Utah Valley Magazine » Eating Out

Shoga puts on a show

dblackhurst — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:17:06 +0000

When Utah Valley Magazine showed me the reader’s choices of top Utah County restaurants (see page 20), I knew all the eateries very well except for one: Shoga. Uh! A good restaurant I don’t know about? I set off for Shoga that very evening to see what all the buzz was about.
From the outside, Shoga is a very unassuming location in a strip mall kitty korner from the University Mall in Orem. But the moment I stepped inside, I knew I was in for a unique dining experience — sushi bar, cozy booth seating, subdued lighting and atmosphere, relaxing music. I thought I was in a high class spa! We were graciously greeted and seated by a top notch waitress who served us the entire evening.
Where do I begin to share all the great things we tasted? Here goes.
Favorite sushi — Shoga Special Roll — one of the best I’ve ever had … even in Japan!
Must have — Tuna Tataki was our first course and best dish of the evening.
Chicken Yakisoba — My husband, Rick’s, favorite dish with lots of tasty noodles.
Shoga’s Steak — Oh my gosh. So tender and served with the best tempura vegetables. I usually dislike tempura because many places don’t change the frying oil often enough and it tastes rancid, but not these. Mmm, mmm, good!
Even the house salad was not the typical Asian iceberg lettuce with ginger dressing. The salad had fabulous presentation, lots of goodies and the dressing was superb!
Here are a few surprising facts. There were actually a lot of families in the restaurant, and they were graciously accommodated and given special suggestions for the children. The restaurant opened three years ago, and the owners are from Mongolia. They have obvious “regulars” who are greeted by name when they arrive, and most of them make their way right to the sushi bar. There are only 48 seats and they were all full when I was there. There is a private dining room for 10 in the rear if you have a private party. The price value was incredible — large portions fairly priced.
Shoga, you have made a fan out of me and I will be back often! Congratulations on raising the bar of Asian cuisine in Utah County.
Remember, fill your New Year with scrumptious food and love.

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Dine In For The Holiday

contributor — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:49:16 +0000

With December fast approaching, we decided to take a different approach to my dining guide this issue. You may be booking a restaurant for your holiday party — or if you need a good caterer, I know one! However, you are more likely to be among the hundreds of people who will be hosting their own holiday party and could use a few tips. So here’s my “what’s hot” for holiday entertaining this year.
First, family-style dining is back. Seat your guests at large communal dining tables where food is shared among family and friends. Be careful to not use plates and platters that are too large or they become too hard to pass. About 8 servings of food is all that should be on each platter. It’s fun to pre-set these platters in the center of the table and let guests serve themselves. This style is not only great for dinner but also for appetizer parties.
I like to pre-set a couple of little bites at each place setting so they can have a tidbit to awaken the palate before passing the other dishes.
Family-style dishes can be warm and homey like my gnocchi (see recipe) or as simple as local cheeses and sausages served with lavosh, crackers and foccacia bread sticks. One of my favorite salads to serve family style is heirloom tomatoes, basil, balsamic and burrata cheese. Guests love to cut into the creamy burrata and see the soft center flow like white molten lava.
To start the evening, a few passed hors d’oeuvres are the most gracious way to greet guests, and then end with a show stopper dessert. How about individual homemade pies baked in a mason jar! Or our signature Flaming Caramel Donuts with homemade Eggnog Gelato. Yum! (But don’t try this one at home without some professional help!)
Whatever your culinary inspiration this year, remember to begin with scrumptious food and fill the occasion with joy and love.
Merry Christmas, Mary

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All Aboard!

