2 lbs. potatoes 1 tsp. salt 1 cup milk or half-and-half 6 Tbsp. butter 1 egg salt and pepper
Peel and quarter potatoes. Put them in a large pot with enough cold water to cover them. Add salt and bring water to a boil. Lower heat to medium and simmer potatoes until they are tender when pierced with a fork (15-20 minutes). Drain the potatoes, add the butter and mash with a ricer or electric mixer. Add the egg and beat it into the potatoes with a wooden spoon. Add milk or cream and continue to mash until fluffy.
Roasted Tomato Potatoes
Fold 3 oven-roasted tomatoes, coarsely chopped, into hot mashed potatoes.
Blue Potatoes
Fold ½ cup crumbled blue cheese into hot potatoes. Top each serving with bacon bits.
Pakora Potatoes
Fold 1 tsp. Turmeric, ½ tsp. curry and 1 cup of frozen peas into hot mashed potatoes.
Pesto Potatoes
Fold ½ cup basil pesto into hot mashed potatoes. Garnish with toasted pine nuts.
Get out of the cold and discover art and design in the Sonoran Desert
Scottsdale, Arizona is Phoenix’s posh neighbor, dotted with gated communities, resorts, spas and fancy hotels. While Arizona, in general, remains best known for retirees, snowbirds and a particular brand of “Don’t Tread on Me” conservatism, a new generation is taking up residence in the area, drawn there not for golfing but for art, architecture and design. These design nerds are taking note because of the legacy of two giants of architecture—Frank Lloyd Wright and Paolo Soleri. The two rivals represent a yin and yang of design philosophies. Their apprentice compounds—Wright’s fastidious Taliesin West and Soleri’s chaotic Cosanti—are magnets for a revival in interest in the area’s older homes and buildings, especially mid-century projects from the 1940s to ‘60s. Scottsdale’s stuffy reputation is giving way to a second look from a younger generation and winter is the perfect time to explore the new scene. Because Arizona in the summer? No, thank you.
Frank Lloyd Wright came to Arizona in the 1930s to create a space where he could work in peace and train his apprentices. He built Taliesin West(named in concert with his Wisconsin workshop Taliesin East) in what was then the middle of nowhere 26 miles from Phoenix. Wright and his students built everything at Taliesin West by hand, using materials that could be harvested from the surrounding desert. He invented methods to work with, instead of against, the terrain. “There were simple characteristic silhouettes to go by, tremendous drifts and heaps of sunburned desert rocks were nearby to be used,” Wright said. “We got it all together with the landscape.”
Today Taliesin West still inspires architecture students to discover Wright’s methods, which, in a tradition dating back to its earliest days, once required acolytes to live in a tent in the desert and design and build their own desert shelters to live in. Wright was a madman for order and this National Historic Landmark is a marvel of thoughtful design and building. Not a blade of grass is out of place. The site offers tours daily. 12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., Scottsdale
Wright’s Rival
If Frank Lloyd Wright was a madman for order, Paolo Soleri was just plainly a madman. Although his reputation has recently been tarnished by posthumous allegations of sexual abuse, Soleri’s work remains an important part of design history. The Italian architecture student came to Taliesin West in 1946, to study among Wright’s apprentices. But he did not mesh with the monastic environment. He was also challenging Wright on the national stage, winning exhibitions in New York and making the cover of the Rolling Stone of architecture, Architectural Digest. Claire Carter, the curator at The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art(7374 E. Second Street, Scottsdale, 480-874-4666), believes the Italian’s splashy success in New York was a threat to Wright’s near-domination of the American architectural scene. “Soleri was brash, cocky and his work was getting notice in important circles,” she says. “I suspect that wasn’t to Mr. Wright’s liking.” Whatever the reason, Soleri left Taliesin for Italy in 1950, where he would design one of his most important buildings, Ceramica Artistica Solimene, a large ceramics factory on the Almafi Coast.
Soleri could not, however, just let things lie. He returned to Arizona in 1956 to establish his own rival school and workshop, which he called Cosanti(6433 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd., Paradise Valley, 480-948-6145). There, apprentices fire Soleri’s Cosanti Bells, elaborate bronze or ceramic wind chimes, to help fund Soleri’s masterwork Arcosanti.
70 miles north of Phoenix, Arcosanti was an ongoing endeavor to build one of Paolo Soleri’s fantastic cities of the future. Soleri thought big and drafted plans for hundreds of cities, published in his book Arcology— a portmanteau of “architecture” and “ecology,” a term he invented. He began construction in 1970 to demonstrate how urban conditions could be improved while minimizing modern sprawl’s destructive impact on the planet. Acolytes still journey to Arcosanti to join intensive five-week-long workshops where they study Soleri’s work, techniques and continue the city’s construction. Tours daily.
Play
Now that you understand the underpinnings of Scottsdale’s art world, it’s time to enjoy the desert, specifically the Salt River. Yes. A river. The Salt River flows past the cities of Mesa, Tempe and Scottsdale, then south of downtown Phoenix. Birds, river otters and herds of wild horses find their way to the flowing water. Kayak the Salt River with a guided tour from Arizona Outback Adventures(866-455-1601). Or spend a day hiking in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve(18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, 480-312-7013). For more culture, take a walking or bike tour of the Scottsdale Public Art Program, a diverse collection of artwork from traditional bronzes such as George-Ann Tognoni’s trio of galloping horses to experiential installations like James Turrell’s SkySpace.
Hike Camelback Mountain
No trip to Phoenix is complete without a hike up Camelback Mountain. The 2,706-foot peak looms above the city like a giant kneeling camel, hence the name. It’s pretty tough to keep staring at that peak each day without feeling some primal urge to climb to the top.
There are two hiking trails ascending nearly 1,300 feet to the summit, the 1.4-mile Cholla Trail and the steeper and shorter 1.14-mile Echo Canyon Trail. No matter which you choose, be ready for a steep and scrambly climb to the top. The vertically inclined can enjoy some rock climbing on the Praying Monk, a rounded sandstone formation on Camelback’s northern slope that rises about 100 feet and features several bolted routes and belay anchors.
It typically takes between two and three hours to hike to the top of Camelback Mountain, but don’t let the relatively paltry distance convince you it isn’t a serious undertaking. Unassuming tourists regularly find themselves in peril on the mountain’s rocky flanks, so come prepared.
