but the food was unmemorable (actually an excellent succotash - the only thing that I recall). I'm obviously aware of the reputation for relatively bland food in SLC and Metropolitan seems to play it safe. Having said that, mostly competent, no disasters (OK maybe the vinaigrette) and huge portions. The wine list was also 'safe' (national distribution brands) - a pleasant meal without any peaks or valleys.

I had the opportunity to dine at both restaurants recently. My impressions were similar to yours in some respects and different in others.

Red Iguana: Very good Mexican food and certainly one of the better Mexcian restaurants that I have been to in the US. I applaud their wide variety of moles. They were all tasty, though not as complex as some I have had. The cochinita pibil was very tasty, as were enchiladas and tamales which were on special. The restaurant has a good low key atmosphere. When we arrived for lunch around 1PM on a Saturday we were able to get a table right away and in fact had a choice of tables. It wasn't too long after that the place filled and a line formed out the door.

Metropolitan: A Modern, well-appointed space. I had requested a well-lit table when I made my reservation via OpenTable and indeed we received the perfect table for food photography in a restaurant. A corner table, it had its own overhead light and was well-lit without being garish. The only problem though is that I forgot my camera back at the condo in Park City! It was unfortunate too because the food was very well-presented and attractive.

Our amuse consisted of apple-smoked bacon, chestnut and a few other ingredients. It was tasty, but I found the texture a little too one dimensionally chewy. This was the low point of the meal and it wasn't all that low. We did not have the tasting menu as we were tired and not too hungry to begin with. We shared appetizers including the crab cake that was accompanied by an allioli. I found it neither oversalted nor accompanied by an overly assertive salad; Mushrooms Metropolitan, a variety of wild-type mushrooms in a cream sauce - presented in a ramekin (excellent); salmon tartar with brioche and creme fraiche (very tasty); and the creamy roasted pistachio soup (my favorite) redolent of roasted pistachio. This was the most unique dish of the appetizers.

I followed with the seared foie gras that was served with pumpkin and "fall spices" - a very tasty interpretation that was a new combination for me. It worked quite well. My wife had the "Napoleon" salad layered with slices of beets and turnips. I did not try it, though she seemed to enjoy it.

Main courses consisted of my sisters bison tenderloin - beautifully prepared and served with a light red glaze - delicious; my wife's diver scallops served over greens and pureed squash; and my duck cooked "sous vide" with diced sauteed celeriac and morels. I enjoyed my duck, one meat I had never previously had cooked sous vide. As I thought it would, the process worked very well leaving an evenly cooked and juicy meat that was finished with nicely rendered skin.

We accompanied our meal with a lovely Torii Mor 2004 pinot noir from the Willamette Valley for $64. I found the wine list to be reasonably varied and fairly priced. It included some serious Bordeaux as well as Turley Zins and Petite Syrahs and a 2002 Coullee de la Serrant from Nicolas Joly. Considering that we were in SLC, Utah I was impressed with the list.

We were too full for dessert, but were given lovely little cream puffs. As previously mentioned by other posters, everyone was extremely friendly. The service was superb.

I found the restaurant to be a welcome oasis in Salt Lake City. The decor is modern and comfortable, the service warm and professional and the food, creative, well-executed and nicely presented. The former Executive Chef recently left to become the Chef at STK in NYC. His replacement came from within the restaurant. In an unusual twist the restaurant has promoted three, including eGullet Society member Jed Banta, to Executive Chef. It remains to be seen how well this arrangement will work over time, but if my dinner is any indication they have a bright future.

[Malaclypse]

John, I'm glad to hear that you had such a good time. It was a delight to meet you and we hope to see you in again next time you are in the area.

[docsconz]

John, I'm glad to hear that you had such a good time.  It was a delight to meet you and we hope to see you in again next time you are in the area.

Thanks, Jed. I would certainly return when back in the area. Although we ate pretty well throughout our trip and I was tired from traveling my meal at Metropolitan as well as a subsequent one at The red Iguana with a small group were my two favprites of the week. Obviously they were very different meals and situations.

