tempted by the tofu of another.

a couple of weeks ago now my friends and I followed a whim and found ourselves driving to a location we had never before been. the famous salt flats of western utah. breathtaking. bizarre. worth the two hour drive if you are in salt lake city. and as if the salt had a power to make us hungry, we returned back to the valley grumpy and famished. so hungry that you just don't know what sounds good. you know the kind. enter evergreen. the vegetarian cafe that, like the salt flats, was always an intended venture never before realized. really it fit the theme of the day and forth we did sally for the second time that day. with courtesy the first victim of our hunger we demanded pot stickers of the cheery waitress. she happily obliged and we were happily surprised. tasty with the right mix of gooey and crispy. indeed some of the better pot stickers you can get in this town. sated enough to look at the menu without blurred vision we took to the serious matter at hand and asked the waitress about every dish. luckily there are only a dozen or so. behold our verdict:

curry meatballs. veggies and triangle tofu with (a damn good) peanut sauce. bbq chicken and potatoes.

keep in mind that everything at the evergreen cafe not only is vegetarian, but completely vegan. and fresh! this is truly a feat which took more convincing after we dove into the bbq chicken, double and triple questioning the waitress and then the owner to make sure it wasn't really chicken. had me fooled. not that that is the purpose of the restaurant. to fool. but it really is amazing the diversity of things they can make with tofu. i was a fan of the bean curd before, but i must admit that now, at least with the evergreen,  i am a total disciple.

taste for yourself. 755 south state street. prices are extremely fair as well and the food is made fresh when you order.

the doldrums of blogging and my solution.

Rather than think of all the reasons (re: excuses) for not updating my blog besides that fact that no one probably reads it, I feel the need to dive back into it; not only because I have been to so many great restaurants that are off the beaten path, but because I need to write and practice my writing. I have recently got a promotion at the newspaper where I work and want to improve not only my skill but my confidence in my writing. In truth, the main reason I never post is because it's high pressure to meet my own expectations pairing my culinary adventures with quality writing. It's overwhelming for me; like trying to pair a wine with a cheese for royalty. Actually, last time I tried to impress royalty (re: local prominent citizen) as a waiter at an upscale restaurant, it ended with Petite Syrrah (dark red wine) all over her white cashmere sweater and a tartar sauce shower for her husband. That may be a blog post story for another time but the lesson and hopefully the solution to my scant blog postings is this: to remember that a blog need not be so formal or perfect and the frequency of posting would improve what I am so nervous to accomplish (and over-do): literary cuisine. So here goes. cheers to you readers and happy blogging. happier eating.

ACME BURGER COMPANY

red. black. chrome. sea foam green? welcome to 1950 with a modern twist. and don't forget to enjoy the art, there is a life-sized jerry garcia-esque shark. its weirdly cool. oh yeah, the food: like the atmosphere, the fare offers a twist on the classic american burger (but don't worry, they have those too). its funny really. a food as original and approachable like a burger is catering to a more experienced and adventurous palette, offering the flavors of the world in burger form. korean, mediterranean, mexican, i mean i won't list every burger they have but suffice it to say, its all there. for every mouth. there is a catch however, as their menu changes at random. apparently at the whim of the jerry garcia hammerhead on the ceiling. i know. i asked.

lately i have been more than enamored with flavors of the southwest; a food genre that is becoming increasingly popular, in part because of chefs like bobby flay of the food network who promotes his southwestern flair every chance he gets, but mostly because it's just damn good cuisine. to illustrate, I give you exhibit a: the ACME BURGER COMPANY's bison chipotle burger. let that sink in for a second. you may ask your waiter "where is the beef" but it won't be because you don't see the pound of protein on your plate. it's because its not beef. it's BISON! like what you see on those old nickels you find between the cushions of your granny's couch. buffalo, dude! yeah, i know. its cool. tasty too.

okay, so they cook the meat with the chipotle sauce. brilliant! its smokey and distinct flavor is infused in every bite, and it doesn't drip all over you either. as if that makes this monster of a burger any less messy to eat.

as for the bun...pppfff. bun? as if. try red onion gourmet roll. supple, but sturdy enough to handle your grip without falling apart. no worries. for this burger you can forget condiments like ketchup and mustard, and yes, even that holy utah fry sauce, because this southwestern burger comes with a perfect roasted poblano pepper-infused mayonnaise. pickled peppers are there too as a necessary and appreciated side kick...get it? kick? cause they're spicy? HA!

don't be fooled, these gourmet burgers are every bit as approachable as the classic models they use as as guideline. think of it as an improvement on the model-T. and for $15 its not a bad upgrade. at all. you will not leave even remotely hungry. take a friend. or go alone (they have a bar where you can sit sans judgement and banter with the wait staff). the fresh, thick-cut fries are tasty too and yes, they do have fry sauce.

if you go: downtown on 200 west between 200 and 300 south. you really can't miss it. its attached to the back of p.f. changs--don't go there. so quit reading and go already, but don't forget to come back here and post your own opinion.

www.acmeburgercompany.com

PROJECT STATE STREET: Hiatus

okay, so there may be a delay with the uber-ambitious PROJECT: STATE STREET series of blog posts. i have eaten at and taken notes on a few locations along salt lake city's state street but the project is so much more than a food review. in the mean time, i have so many great places to review. this blog will undergo a few structural changes as content is added to assist you, dear reader, in navigating some of the best places in UTAH to experience great food for whatever occasion you have to DINE OUT!

still with a vein of literary flair, the self-proclaimed food critic will navigate the best places for the fiscally conservative first dates (hey, you don't want to commit entirely if its just a blow out), the casual couple's night out, the healthy, the adventurous, the odd, daring, new, and exciting, and the unknown gems just waiting to be discovered. Kiss those national chains goodbye and find real food and real people right here in this culturally rich regional city.

did you know we have a pakistani restaurant right in the avenues? or an ethiopian restaurant 10 minutes from downtown? how about all those new burger places that seem to be stealing all the limelight? yes, i have tried them and will give you the meaty, greasy details right down to the last shoestring onion. so gather all your foodie frantic friends and start the gastronomical adventure that awaits your curious tongue.

The Great Crêper

So there I was listening to local radio in my car, Theo, when the all-too-familiar burst of spontaneous epicureanism hit me. I concluded it was probably my desire to somehow delay trapping myself in the school library for the next several hours. In any event, I am always excited to try a new restaurant. Its called Berry Luna and its just off