Dine
Postino restaurant; Photo by Flash Parker/ Arizona Office of Tourism
Scottsdale’s dining scene has mirrored the town’s artistic revival. Take, for example, FnB(7125 E. 5th Ave. #31, 480-284-4777) a haven of local food and growing local wine industry. Helmed by James Beard Award finalist Chef Charleen Badman, known for her collaborations with local farmers, FnB highlights a different Arizona growing region every four weeks. Plus wine. For a marriage of food and architecture (and more wine) try Postino (4821 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, 602-428-4444). Postino’s owners find mid-century modern commercial buildings (think banks, post offices) and turn them into restaurants. Also, their happy hour is bananas—$5 glasses of wine and pitchers of beer before 5 p.m. and $20 for bruschetta and a bottle of wine after 8 p.m. For a taste of Old Arizona, visit the margarita heaven The Mission (3815 N. Brown Ave., Scottsdale, 480-636-5005) in Old Town Scottsdale. Try the Malbec-braised short rib and chorizo porchetta. For a truly exciting dining adventure in the Sonoran Desert, Cloth and Flame (480-428-6028) specializes in hot-air balloon rides that deposit you at a fully appointed table amid the Saguaro cacti, in time for a spectacular desert sunset.
Stay
At the foot of Camelback Mountain lies Mountain Shadows(5445 E. Lincoln Dr., Scottsdale, 480-624-5400). Once the resort to the stars (think Bob Hope and Lucille Ball), the resort fell into disrepair, but its new heyday has arrived, fastidiously renovated in the now-retro decor. For more throwback, visit the Hermosa Inn(5532 N. Palo Cristi Rd., Paradise Valley, 602-955-8614). Hand-built in the 1930s by cowboy artist Lon Megargee as his residence and studio, this hacienda has 34 guest casitas. If boutique-on-top-of-boutique style is more your bag, consider the Bespoke Inn(3701 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale, 844-861-6715). Bespoke Inn shares a courtyard with Virtù(480-946-3477), a James Beard-nominated restaurant, and with Bespoke Cycles, which specializes in handmade British city bikes.
ROAD TRIP 1: Cliffs, Caves & Grand Canyons
Start: Peach Springs / End: Kayenta
Postcard-worthy vistas aren’t uncommon in Arizona, but these off-the-beaten-path hidden gems let you explore and enjoy all the grandeur of the landscape without the crowds.
Grand Canyon Caverns; Photo courtesy Arizona Office of Tourism
1. Grand Canyon Caverns in Peach Springs
Explore the subterranean realm at Grand Canyon Caverns. A variety of tours are available, both guided and unguided, from short and scenic to deeply claustrophobia-inducing to quite possibly haunted ghost tours. Afterward, dine 200 feet underground at the Grotto Café and ask about sleeping beneath the surface in the master suite.
2. Rock Art Ranch in Winslow
An unassuming working cattle ranch near Winslow is a little off the beaten path but holds a trove of historic art. Tour scores of well-preserved petroglyphs, ancient ruins and a quaint museum of American Indian and pioneer and artifacts.
3. Apache Death Cave on route 66 between Flagstaff and Winslow
In 1878 amid a series of bloody skirmishes between Apache Indians and Navajo, Apache warriors hid with their horses in this cavern to avoid detection. Once discovered, 42 Apache warriors were killed in the cave as retribution for raids on surrounding Navajo camps. The area is considered cursed.
White Pocket in Vermillion Cliffs National Monument; Adobe Stock
4. Vermillion Cliffs National Monument in Marble Canyon
The Wave—the famed sweeping, smooth sandstone formation—is undoubtedly blowing up your social media feed, but with 280,000 acres in the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument there’s plenty more to see that doesn’t require permits or a lottery system. Stunning red rocks, California condors and plenty of solitude are waiting.
Shash Dine Eco Retreat; Courtesy Shash Dine Eco Retreat
5. Shash Dine Eco Retreat in Page
Billed as a “Five Billion Star Hotel” because of the unobscured views of the night sky, the Shash Dine Eco Retreat is glamping at its finest. Luxurious outdoor accommodations mean you won’t be roughing it, and easy access to Lake Powell and Horseshoe Bend is the cherry on top.
6. Arizona Hot Spring Trail in Willow Beach
With a five-mile round trip hike, the Arizona Hot Spring Trail typically isn’t very crowded or particularly arduous. Hike up a rocky arroyo near Lake Mead to the banks of the Colorado where a large natural hot spring awaits.
7. Dome Stargazing House in Williams
A clear top tented dome in the desert is a truly unique place to experience dark skies and uninterrupted star gazing. Heated sheets, warm showers and fire pits will keep you warm on chilly desert nights so you can enjoy nature’s light show each evening.
8. Mystery Valley near Kayenta
Mystery Valley is a stunning yet seldom-visited place on Navajo land. To access the magnificent landscape, you’ll need to hire a Diné guide, who will show you the area and teach you about its history, from the nearby Monument Valley Visitor Center.
9. North Rim of the Grand Canyon
Though it’s closed right now—at over 8,000 feet elevation, there’s frequently snow during the winter months—the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is remarkable and worth the visit. Hike the North Kaibab Trail and stay and in the historic Grand Canyon Lodge or at a campsite with the best view imaginable.
ROAD TRIP 2: Old West, Wilderness & Wine
Start: Benson / End: Willcox
Travel through Cochise County to experience the history of the cinematic American West. Explore natural wonders, visit historic sites like Tombstone and even throw in a bit of wine tasting.
1. Benson
Visit the “living cave” of the Kartchner Caverns State Park where water has carved caverns through the limestone. The Throne Room contains one of the world’s largest stalactites, a 58-foot-tall column called Kubla Kahn. The spectacular speleotherms throughout the formation are still growing. Cabins and camping are available to enjoy the dark skies at night.
Entrance to The Royale in Bisbee; Photo courtesy Arizona Office of Tourism
2. Bisbee
An 1880s mining camp was transformed into an artist community in Bisbee. Board a tram to see the inner workings of the 1,500-foot-deep Queen Mine before visiting the Sam Poe Gallery or getting a craft beer from myriad artisans along “Brewery Gulch.”
3. Sierra Vista
Known as the hummingbird capital of the United States, Sierra Vista is home to the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. Along with a wealth of hummingbirds, more than 300 other species are common to the area. After birding, head north to the Cochise Stronghold in the Dragoon Mountains. Apache Chief Cochise once used the rugged terrain as a natural fortress, and now it’s a paradise for rock climbers.
Allen Street in the town of Tombstone; Adobe Stock
4. Tombstone
Visit the famed town of legendary lawman Wyatt Earp, including the site of the infamous gun battle at the OK Corral to “walk where they fell.”. Movie and American history rarely meet in such proximity.
5. Willcox
Welcome to Arizona’s wine capital. 75% of the grapes in the state are grown in the vineyards surrounding Willcox. The annual Arizona Wine Festival graces the area, but, even outside festival dates, there are plenty of tasting rooms like the one at Aridus Wine Company.
6. Fairbank and Gleeson
Journey back in time with a visit to a couple of old West Ghost Towns. Fairbank was the transport hub and supply depot for Tombstone, where the old schoolhouse has been reimagined into a visitor center and bookstore. Just 25 miles to the east is Gleeson, where little more than a restored jailhouse and deteriorating relics remain.
ROAD TRIP 3: Route 66 Recon
Start: Lake Havasu / End: Flagstaff
Travel the original mother road. Route 66 is the iconic pathway of American lore where freedom, history and the open road unfold ahead of you.
Lake Havasu City Channel; Adobe Stock
1. Lake Havasu and London Bridge
Start your Route 66 journey in a boat, not a car. A sunset charter up the Topock Gorge aboard the “Serenity Now” with Lake Havasu Boat Tours will provide unforgettable views. While visiting, check out the Lake Havasu Museum and a recreation of the London Bridge.
2. Oatman
From Lake Havasu, head to the former gold-mining town of Oatman. Experience the past with authentic staged old-west gunfights, and keep an eye out for the wild burrows roaming through the area. Stay at the historic Oatman Hotel.
3. Peach Springs to Raft the Grand Canyon
Hop into the water by joining the Hualapai River Runners for a day of whitewater rafting in the Grand Canyon. American Indian guides will take the helm, sharing insight and the history of the people who call the Grand Canyon Home.
4. Seligman for a stop at Delgadillo’s Snow Cap
Enjoy a hefty dose of nostalgia with your burger and malt from Delgadillo’s Snow Cap. The drive-in diner is straight out of a sentimental road trip fever dream. Head just a few doors down to the museum owned by Angel Delgadillo, the “Guardian Angel of Route 66,” to see the preserved artifacts of the mother road’s history.
A hiker in the Grand Canyon National Park, South Rim; Adobe Stock
5. South Rim of the Grand Canyon by Train
You’ve seen it by raft, now see it by rail. Take in the views from the legendary Grand Canyon Railway before staying at the famous El Tovar Hotel in the national park.
6. Flagstaff
Point the car to Flagstaff, where the main drag is Route 66. Learn the history of the areaat the museum of Northern Arizona before touring the Lowell Observatory where Pluto was discovered in 1930. Stay for the night to enjoy the dark skies before turning in at the Weatherford Hotel, famed for hosting presidents, gunslingers and everyone in between.
ROAD TRIP 4: Art Halls, Golf Balls & Cacti Tall
Start: Phoenix / End: Saguaro National Park
From avant-garde artistic culture to iconic natural wonders to impossibly lush golf courses amid an arid landscape, you’ll find a little bit of everything on this tour of Arizona’s center and south.
1. See Art in Phoenix
Start your tour of Phoenix’s art scene with a visit to the Phoenix Art Museum. Then enjoy a new kind of immersive experience at the Van Gogh Exhibition, where massive moving projections of the artist’s most iconic works from “Starry Night” to “Sun Flowers” captivate audiences.
2. Golf in Scottsdale
The unceremoniously named Waste Management Phoenix Open is a fan favorite with notoriously raucous and fun crowds. You can play the very same course at TPC Scottsdale where legends of the game have walked the fairways or any of the area’s 200 some other public courses.
Pima Air and Space Museum; Photo courtesy Arizona Office of Tourism
3. Visit the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson
The Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson is one of the largest non-government-funded museums in the world with more than 300 aircraft spread over 80 acres. See World War II relics like the B-29 Superfortress “Sentimental Journey” and modern marvels like the world’s fastest manned aircraft, a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. The museum is adjacent to the Davis Monthan Air Force Base, which is home to the famed “graveyard of planes.”
4. Colossal Cave Mountain Park in Vail
Just south of Tucson in the town of Vail (no relation to Colorado) is an expansive cave system. The caverns of Colossal Cave Mountain Park were used as homes by Native Americans as early as 900 A.D. and more recently served as hideouts for old west train robbers. These days, they’re a tourist attraction where you can take guided or unguided tours through the caves. Stay and camp among the mesquite trees in Posta Quemada Canyon.
Kitt Peak National Observatory; Adobe Stock
5. Kitt Peak National Observatory west in Tucson
During daytime visits to Kitt Peak Observatory, you can tour the massive optical telescopes and hike to panoramic mountaintops. In the evening you can enjoy incredible stargazing with the naked eye or sign up for telescope viewing programs to see the celestial bodies in space like never before.
6. Saguaro National Park
The giant saguaro cactus is pretty much the most universal symbol of the American West despite only growing in a few select locations. The largest cacti in the country are plentiful along the 165 miles of hiking trails. The park is refreshingly less developed than many others. Wilderness camping is available in the Rincon Mountain district for more adventurous visitors.
Nine days (nine days!) after the Latter-day Saint pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley—which, if you’re counting, was August 2, 1847—the Saints had a street system mapped out. The streets-to-be would measure 132 feet in width (apocryphal tales suggest Brigham Young wanted room for a team of oxen to flip a U-turn). They ran north-south, east-west and intersected at right angles. The eastern edge of the Future Home of Temple Square was given the role of longitude, and its southern border was to play latitude’s part. And thus, the nexus of Utah’s street universe is the corner of Main (East Temple in those days) and South Temple.
And if you don’t know that, you are really lost.
Salt Lake is not alone in its grid system. Many of your finer cities have one—Paris, Manhattan, Washington, D.C. But few do it with such stricture, such enthusiastic adherence. Paris muddles its grid with willy-nilly diagonals, and D.C. also has diagonals dicing a perfectly good grid into pie pieces—courtesy of, yes, a Frenchman. Then there’s Manhattan. Now there’s a grid system. You drop a born-and-bred Utah boy in Battery Park, make sure he knows how to pronounce “Houston,” and he’ll fight his way to Central Park. It won’t be pretty, but he’ll make it.
