Diners can get a peak at Pago, one of Salt Lake City's new farm-to-table restaurants, next week.

Owner Scott Evans is holding open house events for the public on May 20 and 21 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the restaurant 878 S. 900 East.

Guests can see the environmentally-friendly remodel, sample small bites from the proposed menu and tell staff what they like or don't like before the scheduled opening on May 27 (That's if it gets its liquor license approved that day).

"It gives us a chance to introduce ourselves before we open," said Evans, who has spent the last decade working in Utah restaurants.

Labels: dining, Salt Lake City

Primo, a popular spot in Cottonwood Heights for reliable, reasonable-priced Italian dinners, now offers lunch at its new deli called Benvenuti.

Located at 2354 E. 7000 South -- next to Primo -- Benvenuti's menu includes typical lunch fare: soups, salads and sandwiches and a $11 gourmet burger topped with mozzarella, tomato and basil.

But it is the pastas that look the most intriguing. Guests can choose either spaghetti, linguine, tortellini or penne and have it topped one of 10 different sauces from carbonara and primavera to meatball and marinara. Pasta entrees range from $6 to $8.50.

Benvenuti also has it priorities straight. On the website, the menu it lists desserts -- tiramisu, cheesecake and crepes --- first.

Open Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 801-944-2466.

Labels: dining, restaurants

Here are a few food-related options for May 9 and 10.

• The annual Utah letter carriers’ “Help Stamp Out Hunger” food drive is Saturday. Utahns can place non-perishable food items in a bag near their mailbox and letter carriers will pick up the donation and distribute it to Utah food banks. Donations such canned soup, tuna, pasta, rice or peanut butter should be in the plastic or other non-breakable containers.

• Help TreeUtah and the Kamas Valley Lions Club plant 100 large trees. Volunteers should meet Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Oakley Rodeo Grounds, 4300 N State Road 32. Bring a spade shovel, and work gloves. Wear sturdy shoes and clothes that can get dirty. Don't forget sunscreen and drinking water.

• Wasatch Community Garden's annual Plant Sale runs Saturday (May 9) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rowland Hall Lower School, 720 S Guardsman. A wide variety of heirloom, organic vegetable and fruit plants, ready for the garden will be available. Also this year, there will be drought-tolerant and hard-to-find perennials.

• Lorken Food Finery, a specialty food and kitchen store in Gardner Village, 1100 W. 7800 South, West Jordan, will kick off its "Dining Around The World" series on May 9 with a taste of Italy. The dinner begins at 7 p.m. and costs $50. Reservations required, 801-938-1982.

• On Sunday, Mom's get a free cup or cone at TCBY stores.

Labels: dining, gardening

Here are two signs that steak and potatoes still rule the Utah dining scene.

1. Donovan's Steak & Chop House, a upscale chain with operations in San Diego, La Jolla and Phoenix, is moving into the former Ruth's Chris restaurant on 100 West and Pierpont Ave. in Salt Lake City. No official opening date, but it must be soon. The sign is up and the owners were recently granted a full-service liquor license and private club license from the DABC.

2.Market Street, which for decades has been one of Utah's favorite seafood locations, recently expanded its menu to include steak. Offerings include:
a 14-ounce bone-in filet Mignon for $44.99;
a 14-ounce Prime New York strip $39.99
24-ounce T-bone for $39.99;
New York strip pepper steak, $29.99
8-ounce filet mignon for $29.99.

The steaks get rubbed with a Montreal seasoning before grilling and are brushed with compound butter just before serving. Unlike other high-end steak places, where sides are extra, each Market Street steak comes with a choice of soup or salad and either potatoes, French fries or rice.

The offer is good at all Market Street and Grill and Oyster Bar locations. Seasoned steaks also are available in the meat case to grill at home.

Labels: dining, Salt Lake City

Food Network magazine recently selected "the most exciting, interesting, wacky or otherwise fabulous burger in every state."

