The Spirit Award
Tracey Thompson of Vine Lore
Wine maven and spirit whisperer Tracey Thompson is everywhere. As the President and CEO of Vine Lore Wine and Spirits, Tracey and her team are seen at top-shelf events around the city, where they share wine knowledge and, well, wine. She is first and foremost a wine educator who scours the globe to ensure unique wines and spirits are on the shelf at Utah Liquor stores and she does it with the spirit, fitting of
this award. vinelore.com
Random Pink Award
Girls Who Smash
Couple duo Cami and Carly are smashing the patriarchal divide in the burger world, one golden patty at a time. Their bubblegum pink food truck business, Girls Who Smash, doles out classic smash burgers dripping with pepperoncini, caramelized onions and their signature smash sauce. Find them popping up at farmers’ markets, coffee shops and community events—follow the hiss of the griddle and the unmistakable sound of delicious rebellion. @girlswhosmashslc
The Big Cheese Award
Caputo’s
Tony Caputo was the big cheese in a lot of ways. He was a cheesy guy, of course, a loveable character who, naturally, loved a nice bite of cheese. He instilled his cheesy values in his son, Matt, who carries on the family tradition of bringing the global world of cheese to Utah. The commitment to this effort is demonstrated in the extensive caving and aging program at Caputo’s that is unrivaled in the state. Caputo’s employs a full-time cheesemonger, Antonia Horne, who carefully oversees the microbes in the many cheeses resting within the caves. Caputo’s has created a living laboratory that creates its own flavors by the comingling of cheesy microbes. The carefully tended refrigerated spaces develop a unique terroir that makes one-of-a-kind cheese, unique in the world. For achievements in cheese, we award Matt and the Caputo’s team our Big Cheese Award. Tony would be proud. caputos.com
Knives Without Borders
Sam Pew’s Secret Pizza Club
A trend that we hope continues: Creative uses of commercial spaces in what would otherwise be off hours. In this case, a hat tip to phenomenal Leavity Bread & Coffee for handing over the keys to chef Sam Pew for his long-running Secret Pizza Club biweekly pop-up. In this economy? It just makes business sense to refine a business model and build a customer base, without the full-time pressure (and 24/7 rent) of a traditional brick-and-mortar. Win-win. Follow the trail to the not-so Secret Pizza Club on Instagram @sammakespizza_slc.
The Blue Plate Award
Veneto
Marco and Amy Stevoni, are best known for their passionate celebration of northeastern Italian cuisine. Last November, though, after the government shutdown caused 86,000 families in Utah to lose SNAP benefits. Veneto raised money for the Neighborhood House and offered free caprese pasta to families for pickup during the crisis. venetoslc.com
Golden Spoon for Hospitality
Chef Nick Zocco and the team at Urban Hill
Since opening Urban Hill in 2022, Chef Nick Zocco and his all-star cast of service standouts have won over our hearts— and stomachs—many times over. A night out at Urban Hill never fails to deliver a feeling of prestige and geniality, a sentiment shared by panelist Kendall Rodriguez, who says: “If you want a night that feels special, where every detail matters, Urban Hill delivers.” The team operates as a seamless collective, fielding niche questions about purveyors and wines, snapping UH-branded Polaroids for celebratory diners and anticipating needs before they’re ever voiced. On the table, Chef Zocco’s Southwestern sensibility brings the heat in all the right ways, layering piquant, soul-warming flavors that keep us happily coming back for more. urban-hill.com
This year’s 2026 Dining Awards is a showcase of the best experiences across Utah’s foodscape, and a reminder that each recommendation is a promise. A human-to-human promise. An assurance that a restaurant we say is amazing, is amazing. As you consider your next celebratory meal or casual weeknight outing, here’s your menu of Salt Lake’s 2026 gustatory darlings. The food is thoughtful, the hospitality is warm and the chefs care deeply about the dishes on your table.We promise.
