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Christie Porter and Jeremy Pugh

A Deep Dive into Ice Cream in Utah

By Eat & Drink

Even before Wallace Stevens penned the poem “The Emperor of Ice-Cream” in 1992, ice cream had long been a beloved sweet treat—a favorite of America’s founding fathers—served at many occasions (thankfully, not just at funerals, as is the case in the poem). But ice cream was not the first frozen dessert! Its progenitors and variations are many. Here’s your guide to telling a gelato from a custard and every frozen treat in between. Oh, and of course, where to find them in Utah.

Ice Cream

History: In 1790, the first-known U.S. ice cream (or “iced cream,” as it was sometimes called) parlor opened in New York, and, prior to that, it was a favorite treat of America’s founding fathers. Dolley Madison was particularly keen on oyster ice cream. Thomas Jefferson’s ice cream recipe, alternatively, calls for vanilla. We’ll leave it to you to guess which of those flavors caught on.

What you need to know: A simple combination of cream, sugar (or another sweetener), flavoring and (sometimes) eggs. Who Does It Best? 

  • Leatherby’s, 1872 W. 5400 South, Taylorsville, 304 E. University Parkway, Orem; 372 E. 12300 South, Draper, leatherbys.com

Sherbet

History: The word dates back to the 16th century in the Middle East, where it was described as an icy drink often flavored with fruit. 

What you need to know: A frozen blend of cream or milk, sugar, fruit and ice. And, it’s sherbet not “sherbert.” 

Who Does It Best?

Sorbet

History: The first known recipe for sorbet, or “sorbetto” as it was called, dates back to Italy in the 17th century, which some culinary historians consider the first “official” ice cream. 

What you need to know: Typically a blend of fruit and ice with sweeteners like honey or sugar; usually dairy-free. 

Who Does It Best? 

  • Sweetaly Gelato, 2245 E. Murray Holladay Rd., Holladay; 1527 S. 1500 East, SLC, sweetaly.com
  • Color Ridge Farm & Creamery, 135 E. Main St., Torrey, colorridge.com

Gelato

History: In 1686, the café Il Procope opened in Paris, introducing gelato. The owner, a Sicilian named Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli, became known as the Father of Italian Gelato.

What you need to know: Compared to traditional ice cream, which is made with cream, gelato is made with whole milk and is less airy with a smoother texture. 

Who Does It Best? 

  • Sweetaly Gelato, 2245 E. Murray Holladay Rd., Holladay; 1527 S. 1500 East, SLC, sweetaly.com

Frozen Custard

History: Frozen custard likely traces its roots to Coney Island, in 1919.

What you need to know: Traditionally, ice cream is made with sugar, cream and eggs, but, in modern times, binders like Xanthum Gum have replaced the eggs. Not so with frozen custard, which contains egg yolks, and has a denser, creamier consistency.

Who Does It Best? 

Novelty Ice Cream

History: From push-pops to sandwiches to waffle tacos, ice cream can come in just about any shape and complement just about any culinary companion. Ice cream has a proverbial menagerie of varied and colorful children. 

What you need to know:  Eat ice cream with your cereal, in between two gooey cookies, frozen by liquid nitrogen, bathed in an espresso shot, or any other way you can possibly imagine. Unsurprisingly, there’s a lot of novelty ice cream shops in Utah.

Who Does It Best? 

  • Monkeywrench, vegan ice cream, 53 E. Gallivan Ave., SLC, (Instagram)
    @monkeywrench_slc

Frozen Yogurt

History: While yogurt has been around for thousands of years, frozen yogurt was probably born in the 1970s. 

What you need to know: Basically ice cream with at least some of the milk in the mix replaced with yogurt and the addition of yogurt cultures, making “frogurt” a bit more tart. 

Who Does It Best? 

Soft-Serve

History: There are several competing claims about who first invented soft-serve ice cream, but Americans have enjoyed it since the 1940s. 

What you need to know: It’s basically just semi-melted ice cream, but it can contain more air than traditional ice cream, making soft-serve a bit foamier. 

Who Does It Best? 


See more stories like this and all of our Food and Drink coverage. And while you’re here, why not subscribe and get six annual issues of Salt Lake magazine’s curated guide to the best life in Utah?

A Deep Dive into Ice Cream in Utah

By Eat & Drink

Even before Wallace Stevens penned the poem “The Emperor of Ice-Cream” in 1992, ice cream had long been a beloved sweet treat—a favorite of America’s founding fathers—served at many occasions (thankfully, not just at funerals, as is the case in the poem). But ice cream was not the first frozen dessert! Its progenitors and variations are many. Here’s your guide to telling a gelato from a custard and every frozen treat in between. Oh, and of course, where to find them in Utah.

Ice Cream

History: In 1790, the first-known U.S. ice cream (or “iced cream,” as it was sometimes called) parlor opened in New York, and, prior to that, it was a favorite treat of America’s founding fathers. Dolley Madison was particularly keen on oyster ice cream. Thomas Jefferson’s ice cream recipe, alternatively, calls for vanilla. We’ll leave it to you to guess which of those flavors caught on.

What you need to know: A simple combination of cream, sugar (or another sweetener), flavoring and (sometimes) eggs. Who Does It Best? 