In Utah, that happens to be the $12.50 Spicy Moroccan Lamb Burger at Acme Burger Co., 275 S. 200 West, in Salt Lake City.

In the June/July issue, editors noted the state's love of fry sauce and said of Acme:

"....the high end restaurant is shaking things up with patties like the cranberry-pecan turkey and the popular spicy lamb with harissa sauce served on a sweet potato bun."

What do you think? Is it the most exciting burger in the beehive?

Labels: dining, hamburgers

They won't be open for several weeks, but I'm excited about two new neighborhood restaurants taking shape in Salt Lake City.

Forage will be an upscale, 34-seat restaurant located in a renovated home one block west of Liberty Park. It will have a fixed-price menu that changes depending on the season and what's available locally. Chef/owners Viet Pham and Bowman Brown have built a greenhouse in the back so they can grow their own herbs and vegetables. They also plan to use non-traditional cooking methods and ingredients that have been overlooked. A sample menu faxed to The Tribune included hibiscus glazed pork belly, duck and foie gras sausage and roasted rabbit loin.

Pago, a casual restaurant and wine bar, will be opening toward the end of May in Salt Lake City's 900 South 900 East neighborhood. Owner Scott Evans, formerly of Squatters, already hired his co-chefs: Adam Findlay, formerly of Metropolitan and Viking Yurt, and Michael Richey, native of Northern California. The restaurant will seat about 50 people and rely heavily on ingredients that are seasonal and local.

Labels: dining, slc

First came hamburgers. Then tacos. Now diners on the-go can get sushi at a drive-up window.

Hayai Zushi, at 307 W. 600 South, in Salt Lake City, opened recently and offers rolls, teriyaki bowls, Bento boxes and salads. You can dine-in or get it to go.

I'd be skeptical of the whole thing, except that the chef behind the operation is master sushi chef Peggi Whiting, who launched Ichiban Sushi in Park City (and later Salt Lake City) more than 20 years ago. After selling the restaurant, Whiting created her own line of Asian sauces.

About a year ago, businessman and Ichiban fan Keith Guevara approached Whiting with the drive-thru sushi and Japanese restaurant concept.

"I couldn't let the idea go. Sushi is more of mainstream and people are ready for it on the go," she said. "Besides you can only eat burgers and fries for lunch so many times."

At HayaiZushi, which means "fast sushi" there are 10 regular rolls in either 4-piece ($2.99) or 8-piece ($5.99) sizes. There also are five specialty rolls available only in an 8-piece option ($7.99-$11.99.). Here's the full menu.

For novices, try the pink power roll: shrimp tempura, asparagus, cucumber avocado and spicy mayo rolled in pink tofu paper. If you're feeling more adventurous go for the Mars Roll, this month's special (pictured above.) It's shrimp tempura topped with crab salad, tuna and avocado.

Labels: dining, sushi

While comedy fans are excited about the grand opening of the Wiseguys Comedy Cafe at Trolley Square, foodies will be happy to learn that part of the venue includes a restaurant.

Poundcake’s Eats is located in the former Hard Rock Cafe space, at 505 S. 600 East, on the north side of Trolley Square. It serves “New American” food and has a full-service bar. Poundcake’s full menu is available in the comedy club, too.

Poundcakes’s is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to midnight.

Labels: dining, Salt Lake City

Tonight, April 23, at 7 p.m. Hamilton's Steak & Seafood Restaurant, in Logan, is hosting a New Zealand wine dinner. Dinner is $30 per person, wine pairings are an additional $25. For reservations call 435-787-8450 extension 4 or email daniel@hamiltonssteakhouse.com. Hamilton's is located at 2427 N. Main


On Friday, April 24, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar is holding "An Evening with Fisher Wines." The four-course dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and is hosted by Fred and Juelle Fisher, co-owners of California's Fisher Vineyards. Juelle Lamb Fisher is a native Utahn and University of Utah graduate. Dinner is $40 per person, wine is an additional $35. For reservations call 801-355-3704. View a copy of the menu here.

