Best of Utah 2010: Food & Drink Page 2

Best Sushi On-the-fly
Hayai Zushi
It’s a busy world, and sometimes people don’t have time to sit down for sushi. Thankfully, Hayai Zushi has come to the rescue, offering up drive-thru sushi to eat on the fly. Master sushi chef Peggi Whiting is the brains behind Hayai Zushi, where yummy options include California rolls, tuna rolls, rice bowls, salads, bento boxes, potstickers and more, all ready and waiting to go for the busy sushi lover. 307 W. 600 South, Salt Lake City, 801-364-1699, HayaiZushi.com

Best Downtown/Central Restaurant Eva Don’t let the size of Eva fool you. This comfy, cozy eatery packs a punch in the flavor and ambiance departments. Adorned with paintings by local artists, Eva’s food is as vibrant as anything hanging on the walls. Chef Chuck Perry cooks up an appetizing array of small plates and pizzas, allowing customers to go whole hog or simply enjoy a nibble or two and a glass of wine. Must-haves at Eva include Perry’s bodacious Brussels sprouts, flash-fried calamari, the open-face steak sandwich and sensational spanocopita. And, be sure to sample an Eva specialty cocktail. 317 S. Main, Salt Lake City, 888-314-8536, EvaSLC.com 2. Takashi 3. Bambara

Best Biker Burger
Marley’s Gourmet Sliders
You might not think of the petite slider as the perfect biker food. But, once you’ve tasted Marley’s—located at the Timpanogos Harley-Davidson showroom in Lindon—you’ll agree that these sliders are packed with enough flavor to satisfy the burliest, brawniest appetite. Along with beef, chicken, turkey and hot dog sliders, Marley’s also offers delicious gourmet-style sliders, including pulled turkey, salmon and filet mignon, all served on a soft, buttery, homemade bun. You just can’t beat Marley’s sliders, especially with a side order of shoestring fries. 555 S. Geneva Road, Lindon, 801-229-2469, Marleys.com

Best Potstickers
Rooster Dumpling & Noodle Bar
Who doesn’t love Chinese dumplings, aka potstickers? Down in Utah County, Rooster Dumpling & Noodle Bar dishes up some of the best potstickers around, all made from scratch. In addition to delicious dumplings, you’ll find rice bowls, green-chili cheeseburgers, bahn mi sandwiches, agedashi tofu, ginger-scallion noodles, Thai curry chicken wings, and a lot more. But when all is said and done, it’s the shrimp, veggie and pork dumplings—stuffed and cooked to perfection—that you don’t want to miss. 163 N. University Ave., Provo, 801-375-3138, RoosterDNB.com

Best Sushi
Takashi
Many try, but few restaurants succeed at giving patrons a complete dining experience, which requires a mixture of great food, great ambiance and great service. Fans of Takashi rave about its soba and sake selection, as well as the vibrant décor, but Takashi’s sushi rolls are what truly shine. Popular rolls like the Dragon and TNT entice devotees to brave the sometimes long wait times at Takashi. As Salt Lake City’s most popular sushi restaurant, it is also one of the most popular restaurants overall. 18 W. Market St., Salt Lake City, 801-519-9595, TakashiSushi.com
2. Tsunami
3. Happy Sumo

Best Sexy Sammies
The Sensuous Sandwich
It takes, well, balls—especially in Utah County—to name your business The Sensuous Sandwich. Not everyone thinks of Happy Valley as an especially sexy place. The folks at The Sensuous Sandwich, however, are out to change that image by serving up sammies with names like The Stimulator, The Enticer, The Tantalizer, The Satisfier, The Super Saucy and The Au Natural. Do the sandwiches come with free condiments? 163 W. Center St., Provo, 801-377-9244; 378 E. University Parkway, Orem, 801-225-9475, SensuousSandwich.com

