Sunday, August 23, 2015

Wasatch Art Soiree

                  Wasatch Art Soiree

The Albion Grill
10520 East Day Lodge Road, Sandy, UT 84092
TL;DR 
- Price: $50 per person, $75 day of, $125(?) VIP
- Flavor: Varied
- Filling?: Reasonably so
- Parking: Excellent

This is a bit of a departure from my usual reviews. I asked my friend to go as I had a prior engagement. Additionally, the event was quite different, being a showcase of art and food. Thus the review will likely be more of a narrative.

Second Source Account:

Okay, major thanks to Milton for sending me to this event. It was very generous of him. Hopefully I can do this justice.

I parked at the Park and Ride, which was home to a very cool mountain goat viewing area. Didn't catch any this time, but maybe next year!

The event was held at the Albion Grill. I heard from a fellow shuttle-goer that it is the only restaurant open during off-season (summer). Typical grill food. Could be worth taking a look.

















I absolutely loved their live music. Particularly the Sherlock Holmes theme music, haha. Not sure if anyone else got that vibe, but I felt like Robert Downey Jr's Sherlock at the event (Loner, Observer).

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First up was the SLC Pop and Top Chef: Katie Weinner.

Beet sour dough bread - I normally don't like sour dough nor beet but this was very impressive. The flavor was very earthy, very natural. The bread was easy to chew. The sourdough I'm used to (and hate) is very tough. Great job!

I had to come back later for their Cashew Curry and Chocolate Stout Cake. I think they either ran out or simply had planned on rolling out the other selections as the event went on.




Cashew Curry - The cashews were not as crunchy anymore, probably soaked for a while. They were very flavorful, though. The grapes were a very nice touch.







Chocolate Stout Cake - First off, let me say that it looked incredible. Like stardust and nebulae. The picture does not do it justice at all. This was a feast for the eyes as well as the mouth. Not too sweet either! The strawberries on the bottom are the stars of this solar system. The creme fraiche does a great job complementing it.

I would also like to mention that everything they provided (utensils, bowls, etc.) were biodegradable. Props!
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Adam Kreisel - Chaia Cucina


















Chorizo and fennel ragout tartlette
Very bold for a tartlette. Beautiful in presentation and taste.








Local lamb tartare was really nice. I love raw. The vegetable it rested on was a little stronger than I would've liked. My last bite tasted less of lamb and more of veg.









The mushroom and chocolate shooter was incredible. Who'd a thunk it? Holy cow. Both flavors are readily apparent (mushroom a little more than chocolate, of course) and work remarkably well together.






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Amy Oelerich - mediumRarechefs


















Tenderloin Sliders - The tenderloin was perfect. Nice and hot, tender, moist, so good. The arugula made me feel healthy and the lemon aioli was to die for. I never thought that lemon would go do well here but it sealed the deal








Roasted shrimp and veggie parcel (upper left of above picture) - I was the unlucky one to grab a parcel that was still tied with twine. The Chef was very nice and immediately ran to get scissors to help me, though. When I opened it, I was struck with a wonderful aroma.
The vegetables are incredibly flavorful without feeling heavy. The parcel did a wonderful job of locking in warmth. The shrimp was excellent.

Cold Borscht and Parsley - Very refreshing. I am so sorry I didn't take a picture of this alone. In the above tableau picture you'll find glasses of the borscht in the upper right corner. The parsley actually hit me in the face as I was drinking it. I felt really stupid, haha.

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Andy Walter - Dottie's Biscuit Barn






















Cold Corn Soup Shooter - The olive oil was really nice. The soup was almost like a drink with how refreshing it was.



















Pork belly and cranberry beans on a fried green tomato chip - The chip was a bit soggy but it was delicious. The pork belly flavor is on point.















Miniature Peach pie - very nice. Sweet but not heavy. I could eat dozens of these and feel wonderful.














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Carl Rubadue - Saucy Skillet













Thai curry soup - Soup had a really nice spicy kick to it. Powerful but didn't dominate the flavor. Great to get my appetite back in gear for the finale.

Salmon cake - Wonderfully crisp on the outside and moist on the inside. The tartar-like sauce suited it well. The vegetation upon which it was served was beautiful though a little unwieldy.

Chocolate Decadence - Honestly, it seemed like it was just going to be fudge. But the consistency was almost cakelike (or a very fresh fudge) and the flavor was akin to a well-done mousse.

The night ended with a few dance performances. The first one was very upbeat. The next couple dance numbers were ballet.

I can't really comment on the art nor the dance performances as I know very little about those. Well, I don't know much about food either, but at least I have eaten regularly so I can comment from experience.

The winners based on the crowd-vote were Sarabeth Clevenger (Watercolor & Acrylic; 2nd year running!) and Carl Rubidue (Saucy Skillet).

All in all, I think this is a spectacular event. I personally didn't feel like I fit in at this event (very upper-crust society), but it was fun nonetheless. Definitely a special occasion sort of thing. I would bring a date next time, because I'm not so good at socializing at these events.

Second Source Account End.



Saturday, August 22, 2015

Straw Market

Straw Market

390 4th Ave, Salt Lake City, UT 84103
TL;DR 
- Price: Below $10
- Flavor: Breakfast, hearty
- Filling?: Yes
- Parking: Reasonable


Parking seems pretty solid. They have their own, but it's in the avenues so you have the neighborhood parking possibility, too.

The building is fairly small but the way they've set up their tables makes for a very spacious situation.







They showcase their sweets right next to the counter, so be aware of that temptation.


Prices are super low. I think the most expensive single item was $6.


I ordered the short breakfast with cinnamon roll in lieu of toast, and the breakfast quiche.






