Mad Dogs of UT, LLC

Mad Dogs of UT, LLC Cart

With as much exposure to food and different places around the world that I've had, one thing remains consistent...my love of street food.  Salt Lake City has just received a tasty new gift, wrapped in bacon.

Mad Dogs of Utah, LLC is the type of food cart others should aspire to be.  The factors of food cart success are all there - quality ingredients, attention to detail in cooking, and amazingly friendly service in the form of Rudy.  If you ask him, he will tell you all about how service is what sets you apart.  He pays attention to his customers and will chat you up if you like, wait patiently as you pore over the many options, or even take your order over the phone to make your delectable bite handoff even quicker.

What caught my eye, then my stomach, and finally my heart, was his offering of a bacon wrapped dog.  Rudy takes premium hot dogs, wraps them just like little gifts (to your tongue) in bacon, and then lets them bubble and crisp on the grill.  While this is happening, he also grills your bun and will grill mushrooms and/or onions to pile atop if you like.  If you want a side of conversation, he is happy to oblige.  More of the silent type? No pressure - he'll leave you be.

Rudy of Mad Dogs of Utah, LLC and Menu

The bacon dog is indeed delicious.  Due to the elements of seared fat and hot dog casing, your dog will gleefully crunch under your bite.  If you want to add a little kick or yin to your yang, you can add A1 sauce or syrup.  

Bacon Dog with A1 Sauce

Mad Dogs of Utah, LLC also offers breakfast.  Biscuits & gravy, hash browns, breakfast sandwiches (a buck and a half? Can he be serious?) and more.  At lunch, Rudy also offers a French dip, hamburgers, turkey sandwiches, and tacos.  He is also happy to make an item gluten-free upon request.

So if you love food carts - and bacon - you must visit Mad Dogs of Utah, LLC.  He is a Salt Lake win! 

Wild Grape Bistro

I know there's been a lot of discussion regarding group deals as of late (i.e. Living Social, Groupon, etc.).  I see many possible benefits for consumers and businesses IF both use them correctly and intelligently.  I actually did a marketing evaluation in my MBA program on Groupon.

Anyway, the reason I mention this is that a LivingSocial deal allowed me to try out Wild Grape Bistro - a restaurant that has been on my list since it opened.  I had an email warning me to use my deal soon or lose it - so use it I did.

Wild Grape Bistro took over a restaurant location that seems to have experienced a lot of turnover.  When they first arrived, I wondered how long they would last.  Here's to hoping they continue.  My meal on Saturday was superb.  Have a glimpse into my experience.

We started with a small plate of Potato Gnocchi, served with braised beef, mushrooms, spinach, truffle oil, and a dusting of parmesan.

Delicious.  I'm a sucker for gnocchi.  Pretty much anytime I see it on a menu, I need to try it.  A large part is due to the fact that good authentic gnocchi seems incredibly difficult to find.  I'll be honest - the gnocchi here were good but not what I consider gnocchi done right.  The flavor was there but the texture too squishy.  Good gnocchi should be somewhat firm.  These were closer to potato dumplings.  The real winner of this dish?  The braised beef.  It was incredible.  Tender, pull apart, but with the right amount of chew so you still felt like you were eating meat.  My next visit will include their tenderloin just so I can taste the magic they create again.

Next up - Grape's Bison Burger.  8 oz. Colorado Bison, house-made steak sauce, blue cheese, fried onions, spinach, bacon, and served with house cut fries.

Sadly, due to pregnancy food restrictions (which also prevented me from ordering their Arugula salad which sounded ridiculously good for a summer day) I had to withhold the blue cheese.  The sacrifices I make....anyways.  I hadn't experienced Bison before.  For those who are a little more on the reserved side when it comes to game meats or meats not normally seen in the grocery store I'd say go for it!  It's an incredibly mild tasting meat but delicious.  I assume the grind wasn't mixed with any beef suet but it's possible.  The burger was exquisitely composed with the right layering and thickness of bun to burger with a lovely crunch of onion and sweet tang from the steak sauce.  Another win for Wild Grape Bistro.

Lastly, we finished with a Organic Chicken Breast, served with Moroccan roasted vegetables, polenta fries, and smoked eggplant.

