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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.

Read more about this business...

Review round-up 10/15/08

This weeks round-up is a Thai extravaganza with Chanon Thai Cafe, Sawadee and Bangkok Thai Talay all being reviewed by the mainstream publications.

Review round-up 10/08/08

In this weeks restaurant review round-up, reviewers consider the merits of Ganesh Indian Cuisine, Chanon Thai Cafe and the much vaunted Takashi.

Review round-up 10/01/08

After a brief time out the round-up bounces back with reviews of O’ Falafel Etc, Fresco Italian Cafe, Vienna Bistro and many more. Welcome back weekly round-up!

New forum

Based on feedback from several people, I have decided to start a discussion forum on the site. Although not 100% finalised aesthetically, it is now… Read More »New forum

Franck’s restaurant review

Franck’s restaurant in the Holladay area is our destination this week as we try somewhere new for a celebratory meal. Our favourite restaurant in Salt Lake City? Read on to find out more.

Faustina restaurant review

New American? Fine dining? Eclectic international cuisine? What style of food does Faustina serve? We still aren’t completely sure, but we now know how it tastes. Read on to find out.

Weekly round-up 08/06/08

After a few weeks hiatus, the weekly round-up is back in full force. Reviews this week include Five Guy’s Burger and Fries, JohnnieBeefs, Pho Green Papaya and many many more.

Weekly Round-Up 07/15/08

In the last week reviewers chew over Sonora Grill, The Old Spaghetti Factory and Woody’s Drive In. Meanwhile Ted Scheffler is off to the mountains of Snowbird to review the first annual Grill on the Hill.

Weekly round-up 07/05/08

This weeks holiday preparations seem to have contributed to a relatively small output from local food critics. This weeks reviews include Red Iguana, The Tea Grotto and Mazza.