SLCeats: Highlighting the best restaurants in Salt Lake City and Park City
A food blog about restaurants in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah. Ryan Kendrick's words and photos.
Twin brothers Rod and Roger Livingston have competed in numerous national BBQ championships such as Jack Daniels and Sam’s Club, and they have done very well. They’ve decided to open up a new BBQ shop in Salt Lake City at 600 S 300 W. I’ve been a fan of their BBQ for years now, and I highly encourage you to give them a try. They open tomorrow!
We have milk, white, and dark chocolate. And now, according to Valrhona, we have a new category of chocolate: blond. The genesis of Valrhona’s latest creation, Dulcey, began about eight years ago when Valrhona’s chef, Frederic Bau, accidentally left some white couveture chocolate in a bain marie overnight. Ten hours later, he discovered his error, but before throwing the caramelized, browned chocolate out, decided to give it a try. What he tasted was a chocolate with hints of caramel and shortbread unlike anything he’s tasted before. He knew he was on to something.
It took Valrhona eight long years of recipe development to be able to produce this chocolate on a large enough scale to offer it worldwide to confectioners as well as the public. But now the time has come. And Valrhona, together with Caputo’s, is hosting a fantastic event to introduce this chocolate to Utah.
Representatives will be at Caputo’s the evening of April 8th, and they are putting on a friendly competition to showcase the Dulcey chocolate. Three of Salt Lake’s top pastry chefs, Amber Billingsley (Vinto), Alexa Norlin (The Rose Est.), and Courtney McDowell (Pago, Finca) will go up against each other to see who can make the most over-the-top decadent dessert. Viet Pham (Forage), Ryan Lowder (The Copper Onion, Plum Alley), and Takashi Gibo (Takashi) will be the judges.
Caputo’s Butcher shop will be dishing out free bites of charcuterie, new kids on the block Charming Beard Coffee will be satiating your caffeine needs, and Uinta Brewing will be sampling their Spring and Summer session style beers, along with a chocolate pairing.
And to top it all off, Valrhona USA corporate pastry chef Alex Espiritu from will be on hand to sample the newest chocolate.
The event is Monday, April 8th at 7pm at Caputo’s Downtown. Admission is $20 and an additional $10 for the beverage pairing. Tickets must be purchased in advance by calling (801) 531-8669 or going to http://www.caputosdeli.com/products/special-event-battle-blond.html I wouldn’t wait too long–these Caputo’s events typically sell out quickly.
It appears that CO2 Cafe, at 323 S Main St, has closed for good. A message on their website says that they are temporarily closed for renovations, but a “for lease” sign on the cafe’s door indicates otherwise.
Every now and then a place pops up that is so different, so exciting, so….unique to Salt Lake that I can’t help but get excited about it. When I first spotted its bright blue and yellow facade, I knew that Eva Boulangerie was that kind of place.
Located at 155 S Main St, between Braza Express and the (now closed) Bayleaf Bar and Grub, Eva Boulangerie stands out from the crowd as something special. The front of the building screams Paris, which accurately reflects the European bakery ethos located within.
As you might guess by the name, Eva Boulangerie is owned and operated by the same folks behind Eva Restaurant. Charlie Perry is the chef/owner behind Eva, and he’s had a strong desire to open a cafe/bakery in SLC that helps transport people to another part of the world, through both food and atmosphere.
It took Charlie over nine months to renovate the bakery space into something reminiscent of a Parisian bakery. Immediately upon entry you’ll notice gorgeous blue, yellow and white floor tiles sporting a fun design. Like most main street stores, this one is fairly skinny and deep–I was surprised how far back the seating extended in this space.
The walls are lined with clean, bright white subway tiles and bright lights. Shelves holding a multitude of breads line the walls, with dangerously inviting sweet and savory pastries fill the glass case in front. The service staff is dressed in crisp white shirts and aprons. Head to the back of the space and you’ll find a wonderfully bright skylight which brings light into what would otherwise be a dark little section of the bakery. One of the co-owners of the space mentioned that they call the skylight their “$100,000 skylight” because it wasn’t until they started tearing down the ceiling that they even knew the skylight was there, which prompted them to change their architectural plans to bring in as much light as possible. It was worth it.
I had the opportunity to meet Lynn Perry, President of Central Milling and bakery partner. This guy knows wheat. You know your uncle or buddy who knows cars or sports like the back of his hand? That’s this guy, but with wheat. Central Milling is Utah’s oldest business, and the premier bakery supplier. I didn’t know so many types of flour existing until Lynn educated us. He takes great pride in his product, and Chef Charlie Perry understands that it takes good ingredients to make good products.
