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Magleby’s Springville

Look, I’ll just cut to the chase: this place was not great. Passable? Yes. More than passable? Nope.

I had no idea there was even a Magleby’s in Springville until a coworker brought me here. I knew they were up in Provo/Orem, but didn’t know they had ventured this far south. The restaurant is located in a fantastically-renovated historic building on the main drag. If I had to guess, it was an old bank building that has been freshly redone. Unfortunately, that was the most exciting part of my visit.

The interior is what I like to call Utah County Cliché. I don’t know what it is, but there seems to be a higher than normal ratio of Roman columns, stark white interiors, and painted mural ceilings in Utah County than anywhere else (except, maybe, you know, Rome). Except that in Rome, they are done well. The restaurant space is huge, and doesn’t exactly feel warm or welcoming. It just seem…..vast and strangely empty.

Our service was, again, less than great. I counted a grand total of two overworked servers working a dining room filled with over 30 people. With a ratio like that, you’re bound to have some disappointments. Drinks went unfilled and desserts (which, I believe, is one thing Magleby’s is known for) weren’t even offered for our consideration.

The food was mediocre. I had the prime rib sandwich. I’m not sure how many days the prime rib had been hanging out in the walk-in, but it was tough and flavorless. The sandwich lacked any sort of imagination or flavor, and was as boring as you get.

And then there was the pickle.

The sandwich was accompanied by the saddest, most down trodden pickle I have ever seen. It looked like it was taken straight from the jar, dropped, stepped on, then lived a life of sadness camped out begging under the highway overpass, only to then find his way home to my lunch plate.

The only redeeming part of the meal were the fries. They serve my favorite kind of fries: the ones that are straight out of the freezer, with that extra little layer of breading around them, which make for a crunchy, flavorful bite. I really liked them, despite the runny “fry sauce” they were served with.

I didn’t take any pictures. You wouldn’t have wanted to see them anyway.

So, that’s about it. I won’t be going back, and wouldn’t suggest you stop there, either.

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From Scratch Sweet Shop

We Utahns love our sweets (I type as I eat a bowl of Moose Tracks ice cream). And David Brodsky thinks he has just the think to satiate our sweet tooth. Brodsky is the owner of From Scratch, a restaurant tucked into Gallivan Avenue, that specializes in scratch-made products (all the way down to their ketchup and jams). He has been working on a small little space tucked into the side of the dining area that he has prepped to be a quick-serve counter serving various baked goods, and eventually, ice cream.

Having done the sit-down atmosphere at From Scratch, David wanted to try out the concept of more of a grab-and-go bakery. Bakery customers will be able to choose whether to eat their goods in the dining room (no waiter service in the morning) or take and go on their way to work or school. Publik coffee will be served, but for now, no espresso.

Brodsky plans on offering a rotating selection of pastries, including brioche cinnamon rolls with brown butter frosting, coffee cake, scones, cookies (four chocolate chip, peanut butter, cookie sandwiches), deep dish quiche, muffins with house made jams and butter, and, various breads.

Oh, and donuts of course. David has been experimenting to find the perfect cake donut recipe over the past several months, and has failed more times than he cares to admit. But he feels they have finally nailed it, and will be offering various flavors such as lemon, blueberry cake, traditional glazed, as well as chocolate with caramel.

For the lunch crowd, The Sweet Shop will sell various grab-and-go sandwiches to satisfy the demands of the ever-growing downtown lunch crowd.

Eventually, Brodsky intends to add an ice cream machine into the mix, turning out pints of various flavors. Think Bi-Rite in San Francisco or Salt & Straw in Portland. I’ve always thought it odd that there isn’t a high-end, small-batch ice cream maker in SLC, so this would fill that niche. 

Sweet Shop opens next Tuesday, August 25th. Hours will be 7:30-2pm and is located right next to From Scratch at 62 East Gallivan Avenue.

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Freestyle Foodie Kickstarter

Freestyle Foodie is a new food truck concept developed by Nick Ferrin. Nick has raised significant cash to start his food truck, but is a little short and is doing Kickstarter to get the last bit of funds. Check out his Kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/502607472/freestyle-mongolian-grill-food-truck

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Park City Valentine’s Dining

Planning to impress the Mr. or Mrs (hopefully belonging to you) for Valentine’s in Park City? Check out the info below. The Kumamoto’s from High West sound particularly delicious.

Cuisine Unlimited
$35, $40 or $55 per person catered dinner, minimum 10 people
For those celebrating Valentine’s Day with friends and loved ones at home, Cuisine Unlimited is your one and only. The gourmet caterers are offering a choice of three delicious dinners: Forget Me Not ($35), Hearts & Roses ($40) or Cupid’s ($55). Each comes with a starter, like red-and-white beet salad with Cara Cara oranges and Burrata cheese, or wild berry and flowered salad. Entrees include chicken wellington, rack of lamb, pepper-encrusted beef tenderloin and Portobello mushroom torte. Desserts feature raspberry torte layered with French butter cream, tiramisu with long stemmed chocolate-dipped strawberries and chocolate diva cake.