  • Leatherby’s, 1872 W. 5400 South, Taylorsville, 304 E. University Parkway, Orem; 372 E. 12300 South, Draper, leatherbys.com

Sherbet

History: The word dates back to the 16th century in the Middle East, where it was described as an icy drink often flavored with fruit. 

What you need to know: A frozen blend of cream or milk, sugar, fruit and ice. And, it’s sherbet not “sherbert.” 

Who Does It Best?

Sorbet

History: The first known recipe for sorbet, or “sorbetto” as it was called, dates back to Italy in the 17th century, which some culinary historians consider the first “official” ice cream. 

What you need to know: Typically a blend of fruit and ice with sweeteners like honey or sugar; usually dairy-free. 

Who Does It Best? 

  • Sweetaly Gelato, 2245 E. Murray Holladay Rd., Holladay; 1527 S. 1500 East, SLC, sweetaly.com
  • Color Ridge Farm & Creamery, 135 E. Main St., Torrey, colorridge.com

Gelato

History: In 1686, the café Il Procope opened in Paris, introducing gelato. The owner, a Sicilian named Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli, became known as the Father of Italian Gelato.

What you need to know: Compared to traditional ice cream, which is made with cream, gelato is made with whole milk and is less airy with a smoother texture. 

Who Does It Best? 

  • Sweetaly Gelato, 2245 E. Murray Holladay Rd., Holladay; 1527 S. 1500 East, SLC, sweetaly.com

Frozen Custard

History: Frozen custard likely traces its roots to Coney Island, in 1919.

What you need to know: Traditionally, ice cream is made with sugar, cream and eggs, but, in modern times, binders like Xanthum Gum have replaced the eggs. Not so with frozen custard, which contains egg yolks, and has a denser, creamier consistency.

Who Does It Best? 

Novelty Ice Cream

History: From push-pops to sandwiches to waffle tacos, ice cream can come in just about any shape and complement just about any culinary companion. Ice cream has a proverbial menagerie of varied and colorful children. 

What you need to know:  Eat ice cream with your cereal, in between two gooey cookies, frozen by liquid nitrogen, bathed in an espresso shot, or any other way you can possibly imagine. Unsurprisingly, there’s a lot of novelty ice cream shops in Utah.

Who Does It Best? 

  • Monkeywrench, vegan ice cream, 53 E. Gallivan Ave., SLC, (Instagram)
    @monkeywrench_slc

Frozen Yogurt

History: While yogurt has been around for thousands of years, frozen yogurt was probably born in the 1970s. 

What you need to know: Basically ice cream with at least some of the milk in the mix replaced with yogurt and the addition of yogurt cultures, making “frogurt” a bit more tart. 

Who Does It Best? 

Soft-Serve

History: There are several competing claims about who first invented soft-serve ice cream, but Americans have enjoyed it since the 1940s. 

What you need to know: It’s basically just semi-melted ice cream, but it can contain more air than traditional ice cream, making soft-serve a bit foamier. 

Who Does It Best? 


See more stories like this and all of our Food and Drink coverage. And while you’re here, why not subscribe and get six annual issues of Salt Lake magazine’s curated guide to the best life in Utah?

BSK_Experiences_Yurt_Fondue_Lifestyle_2021_7

Live Music, Spa Days and More—Experiences To Gift Your Loved Ones This Holiday Season

By Lifestyle

We have all been there. Standing at a picked-over rack of neckties in a crowded mall department store, debating over navy with a red pattern or red with a navy pattern, we start to wonder, “Wait. Did I get Dad a tie for Christmas last year? Or was it socks?” Regardless, he has more socks and ties than anyone who works from home could ever need. In fact, maybe we all have too much stuff. But what do you give for the holidays without adding to the clutter? Something that shows you actually love—and maybe even like—these people? 

As kids, whenever we asked our moms what they wanted for Christmas she would always say, “Time together with my beautiful children.” We would always roll our eyes. How do you gift-wrap “time together” and put it under a Christmas tree, anyhow? Nowadays, we’re starting to think she was on to something. You might have to get creative with how you wrap up these presents to open up on Christmas morning, but they give the opportunity for something truly priceless: quality time together and memories to last a lifetime.

Photo courtesy of Deer Valley

Tickets to Live Events

For the music buff and the sports fan—nothing quite beats the excitement of a live concert, performance or game. Become their favorite person with five simple words, “I’ve already got us tickets.” 

A Music Lover’s Retreat 

Park City has no shortage of summer music venues, but the centerpiece has to be the Deer Valley Music Festival, where good vibes and fresh air (and tunes) can always be had. Locals flock to the hills for the eclectic season at Deer Valley’s Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater, but why not make a little getaway out of it? Deer Valley Resort has lodgings available just steps away from the amphitheater, and the Utah Symphony, which puts on the festival, offers gift cards for the music lover in your life. deervalleymusicfestival.org, deervalley.com, usuo.org

The Salt Lake Bee’s at Smith’s Ballpark

Summertime at the Ballpark 

Although we were all sad to hear the news that the Salt Lake Bees, the major league affiliate to the Los Angeles Angels, is going to be uprooted and moved to Daybreak. There are two more seasons of Bees baseball to be had in Salt Lake City. The Bees offer holiday specials on packs of vouchers for less than $100 that can be redeemed at any game for the best available seats (which are plentiful).
bees.spinzo.com