Once you realize all roads lead to Temple Square, it’s easy
And as in Manhattan, hemmed by its rivers, comprehension of the grid system here along the Wasatch Front is aided by an understanding of the landscape. To the east are the Giant Mountains, and to the west are the flat places on the way to Wendover. It’s easy to talk in terms of compass points because of these omnipresent landmarks. Still, the system was stubbornly applied across the state and persists in locales as bereft of topography as Delta and as Martian as St. George.
For newcomers, the confusion comes down to the numbers. In city-states like Las Vegas, where to know where you are is to know the progression from Tropicana to Sahara, folks are used to a more touchy-feely street system. In Utah, the hard, cold grid is like grade-school math. “I live at 241 S. 500 East” is the equivalent of, “Two trains, at equal distance from Temple Square, are traveling at 60 mph and 70 mph; which one will arrive first?” But once you get it figured, it’s easy to appreciate a good grid system, and we have one of the best.
It’s a low-tech precursor to the modern world, where all ye need know is just a Google away. A Promethean and prophetic GPS, courtesy of Brother Brigham.
Plenty of us have romantic, Norman Rockwell-esque visions of cooking the perfect Thanksgiving feast for a big family gathering. But for many home cooks, the reality is much different—the turkey is dry, the rolls are burnt and someone forgot to bring the Jell-O salad your ancestors have been making since 1847. If you’re looking to leave it to the pros and take the guesswork out of the holiday this year, many of Utah’s best chefs are serving both Turkey Day classics and nontraditional twists for both dine-in and takeout. Here are 25 Utah restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner this Nov. 25.
(This post was originally published in 2021, for a list of restaurants serving dinner and take-home feasts this year, click here.)
Arlo’s carry-out Thanksgiving dinners feed four to six people for $200. The menu includes sides like chicory salad, Brussels sprouts, turkey gravy and apple pie. Turkey not included. Food comes cold with reheating instructions. Read the full menu and place your order here.
Bambara will be open from 1 p.m.-6 p.m. on Thanksgiving day serving their regular menu along with Turkey Day favorites. Visit their site to make reservations.
202 S. Main St. (Inside Hotel Monaco), SLC 801-363-5454
Continuing their take-home Thanksgiving dinner tradition, SLC Eatery is serving up delicious options for your own home enjoyment. Select a traditional package serving up to four people for $150. They also offer individual meals like the prime rib dinner, the salmon dinner, and the turkey dinner. Add on appetizers like smoked french onion dip with nori potato chips to be the most popular person at the family table. View the entire menu here.
Franck’s is offering their annual Thanksgiving dinner with an impressive pre-set four course menu starting at $60 per person. Menu highlights include four-day brined young turkey steak, brown butter pomme puree and pecan apple butter pie. Read the full menu and make reservations here.
Hub & Spoke is serving a Thanksgiving brunch buffet from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on the 25th. Their menu includes Hub and Spoke favorites as well as traditional Turkey Day items. Prices start at $34.99 for adults and $17.49 for kids. Menu highlights include chicken and waffle, turkey hash, butternut squash bisque and classic Thanksgiving sides like homemade stuffing. Click here for the full menu.
Fleming’s is serving Thanksgiving dinner all day with a three course menu. Highlights include prime bone-in ribeye, lobster bisque and cinnamon-orange infused cranberry sauce. Prices start at $49.99; click here for the full menu.
Harmons has done the work for you to make a delicious Thanksgiving meal at your home. Their ready-to-roast dinner serves six to eight people and costs $175. Items include 12 pound seasoned turkey, 2 quartz of fresh herb stuffing, ½ pint of fresh-made cranberry sauce, 1 quart of fresh-roasted caramelized yams, and a 9-inch Harmons pie of your choice. Visit their site for more information.
This year, Vessel is once again offering delicious, fully prepared Thanksgiving meals. Select either a regular or large bundle which includes mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, baked mac and cheese and more. Individual sides are also available. Turkey is not included. For more information on ordering, click here.
Cuisine Unlimited is offering two packages to fit your feasting needs. The “just the sides package” costs $190 and includes 10-12 servings. Menu items include herbed mashed potatoes, roasted root vegetables and chutney. Their all inclusive package is priced at $410 and includes a charcuterie board, turkey, various sides and dessert. All items are also available a la carte. View the full menu here.
Provisions is serving a three course meals on Nov. 28. The menu includes Thanksgiving classics along with deliciously prepared seafood and vegetables. Prices start at $60 for adults. Call for more details.
Pago is offering two Thanksgiving meal kits this year. The omnivore package feeds up to four and includes honey and sage roasted turkey breast, roasted baby carrots, sourdough stuffing and apple crisp. The vegetarian package serves two and includes stuffed acorn squash, whipped potatoes with mushroom gravy and salad. Visit their site for more information on ordering and pick-up.
Hearth is offering their turkey feast to-go again this year with menu items including slow cooked oven roasted turkey, whipped Yukon potatoes, cranberry chutney and roasted sweet potatoes. Each feast serves up to six with options to purchase multiple packages.You can also add on your choice of dessert.
La Caille is serving a gourmet Thanksgiving dinner starting at $130 for adults. The three course meal includes roasted butternut squash soup, rose apple salad and your choice of entree. Side dishes include bacon brussel sprouts, root vegetable sausage stuffing, herb gravy and rosemary aus jus. Call for reservations and view their whole menu here.
Pre-order a fully-cooked traditional Thanksgiving feast from Archibald’s by Nov.20 for menu items like slow-roasted turkey, sweet potato casserole, apple sage stuffing and Archibald’s famous pumpkin pie cake. The dinner serves up to eight and costs $180. For pick-up times and the full menu, click here.
Brio’s Thanksgiving feast is available for pick-up and delivery. Priced at $78.99, the small package serves three. For bigger gatherings, the large option feeds six and costs $148. Menu items include classic turkey, broccolini, stuffing and pumpkin spiced bread pudding. To-go feast can either be prepared cold and ready to heat or hot and ready for enjoyment. Download the menu PDF and place your order here.
Tuscany is serving a three course meal from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Thanksgiving day. Menu highlights include glazed Duroc ham, garlic whipped potato and eggplant pomodoro. Prices start at $68 for adults. Call to make reservations.