We had opportunity to return to The Red Iguana late last week accompanied by two young couples (relative to us! ) of relations. We had a feast that included various quesadilla appetizers (Cheese and San Francisco), encurtidos (fried jalapenos stuffed with shrimp and jack cheese) as well as orders of chicken and beef flautas that were superb. Everyone ordered his or her own main dish. I ordered the mole coloradito that came with pork loin, refried beans and rice. This had a good bite to it and a generous portion of pork. The beans were deliciously creamy and better than I remember them from the previous Saturday afternoon. Everyone seemed to enjoy their dinners. I was so stuffed that I didn't even finish my mole. I brought it back to our condo and had it for lunch the next day as my wife did with her meal. All in all, I found the food to be even better than it was on Saturday for lunch. Maybe the moles had more time to blend flavors and become more complex. In any case it was a perfect spot for this convivial group. It also helped that we had a reservation as we were seven people, although the lines, once again, didn't really form until after we arrived.

Though I didn't take any photos that night here are some from our lunch:




This iguana was green.


Cochinita Pibil with rice and black beans.


Traditional enchiladas with chicken


Tamales with chicken and mole poblano.


Mole sampler with from the top clockwise, mole poblano, de almendras, negro, amarillo and coloradito.

[docsconz]

My wife and I ventured back into Salt lake City for a sushi dinner at Takashi, where we sat in front of the master. Although parking was a little bit of a hassle (trying to slip dollar bills through a pinhole), the restaurant itself was attractive and mostly comfortable. As I mentioned we sat at the sushi bar in front of Takashi. The space was a little tight and it was a little difficult to watch him work as the refrigerator case was in the way.




Though the menu was intriguing, we asked him to prepare whatever he felt was best, an 0ff-the-cuff-omakase. We told him that we had no dietary aversions.He obliged with a couple of different sashimi based compositions.


Tuna and salmon sashimi with a slightly sweet garlic-laced sauce was one of my favorites of the evening. This was very good.


Another sashimi platter that included octopus, yellowtail, tuna, salmon, escolar and a very crisp fried Spanish mackeral. This was all good with the mackeral being particularly interesting as we were instructed to eat everything but the eyes.


I don't remember the name of this roll that included a tempura fried shrimp, eel, avocado and a sweet sauce. This was tasty but too sweet for my palate.


Caribbean roll - this had yellowtail, sliced mango and chile peppers combining umami, spicy and sweet. I liked this better than the shrimp, but still a little sweet for my preference.

My wife was finished, but I asked if he had any uni.

This uni was from Santa Barbara, California. It was fresh and delicious - my favorite course of the evening.

I had heard so many good things about this restaurant. I enjoyed it, just not as much as I had hoped to. While Takashi gets a lot of points for being one of the most creative Sushi restaurants that I have been too, it did not stack up ultimately in terms of variety and satisfaction compared to the best sushi restaurants that I have been too - but then given that it is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and not a major port, it would have been amazing if it would have been half as good as it was. One cannot go into this restaurant thinking that it will be outstanding compared to traditional, world-class sushi bars. Their basic fish quality is quite good, but I saw no evidence of any significant variety. If, however, one goes in looking for good, basic sushi-grade fish presented in unique, entertaining and tasty ways, Takashi won't disappoint.

[docsconz]

Some eGullet members may be aware of my particular interest in creative and ethnic traditional cuisines. By and large if the food is well prepared and tasty I like it whatever the label. Nevertheless, creative and traditional cuisines are what excite me the most.

Given that and the fact that it was opening night of the season for The Mariposa at Deer Valley, it should come as no surprise that I was not blown away by my meal. That is not to say that the meal was not well prepared or tasty or that the room was unattractive, the service poor or the restaurant grossly overpriced. Actually, even if it wasn't their first night of the season, none of those criticisms would have been valid. The food was well prepared and tasty. The room was attractive. The service was efficient, knowledgeable and friendly and the meal - especially the wine - quite reasonably priced as they offered a two-for-one opening week main course special. While all those things were true, there really wasn't much about the food that really excited me. It did excite me sister though, who much prefers this style of food over what I generally prefer.

What we had:


The Tasting Menu


The Ala Carte Menu


A nice, but ultimately forgettable amuse.

I ordered the tasting menu. My wife and sister ordered apps and mains. It was a nice touch that they allowed an individual without the entire party to order the tasting menu.


Fresh Dungeness Crabmeat, pea shoots, cucumber, avocado, sesame crackers, wasabi, soy and ginger sauces - nicely done and tasty. Mine.


Kobe Beef Carpaccio, grilled red onion concasse, white truffle oil, lemon juice and shaved truffle. The beef was indeed from Kobe according to our waiter. The truffles lacked potency. My sister's app.