Hash browns are super crispy. Is there such a thing as too crispy? I don't think so.

The eggs are huge! Over easy, a little different from how I'm used to, but wonderfully fluffy.

The breakfast quiche has a very bold, cheesy flavor. The sausage up top is very flavorful and works in concert with the cheese very well. The crust is nice and flaky. Recognize that they only have breakfast quiche when they "feel like it", so ask the friendly cashier/server.

The famous cinnamon roll was excellent. It's not too sweet; The sweetness did not cover the cinnamon flavor, which was great. The actual roll was a little tougher than I imagined, providing for a very hearty dessert.

I think this is a great place to stop by for a quick, economical, simple, and tasty breakfast. 
Straw Market Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Bruges - Sugarhouse

Bruges

2314 E Highland Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84106
TL;DR 
- Price: $8 - $15
- Flavor: Dessert
- Filling?: Big snack or Meal
- Parking: ?Sketchy?




















Firstly, I'd like to note that parking is sketchy here. There are a couple lots nearby, but I do not know if they're open to Bruges customers. I ended up parking on the street curbside. Do not let the parking deter you, the food is great.




















Upon entry, I really noted how bold and beautiful Bruges is decorated. Even their menu is set up in a very visually pleasing manner.





















I ordered The Bruges Favorite. This is the one I would see most often on Instagram, so I thought, "It must be good, right?" It was a Liege Waffle with Fresh Strawberries and Creme Fraiche.




















The waffle was sweet and perfectly crisp. They give you tons of strawberries, which are wonderfully fresh and delectable! The Creme Fraiche is excellent.

Definitely coming back. The waffles are incredible. I'd like to try their other waffles as well as their fries (which I've heard are the bomb). Seems like a wonderful date location, too.


Bruges Waffles & Frites Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Tsunami

Tsunami

2223 E Highland Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84106

TL;DR 
- Price: $20+
- Flavor: Japanese with a little Utah flair
- Filling?: Depends
- Parking: Great















I was seated incredibly quickly. I really liked their décor.


















Upon first pass-thru of their menu, I was struck by their large Veggie Roll section. Way to roll with the times, Tsunami!




















I opted for the Skewer Trio, the Aloha Roll, Albacore Sashimi, and the Shrimp Udon Lunch Special with the mixed green salad.




















Mixed green salad was pretty straightforward. The house sesame dressing gave it a little Asian flair as opposed to a regular salad. Fresh greens, hard to go wrong here.



















The Skewer Trio was pretty solid for the price ($5.99).

Beef - A little on the chewy side for my liking, but the flavor was pretty good.

Salmon - Less flavorful than the beef (to be expected) but the texture was on point. It wasn't dry, which is a common concern with cooked salmon dishes. Nice work.

Chicken - The star of this appetizer. The teriyaki was solid, particularly with the little ginger caress at the end (not a kick, just a caress, so a little more suitable for the general public).
















Second Source Report:
The Udon was pretty good. Not outstanding, but I would order it again. The tempura mushroom was excellent, very juicy. The tempura shrimp was good; the shrimp was very fresh. The tempura onion was a little soggy, surprising considering how well done the rest of the tempura was.
Second Source Report End.





















The aloha roll - Spicy tuna is my weakness so I had to have this. The little mango bit is pretty interesting, just adding a little sour but not as sweet as I would have hoped. I would've liked a little more spicyness here. When the little bit of jalapeño is around, I love it. But it's not always there. I feel the sour and spicy combination could be something great, though. Definitely has potential.






















I was suggested to order the Albacore Sashimi by my very friendly server, on account of it being available only a few months out of the year. Great suggestion! The sashimi slices are pretty substantial for the price ($5.99). The albacore tasted very fresh. Thumbs up here, definitely.







Tsunami was pretty good. I'd like to return to give their interesting sashimi options a try, such as Utah Elk Loin and Cured Scottish Salmon.


Tsunami - Sugar House Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Saturday, August 8, 2015

Sabor Latino

Sabor Latino

3053 State Street #1, South Salt Lake, UT 84115
TL;DR 
- Price: Less than $15 (I only got a few things)
- Flavor: Latin
- Filling?: Absolutely
- Parking: Surprisingly good (came at 4:00 pm)

Sabor Latino is a pretty small place on State Street. Parking was surprisingly good, but I did come at an off time.

I was suggested this place by a friend, and to expect a hole-in-the-wall sort of place. It was a bit dark, so I apologize some of my photos are blurry.






































I ordered a Loroco with cheese Pupusa, a Cheese Empanada, a Grilled Chicken Taco, and a Carne Asada Taco. 




















The Loroco with Cheese Pupusa - I was told loroco is like cilantro. Very strong flavor in the coleslaw-like dish. It took me a bit to get used to it. The loroco is very powerful and really refreshing. Loroco has almost a mint kick that hits when you least expect it.







The Cheese Empanada - Wow, really hot and fresh. Supremely crisp. Cheese melted to perfection.
Server provided a bottle of greenish white sauce. I heard it was mayo, garlic, and cilantro. It tasted really good on the Empanada. 



















The Tacos - Both had lots of greens in them. Very fresh taste. The Carne Asada was very savory and flavorful. Their Grilled Chicken wasn't dry, which is normally a concern when it comes to grilled chicken.



I need to say how tempting it is to put the green sauce on everything because it is that darn good. It's like fry sauce.

Whether for a meal or a light afternoon snack, Sabor Latino is a great place to go. Cheese Empanadas, every single time. Loroco with Cheese Pupusa if you're feeling a little more adventurous. Tacos to fill you up.
Sabor Latino Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato