I was invited to try out the “new” restaurant at the Hyatt Escala at The Canyons resort, Escala Provisions Company, or EPC. I put new in quotes because technically the restaurant’s been around for a year, but went through a major overhaul and rebranding a few months ago. The interior was completely redone, and the AAA Four Diamond Hyatt brought in one of their chefs from Atlanta to reinvigorate the menu and start a new, exciting chapter at the hotel.
The design of the restaurant seems to be classy and refined, yet down to earth. Granite tables, fancy fireplace, and heavy silverware are complemented with servers in casual jeans and shirts, and a friendly, welcoming attitude. I felt really comfortable dining here.
Chef Jesse McDannell grew up in New York, and has spent time cooking at various restaurants inside and outside the Hyatt brand. As we talked throughout the evening, he mentioned that up until a year or so ago, Hyatt corporate had fairly tight control on the menu offerings at all of their restaurants, but then decided to allow the chefs to run their own restaurants and choose what goes on the menu. This shift has allowed Chef McDannell the opportunity to focus on what is important to him: high-quality ingredients sourced as locally as possible. Provo River trout, Cox honey, Pierre Country Bread and local vegetables are some of the local ingredients used throughout the menu.
Please click the photos to see the accompanying captions to get an idea of our meal. But let me just say: I was so impressed with everything that came out of the kitchen. My favorites from the evening: jumbo lump crab cakes, chicken and pancetta mac and cheese, pan seared scallops, short rib ravioli, and the Willis Farm braised lamb shank were incredible. For dessert, if you’re looking to hit your sweet tooth (or really terrify your doctor at your next blood sugar test) go with the s’more cake or the cranberry brioche bread pudding.
Portions are very generous. My wife and I could have easily shared a couple appetizers and left feeling satisfied.
You can check out my full set of photos on my Flickr page.
EPC is open for breakfast and dinner. Don’t forget the crab cakes.
Breakfast: Wednesday – Sunday 7am-11am
Dinner: Tuesday – Saturday 5pm – 10pm
3551 Escala Court, Park City, Utah
(435) 940-1234
Disclosure: I was treated to this meal by the restaurant
Solitude has re-envisioned what outdoor dining should be with the introduction of their 
Forty guests are seated at a long communal table, which provides ample opportunity to get to know new people and better get to know old friends. To my right sat an auto parts salesman who also happened to be a CIA graduate from New York. Across from me was one of Salt Lake’s leading interior designers. Needless to say, while our conversation bounced around from hospitals to car parts to motorcycles and cooking, there was never a lack of interesting topics.
Anyone familiar with Chef Michael Richey’s style knows that he focuses on sourcing as many of his ingredients as close to the kitchen as possible. Many of the ingredients from tonight’s dinner, such as honey vinegar, tomatoes, eggs, and apricots, are sourced along the Wasatch Front. For other ingredients where sourcing locally isn’t an option (i.e. wild King salmon), ingredients are sourced regionally. Tonight’s dinner featured products from M&M Farm (in Richey’s opinion the best produce in Salt Lake City), 
The first were the M&M Farm Yukon Gold potato pillows topped with American Sturgeon Caviar. For those of you who may be caviar novices (like me), let me calm your fears: If you’ve ever had tobiko at a sushi place, you pretty much know what you’re getting into with caviar. This was my second favorite dish of the evening.
The next dish was a bruschetta topped with 
Next up were the Utah pork rillettes with grilled bread. Think chicken or tuna salad, except taken to the next level with pork as the protein.
Our final appetizer was deviled Clifford Farms eggs topped with icicle radish, black truffles, and chives.
Arugula salad with cherries, roasted yellow beets, and the most deliciously smooth house-made ricotta cheese that I’ve ever had. The salad was dressed with a Slide Ridge Honey vinaigrette. 
Maple Torta with braising greens, chevre, caramelized onions, and a balsamic reduction.
Wild King Salmon with snap peas, roasted eggplant, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, basil nage, and corn pone. This dish stole the show with an absolutely killer variety of flavors and textures. Everything about this dish was perfection, from the deeply roasted eggplant to the wonderfully herby nage to the amazingly deep and rich corn pone. And of course don’t forget the tastiest piece of salmon I’ve ever had. Somebody get cracking on legalizing marrying food, because I just found my soulmate. Definitely my favorite dish of the evening.
Stone fruit tart with apricot ice cream and bourbon caramel. Anybody who knows me knows I’m not much of a cooked fruit guy, especially in desserts. Something about the texture that gets me. But I put that aside and I’m glad I did because the tart was wonderful. The tart featured a nice crust and a delicious house-made apricot ice cream.
Chef Michael Richey
