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.
Well, it looks like Summer is here. No, I’m not looking at the weather app, indeed more so my beet-reddened legs, incinerated by an accidental… Read More »Grab the calendar – these are the major Utah food and drink events for 2025
I first started tracking Cosmica (945 S 300 W) more than a year ago. The news that local restaurateur Ryan Lowder (Copper Onion, Copper Common)… Read More »Cosmica is another jewel in the culinary crown of the Central 9th neighborhood
Another week, and another refresh of the central Sugar House food and drink scene. With the exhausting roadworks along Highland Drive quickly becoming a distant… Read More »Two new updates on Sugar House’s rapidly evolving Highland Drive
Bars Eleven full year bar licenses were available going into the April meeting, with three applicants on the agenda: Both High West and Mono Tape… Read More »Restaurants and bars that secured licenses at April DABS meeting
I trust that since my recent preview of Hearth and Hill in Sugar House (2188 S Highland Drive), you’ve had a chance to pull up… Read More »Coconut Curry Laksa – a soulful star at the new Hearth and Hill
This is your intermittent reminder that the current ad-free experience needs your support to continue for another year. Those persnickety third-party ads vanished in March… Read More »Enjoying the stories? Here’s how you can support the website
After a relatively busy 2024 update to Utah’s liquor laws, this year’s edition ultimately yielded few major updates. Indeed, a possible relaxation of proximity laws… Read More »Upcoming liquor law changes in Utah – with one major change for all bars and restaurants
Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, May 11th this year, and with it, a mammoth amount of buffets and dining specials at restaurants around the state.… Read More »Mother’s Day dining in Utah – where to eat in 2025
After a storied 16-year run, the bell has been rung for last call at the much-loved Garage On Beck. “There are a number of different… Read More »Garage On Beck to close on May 31st after 15+ year journey
Since our last roundup in February, let’s take another look over what food writers in Utah have been running the rule over. First up Alex… Read More »Taiwanese to Japanese omakase detailed in latest writeups by local press
Frankie And Essls It’s been a couple of months since this excellent breakfast sandwich shop suffered a flooding disaster that shuttered their SLC location (490… Read More »Popular SLC breakfast sandwich shop, and downtown bar close
With Eater arriving quite a bit later this year, there’s still plenty of time to plan for a tasty Easter Sunday. Should that entail celebrations… Read More »There’s still time to grab an Easter treat from this Draper must
Flanker Kitchen & Sporting Club It’s all change again at The Parlor – the semi-secret cocktail lounge tucked away at the back of Flanker. The… Read More »Downtown SLC cocktail bar unleashes Western-themed re-design
Easter Sunday falls a little later this year namely, April 20th As per usual the date is marked by local restaurants with a wide array… Read More »Easter 2025 Dining in Utah – where to eat this year
Following on from the January news that saw nine Utah names make the prestigious James Beard Awards semi-finalist list – today sees the organization announce… Read More »Salt Lake City bar to go up against the nation’s best at James Beard Awards
Bar licenses Only two applicants appeared on this month’s docket for a highly coveted bar license; this is notable considering the 12 currently available in… Read More »More than a dozen new liquor licenses were issued in the March DABS meeting
It’s been barely six months since James Beard nominee SLC Eatery announced its closure – a tremendous loss for the SLC food scene. News breaking… Read More »SLC restaurant Mazza seeks community support to remain open
The wraps came off of Salt Lake City’s newest liquor store (1615 S. Foothill Drive) this morning. The doors opened at 11.00 a.m. marking the… Read More »New Foothill liquor store opens today
I’ve harped on and on about West Valley City’s Pho 777 for years now. I hope you’ve been paying attention and time, it’s a true… Read More »This West Valley City sandwich is a steal for $10
BTG Wine Bar April 8th, 7.00 p.m. BTG Wine Bar (pictured top) will host a wine dinner with winemaker Eric Wilson of Longoria Wines in… Read More »Here’s what’s on the dining calendar for the next few weeks