Deer Valley Grocery~Café and Snow Park Bakery
Place dessert orders for Deer Valley Grocery~Café (435-615-2400) or Snow Park Bakery (435-645-6623) by 5 p.m. Wednesday, February 11 for items to be picked up Saturday, February 14 by 5 p.m.
Heart Shaped Chocolate Decadence, 5” (serves 2): $7.00 each
Chocolate Pot De Crème with whipped cream and raspberries: $7.00
Chocolate Dipped Long Stem Strawberries (½ dozen): $16.50
Red Velvet Cake, 6” (includes a special Valentine’s Day note): $25.00
Passion Fruit Gelèe Hearts (½ dozen): $5.25
Sweetheart Shortbread Cookies: $4.00 each

Eating Establishment
$59.95 per couple prix fixe
Park City’s longest-running full-service restaurant is serving a very special dinner for two. The evening opens with an appetizer to share, followed by a choice of filet topped with green peppercorn and red wine sauce, or salmon with champagne sauce. Each is served with roasted red potatoes and asparagus. For dessert, share chocolate cake or cheesecake.

Empire Canyon Lodge (daytime)
Deer Valley’s Empire Canyon Lodge will feature Sweetheart Cookies with Valentine’s Day sayings for $3.00 during the daytime.

Fox School of Wine
$25 per person wine tasting
The school’s Weekend Wine Series continues with “Romantic Wines to Share,” where guests will be lighting candles and pouring wines sure to light their fire. Register at www.foxschoolofwine.com.

Good Karma
$34.99 per person two-course prix fixe, or $49.99 per person five-course prix fixe
Park City’s favorite destination for Indo-Persian delicacies is serving a pair of Valentine’s Day specials. Choose between two- or five-course dinners for two. The restaurant’s popular regular menu will also be on offer.

Grub Steak
$51.75 per couple prix fixe
For those in love with a meat-lover, there’s no better place than Grub Steak, a true Park City institution. For Valentine’s Day, enjoy a three-course prix fixe menu opening with a choice of Caesar salad, mushroom soup, or Grub Steak’s famed 45-item salad bar. Then enjoy tenderloin of certified Angus beef stuffed with king crab meat, wrapped in apple-wood-smoked bacon and a choice of side. Dessert is a decadent chocolate lava cake with fresh raspberries and Haagen Dazs vanilla ice cream.

High West Distillery
High West Distillery will be running a small plate special for Valentine’s Day.  The special includes Kumamoto Oysters on the half-shell with Yuzu and Rose Water Mignonette “cocktail” sauce mad with High West Vodka 7000’.  The Oysters will be a sous vide preparation and then chilled.  $12 for 4 Oysters.

Powder at The Waldorf Astoria
$139 per couple prix fixe, $199 with wine pairing
Powder is pulling out all the stops this Valentine’s Day. Its four-course prix fixe menu opens with lobster bisque with tarragon, fennel and espelette, followed by a salad of baby gem lettuce with smoked pancetta, anchovies and fine herb vinaigrette. Then feast on a “surf n’ turf” of grilled wagyu bavette and spot prawns with butternut squash, bacon and leeks, before finishing the evening with raspberry “muelle feuille” chocolate and rose sorbeto. A wine pairing is also available.

Royal Street Café, Deer Valley Resort
Featuring Chocolate Raspberry Hearts; a flourless chocolate torte, chocolate mousse and raspberry sauce as a special Valentine’s Day dessert for $8.00

The Brass Tag
The Lodges at Deer Valley
Enjoy a unique Valentine’s Day special at The Brass Tag located inside the The Lodges at Deer Valley.  Guests can savor brick-oven roasted Scottish salmon with sautéed baby kale and roasted red peppers, wrapped in Idaho potato strings, topped with lump crab salad, tarragon butter and warm saffron lemon cream for $30.

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Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is coming up, and a couple restaurants are celebrating. See info below.

From The Mandarin in Bountiful:

Ring in the Year of the Sheep at the MANDARIN RESTAURANT in Bountiful, Utah to celebrate Chinese New Year.  348 East 900 North.  This two-week celebration is from Thursday, February 19th thru Thursday, March 5th. The lively and colorful Traditional Lion Dance will be performed by an 8-person troop with a spectacular performance at 6:00 p.m. on Monday February 23rd and Tuesday March 3rd. The Lion Dance is thought to ward off evil spirits and welcome the New Year with a bang.  The Lion makes its way through the Mandarin interacting with guests, eating lettuce for good luck and blessing the kitchen. Reservations are accepted for 8 or more people. Parties fewer than 8 may call ahead and have their name placed on the waiting list.

In addition to our regular dinner menu, our kitchen staff will prepare a special Chinese New Year Menu for parties of 4 or more people.  $20.00 per person.      