Members-Only Garden Party 

Anyone who has ever raced strangers to be the first to claim a patch of grass at a Red Butte show knows that a membership to the gardens makes all the difference. When trying to secure a ticket to one of the high-demand shows, it’s basically a must. And gifting a membership is easy. In addition to advance tickets to shows, most levels of Red Butte Garden memberships include benefits like admission to the beautiful Red Butte Gardens for 12 months, access to member-only events and discounts on classes and summer camps. It really is a gift that keeps on giving. redbuttegarden.org

Health, Wellness, and Escape 

Whether you’re looking for a gift for an overworked professional and/or parent, nothing says you care like “Why don’t you take the day off?” The following gift experiences are all about self-care—unplug, de-stress, relax and recover from life.

Snowshoeing meets Yoga 

Park City Yoga Adventures leads guests on guided snowshoeing excursions through Wasatch Mountain State Park’s snow-flocked Gambel Oak stands to a cozy yurt for an hour-long yoga sesh. Go for a post-asana dinner at The Galleria in Midway, where you can reserve one of their chic snowglobes for a party of up to six people. —Melissa Fields

Spa Days 

  • The Grand Spa at The Grand America

The Grand has always made it a point to cater to locals and the Grand Spa is no exception, offering deals and staycation packages. Give a gift card for a spa treatment (starting at $100 and afterward relax in the indoor and outdoor pools and lounge in the heart of Salt Lake City, while wearing a robe, of course. grandamerica.com

  • Edge Sanctuary at The Lodge at Blue Sky

With all the fuss about the popular show Yellowstone, a “cowboy moment” happening. The Blue Sky Lodge is smack dab in “Dutton” country. (A stretch of river where the Lodge takes guests for fly fishing lessons was used as a location in the show.) Fittingly, its Edge Sanctuary has some Western twang to it. Offering treatments accented with wild-harvested ingredients and a relaxation pool overlooking Alexander Creek. In addition, you can book fly-fishing lessons, “natural horsemanship” classes or blast shotguns on Blue Sky’s sporting clay range. That’s right. Serenity and firearms.
aubergeresorts.com/bluesky

  • The Stillwell Spa at Snowpine Lodge

Six treatment rooms compose the tranquil Stillwell spa along with a posh relaxation room and a serenely lit grotto replete with a plunge pool encased in granite walls. A yoga and fitness center add to the rejuvenating experience. Swen’s Restaurant indulges with breathtaking mountain views and delicious, locally sourced fare. Similarly sited nearby, The Gulch Pub cheers with creative cocktails and a relaxed, après-ski menu. Lounges on every floor invite convivial gatherings and The Nest—a fully equipped game room—invites fun off-the-slopes competition. A large, heated outdoor pool treats guests to dips surrounded by breathtaking scenery. snowpine.com  


Looking for a gift for the foodie in your life? Check out our gift guide for unique dining experiences!

Yurt-Dining-2

Dining Experiences, Cooking Classes and More — An Experience Gift Guide

By Eat & Drink

We have all been there. Standing at a picked-over rack of neckties in a crowded mall department store, debating over navy with a red pattern or red with a navy pattern, we start to wonder, “Wait. Did I get Dad a tie for Christmas last year? Or was it socks?” Regardless, he has more socks and ties than anyone who works from home could ever need. In fact, maybe we all have too much stuff. But what do you give for the holidays without adding to the clutter? Something that shows you actually love—and maybe even like—these people? 

As kids, whenever we asked our moms what they wanted for Christmas she would always say, “Time together with my beautiful children.” We would always roll our eyes. How do you gift-wrap “time together” and put it under a Christmas tree, anyhow? Nowadays, we’re starting to think she was on to something. You might have to get creative with how you wrap up these presents to open up on Christmas morning, but they give the opportunity for something truly priceless: quality time together and memories to last a lifetime.

Singular Dining Experiences

A romantic dinner for two after a snowy, moonlit forest hike or a warm gathering with friends to share good food and warm conversation, either way it’s hard to go wrong with gifting one of these unique dining experiences to someone you love this holiday season. 

A romantic dinner ‘yurt’ sure to remember 

The stretch of canvas above and a roaring fire keep the elements at bay as groups of friends or, perhaps, a private party of two get lost in the aromas of a hot meal. It’s intimate and romantic and there are multiple ways to experience the gift of dining in a yurt in Utah. The mountainside Yurt at Solitude Mountain Resort is home to the highly sought-after evening experience that begins with a guided snowshoe tour through a snow-capped forest and ends with a multi-course dinner in the warm and cozy comfort of The Yurt. The Wilderness Access Outfitters’ Nordic Yurt Dinner experience likewise takes diners on a half-mile, guided evening snowshoeing tour through Soldier Hollow in Midway. Then, they receive a private fine dining experience with a four-course meal. Before the night is over, guests are invited to make s’mores by the fire. The Viking Yurt at Park City Mountain Resort melds rustic sensibilities and fine dining. The four-hour dining experience is exclusive and meticulously paced. The preamble is a moonlit sleigh ride to the on-mountain yurt. Gift cards are available for the Nordic Yurt Dinner.
solitudemountain.com, waoutah.com, thevikingyurt.com

Cooking Classes Utah
Dining at the Soldier Hollow Nordic Yurt. Photo courtesy of WAO.