We were fortunate to have a tasting of many of their products. I’ll mention of few of my favorites here. Let’s start with the savory. The bakery offers $3 slices of pizza. The slices are very generous and the dough is crispy and flaky, with just the right amount of chew–in other words, exactly what you’d expect from a bakery. My favorite was the “Pig and Fig,” and if you’ve ever had a similar dish from Eva Restaurant, you know how delicious this is. Sweet figs and Creminelli ham top the pizza, providing a lovely sweet/savory contrast. At $3 per slice this is a wonderful little lunch on its own.
Eva’s Savory Bread Pudding was my favorite savory item that I was able to try. Bread pudding containing leeks, caramelized onions, potatoes, and spinach, all topped with deliciously rich and salty gruyere cheese. I’m sure this will be my go-to dish in the future.
The bakery offers French Onion Soup daily. I’m also looking forward to trying out their steak sandwich, featuring slow roasted tri-tip, parmesan, arugula and olive oil.
Breads. So. Many. Breads. Baker Ryan Moore uses no commercial yeast, relying instead on a twenty year old mother sourdough starter. I was very impressed with the leavening he is able to achieve without using yeast to “cheat.” Wheat bread, which can be too dense, is light and airy, a feat attributed to both the quality of the flour used as well as the baker’s expertise. Baguettes are browned, with a crispy crust and wonderfully soft, light insides–in other words, exactly how they should be. The kalamata loaf and the “One” baguette with seeds are not to be missed. The kalamata loaf takes 36 hours to produce from start to finish.
Now, on to the sweets. Pastry Chef Alisa Watson, a Portland transport, has really knocked it out of the park. Goat cheese cheesecake. Rich and creamy. Caneles, which are dubbed “portable creme brûlée” were unlike anything I’ve tasted before. Don’t let the fact that the molds they are cooked in are coated with beeswax scare you off. Croissants are light, crispy, with just the right amount of toothiness. Stuffed French Toast is filled with lemon cream and topped with blueberry compote. We tried molten chocolate, gingersnap, and hazelnut cookies, all divine.
The beleaguered Main Street has had a rough ten years or so. But, slowly and surely, life is returning to the thoroughfare which at one time exuded so much life and character. I hope that the uniqueness and character of Eva Boulangerie portends of good things to come to Salt Lake.
Eva Boulangerie
155 S Main St
Monday through Saturday
7am – 6pm
See more photos of Eva Bakery on Flickr
Disclosure: I was treated to a press tasting event by Eva Bakery
I wanted to pass on some exciting news for Utah locals. If you’ve never heard of the Creminelli Club, or have heard but just haven’t pulled the trigger, now’s your chance.
Creminelli is offering Utah locals $15 off any Creminelli Club order. If you aren’t familiar with the club, Creminelli will ship out treats right to your doorstep on a quarterly basis. For example, their next shipment will include 3 Bolzano salami, 1 Zingerman’s Cheese, Italian Fir Tree Honey, and a custom antipasto board. Oh, and the shipping is FREE.
This is your chance to get 30% off the price. All you need to do is use the code UTCC15 at checkout.
More info can be found here.
Habit Burger Grill will be opening their first store in Utah in early 2013 to satisfy the seemingly never-ending need in Utah for burgers, to Utahns just begging for more California chains. Don’t mind me–I’m just a grumpy guy tired of paying $10 for a combo meal at some of these fast-casual burger chains.
To be fair, though, one thing that Habit Burgers differentiates themselves on is their prices. A straight up “charburger” (seriously?) only runs $2.95 and a charburger combo comes in around $6. I’ve never eaten at Habit Burgers, but judging by the prices it sounds like they’re gunning for In-N-Out’s market. Let’s all say a prayer for better fries than In-N-Out’s cardboard sticks.
Habit is a sister-company to Cafe Rio, so if that’s any indication, they’ll do quite well here. I’m glad to see them opening near the old Granite Furniture building. With the recent addition of Bruges, the eventual–maybe–opening of Caterina nearby, and the future trolley stop, it sounds like that area’s going to see its fair share of development pretty soon.
Full press release below:
THE HABIT BURGER GRILL OPENS FIRST UTAH LOCATION IN 2013
Popular California-based burger company opens The Habit Burger Grill in Sugarhouse on
January 10th, 2013
Salt Lake City, Utah – The Habit Burger Grill is opening its first Utah location on Thursday, January 10th in the Sugarhouse/2100 South neighborhood development within the Granite Furniture block.