Duck Confit and "Fromaggio" Tartufo Bianco Ravioli. This was a very meaty, heavy dish. From the "little things" department of nitpickiness, I am not sure what "Fromaggio" is. Is it "Formaggio?" Since there was only one of them in the order (it was quite large), it should have been a "Raviolo." My wife's app.


Wild Mushroom Beggar's Purse, beaujolais reduction sauce, explorateur cheese, baby greens. tasty with a nice textural balance between the crisp phyllo and the soft mushrooms. Mine.


Australian Lobster Tail, truffle-chive risotto, sauces of roma tomato and sugar snap pea. The broiled lobster tails were quite flavorful though a little tough. The risotto was heavy. Of the two sauces, though the combination was pretty, I thought the tomato worked better with the lobster by far. My wife's main.


Sablefish Mariposa, honey-tamari glaze, fresh ginger sauce, shiitake mushroom-scallion rice cake. A signature dish, it wasn't as sweet as I feared it would be given the honey in the sauce. Mine.


Prime Beef Tenderloin Filet, maple peppered bacon, crisp potatoes anna, sauce bourguignonne. The beef was basic with a very rich sauce. The potatoes anna were very well accomplished and delicious. My sister's main.


Rocky Mountain lamb Chop, fresh pesto, crisp potatoes anna, roasted shallot sauce. This dish varied only in very subtle ways from the filet.

Throughout we shared a delicious and reasonably priced 2004 Laurene from Domaine Drouhin. The wines were very fairly priced from an impressive list. This was the highlight of the meal for me.


Chocolate Snowball. Dense chocolate cake with whipped cream. A signature dessert. Tasty.

My comments are critical, but mostly dependant on my stylistic preferences and not a critique of the competence of the kitchen for the style of food that they prepare. What they did they did well. I just found it to be unexciting. My only real complaint about the restaurant was that the restrooms are located across the ski lodge cafeteria and down a flight of stairs.

[molto e]

Doc,

I do not think that Mexican food is that picturesque, but your shots are very nice. You really did the GTM of Salt Lake City and the food scence seems to have come a long way from the last time I was there (when a certain #23 hit a last shot oh those were the days).

Molto E

[Malaclypse]

well..after seeing the photos one thing becomes clear to me. I'm having dinner at Red Iguana. I love that place. Another kinda off the beaten path place to try is a place called Mamma's Southern Plantation. I love this place more then almost any other place in Utah. Guess you can take the boy out of the country but nothing can take away the love of soul food.

[BryanZ]

Nice report on Utah, Doc. I've spent a lot of time there as a kid over the holidays, eating just about everywhere. You missed Crown Burger; I think you would've like it.

[Nargi]

Alright, well it seems this thread has somewhat died, but hopefully I can revive it.

So, I'm going to be in SLC April 18-20 for an ACF-sponsored national food knowledge competition (I had to throw that in there and make sure everyone knows how special I am. :D ). Anyway, Although during the morning/day I'll probably be busy competing, I know I'll definitely have time at night to check out some of the culinary offerings. When I first heard I was competing in Utah, I wasn't all that excited about the prospect (the last competition was in Vegas), but this thread has given me new hope.

Any updates? New restaurants? I still see a lot of the aforementioned restaurants still on current restaurant lists online (metropolitan, takashi, new yorker).

[robert40]

Alright, well it seems this thread has somewhat died, but hopefully I can revive it.

So, I'm going to be in SLC April 18-20 for an ACF-sponsored national food knowledge competition (I had to throw that in there and make sure everyone knows how special I am. :D ). Anyway, Although during the morning/day I'll probably be busy competing, I know I'll definitely have time at night to check out some of the culinary offerings. When I first heard I was competing in Utah, I wasn't all that excited about the prospect (the last competition was in Vegas), but this thread has given me new hope.

Any updates? New restaurants? I still see a lot of the aforementioned restaurants still on current restaurant lists online (metropolitan, takashi, new yorker).