contributor — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:19:06 +0000

When was the last time you visited downtown Provo? There are so many exciting things happening to restore the area to its once lively happening place. The new convention center and Nu Skin building are changing the entire atmosphere, and great restaurants for every palate are popping up everywhere.
I love Communal and Spark, but I’m happy to see there is a new casual place for easy affordable dining. Welcome, Station 22!
Richard Gregory has long owned the entire corner square of West Center Street and University Avenue. He is now setting his hand to restaurants and hoping to turn the entire area into a hub of eating activity.
The first venture is Station 22 featuring fun sandwich, soup and salad offerings. The inspiration came from his cowboy father, a real gentleman who enjoyed the finer things in life. To help launch the concept, daughter-in-law Brittany Ammon was brought in from her culinary school experience in Napa Valley. Chef “B,” as she is lovingly known, is in her element with a discriminating eye watching over the salad bar, guests and every detail of food service.
My husband, Rick, and I took a turn at the salad bar, which had fairly typical offerings other than roasted chicken breast — a welcome addition for guests who are watching carbs and need the protein. (Yes, after all the food at my recent wedding celebrations, I’m back to eating low carb!)
We were thrilled with the delicious homemade soups: tomato bisque and shredded vegetable beef … really good! We tried the “Mighty Meatloaf” sandwich (without the bread). The meatloaf would have been on the ordinary side except for the heavenly homemade “Truffle Ketchup,” which elevated it to totally awesome!
They offered me a complimentary fresh raspberry cake with real whipped cream. I had to have just a bite. It was obviously homemade with love. I’m going back when I’m not watching my carbs so close.
I always appreciate a restaurant that uses eco-friendly disposables, corn starch forks, brown napkins and paper soup bowls. No Styrofoam here!
Station 22 also offers a great kids menu, which makes it a great destination for families.
All aboard for a restaurant that offers casual dining, yummy food and local Utah products.
Good job, Station 22!
Remember to fill your life with scrumptious food and joy.

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Taste of the Valley

klehnhof — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:51:51 +0000

The Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce is putting on a delectable event you will not want to miss. “Taste of The Valley” allows food-lovers to sample cuisine from local restaurants in a fun atmosphere full of entertainment for the whole family. This event has been hosted by the Chamber for 20 years, and last year’s event drew a crowd of more than 1,500.

Check out the culinary celebration at The Shops at the Riverwoods from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 23rd.

Tickets are $10 per person or $38 for a family of four. Buy tickets here: http://bit.ly/iVGDVx

For more details, visit the Taste of the Valley Facebook page or contact Gina Roberts with the Chamber at groberts@thechamber.org.

Unlikely location for much-liked burritos

contributor — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:33:17 +0000

I’ve been on a culinary quest to seek out little tucked away gems that are hard to find and that no one has discovered. I love sharing these with my readers, and I have a great one for you this month — Mountain West Burrito. Located on the Provo/Orem hill tucked away in an obtuse gas station, you will find arguably the best burritos in Utah.
I hardly know where to start as there as so many things to tell you about! Joe Swain is probably the most interesting restaurateur, philosopher and philanthropist you will ever meet. Joe is a native of California, served in the Peace Corps in Madagascar, graduated from Duke University in Environmental Science, and lived in Mexico teaching English.
Even though Joe is reluctant to talk about himself, he has a clear idea of his philosophy at Mountain West Burrito.
1) “Good quality does not have to be out of the regular guy’s reach.”
2) “Always use quality Utah products such as Amano Chocolate, Niman Ranch Pork, and organic produce from local farms.”
3) “If a customer comes back twice, they are a ‘regular’ and I should know their name.”
4) “I don’t want to franchise; I just help others open profitable locations with low overhead. That’s all I want.”
Joe’s right hands, Octovio and Jesus, make sure he is keeping things authentic and real. For example, the hot sauce is not just about “hot;” it has to be full of flavor.
The food has a great price value with the regular size being more than I could eat. I’ve been several times and my favorites are the steak burrito, roasted vegetables, whole bean burrito, fresh-fried tortilla chips and fresh salsa.
Joe doesn’t even take a short cut with the water! All water is served from a Kangen filter system.
Impressive.
Mountain West Burrito opened in February and already has a large following on Facebook. Become a “fan” and receive special deals. For an absolutely delicious burrito and some enlightened conversation, get yourself to my newest find. And tell Joe, “Mary sent me!”
Until next time, remember to fill your life with scrumptious food and joy.