The Habit is best known for made-to-order “Charburgers” grilled over an open flame and consistent, friendly service. The Habit’s commitment to fresh, quality ingredients along with reasonable prices has made the fast-casual restaurant hugely successful with families in the Western United States of California and Arizona where there are currently 68 Habit Burger Grill locations.
“The Habit is a truly unique brand that offers customers an overall eating experience not found anywhere else,” says Russ Bendel, President and CEO of Habit Restaurants, LLC. “We are extremely excited about bringing our famous Charburgers and friendly service to the people of Utah, and specifically to this new development in Sugarhouse,” he adds.
The Habit is a sister company to Café Rio, another well-known, successful, family oriented, fast casual restaurant in Utah. Following the opening of the Sugarhouse location, The Habit has plans to open two additional Utah locations within the year.
In addition to burgers starting at just $2.95, The Habit’s menu includes sandwiches made from grilled, marinated chicken and tri-tip along with fresh, line-caught Albacore tuna. Diners can also choose from freshly prepared specialty salads tossed to order, onion rings, sweet potato fries and a variety of hand-blended shakes and malts made from real ice cream. Customers at The Habit Burger Grill will also notice the reasonable prices that are less expensive than casual dining or other “gourmet burger” establishments.
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
R&R BBQ, who recently won the Reserve Champion award at the Dana Point Barbeque contest in California, are headed to Bentonville, Arkansas, to compete in the Sam’s Club National BBQ Contest. The total purse is $50,000, and each team competing in the national contest had to win a Sam’s Club regional cookoff in order to qualify to attend the national event. Needless to say, the country’s best BBQers are going to be in Bentonville this weekend.
R&R is based out of Alpine, Utah, and brothers Rod and Roger Livingston are cooking up what I think is the best BBQ in the State. Best of luck to R&R! We know you’ll do Utah proud.
To stay updated on the contest, you can follow R&R’s twitter account.
Well, I didn’t get around to many restaurants for the Dine O Round, but I knew there was one I couldn’t miss: ZY. ZY serves upscale, yet approachable modern American cuisine. Luckily they extended their Dine O Round deal an additional week, which gave me time to wrangle a group of buddies together to check it out.
They changed the interior around slightly, mainly by adding some walls made out of wood slats. Miles, the general manager, explained that the redesign was partially due to the Zion Curtain laws, and partially because they were ready to change things up. I can’t say I’m a huge fan of the new walls–I’ve always though of ZY as having a modern, hip atmosphere, and adding walls made out of rough-hewn timber didn’t exactly fit, in my opinion.
On to the food. Chef Lake treated us to an amuse-bouche that was really fun. He wouldn’t reveal much about the dish, so when we all dug in and half of us said “pear” and the other half said “potato,” we began to seriously doubt each others’ sanity. Turn out this dish had two potato balls and two pear balls sitting atop a delicious pumpkin sauce. It was a really nice, well-executed dish.
For the appetizer, I went with the buttermilk fried oysters. After trying oysters on the half-shell in the Ferry Building, I swore them off for good (gotta try things at least once, right?). However, the allure of cooked oysters was too much to resist. These oysters were indeed tasty, with just a hint of spice and a nice crunchy texture on the outside. I was really pleased with this dish.
On to the main course. Beef short ribs served with grits and collared greens. One thing that’s always impressed me about ZY is that Chef Lake understands the value of presentation. The short ribs were presented in a very fun, if not a bit over-the-top manner, with the servers carrying the dish out, topped with a glass container. As they lift the container off the dish, you immediately smell the beautiful scent of smoked wood, which lightly carries through the dining room.
The short ribs were cooked to perfection, fork tender and deliciously moist. The sauce which topped the ribs is a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce that brings the whole dish together. This one is a winner. I asked Chef Lake if he’d be willing to share the recipe, and he said “of course.”
I went with the lemon cake and huckleberries for dessert. The cake had a lovely consistency, almost shortcake-like, and the tart berries were a nice counter to the sweet cake and sauce.
Chef Lake surprised us with a fun drink at the end of the meal. It was simply hot apple juice with a bit of honey, grilled grape, and rosemary. Four things I would never think of to make a drink out of. But it really worked well. The rosemary would waft into your nostrils as you sipped the drink, creating a sweet, yet savory experience.
Service was excellent as usual. Brady, our server, was very knowledgeable about the menu. The pace of the meal was steady, and it seemed he always stepped in at just the right time throughout the evening.
Bleu Adams, owner of Black Sheep Café, discusses the origins of her restaurant.
SLCeats: Highlighting the best restaurants in Salt Lake City and Park City 