Hopefully good timing as by chance while Googling the other day I found this restaurant. Pizzeria Seven Twelve in Orem, UT. Which someone can correct me if wrong, but I believe it's a suburb of SLC.
By all indications it appears to be one of those small personal, farm to table type places opening up across the country lately by talented young chefs.
Below I have linked a positive review from a local paper. Plus the web site and blog in which the owners detail the restaurants opening.
If interested and your willing to take one for the team I for one would enjoy hearing your thoughts.

http://www.sltrib.com/food/ci_8539967

http://www.pizzeria712.com/

http://pizzeria712.blogspot.com/

[Catherine Iino]

My husband and I will be in SLC this coming weekend. Does anyone have any comments on the places mentioned several years ago--still good? I'd particularly like to know whether the Red Iguana is still worth a visit--it sounded great, especially to a Mexican-food deprived Northeasterner.

[heyjb]

I would like to bump this thread to see if there are some current recommendations for Salt Lake City. Thanks in advance for any help.

JB

[Othafa9]

To recommend another pizzeria, try "Settebello". One of only a few pizzerias in america doing authentic Neapolitan pizza.

Edited by Othafa9, 04 February 2009 - 07:07 PM.

[lemniscate]

I was in SLC for business in January. I was not having a great visit but the highlight of my trip was an accidental right turn into the parking lot of the Wild Grape Bistro. Just east of downtown on Temple. Very comfortably hip place with what I thought was great food. I unfortunately was not in a foodie mood that night and played it safe with a local sourced lamb burger on focaccia and their cauliflower bisque. Had a glass of a nice pinot. The menu looks very nice, changes daily I'm told. Highly recommended by me. I believe it's quite new to the SLC restaurant scene.

The Wild Grape Bistro website

[BryanZ]

Spent a long weekend in Salt Lake City and Park City for a family reunion. Though I'm East Coast born and raised, my father's family hails from SLC, so, as I mentioned upthread, I've spent a good of time in the area, usually over the holidays.

We had one night and one half-day in Salt Lake. Excessive consumption was surely in order. We hit all our mainstays. In Park City, we mainly cooked but managed one rather tasty, highly unlikely meal in Kamas, a small town at the foot of the Uintah range.

Perhaps SLC's most famous restaurant is Red Iguana. Most everyone goes here, locals and tourists alike. I was also amused to find that it's kind of transformed into a hipster hangout. The restaurant is known for its mole sauces, all of which I find quite delicious. I've not traveled extensively through Mexico so I can't judge their true authenticity, but I've repeatedly found these mole to be better than anything I've had in the States.

We headed here immediately after landing and picking up our truly tragic looking Chevy HHR. At 9 pm on a Wednesday night we waited just over 30 minutes. In SLC that's, like, ridiculous.

We ordered an appetizer of jalapeno peppers stuffed with shrimp, deep-fried, then topped with a red sauce and cheese. Surprisingly light given the heavy description. No picture, though.

Mole pictures abound, however.

Mole negro with turkey

The most complex of the bunch. Totally delicious.

Stuffed pork loin with mole de alemendras

That's mole with almonds for you gringos. I think.

Mole verde with chicken

So fresh-tasting for a mole. You could totally taste the green squash, avocado, and herbs.

Carnitas

A very good rendition but not as memorable as the mole. At any other Mexican restaurant I'd be thrilled to receive a plate of pork this good.

The spread

Yeah, we're pigs. There was also a little cup of red pipian sauce. You could really taste the pumpkin here.

This place is seriously, seriously delicious. Service is brisk, the restaurant is kind of a shithole, but it all works.

Day two would start off with my braising pork for 20 at my aunt's house. Then it was off on a whirlwind tour of eating.

Our first stop was Lone Star Taqueria, another famous SLC eatery. They specialize in grilled fish tacos here, not the fried rendition I often found along the Riviera Maya on the Yucatan Peninsula. Again, these tacos and burritos are seriously delicious. I've loved this place for years and this visit didn't disappoint. Because they rotate their fish offerings here I was perhaps a little disappointed that we arrived on a cod day (a bland fish) as opposed to perhaps salmon day (more strongly flavored).

Sitting out on the patio is great, basking in the warm sun, drinking Mexican beer, and watching the clouds roll over the mountains.


Fish tacos

They're known for their sauces as much as the tacos proper.

Fish burrito

Rather large, but surprisingly light given its imposing stature.

Fish burrito, split


Immediately after our brunch at Lone Star we headed to Iceberg Drive Inn. Not sure what the "inn" refers to, but getting shakes and malts here is pretty much a tradition. To be honest they're less shakes than they are hand-mixed loose soft serve with your choice of flavorings/mix-ins.