Aerie’s Thanksgiving day buffet is available from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and offers delectable items like parmesan and garlic crusted halibut, chili-braised pork and, of course, tender turkey dinners. Click here to view the full menu and make reservations.
Log Haven is serving a four course plated luncheon from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. on Thanksgiving day starting at $75 for adults. Menu items include herb brined turkey served with buttermilk mashed potatoes and fresh cranberry sauce. Read the full menu here.
Serving an elevated twist on Thanksgiving Day favorites, Powder is offering a buffet from 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Tickets start at $125 for adults, Buffet items include a full-service carving station, roasted vegetables, maple glazed Brussels sprouts and pumpkin cheesecake. Call for dine-in options and view the whole menu here.
Hearth and Hill is offering take-home Turkey dinners that serve eight for $295. Packages include a 12 pound organic turkey, mashed potatoes, glazed yams and Brussels sprouts with bacon & cranberry, with options to add truffle mac & cheese, refuel salad and cheddar biscuits. Curbside pick-up available 11a.m.-3 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. Call to reserve order at 435-200-8840 and view the entire menu here.
Offering several carry-out items, Riverhorse’s menu items include sage stuffing, candied yams, wild game meatballs and butternut squash soup. Items are available à la carte and serve up to four guests. Some menu items come with reheating instructions for pick up. Learn more here.
Butcher’s is serving Thanksgiving Dinner from 2 p.m -10 p.m. starting at $55 for adults. Their menu includes turkey, garlic green beans and candied yams as well as regular menu items. You can also book an exclusive experience in their private Aspenglobes. Tickets start at $125 and include a two course menu. For more information and to book a reservation, click here.
Luna’s is offering a variety of Thanksgiving platters and sides for pickup only on Wednesday, Nov.24 from 2 p.m.-7 p.m. All items come with reheating instructions. Menu highlights include old-fashioned gravy, chef curated cheese and charcuterie platter, sage and apple stuffing, and boursin roasted garlic mashed potatoes. Click here for the full menu and ordering details.
Grub Steakhouse is serving a Thanksgiving meal starting at $40.75 for adults. Menu highlights include roasted turkey, creamy mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. Take-out also available. Visit their site for more details.
2093 Sidewinder Dr., Park City 435-649-8060
This post was originally published in 2021, for a list of restaurants serving dinner and take-home feasts this year, click here.
It’s finally happened. After being teased endlessly in the trailer and the pilot episode, we have arrived (chronologically) to Jen fleeing from the cops as everyone prepares for a girls’ trip to Vail. I knew this would be compulsively watchable, car-wreck-you-can’t-look-away-from, horrifyingly compelling television, and yet this scene still exceeded my expectations. The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City is now officially the greatest true-crime show, soap opera and Shakespearean drama on television.
Unsurprisingly, a raid featuring multiple federal agencies is the climax of this extra long episode, and I have to jump right into it. We already got a taste of this scene in a flash-forward that opened the Season 2 premiere, so some of the unbelievable details aren’t new—most importantly, that a large group of federal agents came looking for Jen IN THE BEAUTY LAB PARKING LOT, as Heather, Whitney, Lisa and Jennie, all genuinely shocked, watch from a parked limo. The full scene, though, presented in context, is even more incredible. One detail that we didn’t know is that when Jen got the call (from who? FROM WHO?) warning her that the cops were on their way, she told everyone that Sharrieff was in the hospital. With both disturbing and impressive ease, she finds a just convincing enough lie before calmly getting the hell away from Beauty Lab. While her friends debate the ethics of going to Vail while their friend’s husband is bleeding internally, girlie is on the run!
In all of the chaos, the editors leave plenty of reminders that we are watching a reality show. Jen asks Whitney to turn her microphone off, which is never supposed to happen when the cameras are rolling. Members of the camera crew are included in several shots (a reminder of how strange it must be to film scenes in a cramped limo.) Producers are seen talking to both the cast members and the police as the details of Jen’s arrest unfold in real time. Ironically, these rare peeks behind the curtain make this episode of reality TV feel more real than any event that’s happened in one and a half seasons. (cinema verite)
I could spend this entire recap picking apart the tiniest of details of this scene, which absolutely should win an Emmy, Oscar and maybe a Pulitzer Prize while we’re at it. What about the chilling little nod Whitney gives Lisa when they both realize, simultaneously, that Jen lied about Sharrieff? Or Heather, who is scared of the federal agents (who she won’t stop calling “the popo”) and inexplicably compelled to chat with them? I keep thinking about Heather asking if she should call Jen and Lisa, recognizing that this shit is serious, saying “I don’t think you should,” emphasizing every syllable.
Even before this explosive climax, there is plenty of strange, stupidly entertaining drama to enjoy as this season fully hits its stride. In a normal, non-supersized episode of The Real Housewives, a Mary Cosby party would provide plenty of material for the final act. She FaceTimes every other Housewife (besides Jennie, who she already hates,) and invites them to an Italian cooking class, complete with a dress code. There is so much to unpack every time Mary is in charge of an event that I’ll just list some of the wildest details, ranked roughly in order of craziness:
Mary uses this class as an opportunity to practice her “Italian” “accent,” which makes Jared Leto in the House of Gucci trailer sound like the height of subtlety.
As a gift, Mary gives every woman a personalized apron with their Italian name. (Whitney’s is Whitney. Perfect.) Each apron was packed in a Louis Vuitton gift bag, and the Housewives, understandably, assumed this meant the aprons were from the designer. Nope! “I’m not buying them a Louis Vuitton apron,” Mary says. “Like why would I do that when they don’t even know how to cook?” Fair enough!
Mary unilaterally decided to make the theme “Italian street fashion,” and everyone had their own equally strange interpretation. However, as revenge for not answering her phone calls, Mary told Whitney to wear “mafia girls fashion,” with inspiration pics of sexy store-bought Halloween costumes. Whitney wisely does not take the bait.
While making the pasta, Mary asks the (remarkably patient) instructor, “If you beat it fast does it make it tough?” Heather can’t resist replying with, “That’s a good question, Mary.”
As this season is beginning to reveal, Mary has in all likelihood done some truly heinous things to members of her congregation. However, she is so authentically strange, so untethered from any sort of reality, that it’s always fun to watch. What’s scary (and funny and sometimes almost poignant) about Mary is that she is truly unpredictable. For the other cast members, we have a general sense of who they are and why they do what they do. (Well, Lisa’s been all over the place this season, but she still has somewhat coherent motivations.) Even Jen is consistent—consistently volatile, sure, but still something you can generally depend on.
