Beer, wine, cider and two thousand dollar dinners – mark your calendars

With the multi-month holiday season looming large ahead, now’s the time we see a final special event hurrah from restaurants; after that, it’s two months of grueling turkey dinners and relatives you haven’t seen since last year, rehashing the same old ill advised jokes. So get your calendar ready. Here’s a few notable events to schedule in, including, what’s that, a visit from a three star Michelin chef?

October 15th – Stein Eriksen

Pago Restaurant Group founder and sommelier Scott Evans will feature as the guest some at this upcoming Summit county dinner. Evans’ writes by way of press release:

The idea for this dinner had been percolating in my mind for years. I truly enjoy hosting wine dinners in our restaurants, yet what I miss from my years working in hotels (including a brief stint at Stein Eriksen Lodge) is their deep cellars. I am quite proud of the wine lists I have curated, but truth be told, Stein has the best wine cellar in the state.

Luxury hotels can store and age wines that is nearly impossible to match as an independent restaurant. So, in July, I reach out to my friends at Stein and proposed the concept…Stein’s sommelier Jim Dahlgren and I curate a cellar reserve wine dinner. We each select beautifully aged wines from some of the world’s best producers and Chef Zane and the culinary team writes a menu around our selections. Although this dinner is certainly not inexpensive, the premise is that noneof these wines are currently available to purchase as a consumer and the ability to taste each of these wines with this much bottle age is an oenophiles dream.

Purchasing one of these wines during a regular dining experience at Stein would cost more than our curated pairing. Finally, we decided to keep the group size manageable and have only 20 seats available for this event. I hope you join us for this remarkable evening, these are some truly special wines and I cannot wait to taste them with you!  Cheers! Scott Evans

The reserve cellar dinner is priced $275 per person (food only is $100). Wine selections will be curated by both Evans and Stein’s Jim Dahlgren. The event starts at 6.00 p.m. with a 45 minute cellar tour before moving onto a menu as follows:

• Mere Point Oyster, Asian pear, yuzu, baby basil, salmon roe 
  • Roland Champion 2010 Special Club, Blanc de Blanc Brut, Chouilly
• Maine scallop, heart of palm, macadamia nut, watercress, citrus ginger sauce
  • Nikolaihof 1997 Vinotek, Riesling, Wachau, Austria        
• Braised “SRF beef cheeks, celery root gnocchi, celery root puree, honey crisp celery relish, chive oil 
  • Josko Gravner 2004 Bianco Breg, Venezia Giulia, Italy
• Intermezzo of Bayley Hazen Blue Cheese, grape jam, petzel crumble
  • Mad Fritz Brewing “The Fox and the Grapes” ale, Napa Valley, California
• Rocky Mountain elk tenderloin, sunchokes, chanterelles, haricot verts, chickweed, black currant aigre doux
  • Shafer 2006 Hillside Select, Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, California
  • Chateau Brainaire-Ducru  2009 Left Bank, Saint-Julien, Bordeaux
• Hazelnut & permission gateau, honey roasted persimmon, hazelnut financier, whipped crème fraiche 
  • Giuseppe Quintarelli 2007 Recioto della Valpolicella, Italy

Call Glitretrind Restaurant on (435) 645-6455 for reservations

October 16th – Yuta

The next evening head to Wanship and the ritzy Yuta (pictured top is exec chef Galen Zamarra, credit Yuta) for an “Evening with Krug champagne”. The event will run 6.00 – 9.00 p.m. and a number of the famous bubbles will be poured including:

• Krug Grande Dom Pérignon
• Krug Vintage
• Krug Clos du Mesnil

Tickets with pairing are priced $600 and can be bought online here.

October 22nd – Hunt And Gather

Cider fans should take note of this collab between the Torrey based Hunt And Gather and Etta Place Cider. The 22nd sees the local cider makers product poured alongside a seasonal five-course meal.

The event is 21+ only and begins at 6.00 p.m. Tickets are priced $119 per person. Call Hunt And Gather on (435) 425-3070 for reservations or online here. Vegetarian, vegan and GF options are available too.

October 23rd – Nomad East x Copper Common

Very few details provided so far on this one, but the two names involved are some of the best in town. Expect solid fare on both the food and drinks from each. Speaking on that, Justin Soelberg’s East side Nomad will be providing a five course meal with the Copper Common team on hand with natural wines and smartly prepped cocktails.

The 21+ only event is priced at $85 and will offer two different seatings, 5.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. You can buy tickets online here.

October 25th – Manoli’s

Iberian wines will be the focus of this event at one of Utah’s finest restaurants. The Tuesday night dinner will run from 6.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. Dinner starts at 6.30 p.m. where a six course meal will be served family style, paired with Iberian wines form P.R. Grisley Co.

Tickets are priced $150 per person and can be bought online at: https://resy.com/cities/slc/venues/manolis/events/iberian-wine-dinner-2022-10-25

October 25th – Stanza

A four course Okoberfest-styled menu can be enjoyed by guests at this downtown Italian restaurant. Cost is $105 per person ($85 food, $20 beer) with menu as follows:

• Gumbo, smoked sausage, duck leg confit, horseradish new potato salad,
• pea tendrils
  • Red Pale Ale
• Steelhead trout, roasted red pepper & spinach farfalle, kaffir lime, lemongrass, basil, bean sprouts, spicy Campari tomato broth,rosemary focaccia crostini with pecorino & pink peppercorn
  • Hellerbock
• Chile espresso Kobe beef short rib, rabbit & Duroc bacon paté ravioli, roasted leek & fennel, au jus with Amarena cherry, demi glace, crispy shallot
  • Jesse Del Mar Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
• Waffle cone apple pie, waffle cone apple pie, Dolcetti panna cotta gelato,spice cider caramel, praline
  • Bauernhaus Pilsner

Chef Paul Cafaro will oversee the menu while T.F. brewing will provide the brews. Dinner starts at 6.30 p.m. Call the restaurant on (801) 746-4441 for reservations.