I opt for a berry combo of black raspberry (I'm guessing this is blackberry), blueberry, and boysenberry. It's quite refreshing, as far as things like this go.

My father, however, opts for a malted shake with chocolate fudge, chocolate chips, and banana.

I find this combination unbearably cloying and rich. But that's me.

After a brief stroll down memory lane for my parents at the UofU we continued eating. Another SLC favorite of mine is Crown Burgers.


Get ready for some gratuitous burger shots.

A Crown Burger, Jr. Crown Burger, onion rings, fry sauce, soda

My mother and sister shared the Jr. I ate the full-size myself. Natch.

Closer


The Money Shot

Boom!

I personally think this is one of the all-time great fast food hamburgers. Arctic Circle also does a version of the corned beef-fast food burger and while it's a noble try it lacks the excess of a Crown Burger.

And in about three hours we've all consumed vast quantities of food and feel borderline ill. A great half-day if you ask me.

Edited by BryanZ, 23 June 2009 - 12:20 AM.

[BryanZ]

The drive from SLC to Park City is a pleasant one. This year the lower reaches of the mountains were particularly green.


In Park City I cooked pork braised in a charred tomatillo salsa, also a few bo ssam. Lots of pork. What else is new? Might I also note that Park City might be among the whitest places on earth? Between Blue Hill @ Stone Barns and Park City, it's really a toss up.

But I digress.

Within about an hour's drive of Park City is the Uintah range. At the base of the mountains is the town of Kamas. In Kamas is the rather idiosyncratic Hi Mountain Drug.

Hi Mountain Drug

Grill, Sporting Goods, BOOKS, ICE CREAM. What more could you possibly want?

Root beer float, strawberry ice cream soda, limeade

These offerings were totally awesome. Great ice cream from a local creamery. The ice cream soda was like a carbonated shake. The limeade was, mercifully, not too sweet by any means.

The place is known for its burgers. We obliged.

Burgers


The burgers were good, not great. The place on the whole, however, was truly memorable.

Beyond Kamas you drive past gorges and summits and stop at every possible turnout because your father is feeling nostalgic. And see views like this.



A beautiful part of the country and actually quite tasty, too.

[sandra]

Anything to add or change for 2010?

We'll be there in January - skiing during the day, but eating at night!

Any new suggestions or updates would be great!

Thanks

[Bruce Earls]

I will be in SLC on business next week, and am wondering if there are any decent dining experiences in the Cottonwood Heights area. I am considering taking a taxi to the places listed below for my four dinners and would appreciate more local recommendations if there are equivalents closer to the Cottonwood Heights region. The last time I was in SLC, I hated almost every meal I had, excluding the doughnuts which I am pretty sure came from Banbury Cross and lunches from a hamburger joint and a taco truck. That is why I am planning to go further afield. I am looking for dinner meals, and am willing to pay for quality, but expect reasonable quality for money. For the below restaurants, do they deliver on the promise of their websites, are they accessible to the single diner, and are they still a good overall dinner? Are there better options, either closer to Cottonwood Heights, or just better overall?

Copper Onion
The Tin Angel Cafe
Mazza
New Yorker
Takashi

[Blues_Cookin]

I had the wonderful opportunity to move to the Provo area for a great job opportunity two years ago, but I didn't realize it was such a challenging food opportunity. However, I have a few suggestions for those who find themselves as they say here "south of the point of the mountain", which basically means 45 min south of Salt Lake City. I have put together a google map of foodie spots HERE

Highlights in Utah County are:

Communal - Modernist American cuisine, plenty of sous vide and other great techniques, aggressive menu and 50% communal dining, 50% not. One of the really interesting things here is that the kitchen is out in the middle of the dining area, so you can see the chef's practice their art. They are humble foodies and great to talk to.

Piizzaria 712 Same ownership as the Communal, really creative pizza and Calzone dishes, and again, foodies in a land of the great american franchise, these guys love to talk food.

Smoking Apple Pretty decent BBQ (high praise coming from a BBQ snob), and the sides are excellent, especially the beans.

There have been other posts about Bombay House, pretty decent Indian.

Check out the Google Map link above for other places - the green ones are 'approved" yellow are ones I am planning on investigating soon.

Enjoy!

Edited by Blues_Cookin, 24 January 2012 - 09:35 PM.