This week, with the flimsiest justification imaginable, Mary decides to fight Whitney. Everyone seems to agree this makes no sense. Besides the costume prank, Mary spends the entire party digging at Whitney until finally telling her, “You can go, little girl,” Whitney, in tears, obliges, and as Meredith comforts her, Meredith brings up her mysterious conversation with Cameron, a former member of Mary’s congregation. Whitney reveals that she also knows about the criticism of Mary’s church—she is friends with Mary’s cousin, who warned her to be careful and believe her to have the power of God. (Remember that unsettling painting of her grandma hanging out with white Mormon Jesus? Because I wish I could forget it.) It all makes Heather’s unflattering explanations of Mormon doctrine this episode look like child’s play.
The allegations against Mary are, over time, getting more specific. My question is: why does Whitney try to be Mary’s friend at all? She clearly knows something strange is happening at Faith Temple, and she even alludes to online rumors about the church that have swirled since the cast was announced. With all of this information Whitney decides to…publicly defend Mary, donate to Faith Temple and maintain their friendship even as Mary basically calls her ugly over text. Why? Yes, these women are contractually obligated to have some sort of relationship with each other, but Whitney decides to go above-and-beyond for Mary for no discernable reason. While I don’t understand their history, it’s more clear what the future will look like. Mary straight up says she doesn’t consider Whitney a friend, and Whitney tells her “the gloves are off.” This is a deeply stupid move on Mary’s part. Even Lisa can’t deny that Whitney has been a good friend to Mary, and the last thing that Mary needs is an enemy searching for skeletons in her closet. Homeland Security isn’t involved (yet,) but this subplot may be just as dramatic and divisive.
So where are we now? Jen is literally on the run. Mary seems to have no idea that the other Housewives are questioning her church. And whether they want to be or not, the other Housewives are already wrapped up in a much bigger scandal than who didn’t answer whose FaceTime.
Random observations:
This week in RHOSLC Sunday School: Heather explains that according to Mormon doctrine, she will go to Outer Darkness, the lowest form of Hell, for leaving the Church, while people like Jeffrey Dahmer could go to a different version of Heaven. This is oversimplified, but basically accurate—Outer Darkness is reserved for people who “denied the truth.”
Jennie visits Meredith’s house while Meredith is in the middle of a private mani-pedi. Later, she FaceTimes Mary from bed even though it appears to be near dinner time. This woman really knows how to live.
For our weekly dose of tragic foreshadowing, Stuart and Jen go snowshoeing together, and Jen says, “I appreciate you sticking with me through the bad times, the good times.” Are you sure you want to stick with her through these bad times Stu?
If you’re looking for something to switch up your winter sipping routine, look no further than Salt Lake’s own Tsuki Sake. The first of its kind in Utah, Tsuki is infusing our spirit scene with cultural authenticity and delicious products to boot.
You might not expect sake and Utah to pair so well together, but Tsuki co-owner Jillian Watanabe saw potential for a match made in sake heaven. Her heritage as a half-Japanese Salt Lake local is what originally pushed her toward sake and Japanese cuisine, and as she says “one sip can change your life.” After learning about the unique traits of the spirit, like its terroir-like tendencies and connection to seasons, Watanabe found herself getting more excited to talk about sake. She gained the title of International Kikisake-shi after completing rigorous training from the Sake School of America.
The course taught her everything from the history of brewing methods to perfecting the pairing process—basically, Watanabe knows a shit-ton about sake.
Watanabe’s original goal was to travel to Japan and expand her knowledge of traditional sake brewing methods. But, of course, the world had other travel-inhibiting plans. While bound in the states, she connected with Executive Chef Kirk Terashima and Utah brewery alumni Ty Eldrige. The three shared a common interest in bringing a sake company to Salt Lake, and within a year Tsuki was created.
Tsuki’s namesake is owed to Watanabe’s wife, who suggested the name after Watanabe’s affinity for the moon. “It’s also a symbol of womanhood, femininity and power,” she says. When she pitched it to her business partners, they said the name was a fitting way to honor Watanabe as a female sake brewer—of which there are very few in the entire world.
Jillian Watanabe, co-owner of Tsuki Sake; Photo by Adam Finkle/Salt Lake magazine
The line currently carries two sakes: The Supermoon and White Peach Nigori. The Supermoon—renamed from the previous “Junmai Daigingo” to curb the occurrence of shoppers yelling “what’s this Jumanji business?!” at the liquor stores (really, Utah?)—is a premium-grade filtered sake with fruity notes and a bright finish. “Long story short, the rice polish ratio is what makes Supermoon a Daiginjo, and the only ingredients are water, rice, yeast and Koji which is what Junmai means,” Watanabe explains. Described as a “fruit salad on the nose,” she suggests pairing the sake with seafood like oysters, mussels and sushi.
When you’re in the mood for something sweeter, reach for the White Peach Nigori. Made with pure peach puree, it’s a thicker sake with a coral glow. “I wanted to kind of represent Utah with something that is local to the state, sort of a fusion between Japanese and Utah flavors,” Watanabe says. Don’t get it confused, White Peach is by no means the kind of flavored sake you’d order at an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant. The peach notes are prominent enough to give the sake some weight, but are subtle so they don’t overwhelm the palette. “It’s such a smooth sipper, and it goes awesome in a cocktail,” she says. “Anything with sparkling wine and honey simple syrup, or spicy flavors like Thai basil and habanero.”
Together, the sake duo have taken the city by storm and Tsuki only plans to get bigger. Watanabe has been on the lookout for a brick and mortar brewery to expand the business. She also wants to offer canned sakes. “We want something to compliment the Salt Lake lifestyle of going skiing or hiking, some pocket sake when you are out and about.” Imagine cracking open a can of cold sake while your friends shotgun beers in the resort parking lot—the ultimate power move.
As Salt Lake’s first-ever sake company, Tsuki is a delightful addition for sake enthusiasts and casual sippers alike. Look for their lunar label the next time you’re in the liquor store, just don’t ask the clerk where the Jumanji is.
