News with a seasonal twist

J&G Grill over the holidays

Maybe the thought of cooking a traditional holiday dinner this year fills you with dread, or maybe you just want to celebrate in style this year; whatever the reason, give J&G grill a thought if escaping for something special is on your mind.

The St Regis resort restaurant recently covered by us here, is offering two suitably opulent set menus this holiday season, for xmas and new years eve respectively:

Christmas Dinner Pre Fixe Menu ($85 per person)

Amuse of Egg Toast, Dill and Caviar

Steamed Shrimp Salad, Tender Greens, Avocado, Champagne Dressing
or
Butternut Squash Soup, Mixed Mushroom and Chive

Tai Snapper, Nut and Seed Crust, Sweet and Sour Jus
or
Slow Cooked Salmon, Mash Potatoes, Brussels, Truffle Vinaigrette

Roasted Moullard Duck Breast, Spiced Carrots and Ginger-Orange Jus
or
Grilled Kobe Beef Filet, Liquid Gruyere and Herb Spinach

Duo of Desserts
Poached Pear with Chewy Caramel and Sorbet
Warm Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream

New Year’s Eve Prix Fixe Menu ($145 per person)

Amuse of Caviar with Crepes and Crème Fraiche

Oyster Tasting
Or
Sliced Sockeye Salmon, Blood Orange and Herb Salad

Parmesan Risotto. Shaved Black Truffles and Fine Herb
or
Foie Gras Terrine, Grilled Country Bread, Jalapeno-Apple Compote

Tai Snapper, Nut and Seed Crust, Sweet and Sour Jus
or
Maine Lobster, Buttered Cabbage and Ginger-Scallion Condiment

Slow Braised Short Rib, Green Apple Puree and Rosemary Crumb
or
Grilled Clark’s Farm Lamb Chops, Roasted Brussels and Pistachio Pesto

Duo of Desserts
Poached Pear with Chewy Caramel and Sorbet
Warm Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream

J&G Grill
The St. Regis Deer Crest Resort
2300 Deer Valley Drive East, Park City, UT 84060
(435) 940-5700
Website: www.jggrilldeercrest.com

Truffles for Christmas

No, not the chocolate kind, the other kind! Over in Ogden, Zucca Terattoria Chef Elio Scanu presents “Piedmont in Black & White” until December 30th. Chef Scanu says, “My interpretation of ‘Cucina Piemontese’. A memoir of my times as a child in Asti where my Grandfather used to have a Cork factory, my Grandmother pampered me and Truffles were not so famous!”. Some items from the delicious sounding new additions include:

Velvety Potato & Cauliflower Cream with, Shaved Black Truffle & Cacao ($10.00)

Wild Mushroom Ravioli with Black & White Truffle, Fontina Valdostana Fondue ($22.00)

Stracotto (Braised Short Ribs in Barbera Wine), Polenta Taragna (Rustic Polenta with Fontina & Truffles) ($33.00)

Zucca Trattoria
1479 East 5600 South, South Ogden, UT 84403
(801) 475-7077
Website: www.myzucca.com

Sky Blue @ The Sky Lodge

Park City’s Sky Lodge opened its lounge Sky Blue this week. The biggest change is the new ‘Rooftop Lounge’ concept, complete with hooded robes and throws for outdoor wear, following Manhattan’s outdoor rooftop garden trend. There’s also a new menu, featuring many of Easy Street’s raw seafood bar offerings, small plates, fondues and hand-rolled cigars which can be enjoyed on the outdoor deck around the fire pit. Of special note to locals will be the beverage pricing: Beers from $5; and wines by the glass from $9.

The Sky Lodge
201 Heber Avenue, Park City, UT 84068
(888) 876-2525
Website: www.theskylodge.com

Food truck options expand

Recent news from SLC’s first food truck (the Chow Truck) points to an increasingly positive local business environment. While other cities have embraced this hot national trend, SLC city ordinances have hindered expansion locally.

Everything looks set to change now though. On December 14th, Chow Truck’s owner met with the city and twittered: “SLCO mtg was very positive they want to better understand the model so it works for everyone & they want Chow truck & small bus. to succeed!”. Positive stuff indeed.

Hot on the heels of that news comes brief, but nonetheless interesting news on some other mobile food startups:

The BBQ Dude (Twitter and Facebook) hasn’t confirmed a launch date yet, but comes from people formerly associated with BBQ Nirvana and Pounders Hawaiian Grill.

Heaven Cupcake (Website, Twitter, Facebook) seems to merge one trend with another – cupcakes and food trucks.

Finally, the Bistro Bus (Twitter and our forum) surfaced some while ago, but I haven’t heard much concrete yet.

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.