Snowglobe-trotting 

For the people who love the idea of dining in a yurt, but would rather skip the snowshoeing and possible strangers, there’s the picturesque Alpenglobe. This European trend became all the rage in Utah during the social distancing of the pandemic, but they have shown some staying power. After all, who doesn’t want to dine outdoors, enjoying the beauty of winter, while staying toasty warm? These in-demand dining experiences can be found at Franck’s Restaurant in Holladay, Westgate Resort in Park City, Butcher’s Chop House & Bar in Park City and Stein Eriksen Lodge In Deer Valley.
francksfood.com, steinlodge.com

A spirit guide 

Imagine gifting your group of discerning booze-hound friends with a customized van tour of their favorite Utah distilleries. You can do just that with Utah Spirit Trail, which provides a knowledgeable guide to lead guests on their spirit journey. If wine is more their speed, the Utah Wine Trail awaits. Road trip through Southern Utah with a Trail Pass to tastings at five local wineries. (There’s a prize at the end after you visit all five locations.) For those lovers of beers and brews, Visit Salt Lake offers a Brewery Pass that grants a $5 credit that can be used toward any drink, food or merch at each of the 15 breweries on the pass.
offutahspirittrail.com, utahwinetrail.com, visitsaltlake.com

Knowledge to Last a Lifetime

Taking a class or workshop to gain a new skill or improve an existing one is a worthwhile endeavor—especially for the people in our lives who never want to stop learning. Not to mention, taking a class together can be an intimate and fun bonding activity for friends, couples parents and their adult children. 

Foodie Fun + Chocolate 

While Caputo’s offers classes ranging from cocktail making to cooking an entire Italian Christmas dinner, what this stalwart Italian market and deli is best known for, in terms of its education offerings, is its craft chocolate tasting classes where participants learn what separates good chocolate from mind-blowing chocolate. caputos.com  —Mellissa Fields

Lessons to impress 

If your friends are the types who hungrily devour knowledge about their favorite topics to later captivate and impress groups at parties or work functions (and one of those favorite topics also happens to be wine or cocktails) this is for them. Sommelier and educator James Santangelo of the Wine Academy of Utah is an animated repository of knowledge about wine, spirits and many adjacent subjects. Gift your friends a class on wine pairings or rum and chocolate or whiskey and cigars. In-home tasting events are also available.
wineacademyofutah.com, continue.utah.edu

Cooking Classes Utah
HERC adult hiphop dance class. Photo courtesy of HERC.

Dancing the night away 

The HERC at 1520 Arts in South Salt Lake has excellent programming for people who are still kids at heart…and like to groove. Their Adult Hiphop Dance Class is perfect for complete beginners and for people who are looking to boogie. They also offer art and DJ courses.
slcherc.com.

A green thumb 

Cactus and Tropicals is already one of our favorite places to buy plants and plant supplies for the “plant parents” in our lives. They are also a home for customers to learn what they should do with all of those plants and supplies. Check out their website for upcoming classes.
cactusandtropicals.com

Going full hog 

Full disclosure, this class is for people who like to learn hands-on (and aren’t too squeamish). In Beltex’s Whole Hog butchery class, students learn how to cut, saw, snap and chop a whole hog into cuts for a variety of cooking methods. Yes. Learn how to butcher a whole hog.
beltexmeats.com

Cooking Classes Utah
Beltex Whole Hog Butchery Class. Photos Cali Warner

Flying High 

The closest some of us are going to get to being Brad Pitt or Robert Redford is reenacting scenes from A River Runs Through It. In the novella and film, fly fishing bridges the relationship between the two brothers. Of course, Montana isn’t the only place to fly fish. There are excellent places to develop the skill all over Utah. Western Rivers Fly Fishing offers a range of classes for all levels, as well as Private Fly Casting Lessons.
Gift Cards are available at westernriversflyfishing.com


Still looking for a gift? Check out our list of staycations and outdoor adventures!

Snowboarders-Standing-Enjoying-View

Outdoor Adventures and Staycations—An Experiential Gift Guide

By Adventures, Outdoors

We have all been there. Standing at a picked-over rack of neckties in a crowded mall department store, debating over navy with a red pattern or red with a navy pattern, we start to wonder, “Wait. Did I get Dad a tie for Christmas last year? Or was it socks?” Regardless, he has more socks and ties than anyone who works from home could ever need. In fact, maybe we all have too much stuff. But what do you give for the holidays without adding to the clutter? Something that shows you actually love—and maybe even like—these people? 

As kids, whenever we asked our moms what they wanted for Christmas she would always say, “Time together with my beautiful children.” We would always roll our eyes. How do you gift-wrap “time together” and put it under a Christmas tree, anyhow? Nowadays, we’re starting to think she was on to something. You might have to get creative with how you wrap up these presents to open up on Christmas morning, but they give the opportunity for something truly priceless: quality time together and memories to last a lifetime.