Just writing a personal note about my recent application to rent the apartment you have available. It would be perfect for me and my boyfriend! We’re “outdoorsy” types who moved here because my marketing job in San Francisco says I can live anywhere now and who can afford to live there? Not me and Seamus that’s for sure. Yes, I did notice that the stove doesn’t work but that’s OK, Seamus totally has a camp stove because we just love camping and feel like living in your one-bedroom shack for $2,300 a month would feel a lot like camping every day! We love the wildlife living in the attic although we’re new to Utah so we weren’t sure if those were birds or baby raccoons scuttling around up there. Either way, we’re looking forward to adopting more fur (or feather) babies!
On that, the application noted that pets are accepted with a $1,000 pet deposit. Our 1-year-old black lab puppy is so well-behaved (you have to meet him!) We wondered if you’d consider waiving that fee. We only mention it because the place is mainly bare wooden studs and exposed nails (which we love, very rustic), we’re not sure what little Arches (we named him after the national park!) could actually damage in there.
I did have a question about the wires hanging from the ceiling. Were those attached to fire alarms at some point? I only ask because of the open flames from our camp stove and my mom is worried. You know how moms are, right? Always with the advice. Don’t move to Utah with some guy you met on Tinder, blah blah blah stuff, like that.
You’ll notice that I’ve already Venmo-ed you for the first and last month’s rent, non-refundable cleaning deposit, application fee, credit check fee and background check fee. Also, please find attached a scan of my social security card, driver’s license and passport as well as this super cute picture of me and Seamus in the mountains—our true love. (Seamus was trying to teach me to ski, so he looks a little grouchy, but deep down he’s a sweetie!) We know you have a lot of interest and the rental market is very competitive but we hope you’ll consider our application (or put in a good word for us to the owners of the adorably renovated children’s playhouse across the street) so we can start our Utah adventure together! #utahisrad!
In a society that prizes machismo and often promotes toxic masculinity, not many dudes want to own up to getting facials or laser hair removal or breast reductions. But more and more men are getting cosmetic procedures and aesthetic treatments than ever before. So, maybe it’s about time we lose the machisma and the stigma?
Marina Helm has worked as a Master Medical Esthetician for 10 years. She’s spent the last four at Lucienne Salon, Spa and Boutique, and, in that time, she says she’s seen more men coming in and using the aesthetic services. “Laser hair removal, body treatments, facials for skin maintenance—men are joining the beauty industry more and more,” she says.
One of the top procedures Helm performs on men is called an EmSculpt. The device uses radio-frequency heating to strengthen muscles and burn fat. People ask her to firm up their abdomens, arms, legs and “a lot of toning of the buttocks,” says Helm. “A lot of those treatments are on male clients.” It sure beats doing squats, and it’s less invasive than liposuction or a sculpting lipo treatment that can arrange your fat cells to look like abs.
But, the procedure Helm performs the most, both on men and women, is microneedling. “It’s something I do a lot of, maybe five or six treatments a day,” says Helm. The procedure is basically what it sounds like. A tiny needle pricks the skin of the face, stimulating the production of collagen and elastin in the body, which is supposed to create a more youthful appearance. Professionals are also seeing an uptick in men going for the surgical option as well: a good, old fashioned face lift.
Helm sees that men are getting more comfortable with the idea of being open about the cosmetic procedures they’ve received, but, “some of them still want it to be a secret, but they are getting more involved,” says Helm.
In the end, it’s not about which procedures are meant just for men or just for women. The truth is, we’re all just trying to fit an ideal, so let’s be upfront and open about it.
Marina Helm is a Licensed Master Medical Aesthetician, PC Certified, Medical Laser Technician Skincare Specialist, Certified Microblading Eyebrows Artist and Body Contour Specialist.
We’re in the final hours of Utah’s redistricting process. The process was already rushed this year, thanks to COVID and delays in getting 2020 census data, but the Utah State Legislature still has to vote on the new boundaries in time to have them in place by the beginning of 2022. One of the last chance Utah voters had to potentially impact what those boundaries look like was at a public hearing at the Utah State Capitol on Nov. 10, but the meeting was cancelled. So, what now? While this is about to get a little wonky, if you want your vote to count for as much as your neighbor’s in another district, this should matter to you. After the Legislature decides on new boundaries, we’re stuck with what we get for another 10 years.
This year—two groups engaged in simultaneous, but mostly separate, redistricting efforts. Both groups held public hearings and called on Utah citizens to draw and submit their ideas for possible boundary maps. Both groups made their own maps and met to decide which maps provide the best representation for Utah’s burgeoning population. But only one group has the authority on which potential boundary maps are put up to the legislature for final approval. In the end, the other group’s maps might not even get a vote.
So, why have two redistricting groups at all? Because a majority of Utah voters wanted it that way (by about 7,000 votes). Flashback to 2018. The group Better Boundaries put forth Proposition 4, which would create the Utah Independent Redistricting Commission to draw up electoral boundary maps and recommend them to the Legislature. The Legislature could then vote on whether to approve or reject those maps. The intention was that an independent commission would not be drawing the boundaries of their own districts, as legislators would, and, therefore would not have conflicts of interest or incentive to gerrymander. “It centers redistricting on voters versus centering it on politicians,” Better Boundaries executive director Katie Wright says of the independent commission. “Better Boundaries believes that voters should be choosing their politicians, not politicians choosing their voters.”
United States Congressional Districts in Utah since 2013. Red: District 1; Orange: District 2; Yellow: District 3; Green: District 4 Source: nationalmap.gov
When Is It Gerrymandering?
Gerrymandering is when district boundaries are drawn to favor one party, which has the effect of making elections less competitive and disenfranchising other voter groups. It can be almost impossible to prove when lines have been intentionally gerrymandered. While there is some debate over whether or not Utah boundaries are gerrymandered, in 2010, the GOP-controlled Legislature drew lines in such a way to break up Salt Lake County, a democratic stronghold, among three congressional districts.
But, here’s the thing. Lawmakers are still drawing maps of their own districts. After the proposition passed, lawmakers threatened to repeal the initiative altogether, so Better Boundaries came to the table to negotiate. The 2020 compromise, Senate Bill 200, rolls back some of the initiative’s original redistricting reforms passed by voters. It removes the requirement that the Legislature vote on the commission’s proposals and follow specific redistricting criteria and gets rid of the right of private citizen lawsuits if the Legislature approves maps different than the commission’s recommendations.
The Legislative Redistricting Committee is the other group that’s drawing possible electoral boundary maps, but the group of 20 lawmakers (15 Republicans and five Democrats) is not adhering to the same map-drawing standards as the Utah Independent Redistricting Commission pro by Better Boundaries.