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Not Just Another Mexican Restaurant

contributor — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:28:31 +0000

There is no shortage of Mexican restaurants in Utah County.
Ah, but the quest for good Mexican food is ever present. A new restaurant opened a couple months ago very close to my catering offices in Orem, and every day I would see the sign: “MILAGROS — The Best Mexican Food Around.”
This is a pretty bold statement, but not for Dave Tuomisto who is the original owner of Rosa’s and Bajio. Dave creates simple food in touch with things Mother Earth has to share. Many of his Hispanic crew have followed Dave through each venture and add authentic recipes from their family roots in Mexico.
I’ve eaten there a couple of times, and here are my many likes and a couple of my dislikes.
I love the vegetables! I know. It’s crazy that my favorite thing at a Mexican restaurant is the bowl of grilled fresh vegetables, but I’m serious. They are really good and healthy!
The sweet onion ball is injected with honey, then roasted, and then grilled just before serving. Very fun! The beef is perfectly seasoned and fork tender. Yum! The homemade corn and flour tortillas are great. The tomatillo salsa and guacamole? Delish!
The Nachos Milagros is served up with three meat choices, and it is definitely the best nachos I’ve ever had — and it’s a full meal for two people.
The prices are very fair for the quality and serving size.
Now for my least favorites. I did not like the pureed salsa as it wasn’t chunky enough for me. I didn’t enjoy the fish taco. I noticed some inconsistencies in the taste of the same food items each time I visited Milagros. When I asked Dave about the differences, he said Mother Nature throws “curve balls” from time to time when you cook with fresh ingredients. Good point.
I’ve been back several times and have always been pleased with the service and the food.
You’ll often find the Culinary Crafts crew hanging out and enjoying the Happy Enchiladas made with those great grilled vegetables.
Another staff favorite is the Milagros Mata Hambre fajitas.
Congratulations, Dave! It looks like you’ve created another winning restaurant.
Until next time, remember to fill your life with scrumptious food and joy!

Mary Crafts owns Culinary Crafts, an award-winning catering company in Orem. Mary is the president-elect of the International Caterers Association.

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Fresh Start

contributor — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 22:39:52 +0000

It’s the new year and time to get moving!
Over the past seven years, I have lost 80 pounds. At 57, I feel younger everyday. The single most important thing to permanent weight loss is exercise, and I do it five days a week. Next is learning to eat right — even when you’re eating out.
There are many restaurants in Utah Valley that offer healthier alternatives, and a great choice is Cafe Fresh located inside the Good Earth health food store on State Street in Orem. No fried or greasy food here!
Cafe Fresh offers a variety of sandwich wraps on whole wheat tortillas with most of them very low fat and chock-full of fresh vegetables. You’ll find brown rice — a superior alternative to the usual white rice — in the rice bowls, stuffed quesadillas and hot wraps.
I tried their homemade white bean soup made from vegetable stock and garlic, and I didn’t even miss the traditional bacon! I found the Coconut Curry Rice Bowl to be very tasty. However, I would have preferred the rice to be served as hot as the curry sauce that was served over it.
I love quesadillas, but they are usually grilled in grease and laden with too much cheese.Cafe Fresh’s Rio Stuffed Quesadilla was grilled without extra oil and a smaller amount of cheese. Wow! Healthy food can taste good. For the “vegan” enthusiast, Cafe Fresh offers large tasty cookies and fresh fruit and vegetable juices.
Healthy choices are informed choices. I follow a few easy rules when dining out:
1) Never drink calories. Shun sugar sodas, juices, milk shakes and smoothies.
2) Avoid fried and breaded; select grilled or roasted.
3) As soon as the waiter brings the menu, order a salad rather than first course appetizers and ask for it to be served asap before they bring the bread basket. It’s a great way to fill up on leafy vegetables before the stuffed potato skins and fried onion rings arrive at the table.
4) Remember all things in moderation. One of my pet peeves with U.S. restaurants is the size of the servings. Our mothers drilled into our heads that we need to clean our plates rather than stop when our hunger is satisfied. I plan to always leave something on my plate when I dine out.
It’s time to reverse the aging clock, and it really can happen. I challenge all of you to join me in our healthiest year ever! Scrumptious food (in moderation) and joy await you. Hugs, Mary.