Into the Woods: Outdoor Adventures from Mild to Wild

Whether your people are backpack-in-the-mountains-for-a-week kind of people or just enjoy-the-scenery kind of people, there’s an outdoor adventure (and a gift) that is just right for them.

A License to Give 

For the intrepid outdoorsman, this is a simple but thoughtful gift. Did you know that Utah State hunting and fishing licenses and permits can be purchased as gifts? Now you do. And it’s not just for the warmer seasons. There are several hunts in Utah during the winter, and don’t forget about ice fishing! wildlife.utah.gov

A Zippy Tour 

What better way to see Utah than while strapped in a harness, suspended from cable dozens of feet from the ground? We all have a thrill seeker in our lives. This is for them. Sundance Resort’s ZipTour offers stunning views of Mount Timpanogos and includes the biggest vertical drop of any zipline in the country. In Heber, Zipline Utah’s “Screaming Falcon Full Tour” is apparently the longest course in the world. Bridgerland Adventure Park near Bear Lake has zip lines and ropes tours and something called a “Zorb Ball” (a floating hamster ball for people) on Bear Lake. And for tours soaring over Moab’s red-rock scenery, there’s Ravens Rim or Moab Adventure Center.
sundanceresort.com, ziplineutah.com, blap.rocks, ravensrim.com, moabadventurecenter.com

Zion Narrows (in Winter) 

Exploring the famed Narrows of Zion National Park in winter is a truly unique experience. The park, woefully crowded in the summer, is practically empty in winter and crawling upriver below the towering cliff walls, coated in ice is pure splendor. Book a guided or self-guided tour at Zion Outfitter or Zion Adventures in Springdale. Tours come with dry suit rentals that will keep you warm and toasty. 
zionoutfitter.com, zionadventures.com

Every Park, One Pass 

This is for the person who packs up their 10-year-old Subaru to go hiking or camping every other weekend. Utah is home to five national parks, seven national monuments and even more national recreation areas, and you can give your friend free, unfettered access to all of them for an entire year with the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass (as well as access to every NPS area in the U.S.). The pass pays for itself after visiting just three parks. If you really like this person, you can also throw in a Utah State Parks Annual Pass, which provides access to Utah’s 44 state parks.
usparkpass.com, parkspass.utah.gov

Backcountry Ski Tour 

This is for the expert skier (sorry snowboarders, it’s a ski-only thing). The Ski Utah Interconnect Adventure Tour connects up to six Utah ski resorts through backcountry terrain. This adventure includes walking, hiking, traversing, and, yes, skiing. The tour guides are experts, trained in snow safety and backcountry etiquette. Your gift recipient will be in good hands. Open and private tours are available as well as preset and custom routes.
skiutah.com

Experience Gifts Utah
CRATE Grand Canyon River Tour. Photo courtesy of CRATE Grand Canyon River Tours.

The Trip of a Lifetime 

A rafting trip down the Grand Canyon is truly one of the world’s most incredible outdoor adventures. People wait for years to get a permit and only a few guide companies are allowed to run the river. One of the oldest and best outfits, Colorado River & Trail Expeditions (CRATE), offers 8- and 14-day trips (motorized and non-motorized) down the Colorado River through one of the wonders of the natural world. CRATE offers customized gift certificates. If your loved one likes white water thrills, the ideal time to go May through June. You’ll want to put this in a big box. Call 800-253-7328 or visit crateinc.com

Staycations in Utah: Explore Your Own Backyard

While gifting an international getaway might not be feasible, staycations tend to be more friendly both in planning and affordability. In our own backyard, we have chic mountain suites and modern hotels that cater to adventurers both urban and rural, for potential surprise weekend trips. 

Climbing to great heights in the Granary 

This is for your friend or partner who, let’s face it, hasn’t seemed to realize they’re a little too cool for you. The Granary District is swiftly joining Central 9th as one of Salt Lake City’s trendiest up-and-coming neighborhoods. The outdoor music venue Granary Live just opened this summer and, while two tickets to a live concert at the cool new venue make for a great gift on their own, why not include a place to crash after? EVO Hotel has an on-site coffee shop serving local coffee, a rooftop bar, an art campus—oh, and an on-site skate park and climbing gym. Your cool friend about town can cool down with a public art stroll through the Granary, where 12 new murals are on display.
granarylive.com, evohotel.com, thegranarydistrict.com

Experience Gifts Utah
Evo Hotel has become a magnet for all ages of skateboarding enthusiasts who are drawn to a first in Utah, a skatepark within a boutique hotel. Photo courtesy of Evo Hotel

Adventure to Park City 

A staycation at Canyons Village in Park City serves as a great base for the gift of family adventure in any season—with access to hiking, biking, lifts, skiing and snowboarding. You also don’t have to go far (just outside your hotel room door) for shops, restaurants and entertainment (like year-round fireworks shows and the perfect venue for kids’ pizza parties), not to mention a mountainside golf course. If you’re looking to gift a close-to-home ski trip for a busy family, the Epic Day Pass’s flexibility makes for the complete gift package. And we haven’t forgotten about the kiddos! The Epic SchoolKids Utah Pack is a program for local kids in Kindergarten through 5th Grade that includes five days of free skiing and riding at Park City.
parkcitymountain.com, epicpass.com