Best Lava Rock Meal
Rancho Market Molcajete
At Rancho Market, you’ll find an amazing dish called a molcajete. It’s actually made in a lava rock molcajete, which is turned upside-down and heated until nearly molten-lava hot, directly over a gas flame. The fiery-hot molcajete is then turned right-side-up and the fun begins. First, a layer of Oaxacan cheese (similar to mozzarella) is placed into the bottom of the molcajete. It melts immediately, creating a beautiful, brown, cheesy crust. Next, strips of napolitos (cactus), cooked shrimp, chicken and thin strips of beef are placed into the hot molcajete, along with whole charred jalapenos and plump Mexican-style green onions. Finally, the entire thing is topped with thick chunks of cheese, somewhat similar to feta, and delivered to your (picnic) table hot enough to cause concern. Ole! Multiple locations, RanchoMarkets.com

Best Appetizers
The Bayou
For many patrons, the first appetizer ordered at The Bayou is something in a bottle. After that, however, there are plenty of choices for tableside snacking, especially things that can be shared with a large group. A dependable option is the artichoke dip, which seems to never run out, no matter how many people help eat it. For a spicier choice, there is the chipotle hummus. And, of course, there are always the sweet-potato fries. 645 S. State, Salt Lake City, 801-961-8400, UtahBayou.com
2. Eva
3. Red Rock Brewing Co.

Best Charcuterie
Spruce
As with Spruce’s sister restaurant in San Francisco, one of the specialties at Park City’s Spruce is the charcuterie, which is cured in-house, antibiotic- and hormone-free. Charcuterie selections are available as individual portions, but to sample the full range of Spruce’s amazing charcuterie, you’re better off ordering the Grand Selection that frequently includes coppa, chorizo, duck rillette, ciccioli, thinly sliced poached veal tongue, duck liver mousse and shaved pig’s ear. It’s all accompanied by toasted bread points and grainy homemade mustard. For lovers of cured meats, Spruce’s charcuterie is the bomb. 2100 Frostwood Drive, Park City, 435-647-5566, SprucePC.com

Best Sandwich & Chips
Toaster’s
Family-owned and -operated, Toaster’s pairs its healthy toasted sandwiches—turkey & avocado, chicken salad, prosciutto & provolone, ham & cheese, roast beef, gourmet veggie, to name a few—with a simple side of Lay’s. And the chips taste pretty good. Maybe the incredibly nice owners and employees infuse the junk food with good vibrations and enhanced flavor. Maybe it’s just our imagination. But it works. 151 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City, 801-328-2928; 30 E. 300 South, Salt Lake City, 801-746-4444, ToastersDeli.com

Best Burritos
Lone Star Taqueria
Lone Star Taqueria is a Mexican beach cantina in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains, renowned for its fish tacos. However, its burritos are not to be overlooked. Stuffed beyond bursting, they are flavorful without being dangerously hot—for spice, you can always add salsa from the fresh salsa bar. Oh, and don’t neglect the cold beer or Jarritos sodas to complete the momentary beach escape. 2265 Fort Union Blvd., Cottonwood Heights, 801-944-2300
2. Red Iguana
3. Cafe Rio

Best Reason to Get Canned Bohemian Brewery We applaud Bohemian Brewery’s can-do attitude. Sure, bottles are pretty and nice to hold, but for many reasons, the local business chooses to house its premium Czech Pilsener in aluminum cans. Not convinced? Consider this: Bottles let in sunlight, which can decrease or destroy optimum flavor. Cans are easier to recycle, harder to break (but easier to crush on one’s head without serious injury. Just sayin’). 94 E. 7200 South, Midvale, 801-566-5474, BohemianBrewery.com

Best Eclectic Flavors
Cy’s Eclectic
Eclectic is really the only way to describe the seasonings, sauces, marinades and rubs distributed to grocery stores by Cy’s. Dry seasonings are available for everything from Greek souvlaki to chili fajita; zingy barbecue sauces come in raspberry chipotle, habanero heat and sesame spice, among others. Your foods will have a flavorful international flair, even when grilled in your back yard. 801-973-2200, CysEclectic.com

Best Mimosa Menu
Wild Grape New West Bistro
The best part of brunch is abundant hydration. A glass of milk, juice, water, coffee and a morning cocktail is about perfect. Wild Grape New West Bistro has tapped into this desire for brunch-beverage choice by offering not just a few unorthodox mimosa choices, but 10! Champagne plus orange, mandarin, blood orange, bellini peach, mango, pineapple, blackberry, kiwi, prickly pear, strawberry, or raspberry juices create an irresistible flavor adventure, even for those hesitant to drink at noon on Sunday. 481 E South Temple, Salt Lake City, 801-746-5565, WildGrapeBistro.com