Labels: dining, wine

If you know someone going to their high school prom in the next few weeks, make sure they check out this story about Utah restaurants that offers tips on how to make dining easier for teens, parents and restaurants.

One restaurant that wasn't mentioned in the story was P.F. Chang’s China Bistro. It has a four-course "Chang's For Two" offer for $39.95. It's good for any couple — young and old.

The special includes choice of soup, a starter (including the popular chicken lettuce wraps), entree and dessert for each person. A downloadable menu of the options can found at pfchangs.com

In Utah, P.F.Chang's is located at 174 W. 300 South, in Salt Lake City.

Labels: dining, prom

I talked to owner Tony Caputo and chef Adam Kreisel yesterday and they gave me the scoop on Tipica, the new Italian (what else) restaurant that opens May 6 inside the Salt Lake City deli, 308 W. 300 South.

Every Wednesday through Saturday at 5:30 p.m. — after the daytime deli crowd as died down — the space will be transformed into a casual Italian eatery. The menu will include different risottos, pastas, salads, soups, vegetable side dishes and desserts. Prices range from $6 to $19. Beer and wine will be available.

Eager diners can make dinner reservations now by calling 801-328-0222.

Labels: dining, slc

Someone emailed recently to tell me there was now a triumvirate of great (non-chain) Italian restaurant in Provo --- all within a few blocks from one another.

Ottavios on Center Street. La Dolce Vita on 100 East; and Gloria's Little Italy, the newcomer, on the corner of University Ave. and Center.

Which one is the best? And what should I order when I go?

Labels: dining, Provo

This recipe for Gramma Claire's Macaroni and Cheese from Utah's Ruth's Diner is getting four- and five-star reviews from cooks all over the country.

Ruth's, which is closed for remodeling and should reopen May 1, is one of several Utah restaurant to have been featured recently on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives."

During the episode (which has aired several times in the past few months) host Guy Fieri makes this super cheesy baked dish with Ruth's chef/owner Erik Nelson.

"Absolute BEST Mac & Cheese" wrote one cook from Parma, OH.

"You've got to try this one. It's a "do again" in our home!" added another from Castro Valley, CA.

If you plan to make the recipe, be sure to read the comments. It seems that a few things are missing like the oven temperature (350 degrees for 30 minutes). Go easy on the salt and instead of using all milk for the sauce, use half cream and half milk.

Labels: dining, television

The street-level restaurant at the Radisson Hotel, at 215 W. South Temple, has tried for years to be a successful high-end steakhouse first with Shula's and then with High Rock Steakhouse. But in Salt Lake City, that niche was already being filled by Spencer's, Christopher's and Fleming's.

Now the owners have wisely changed course. The hotel recently remodeled the space and opened Copper Canyon Grillhouse and Tavern.

Executive Chef, Sebastian Lizarzaburu has created a menu of contemporary American favorites and plans to use local organic seasonal vegetables, fresh baked artisan breads and regional livestock whenever possible.

Because it's a hotel restaurant Copper Canyon is open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But the restaurant hopes to attract more than just travelers. It is offering a 3-course "Hungry Man" lunch for the downtown workers. The staff promises to have the meal delivered to the table within 10 minutes.

To see what the space looks like, take this video tour on the website.

Labels: dining, hotels

This sad news is posted on the Big City Soup website

"CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
CHECK THE WEB SITE FOR UPDATES ON POSSIBLE
OPENINGS AND SOUP AVAILABILITY"

What will we do without Thai Chicken Noodle?

Labels: dining, Salt Lake City

Airlines overbook and cancel reservations all the time.

But I've never heard of a restaurant calling a guest back and canceling a reservation just because they were overbooked.

One unnamed Park City restaurant did so recently. The patron happened to tell
Michael Bauer, the food critic for The San Francisco Chronicle. Bauer, in turn, dished about the Utah dining faux pax on his blog earlier this week.