Thanksgiving Weekend in Utah
Ice Skating at Gallivan Center. Photo by Austen Diamond, Visit Salt Lake

A Weekend on Broadway (in Salt Lake) 

The plays: MJ or Pretty Woman at the Eccles on night one, and Plan B’s Balthazar on night two. Stay at the newly renovated Hotel Monaco. Make dinner reservations at the Monaco’s Bambara, led by new chef Patrick LeBeau or head over to the funky, speakeasy-esque The Rest. Spend the day in-between shows soaking up downtown’s magical wintertime vibe by ice skating on Gallivan Center Ice Rink, going to the top of the Hyatt Regency for Cocktails & Curling, sipping an expertly made cappuccino at Three Pines Coffee or having afternoon tea at The Rose Establishment. For a post-show aperitif, we recommend a craft cocktail at Post Office Place or a round of Space Invaders and a draft beer at Quarters Arcade. —Melissa Fields


COVER-WT0C0104

Comfort Food Favorite: Red Iguana

By Eat & Drink

Comfort, it turns out, is not relative, at least with food. No matter the cuisine or the culture that any given dish springs from, it will contain one neurological common denominator, buried in the primal place in our brains: Nostalgia

In search of Salt Lake’s best comfort food, we asked six restaurateurs and chefs what comfort food means to them. In our final edition, we spoke to the minds behind Red Iguana about their nuanced comfort meals that stem from family legacy.

The People: Lucy Cardenas and Bill Coker

The Restaurant: Red Iguana and Red Iguana 2

Lucy Cardenas and Bill Coker. Photo by Adam Finkle

Lucy Cardenas grew up in her family’s restaurants, eating some of the same dishes she still serves today at Red Iguana and Red Iguana 2. “Comfort food always reminds me of something in your childhood. My father’s chile verde was the best,” she says. “My family has been serving my father’s chile verde since 1965 along with my mother’s rice.” Still, her take on the potential of comfort food is nuanced, “Comfort food isn’t any one thing. I think it’s very individual. Some people grow up having beans all of the time, and now they never want to eat beans. I could eat a plate of beans every day.” If you’ve had their beans, you probably would too.

When it came to putting together the perfect comfort meal, Cardenas and her partner Bill Coker were hard-pressed not to name their entire menu. “We have as many as nine moles,” says Coker. Mole is a thick, spicy sauce that can stand on its own or top enchiladas and other dishes, typically made from fruits, nuts and chili peppers. “We also make pozole a few times a week.” Pozole is a warm bowl of fragrant goodness—a stew made from pork, hominy and chili peppers. Coker also finds comfort in their hongos al ajillo, “It’s mushrooms sauteed in garlic and butter and a good-looking side dish.” And for dessert? “Sopapillas…or our flan,” he says.

Cardenas’ comfort food focus is more dialed in. “Huevos,” she says. “Anything with an egg.” Her description of their Sunrise Burrito is enough to put most people in a pleasant food coma: pork chile verde burritos that are also smothered in chile verde and melted jack cheese and topped with two eggs. Of course, it comes back to that chile verde, the recipe perfected by her father. “The chile verde is one of our most popular dishes. We have chef friends who have tried to emulate it and haven’t been successful.”

The chile verde, a family legacy,  has been on the menu since Cardenas’ parents Ramon and Maria opened their first restaurant in the Salt Lake Valley, Casa Grande, and the tradition continued when Red Iguana opened in 1985 with the motto “killer Mexican food.” Red Iguana 2 is the sequel to Red Iguana, just a few blocks away from its predecessor with the exact same menu. Cardenas and Coker, ignoring conventional wisdom, opened up the second location to help meet the staggering demand for the first, where people line up down the street to get a table. The second location offers diners a just-as-good-if-not-better alternative, when the wait at Red Iguana gets long, to get a comfortable seat rather than queuing up outside. Now, more than ten years later, the gamble seems to have paid off, and the Cardenas’ legacy killer comfort food lives on. “We’re excited to still be going after 37 years,” she says. “We’re just happy to be here.”  

If You Go…

Red Iguana 2

Sunday–Thursday open 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Friday–Saturday open 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

866 W. South Temple, SLC,
(801) 214-6050


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Comfort Food Favorite: Mazza

By Eat & Drink

Comfort, it turns out, is not relative, at least with food. No matter the cuisine or the culture that any given dish springs from, it will contain one neurological common denominator, buried in the primal place in our brains: Nostalgia

In search of Salt Lake’s best comfort food, we asked six restaurateurs and chefs what comfort food means to them. In this edition, Ali Sabbah shares his take on complex Lebanese cuisine made with love.

The Person: Ali Sabbah
The Restaurant: Mazza

Maghmoor (upper left), a stew of eggplants, garbanzo beans, tomatoes and onions braised in olive oil, aromatics and spices. served over our turmeric-infused Basmati rice. Green lentil and spinach soup (below) alongside a chutney a pot of Turkish coffee. Photo by Adam Finkle.

Mazza was the first place many native Utahns tried middle eastern food and we loved it. Now a whole host of falafel and shawarma spots dot the restaurant landscape but what continues to separate Mazza from the rest is its owner, Ali Sabbah.

