2022 certainly started with a bang. Day one the University of Utah Utes appeared in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and lost a great game in the final seconds. Lucky to be in the crowd and even luckier to not bring home COVID-19 which so many attendees did. That added to the battle over masking which directly impacted restaurants in any number of ways–cue more takeout and a worsened outlook for a historically slow month anyway. Yet our local restaurants keep on churning, pivoting and trying to serve delicious food. Let’s raise a glass to their health this year and take a look at the top five dishes around the state!
Octopus gnocchi at Cucina
Seafood lovers fear not, there are great ocean-dwelling options here in the City of Salt. Take Chef Joey Ferran’s octopus gnocchi on the after 5 dinner menu at Cucina Wine Bar in the Avenues which is as much a meal for the eyes as the stomach. Pillowy-soft gnocchi and meaty octopus tentacles float in a rich saffron beurre blanc while red kuri squash and dandelion pesto provide earthy counterpoints to the dish. Pair it with a variety of suggested wines curated by owner Dean Pierose.
$17
Randazzo pizza at Brick’s Corner
I’ve had a number of people from Michigan question whether there really is such a thing as Detroit-style pizza, but whether it’s as old as a Chicago deep dish or a newer invention, Detroit-style pizza is now a trend that I’d be happy to see stay! Enter Brick’s Corner, a newish pizza joint on the corner of 700 East and 1465 S. dishing up steel pan pizza with plenty of bubbly, crunchy edges. The pizza crust makes Brick’s Sicilian-style pan pizza unique—with a double-proofed, 24-hour aging process for a light, fluffy and crispy crust that’s unforgettable. You can build your own Detroit-style pizza or enjoy the granite stone oven creations as suggested. We take the Randazzo, a tribute to a pioneer of Detroit pizza, with a tangy slather of red sauce and double layers of pepperoni and add black olives and roasted garlic. You’ll also find some tempting starters, salads and sandwiches on the menu as well.
$16 with additional toppings $2 or $3 each
Fried Brussels and bacon at Snowbasin Cinnabar
Brussels sprouts have been dividing friends and families over the dinner table for ages. Love them or hate them, there’s no in between. These lovely little cruciferous cabbages grace our table at Thanksgiving and on any old Tuesday. After a day on the slopes at Snowbasin, we stopped in at Cinnabar in Earl’s Lodge for apres ski and experienced what I’ll call the best Brussels I’ve eaten. The appetizer starts with fried Brussels paired with crispy bacon and sweet mandarin orange segments that are sauced with a miso soy glaze before a generous sprinkling of sesame seeds. A great combination of sweet and savory flavors.
$16.95
Spicy tuna bites at Flanker
Flanker Kitchen and Sporting Club calls the north end of The Gateway home and is a downtown destination for 21+ looking for entertainment, food and drinks at the same venue. Enjoy casual, shareable fare like the spicy tuna bites in the restaurant, bars or cocktail lounge. Easy to consume in between the next golf swing or karaoke song, these bites are built with the perfect ratio of tuna tartare stacked on top of a crispy rice ball finished with spicy mayo and a slice of jalapeno.
$16
Pappardelle pasta at Wood.Ash.Rye
The newest darling of St. George gourmands, Wood.Ash.Rye lives up to it’s stylish, hip home in The Advenire Hotel in historic downtown by serving memorable dishes and cocktails. The dinner menu features seasonal, regionally sourced ingredients prepared with thoughtful flavors. The pappardelle pasta dish relies on careful crafting of the hearty tomato mushroom ragu filled with ribeye beef and finished with a nicely balanced herbed ricotta to coat those thick ribbons of al dente pasta. The Local Salad and Wood.Ash.Rye’s famous buttermilk biscuits are a great accompaniment to the pasta too.
$26
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