Chinese New Year Menu includes:  
Chicken Soong Imperial Lettuce Wrap
Salmon Spring Roll with Sambal Aioli
Chicken Creamed Corn or Hot Sour Soup
Beef with Asparagus
Bangkok Shrimp
Orange Chicken Noodle
Eight Treasure Vegetable
Steamed White and Brown Rice
House-made Ice Cream Pair:  Lychee-Rasperry and Saigon Cinnamon
Cookie of Good Fortune

Specialty beverages such as gingerita, pomegranate spritzer will be available in addition to wine, Asian beers, ginger brew and hot tea. (for an additional charge)  Join the Mandarin staff as we ring in the Year of the Sheep.  Be sure to wear RED which represents good fortune.  This is a terrific culinary event that happens only once a year.

And, from J. Wong’s downtown:

J. Wong’s Thai & Chinese Bistro, located in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, invites the community to help usher in the Year of the Sheep on Saturday, February 21 and again on Friday, February 27, also at 7pm. The J.Wong family, owners and operators of J.Wong’s, will host a Lion Dance, presented by Sil Lum Kung Fu Kwoon of Salt Lake City, and will prepare some of their favorite traditional Chinese New Year dishes.

J.Wong’s Thai & Chinese Bistro is located at 163 West Second South and is open seven days a week for dinner, as well as for lunch Monday-Saturday.  Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 801-350-0888 or visiting jwongutah.com.

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Suggestions for Alton Brown’s Road Tour

As part of Alton Brown’s 2015 Road Tour, he will be passing through Salt Lake City, and has asked for suggestions as to which local food places he should visit, using the hashtag #ABRoadEatsSLC. After throwing some suggestions out on twitter, I thought it might be useful to compile what I consider some of Salt Lake’s best food offerings at the moment.

In no particular order:

1. Red Iguana. Of course. Arguably the most famous restaurant in the state, with good reason. Go there and get whatever you want, but make sure it has mole on it.

2. Banbury Cross Donuts. Easily the best donuts in Utah, I have no idea what Banbury does to make their donuts so special, but whatever it is, I hope they keep on doing it. A few of my favorites: the cinnamon sugar donut, the white cake with sprinkles, and the cinnamon rolls.

3. R&R BBQ. These guys are doing BBQ right, and it’s obvious judging by the lines that form every day in twin brother Rod and Roger’s meat shop. Get the brisket and ribs.

4. Penny Ann’s. Family-owned and -run, my favorite stop for breakfast in the valley. Get the hotcakes for breakfast, then stay a few hours and grab a reuben for lunch.

5. Feldman’s Deli. New Jersey natives move to Salt Lake and discover our selection of Jewish foods is a bit, well, lacking. So they open up their own shop and begin importing pastrami and corned beef from one of the most famous delis in New York (I’ve been sworn to secrecy which one). The sloppy joe is the real deal here.

6. The Annex by Epic Brewing. Local brewmaster opens up a restaurant and brings in top cooking talent. Go with the mussels, which are FedEx’d in from the East coast. 

7. Alamexo. We have a lot of Mexican food in Salt Lake, but not a lot of what I consider creative or refined Mexican. Chef Matt Lake continues to crank out some incredible dishes each day. Get the conchinita pibil.

8. Les Madeleines. This patisserie produces some of the best pastries in the city. Of course, their signature pastry is the Kouing Aman, which I would choose as my last meal on earth.

9. Lucky 13 Bar. Famous for their “Breath Enhancer” garlic burger, but you’ll be more than satisfied with anything on the menu. Grab a side of rosemary garlic fries while you’re at it.

10. Chowtruck. Salt Lake’s first (non-roach coach) food truck, Chowtruck brought a new era of dining to the city, with innovative asian cuisine. Chile Verde quesadillas and the elk sliders are ridiculously delicious.

11. Taqueria 27 ushered in the era of $4 tacos to Salt Lake, and they’re worth every penny. Daily specials of various tacos and guacamoles makes this place a fresh adventure every time I go.

12. Hector’s. My favorite carne asada burrito in the valley. The fish tacos are also delicious.

13. Bruges. Pierre got his start slinging Liege waffles at the downtown farmers market, and now has a couple shops throughout the valley. Get the waffles, of course, some fries, and if you’re really wanting a gut bomb, get the Machine Gun sandwich.

14. Eva’s Bakery. Delicious scratch-made bread using Utah’s own Central Milling flours. Wonderful pastries and a beautiful little shop.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions below, or on twitter/FB using the hashtag #ABRoadEatsSLC

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50 West Café opened its doors last week for the lunch crowd. The café is part of the new Wiseguys comedy club located at–you guessed it–50 West 300 South. The menu offers plenty of choices without being overly complicated.

Service was confused. They give each customer a number to take to their tables, and it seemed that the little number tents were pretty useless since each server came out, wandering aimlessly around the café with plates of food, not sure who they actually belonged to.

Execution was less than perfect with a really tasty chicken club and chipotle chicken salad being balanced out by undercooked fries and a medium rare steak that came out basically blue on the inside. I think with a bit more time they will be cranking out consistently great food and the kinks in the service will be ironed out.

At $12 for a sandwich, fries, and drink, I won’t be eating there too frequently, but I’m sure it will make its way into my lunch rotation from time to time.

Open 11-3pm Monday through Saturday. More info at www.50westslc.com