
Salt Lake City – A Foodie Town
Salt Lake City – A Foodie Town
Where I ate…
Matine
Back to the food. On arriving, I joined a group of wonderful women from Virginia for dinner. We walked to the nearby tapas cafe bar, Martine. Felt like an old-school European cafe. They had a simple, fresh menu. The specials were outstanding. You could chose from tapas, small plates, entrees, or a three-course prix fixe menu. I chose off the tapas menu, so I could enjoy a couple different dishes.
I started with the Creminelli Salami and Local Cheese Plate. Delightful. Everything was local sourced. The salami was made a few blocks away. The cheeses were amazing. The crusty bread brought to the table by our very well-informed server, Sara, was perfect to enjoy this plate with. I would have been happy just eating this.
I then selected the Grilled Beef Tenderloin Tips with Tomato-Balsamic Vinaigrette and House
Garlic Chips. The flavors were amazing. The beef tenderloin was cooked perfectly. Moist and tender. The vinaigrette worked with the beef nicely.
I can’t say no to a nice dessert. And I have to love a place, which has a separate dessert menu. I chose the Chocolate Decadence with Palmier and Mascarpone Cream. This was a flour-less cake. I found the cake rich, but not overwhelming. It was the perfect balance to the tapas.
The portion sizes worked. Though afterwards I was actually full. It was a happy full. The prices I think were reasonable for the quality of the food.
Gourmandise
Before I speak I like to have a moment of quiet. So on the morning of my presentation, I sought a nice place to have breakfast… you know breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It does set the tone. Off to wonder the streets in the early morning I went in search of the French bakery, Gourmandise. There is something special about cities early in the morning. There is a stillness. And there is nothing more fulfilling than being the first person at a bakery in the morning. All I have to say is wow. It was amazing. I don’t remember the last time I was in a proper bakery. This was a proper bakery of European standards. I think I could have spent all day working my way through the pastry cases. Yes, I wrote cases; I’ve only showed a quarter of them in the photo above right.
The basket of fresh, warm crusty rolls called my name. It was served with real butter and a selection of jams. I asked for some cheese, which they gladly shared with me.
While I love my omelet breakfast (and frankly only; because, it is healthy helping me lose weight), I prefer this type of breakfast any day. Nothing beats crusty rolls with butter and cheese in my mind.
Unless we are talking about croissants. And this bakery had three types: regular, pain chocolate, and almond. It was a hard selection to make, but I went with almond. I was not disappointed. Perfection. Moist, flakey, and still warm from the oven.
Now I couldn’t just have any drink to wash down this wonderful breakfast. I went with the chai latte. It hit the spot. Tea with spices and warm milk. Delightful.
I was in heaven. And if I died right at the bakery, I would have died with a huge smile on my face.
I did indulge a bit on this trip, but that’s OK. I’m a food blogger. I had to have something to write about, right? Let’s just say I won’t be stepping on any scales right now.
All and all a very good foodie experience. Don’t be afraid to wander around a city looking for good food. It will make your visit more enjoyable. Food is an adventure. And can give you a sense of the city.