Although, forced to close his other Salt Lake locations, the cozy spot on 15th and 15th that started it all maintains the standard Sabbah holds himself to. 

“We are not here to cut corners,” he says explaining that many other restaurants use pre-made shortcuts and frozen supplies. “We make our food, every day from scratch. I slice the lamb myself. In doing so we show respect for the dishes the tradition.” 

That tradition is a complex, layered cuisine that respects manual methods and originally comes from the boyhood tables of his childhood in Lebanon but ranges even father incorporating the diverse notes and nuances from around the middle eastern region. For example, one of the most comforting items on the Mazza menu: Chicken and Potatoes Mutabbak. “It is a simple dish in its presentation but it is quite complex,” Sabbah says. “The chicken is braised in our magic spice which contains more Lebanese flavors but we add tamarind to create the sauce. Tamarind is not commonly used in Lebanon. It’s more common in Iraq and the gulf. We create a dish that has a more complex middle eastern flavor.”

And then there’s the soup. Mazza’s red and green lentil soups scream comfort.

“I can’t get rid of either,” he says laughing. “I had the red lentil off the menu for a short period and a mother came in with her 8-year-old son and he started crying because he’d been craving ‘the red soup.’ I’d like to get in touch with her and let her know we have both soups!” 

Sabbah built both soups himself and their simple presentation belies many steps of layering spices and flavor. 

“Lentil soups are quite tricky,” he says. “They’re not meat-based so you can’t throw too many spices in there. Vegetarian soups require complexity to give them depth. You don’t just throw things together and hope for the best.” 

The best, Sabbah says, is often merely reliable and, yes, comforting. Thus you’ll find Ali in his comforting, simple cafe, behind the stove fussing over each dish, the same as it ever was.  

If You Go…

Mazza
1515 S. 1500 East, SLC, (801) 484-9259,
Open 4:30 to 9 p.m. (closed Sunday)


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Comfort Food Favorite: Maddox Ranch House

By Eat & Drink

Comfort, it turns out, is not relative, at least with food. No matter the cuisine or the culture that any given dish springs from, it will contain one neurological common denominator, buried in the primal place in our brains: Nostalgia

In search of Salt Lake’s best comfort food, we asked six restaurateurs and chefs what comfort food means to them. Read on for a traditional take from a Utah classic: Maddox Ranch House.

The Person: Irvin Maddox
The Restaurant: Maddox Ranch House

Maddox Chicken Fried Steak with all the fixins’. Photo by Adam Finkle.

During WWII, Irvin Maddox opened a seven-stool lunch counter on Main Street in Brigham City. As a welder, he fashioned a stove plate from an old coal oil burner, secured a used refrigerator and asked Wilma Kotter, who would eventually become Mrs. Maddox, to work as a hostess. A few years later, Maddox opened the Double “J” in Ogden. But he lived in Brigham and spied a bit of land in neighboring Perry, much closer to home, in what most folks thought of as “the middle of nowhere.” In 1949, he bought the land and built a log cabin on skids so it could be towed away if it didn’t pan out. It never moved, and three generations later, another Irvin Maddox (named after his grandfather) is at the helm of what has become a landmark Utah restaurant and Irvin the younger’s whole life. 

“After my father died (Steve, who ran the business after the original Maddox passed), I realized I was never going to find a better place to affect people in a positive way,” Maddox says. He threw himself into the family business he had inherited. 

And Maddox does indeed affect a lot of people. Each week the restaurant serves more than 15,000(!) customers. That’s right, 15 thousand. Some come to sit in the classic log cabin’s dining room or lunch counter, others pull up to the drive-in, still served by carhops, and others pick up a family meal to go on the way home. That loyalty speaks to the comfort the restaurant offers.

“We offer familiarity,” he says. “You know you’re going to have a great experience and that’s why we’ve been around for so long.” 

That familiarity is exactly what you think. Steaks and potatoes with all the fixin’s, famous fried chicken, housemade rolls served with honey butter and jelly. There’s even a seafood cocktail featuring crab with a “K.” (“That was my dad, he didn’t realize how kitschy fake seafood is but our customers won’t let me get rid of it,” Maddox says.) Don’t forget the pie and be sure to try the youngest Maddox’s own contribution to the third-generation menu, house-brewed birch root beer.  

If You Go…

Maddox Ranch House
1900 S. Highway 89, Perry, (435) 723-8545.

Open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
(Closed Sundays and Mondays)


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Comfort Food Favorite: Vertical Diner

By Eat & Drink

Comfort, it turns out, is not relative, at least with food. No matter the cuisine or the culture that any given dish springs from, it will contain one neurological common denominator, buried in the primal place in our brains: Nostalgia

In search of Salt Lake’s best comfort food, we asked six restaurateurs and chefs what comfort food means to them. Up next, Vertical Diner shares their plant-based philosophy to eating well.

The Person: Ian Brandt
The Restaurant: Vertical Diner

Vertical Diner owner Ian Brandt with general manager Taylor Duffus and chef Carmen Ruiz. Photo by Adam Finkle.

Ian Brandt was not always
a vegan. He grew up eating the quintessential American meat and potatoes fare and classic family dishes. “Growing up, lasagna—that was always a great comfort food item,” Brandt remembers. “I always wanted to be Italian. Growing up in Philadelphia, surrounded by Italians, it always seemed like the Italians had the most food.”