The law outlines some redistricting standards. Like all states, Utah must comply with constitutional equal population requirements—just how equal in population districts have to be seems to vary state to state. In addition to this tenuous legal requirement, the self-imposed principles adopted by the Legislative Redistricting Committee include:
Districts must be contiguous and reasonably compact.
State legislative districts and state school board districts must have substantial equality of population among the various districts, with a deviation less than ±5.0%.
Congressional districts must be as nearly equal as practicable, with a deviation no greater than ±0.1%.
When drawing electoral districts, the independent commission considers population distribution as well as the three Cs: keeping cities and counties and communities of interest intact—these are localized communities that share economic and cultural interests (allowing voters with aligning interests to form an informal coalition). The commission also does not take into consideration political party data or where incumbents live (if a lawmaker gets drawn out of their current district, so be it). The Legislative Redistricting Committee’s criteria does not forbid including incumbent data, which, as Better Boundaries has pointed out, could be considered a conflict of interest. In theory, lawmakers could draw boundaries to make their own seats safer or to punish political opponents.
But, if that does happen, how do you prove it? And even if you can prove it, the only recourse is voters giving a damn and voting that representative out. Which could be made all the more difficult if their district’s boundaries have already been redrawn in that elected official’s favor. In order for any of this to work, it requires people to (again for emphasis) give a damn, get involved and hold their elected officials accountable. “Redistricting is an issue so fundamental to our democracy and how citizens interact with their government,” says Wright. “It is a lot. And it is very confusing, complex and a bit wonky, but redistricting determines with whom you’re united within your representation.”
On Monday, the Independent Redistricting Commission presented its recommended maps to the Legislative Redistricting Committee. Now the committee will choose which maps—from those drawn by the committee, the commission or the public—to recommend to the full Legislature. But the process has not been without drama. Some members of the Legislature have done a considerable amount of marking their territory when it comes to redistricting. Utah voters may have chosen to create the independent commission, but the opinion of some lawmakers seems to be that it doesn’t matter what the majority of voters wanted.
Better Boundaries believes that voters should be choosing their politicians, not politicians choosing their voters.
Katie Wright, Better Boundaries
When they presented the maps to the legislative committee, the independent commission detailed the process of how they arrived at their maps. Of course, this comes after its commissioner, Rob Bishop, abruptly resigned from the commission—in supposed opposition to its map drawing process—during one of its final meetings. He accused the committee of gerrymandering in favor of Democrats by being too “metro-centric.” Never mind the fact that most of Utah’s population lives in metro areas. Likely, what he’s really concerned about is any map where Salt Lake County residents have enough consolidated voting power in a single district to vote in a Democrat to congress.
“I share his [Bishop’s] frustrations with how the commission has conducted its business. His decision to step down at this point in the process is further evidence that the duly elected representatives of the people are best suited to redraw district boundaries,” said Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson in a statement immediately following Bishop’s resignation. It’s worth noting that Wilson is also the one who appointed Bishop as commissioner in the first place, so the grandstanding and political theater, meant to cast doubt on the commission, smells faintly of contrivance.
The legislative committee is set to select the final maps in an upcoming interim legislative session, sometime mid-November. Then the maps are approved by the full Legislature and go to the Governor for final approval by December. Even though the legislative committee has full discretion here, the independent commission’s maps could still serve a purpose. Voters can inspect how the commission’s recommended maps differ from what the legislature adopts, providing some level of transparency and, potentially, the opportunity to hold our representatives accountable.
For 36 years, the Wagstaff Family has owned the concession on the edge of the reservoir at Deer Creek State Park. The mom and pop of this mom and pop, Doug and Julie Wagstaff, ran the boat rental and a burgers-and-pizza type joint to feed hungry boaters and provide summer jobs and a good work ethic to the Wagstaff kids. “They succeeded,” says Tamara Stanger, the new chef at the new restaurant The Lakehouse at Deer Creek. “Those kids know how to work.”
Stanger was hired by Brad Wagstaff, who, carrying on the family tradition, committed to the property by signing a 30-year lease. But the next generation wanted something more than just a summertime burger shack. The restaurant space has been completely renovated inside and out and features a large open patio at the lake’s edge, hence the name.
Oysters from The Lakehouse at Deer Creek, a new restaurant that is finding ways to use locally foraged accents for even clearly un-local dishes like oysters (in this case juniper and locally grown corn). Photo by Adam Finkle/Salt Lake magazine
Stanger is not new to Utah. She grew up in the small mining town of Eureka (we had to Google that, too) working in her mother’s restaurant, a down-home meat and potatoes place that was an anchor in the small community. She never left the kitchen, working her way into high-end restaurants in the Phoenix-Tempe area. Her return to Utah was kismet; she had been wanting to return to her roots, literally. See, Stanger is part of a new generation of chefs that want to venerate old cooking styles with a focus on foraging, or gathering ingredients from nearby land.
“Food tells a story,” she explains. “I want to look at the ways the early settlers and Native Americans cooked and what they cooked. I grew up foraging and most of our meat was hunted or fished. The first thing I ever foraged was wild rhubarb. I made ice cream out of it. It felt like treasure hunting.”
Chef Tamara Stanger; Photo by Adam Finkle/Salt Lake magazine
Stanger’s menu reflects this back-to-the-land sensibility paired with her formal chef training. The food she forages, she explains, can’t be used in large quantities but rather provides an accent to recognizable fare. You’ll find frybread cooked in duck fat, tortillas made with Utah blue corn, garnishes featuring tart local cherries, a bolognese with rabbit, heirloom sourdough bread, pine nuts, juniper sprigs and even acorns, used to laboriously make the acorn flour featured in this former pastry chef’s intriguing acorn pie.
“These mountains are just covered in acorns,” she says. “It takes a lot of time to process them. You have to leach all the tannins, roast them and grind them. But it’s worth it. These are foods and techniques that are unique to Utah and help tell Utah’s food story.”
Photo by Adam Finkle/Salt Lake magazine
Opened last summer, The Lakehouse will be open year-round catering to the boating crowd in the summer and the ski/Sundance crowd this winter.
“The Wagstaffs wanted a legacy,” she says. “Our mission is to help define Utah food and make it beautiful to draw people from around the world. Michelin stars? Utah itself is a Michelin star and we want to share that.”