I had wondered what the "polenta fries" would come out as.  I love polenta, and tend to prefer a firmer style.  This was perhaps a bit too firm for me and resembled more of a coarse corn bread than polenta.  The chicken was moist and slightly garlicky.  And the vegetables were the real win.  Tender, well-seasoned, and summery.  I fear it was unfair to the chicken to have followed the braised beef.  If you're in the mood for chicken, it was well cooked and satisfying but not memorable in the way the braised beef was.

So, while some may argue that group deals are of the devil (and some consumers abuse the system to make it so while some businesses overestimate their ability to fulfill), it proved successful for me.  Wild Grape Bistro?  I happily recommend your fare.  Your service was great and patio seating on a lovely summer day are hard to not love.

Bittersweet Moments Sweetened With Mini's Cupcakes

Today is my last Thursday at work. Meaning, tomorrow is my last day at my current employer. There have been definite highs and lows at my job. The highs, absolutely being the opportunity to meet and work with some of the most magnificent people I will ever come into contact with.
Evidence of this?

Mini's Cupcakes. My favorite Salt Lake cupcakery, for good reason.

Why do I love Mini's? I've eaten about a million cupcakes. Although, it certainly felt like the majority was in a span of two weeks while we were searching out the best cupcake in New York at Serious Eats. I've never been so sugared out in my life. After eating all these cupcakes, and swearing them off for a period of time, I was able to return to Utah, and return to Mini's.

They are the perfect size. Enough to satiate but not so much that you wish you could die or pull all of your teeth after consuming one. More importantly, they are always moist, have excellent flavor balance, and have frosting and ganaches that are blended well and not grainy or sickeningly sweet. As an added bonus, Leslie has incredibly fun and delightful flavors that tease the palate into wanting more.

What did my wonderful friend and co-worker delight me with? From top left: Black & White, S'More Please, Diva. Bottom left: Twister Sister, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Chocoholic. Leslie (the owner and baker) pretty much had my heart when she started combining salty and sweet - and made delicious ganaches.

Mini's also does seasonal flavors. This holiday season, I was fortunate enough to experience a Gingerbread with Cream Cheese, Eggnog (filled with eggnog custard) topped with Eggnog Buttercream (and an optional splash of rum), Pumpkin Chocolate Chip, Dark Chocolate with Dark Chocolate Peppermint Ganache, and a Dark Chocolate with Nutella spread. Wowee - my heart did little flutters when I saw what was coming out.

Lastly, you should see what my breakfast of champions was completed by. (If you didn't see this coming, you haven't figured me out yet)

Twenty Restaurants, Twelve Hours

Oh Twitter, I've grown to love you.  I judged you once, as many do, to be superficial and spacey.  I was wrong.  Well, mostly.  You satisfy the ADD in me better than just about anything out there...what?  Oh, well, almost.  Sometimes, you're still kinda slow.  But you also bring me wonderful news.  A week and a half ago a saw a little something on Twitter that made my heart happy.  Carey Jones, of Serious Eats fame, had let the possibility of a stop in Salt Lake City slip.

I was delighted.

Emails were exchanged, flights confirmed, and a restaurant list compiled.   And the day arrived.  Stretchy pants were worn.  My heart and stomach squealed with excitement and terror with each new edible encounter.  It was a fantastic day.  I was elated that I got to hang out with Carey for the day and assist in Serious Eats' success.  They are the best work family a girl/guy could ask for.  I'm providing the list of eateries we frequented that day.  Descriptions for each would result in an online novel so I'll spare you for now.  I will do you the honor of marking my top five* of the day.

Bon Apetit!

(Disclaimer: We ate at places that fit the chapters going into the Serious Eats book.  So don't be saddened that some of Salt Laker's favorite places are left out.  Also, we only had one day and we each only one one stomach.  A few bites or more at each place times 20 - you do the math.  10,000 calories?)

1. Banbury Cross
2. Les Madeleines*
3. The Park Cafe
4. Finn's
5. Eggs in the City
6. Tulie Bakery*
7. Tony Caputo's Market & Deli
8. Bruges Waffles & Frites*
9. Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana
10. Capo Gelateria
11. Chow Truck
12. Dolcetti Gelato*
13. The Back Door Deli
14. Cows
15. Maxwell's East Coast Eatery
16. Cafe Rio
17. The Cotton Bottom Inn
18. Busy Bee
19. The Copper Onion*
20. Nielsen's Custard