Best Taste of Summer in the Winter
Desert Edge Brewery’s Raspberry Stout
For clarity on Desert Edge Brewery’s Chris Haas’ dedication to his craft, a perfect example is the miracle that is his raspberry stout. Fruity beers may still be a novelty for the average beer drinker, but with this stout, Haas has crafted a drink that truly smacks of the delights of summer. Using raspberries rather than syrup in the brewing, his sweet stout has such a texture and depth of taste that it’s impossible, while sipping it, not to close your eyes and think of sun-drenched hills and rolling clouds—which is especially nice with this beer, because it is only served during the dead of winter. 602 E. 500 South (Trolley Square), Salt Lake City, 801-521-8917, DesertEdgeBrewery.com

Best Brazilian Enterpeneur
J.R. Lopez, Braza Grill & Braza Express
When J.R. Lopez moved to Utah 12 years ago, he opened a store called Made in Brazil. Realizing that his future lay in cuisine rather than importation, he launched a well-priced Brazilian barbecue restaurant in Murray called Braza Grill. At the end of 2009, he opened Braza Express in downtown Salt Lake City, a fast-food version of his popular rodizio-style eatery that had construction workers from City Creek piling in by the dozen. Lopez’s genius, though, is his constant attention to detail. You’ll find him roaming the tables and talking to customers, always a smile and handshake at the ready. His laid-back charm marries perfectly with the soul of his restaurants. 5927 S. State, Murray, 801-506-7788, BrazaGrillUtah.com; 147 S. Main, Salt Lake City, 801-359-8009, BrazaExpress.com

Best Local Beer
Squatters
Squatters, more than others, has embraced the opportunity to produce high-alcohol beers for Utahns. Its microbrewery consistently releases seasonal and limited-run beers, including Hell’s Keep, the Bavarian farmhouse ale; Outer Darkness, a Russian Imperial stout that packs a serious punch; and Hop Rising, a double IPA that makes ordinary IPAs taste like Utah beer. Those are just the new entries, however. Squatters remains a Utah favorite thanks to traditional brews like Captain Bastard’s Oatmeal Stout and Full Suspension Pale Ale. Multiple locations, Squatters.com
2. Wasatch Brew Pub & Brewery
3. Red Rock Brewing Co.

Best Frozen State of Mind
Inspired Ice Cream
Karen Bayard, determined to cement true Renaissance woman status, wasn’t content to do stand-up comedy and also lead full-body laughter workshops. So, a line of dairy-free, nut-based ice “creams” was born, with flavors named after the positive states-of-being that guide her through her various endeavors. The frozen treats include many vegan-friendly options and ice cream sweetened with honey, with every flavor dedicated to mind-body deliciousness. How to choose between Zingy (lime), Quirky (red bean), Playful (peach) and Creative (candy cane), among the 30 options available through the Website and local retail outlets. KarenBayard.com

Best Chopped Salad
Cucina Toscana
The simplicity of Valter Nassi’s chopped arugula salad dish at Cucina Toscana is beautiful: The peppery arugula is topped with nothing more than a spritz of lemon, shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano and—here’s the kicker—sweet acacia honey. It’s an absolutely divine dish at the start or end of a Cucina Toscana dinner. 307 W. Pierpont Ave., Salt Lake City, 801-328-3463, Cucina-Toscana.com

Best Dinner & Bollywood Movie
Star of India
Watching one of the exuberant musical melodramas that are part of the “Bollywood” Indian film tradition can make you hungry for the cuisine, and, in turn, dining on delicious Indian fare will put you in the mood for one of those movies. So, the pairing is perfect at Star of India, where a big screen shows Bollywood films for diners. Whether it’s an effect of the movies or the wonderful food, you may feel like breaking into song and dance at the end of the meal. 55 E. 400 South, Salt Lake City, 801-363-7555, StarOfIndiaOnline.com