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.
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
As the month ends, here are all the news items that came our way, but otherwise didn’t make it to a story. The following info… Read More »Harmons awards three local names a $5,000 grant
To say the secret is out about Zhu Ting Ji, would be an understatement for the ages. The Taylorsville newcomer has been nothing short of… Read More »Spicy Boiled Fish – thrilling Sichuan cooking at Zhu Ting Ji
Grab those diaries folks. Hill Top Hospitality’s (Urban Hill, Hearth and Hill, Hill’s Kitchen) latest outing will swing open their doors this Friday (March 21st).… Read More »Sugar House welcomes Hearth And Hill this Friday
Alibi Taking to Instagram this week, this cocktail-forward bar (pictured top) signed off, writing, “Alibi will be permanently closing its doors on Saturday, March 22nd.… Read More »Downtown Salt Lake City bar announces March 22nd closure
El Tonga Tacos I had hoped to bring you news about this extra special spot in the coming weeks, but alas, owner Teodoro Cruz called… Read More »Creatively unique taco shop closes doors
St Patrick’s Day specials First up, here’s a quick look at what’s happening over the coming days for St. Pats, lower down the page, some… Read More »Upcoming food and drink events for your calendar this month
Time for an update. It’s been eighteen months since I penned this article espousing the culinary charms of Pornpimon Prathummas – chef and owner of… Read More »Unique Thai dishes on the menu at this Millcreek restaurant
You can stop filling my inbox and DMs, everybody. For all those who have asked what, when, and how – I can confirm that the… Read More »Ambitious new Sugar House food and drink hall will debut this week
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
It’s that time of the year folks – daily news inches and moment-by-moment debate and intrigue (more on that below). Yep, it’s time to pore… Read More »What changes are on the cards in Utah’s 2025 liquor law update
February’s DABS meeting unfurled this Thursday, in much the same manner as months before. Swift and to the point. Here’s who received what. Full-service restaurant… Read More »Eighteen bars and restaurants approved for liquor licenses
Hispaniola Bistro is the name, and today’s the date – as South Salt Lake’s Square Kitchen Eatery (2435 S State Street) welcomes its newest entrepreneur.… Read More »Unique Dominican menu debuts in South Salt Lake today