“Anything that you grew up eating with your family that takes you back to your roots—that is how I define comfort,” says Brandt. The foods that become the most comforting to us as adults are often attached to warm memories of childhood. These are the foods that help us feel safe. But, after going vegan at 22 years old, Brandt discovered many of his go-to comfort foods were no longer available to him. “I eventually found ways to still eat them by making them vegan,” he says. “And over the years, I came up with other vegan items that I enjoyed.“

Now, as the owner of Vertical Diner, an all-plant-based restaurant, he faces a similar quandary. How do you deliver the homey experience of diner cuisine to people who might not be familiar with vegan dishes? “That’s the biggest challenge we have—making guests comfortable,” Brandt says. “So we train our servers to curate the meal that way.” They recommend dishes that are familiar diner favorites with a vegan spin: vegan buffalo chicken wings, nachos, mashed potatoes and vegan gravy, and vegan macaroni and cheese. Other comforting options require no such spin as they can easily be vegan on their own: fried Brussels sprouts, hand-cut french fries, and blueberry pancakes. The resulting message, “We’re an American diner that just happens to be plant-based and vegan,” says Brandt. 

Vertical Diner’s American Diner Plate is a vegan version of good old-fashioned, simply delicious, straightforward diner food. It’s your choice of hand-cut french fries or mashed potatoes with Tender Tigers (plant-based chicken tenders), all smothered in gravy. Wash it down with a damn fine cup of coffee or, better yet, a strong chai. “We make our own house chai,” says Brandt. “That warming spice is comforting, and you can get it hot in the wintertime or iced in the summer.” And, if you’re really peckish, try the carrot cake for dessert.

Brandt not only strives to make diners comfortable with the food but with the atmosphere of Vertical Diner as well. “I think the nature of the diner encompasses the comfort of eating out. Nowadays, it’s hard to find mid-range priced restaurants that also have table service,” says Brandt, but they’re not going to hurry anyone out the door. “An American diner is a place to hang out with family and friends, drink coffee and linger for an hour or two. We try not to rush people. We give them space to enjoy the company. The nature of the diner is comfort in and of itself.” 

If You Go…
Vertical Diner 
234 W. 900 South, SLC, (801) 484-8378
Open every day, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. (breakfast served all day)


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Comfort Food Favorite: J Wong’s Thai and Chinese Bistro

By Eat & Drink

Comfort, it turns out, is not relative, at least with food. No matter the cuisine or the culture that any given dish springs from, it will contain one neurological common denominator, buried in the primal place in our brains: Nostalgia

In search of Salt Lake’s best comfort food, we asked six restaurateurs and chefs what comfort food means to them. Read on for a fresh take from J Wong’s.

The People: Jordan Wong
The Restaurant: J. Wong’s Thai & Chinese Bistro

Photo by Adam Finkle

“Comfort food to me is the go-to food that you can eat all of the time and not get sick of it,” says Jordan Wong, owner of J. Wong’s Thai & Chinese Bistro. “For me, it’s simple dishes.” He knows every restaurant industry professional might not feel the same, but having been around restaurants his entire life, the more he appreciates the simple things. He believes that comfort food doesn’t have to be the most expensive or the most exotic or complex. “My mom had a restaurant before I was born, so I was born inside the business,” he explains. “I grew up around dishes like walnut shrimp or General Tso’s chicken. They may be simple, but I love them.” 

After running his own restaurant for 15 years, Wong says he’s noticed the same trend in his customers. “I feel like I have a bit more understanding about food in that sense than when we first opened,” he says. Before he opened J. wong’s, he talked it over with his mother and brothers, and he planned to have the best, most technical dish on every single table. But, after being open for a while, he found even VIP customers preferred the simple, more familiar dishes. The roots of which, he says, go back to when Chinese immigrants came to America en masse to build the railroads, developing what we think of as Chinese American cuisine. “They’re the things I ate growing up every day for the first part of my life,” says Wong. While Wong’s father grew up in China, his mother grew up in Thailand, so in addition to Chinese American classics like Lo Mein and General Tso, he also found comfort in Pad Thai and Thai curries. It’s a fusion of cultures and classic dishes that he and his family wanted to share at large with J. Wong’s menu. 

Of course, the menu still includes more complicated classics like the to-die-for Peking duck, but when Wong put together the items from his menu he found the most comforting, it’s no surprise that the focus was on the simple, homey dishes. He loves the Walnut Shrimp, a lightly breaded shrimp in a rich creamy sauce topped with honey-glazed walnuts, paired with traditional vegetable fried rice and spicy chicken dishes like Black Pepper or Thai Basil stir-fry. Add a side of dumplings and you’re set. It might not be the same for everyone, but when it comes to comfort, Wong’s advice is, “Try to find happiness in the simplest things and what you actually enjoy.”

If You Go…

J. Wong’s Thai & Chinese Bistro
163 W. 200 South, SLC, (801) 350-0888, , Monday-Friday open for lunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m., dinner 5 p.m.-10 p.m.
Saturday open for lunch noon-3. p.m, dinner 5 p.m.-10 p.m.
Sunday open 4 p.m.-9 p.m.