"I'm surprised the manager didn't at least try to adjust the time. I've known restaurants that have had to close for fire or sudden repair, and in one case, they offered reservations at a sister restaurant, and offered to help secure reservations at other places in the area. With such insensitive treatment, I bet this hot restaurant will soon be as cold as yesterday's pizza."

I'd love to know which restaurant made the mistake. Any guesses?

Labels: dining, Park City

Bambara celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and guests can expect updates to this favorite downtown restaurant, located inside the Hotel Monaco.

Labels: dining, Salt Lake City

In today's Salt Lake Tribune, restaurant critic Vanessa Chang finds three great places for Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches including Joni's Deli, Moochies Meatballs (pictured here) and Fillet of Phillies.

But there have to be more.

One West Jordan reader said The Philadelphian, 9860 S. 700 East, in Sandy may look like a "dive" but is revered for its cheesesteaks,

And a Riverton reader, who lived in Philadelphia for a time, insists that Downtown Philly Cheesesteaks 1665 W. 10600 South Towne Center Dr. in South Jordan has the most worthy version in the area.

Do you know any more? Post a comment and let us know.

Labels: cheesesteaks, dining

Sometimes it's easy to poke fun at happy, err I mean, Utah Valley.

But I recently read the cover story from the March/April issue of Utah Valley Magazine and discovered there are at least 50 great folks living to the south, including these three "fabulous" foodies:

Dave Tuomisto is the founder of Bajio Mexican Grill and now Marley’s, a gourmet slider restaurant in Lindon. It is located inside the newly built Harley-Davidson resort that he built from reclaimed steel, trusses and fixtures from the old Geneva Steel plant.

Jeannie Tuckett Dayton and Mindy Spencer are the mother-daughter duo that run Pantry Secrets, a Pleasant Grove-based company that teaches aspiring bakers how to make homemade bread in 60 minutes. The “secret” recipe has been honed over many years and the dough can be used for everything from pizza to rolls.

Jill McKenzie a former personal chef and caterer, recently published “52 Weeks of Proven Recipes for Picky Kids," filled with recipes that please her family's picky palettes.

Labels: dining, food, Utah County

The shredded beef "slider" created by Chef Brian Prusse of Zoom restaurant, may have been mini in size, but it was mighty in flavor and won the title of "Best Park City Appetizer" at the Arts-Kids fundraiser Sunday night.

Labels: dining, Park City

I'm heading to Park City on Sunday, March 1, to judge the chef competition at the "Paint the Town: Step Up to the Plate" event.

As part of this fundraiser and auction for the Arts-Kids youth development program, seven Park City restaurants are serving out-of-this world creations. Chefs from Zoom, Shabu, Squatters, Jean Louis, Butcher's Chop House, Cafe Sabor and High West Distillery are competing.

Labels: dining, Park City

The "Global Tapas" menu at Park City's 350 Main Brasserie has returned and all the items are just $6.

Among the choices are a tower of ahi and hamachi with pineapple shoyu; Thai-grilled portabella mushroom with a tamarind glaze and a vindaloo pork medallion with spicy yams and a red curry-coconut sauce.

The tapas menu is available every evening in the bar.

Labels: dining, Park City, specials

Lamb's Grill Cafe is celebrating its 90th anniversary today. (Read about it and watch a video here.)

When I interviewed owner John Speros about the milestone, he said the number one seller at this venerable Salt Lake City restaurant is the salmon fillet. The braised lamb shank is a close second.

Both are delicious. But my favorite Lamb's offering is still the healthy, healthy lentil soup (always available on Thursdays ) with Greek bread.

Of course, I always counteract the good-for-your aspect with an order of rice pudding.

In honor of Lamb's birthday celebration, please post a note on the blog and let me know your favorite menu item.

Labels: dining, Lamb's, Salt Lake City