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Double The Dining

contributor — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 15:53:56 +0000

The Shops at Riverwoods is reinventing itself as a shopping destination, but the most exciting part is the addition of new restaurants. Chef Kent Andersen, founder of Chef’s Table, has created two new taste experiences perfect for Utah County.
La Jolla Groves features a large casual dining room serving up a healthier approach to eating out. I was impressed by the restaurant’s use of local organic produce when possible. The concept must be working as I ran into the manager of the Gold’s Gym where I work out, and he told me La Jolla was one of his favorite places for healthy eating, lower fat and lighter fare.
I’ve always said Kent wrote the book on excellent service, and La Jolla is no exception. Our server cared for our every need. He even answered all my incessant questions about ingredients, their origins and style of preparations. It is worth the trip to La Jolla just for the bread — multi-grain, asiago, vegetable and potato rolls were served in abundance. Yummm!
I ordered the Mushroom Ravioli with Yellow Tomato Sauce and Garden Vegetables. The portions were large, and the price? Incredible. I sampled the fresh Atlantic salmon with Cilantro Lime Sauce and Aromatic Rice, which was very good.
The best item on the menu: Chicken Stuffed Crepes with the most delicate Veloute Sauce — it was a little taste of heaven. This is the perfect place for diners who like good food but are also on a budget. A word to the wise: The Lemon Bundt Cake is to die for!
Across the street, we found Malawi’s Pizza with African decor, African names, African logo.
At first, I didn’t understand the correlation between pizza and Africa, but it stems from the concept of donating a portion of the profits to the orphans of Malawi, Africa. Co-owner Blake Roney has long been a supporter of these kinds of great causes.
Malawi’s features a wood and gas-fired stone oven for a true authentic pizza crust. Once again, this restaurant is targeting the healthier market with whole wheat pizza crust and the freshest ingredients. The best pizza on the menu is the Pesto Roasted Chicken with Asparagus, Spinach and Gorgonzola. The best pasta is the Chicken Pepper Pasta with Red Peppers and Mushrooms. Consider saving room for the tasty Mixed Berry and Marscapone Pizza, which is fun and delicious.
I love a dessert that’s to be eaten with your fingers!
With two entrances to Malawi’s, it is a little confusing the first time as to where to order and find the menu choices. Now that I have it down, next time I want to try creating my own pizza concoction from the great list of gourmet ingredients. Like La Jolla Grove, Malawi’s is priced right for the Utah County diner to enjoy a night out often.
Kent, we’ll miss your refined touch of elegance at Chef’s Table, but this new approach may be just what Utah County needs to have their cake and eat it, too!
Remember to fill you life with scrumptious food and joy.