October 26th – Casot

Evans pops up again on the 26th at his cosy 15th and 15th wine bar with a pintxos and vino event. Starting at 6.00 p.m. alongside P.R. Grisley Imports owner Michael Grisley, Evans’ release for the event states:

While working at the Grand America in 2002, I began my lifelong journey of studying wine. Looking back, it seems only obvious that Spain was my initial focus. In 1998, a good friend and I went off to create our own Kerouac-esque experience abroad. While hitchhiking, camping, and skateboarding around Europe for six months, I eventually returned home; unshaven (yet still somehow lacking a proper beard), penniless, and with an unwavering love for Spain.

Ever since my first visit to Spain in ’98 to my most recent visit last year, I continue to be impressed by the wines and winemakers. It is without a doubt that Pepe Raventos and Raventos i Blanc are the benchmark producers of sparkling wines in Spain. I cannot wait to share stories and their wines with you alongside the person who introduced me to the estate – Michael Grisley from PR Grisley imports.

Cost for the event is $45 for food and $80 for wine. The evening starts at 6.00 p.m. and tickets are are available online or purchase here. Tasting menu as follows:

• Jamon serrano, thinly shaved Spanish ham, olive oil, crostini
  • Raventos i Blanc “D’Nit”, Conca del Riu Anoia, Spain
• Atun y pimientos, spanish tuna conserva, onion and aioli stuffed in piquillo peppers
  • Raventos i Blanc “De La Finca” 2016, Conca del Riu Anoia, Spain
• Pata de cangrejo, broiled crab leg, smoked paprika aioli
  • Raventos i Blanc “Mas Del Seral” 2010, Conca del Riu Anoia, Spain
• Queso de cabra pintxo, goat cheese, caramelize onion, crostini
  • Can Sumoi , Penedes, Spain
• Cordero, lamb meatballs, tomato, manchego
  • Can Sumoi, Penedes, Spain

October 27th – BTG

BTG Wine Bar’s have been pumping out the stellar wine pairing dinners of late, and October is set to continue the tradition with a Tenuta Sant’Antonio Wine Dinner. Armando Castagnedi (owner of Tenuta Sant’Antonio, Veneto, Italy) will talk with guests about the wines being offered throughout this four-course dinner.  Libations poured include:

• Tenuta Sant’Antonio, Veneto, Italy   
• “Scaia” Bianco
• “Scaia” Corvina
• “Monti Garbi” Valpolicella Ripasso
• Castagnedi Selection Amarone

They’ll be paired with a four course menu from Caffe Molise chef Fred Moesinger. Dinner starts at 7.00 p.m. and tickets are priced $100 per person (or $50 food, $50 wine). Call (801) 359-2814 for reservations – very limited seating I am told.

October 29th – Yuta

Back to Wanship again towards the end of the month for their “spooky sips and spirits” event, held in the Yuta bar. Spooky spirits and specialty cocktails are promised as guests are encouraged to swing by in costume. Meanwhile in the lounge enjoy free 15 minute card readings.

Check out all the Halloween weekend events at the resort here: https://aubergeresorts.com/bluesky/experiences/halloween-weekend/

December 16-18th – Deer Valley Resort

And then there’s this one, a rare opportunity for Utah Michelin-fans to taste some of the worlds best cooking. Decembers 16th, 17th and 18th see acclaimed chef Massimo Bottura descend on Deer Valley Resort. As part of their Taste Of Luxury series, the Michelin 3 star chef will feature on on the line for a trio of nights at the resort’s Fireside Dining location in the Empire Canyon Lodge.

The Italian-based chef will be cooking up a six course dinner for those flush with their holiday cash. How much cash you ask? $1,800 is the cheapest ticket to attend, with a meet and greet priced at $2,250. Both come with KJUS Ski/Golf wear swag. I’m assuming most of us will have to ask Santa for several advances on our Christmas wish list for this one.

For his part, the presser for the event note that Bottura is one of the “world’s most innovative culinary figures. His Michelin 3-Star restaurant, Osteria Francescana in his hometown of Modena, Italy was nominated #1 on The World’s Best 50 Restaurants list in 2016 and again in 2018. He is the author of Never Trust a Skinny Italian Chef and founder with his wife of the nonprofit Food for Soul to fight hunger and combat food waste. In 2020, Chef Massimo was appointed Goodwill Ambassador under the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and Osteria Francescana was awarded the new Michelin Green Star for its commitment against food waste and in favor of a more equitable and sustainable food system.”

The event will feature passed appetizers and a special tasting from DAOU. There’ll be full bar service, live jazz music, and a personal cookbook signing with Chef Massimo. The organizers note that this “is an extremely intimate event with only 25 tickets available each night.”

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Stuart Melling

Hi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you!  I’m the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC.  I’m a multiple-award winning journalist and have written in myopic detail about the Salt Lake City  dining scene for the better part of seventeen years.

I’ve worked extensively with multiple local publications from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine, not least helped to consult on national TV.   Pause those credits, yep, that’s me! I’m also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune.    I’m largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of big words I don’t understand.   What they’re saying about me: “Not inaccurate”, “I thought he was older”, “I don’t share his feelings”.

Want to know more? This is why I am the way I am.