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A Smash Hit

contributor — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:33:51 +0000

I rarely review “chain restaurants” and usually prefer locally-owned food establishments, but every once in a while something new comes along that is worthy of special note.
Have you tried Smashburger in Orem across from the University Mall? What a great place! I loved the updated contemporary look and casual atmosphere of the restaurant. The menu is right up front so I could check out what I wanted before going to the counter to order.
Smashburger prides itself on customizing its menu to the local area and culture; thus the creation of
the “Beehive Burger” — honey BBQ sauce, applewood smoked bacon, cheddar cheese and haystack onions on an egg bun. Sounded like the perfect burger to me!
They also offer classic burgers, as well as a spicy southwest variety, and even a “Smashchicken.” My friend chose to “create your own” burger where you can select your bread from the egg, mulit-grain or chipotle buns. Then choose your cheese from American (never on MY burger!), Swiss, Cheddar, Bleu or Pepper Jack. The final decision comes with what sauces, dressing and toppings. Oh, so fun!
If you are not the adventuresome type, then order the french fries. But if you are like me and love to live on the wild side, order the Smashfries — crispy russet fried potatoes tossed with rosemary, olive oil, garlic and herbs. Total yummm!
And you can order Veggie Frites with flash-fried asparagus, carrots and green beans. Now you can eat your vegetables and love them, too!
The prices are so reasonable you can try several things on the menu including a good salad or a Haagen-Dazs milkshake. And if you haven’t experienced the difference between a milkshake made with quality hard ice cream and one made with cheap soft serve ice cream, you are in for a treat.
My Beehive Burger was delicious with its Haystack Onions (thinly sliced crispy onions) and rich egg bun. My family prides itself on being true burger connoisseurs, and we love this place! Next time I’m going to try a Chicago Smashdog with the classic sweet pickle relish and sport peppers. They use the same dogs we use at Culinary Crafts: 100% kosher beef Hebrew Nationals, so I know they are a fine dog.
Can you tell I liked this place? Thanks, Smashburger, for raising the bar on fast food burgers in Utah.
Until next time, remember to fill your life with scrumptious food and joy. Happy Summer!

Mary Crafts owns Culinary Crafts, an award-winning catering company in Orem. Mary also hosts “Culinary Creations,” which airs Saturday mornings on KBYU. She is the president-elect of the International Caterers Association.

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Nice place you have ‘dear’

contributor — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:18:45 +0000

Attention all women: Summertime … ah, the perfect season for spending time with your peeps, daughters or just some peaceful “me” time. I recently discovered a fabulous little boutique in Highland named “Dear Lizzie”!
  Even though they have been open for five years, I must confess it was my first visit to this delightful store. Imagine my surprise to find the most charming little bistro tucked away inside. Owner Laura Jarman set out to create a special place to celebrate womanhood and a place to discover what fun it is to be a girl. Wow! She has succeeded.
  The bistro offers traditional tried and true favorites with a few twists of its own. The Signature “Sweet Spinach Salad” had the most yummy dressing, and I may beg her for the recipe. I also tried the Chicken Salad Croissant, which was very fresh and tasty.
  Upon entering the bistro, I knew right away that a summer salad and sandwich would be plenty so I could save room for the beautifully displayed dessert case. I was like a kid in a candy shop … literally! I sampled the delicate sugar cookies, which were very good. Their signature cupcakes are known throughout the county. I happened upon a customer, Molly Dayton, who told me she drives all the way from Orem to buy the Dear Lizzie cupcakes. They also offer “Nothing But Bundt Cakes,” which are miniature bundt cakes usually sold only at the Bundt Cake store in Salt Lake City.
  Another unexpected surprise was to discover Dear Lizzie rents the bistro for small wedding or baby showers and ladies teas. The bistro manager, Karli Haglund, loves catering little parties for 25 or less and making sure every detail is flawless. I knew she was a woman after my own heart when her eyes lit up as she described a glass pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice! Karli loves to serve miniature wedding cakes at bridal showers and at $20 per cake (6 servings), they are not only gorgeous but a real bargain.
  The entire store is true “eye candy,” but the whimsical candy displays in the bistro look like something right out of Martha’s magazine … or one of my finest weddings.
  I loved strolling the entire store and look forward to taking all my girls for a “mother/daughter” lunch during the casual days of summer. This issue of Utah Valley celebrates women in business who are making a difference and bringing culture, diversity and warmth to our community.
  Congratulations, Laura! You are surely one of these amazing women.
  Until next time, fill your lives with scrumptious food and joy.

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