Breakfast at Gourmandise the Bakery in Salt Lake City UT

A local favorite of mine, Gourmandise, recently asked me to be a part of revamping their breakfast menu by selecting a few new items and testing them before the launch. My mind was instantly filled with tons of ideas, so much so that suddenly had had pages of possible new selections and then had trouble narrowing them down. Before Gourmandise had a narrow selection of breakfast items, mainly pastries and a few croissant sandwiches. Here are a few of the new menu item below. But I encourage you to go and try for yourself!

New menu items:
Crème Brulée Oats topped with fresh berries
Tuscan Breakfast Panini with Sun Dried Tomatoes
Gourmet Cinnamon Toast with Amaretto Whipped Cream and a Raspberry Sauce

Classics that they're still serving:
Fresh House-made Yogurt with Berries, Raspberry Jam, and Toasted Almonds
Flaky Butter Croissants (best in town)
Pain Aux Raisins (Raisin Danish with vanilla creme)
Pain Au Chocolat (Chocolate Croissant)
Bran Muffins
Pecan Sticky Rolls
Almond Croissants
Blueberry Biscuits

If you've never been to Gourmandise, it's a great place for lunch or a light dinner not to mention the best spot for desserts with their grand selection of French pastries, cookies, cakes, bread puddings, and Greek desserts. Here is another post more about the Gourmandise, resturant as a whole. If you go for lunch try their Curry Chicken Salad Sandwich, French Onion Soup, or Strawberry Poppyseed Salad. Occasionally, they will have Spanakopita (made out of house by a Greek lady in town and served fresh) and on Saturdays they have my favorite soup, Lemon Rice. They are one of the only places downtown that is open late so you can come for a late dinner or dessert as well.
Gourmandise Hours:
Monday- Thursday: 7am - 10pm
Friday- Saturday: 7am - 11pm
Location:
250 South 300 East

2 comments

Diva's, Salt Lake City UT

This summer a good friend of mine, Lindsey, introduced me to this sweet coffee shop on 3300 South and it quickly became one of my favorite hang out spots in Salt Lake City. She and I share a zeal for finding new places and exploring the city we live in. She also recently took me to the Governor's Mansion downtown for a tour- which was awesome!! I'll tell you more of that later. It was her birthday last week so- Happy Birthday to my dear friend Lindsey, who's joy for life is contagious! And thank you for introducing me to Diva's!

Diva's Cupcakes and Coffee is so much more than just a local coffee shop. They are a great place to pick up a cupcake for a gift for a special friend (they sell individually packages cupcakes), a great place for a long lunch outside, a place to order a special custom cake, or just the spot to enjoy a cup of coffee and a sweet treat like their decadent brioche. Plus they serve and sell packaged Ibis Coffee! They have a huge patio with lots of seating and shade and a green house with beautiful plants and flowers (a little steamy for the summer but I imagine its a great spot in the winter). Diva's also hosts Artists receptions and Film Screenings. Here are some highlights I thought were worth sharing:

Some of my favorites things at Diva's: Granola Parfait with fresh fruit, Diva's Chicken Salad Sandwich, and Green Acai Tea
Most Popular Cupcake: Carrot (advice straight from the owner)
What surprised me about Diva's: how big this place really is- there are like 4 different rooms to lounge in- the deck, green room, library, and cafe room.
What Others are Saying: I love the veggie wrap. The patio is fabulous too! - Maria
A great gift idea is to get a four-pack of cupcakes that come in a adorable beribboned box! Their mini cupcakes are a great treat, too. Try their red velvet cupcake. - dualori
Diva's Cupcakes and Coffee
1560 East 3300 South
Salt Lake City UT


Click here for a list of all VintageMixer Reviews

5 comments

Caesar Salad plus Contest Winners

From the last post we decided to be a bit more generous and give a free download to a few people and the gift certificate plus the download of Overture to Sarah. Please send your email address to vintagemixer at yahoo to recieve your winnings:) I hope you all enjoy the music. If you would like to hear him live he plays at Gallivan Plaza this Saturday at 4:45pm at Salt Lake's Folk and Blue Grass Festival. Lots more to come!

I will leave you with a great recipe to start the week, one of Josh's and I's personal favorites and a classic staple for our house: Homemade Caesar Salad. And a funny note- Josh was the one who came up with the tortellini crouton idea from watching Rachel Ray one day! Pretty hilarious.

Caesar Salad with Cheese-Filled Tortellini Croutons
serves 4

INGREDIENTS
1 package of tortellini
1 head of romaine lettuce chopped to bite size
2 chicken breast cut in half and grilled with salt and pepper
6-10 mushrooms sliced
1/3- 1/2 cup canola oil

CAESAR DRESSING INGREDIENTS
2 cloves of garlic minced
3/4 cup mayo (we use light mayo)
2 anchovy fillets minced
6 TB parmesan cheese
1 tsp dijon mustard
1 large lemon
1/4 cup olive oil (extra virgin, cold pressed)

DIRECTIONS
Grill Chicken and set aside. In a covered frying pan heat canola oil on medium. When hot place tortellini in pan and fry on each side for 2-3 minutes or until lightly brown then remove tortellini onto a paper towel and set aside. Mix all ingredients for dressing and whisk until combined. Toss lettuce with dressing, sliced mushrooms and tortellini. Top salad with chicken and Parmesan.

For a full list of VintageMixer recipes click here.

1 comments

Free Josh Rosenthal music download plus a gift certificate to Chanon Thai

Josh's album 'Overture' came out yesterday and I wanted to let all of you know plus give you a chance to win a free download on itunes of the album. Overture is the first in a suite of 4 albums that Josh is releasing this fall/winter- I know he's super ambitious! The broader project is called Villages and explains our need for community and relationships to succeed in life and to live a full life. Read more about the album on his blog: Josh Rosenthal's blog. This first album is an online only release of just a few acoustic songs. You can download it today on itunes. OR you can have the chance to win it free in the contest below. And because I think music and food go hand in hand (as well as food and relationships, food and friendship, food and anything really) I am also giving away a gift certificate for Chanon Thai, Josh and I's favorite Thai restaurant in Salt Lake City. The gift certificate is for $25 off of a $35 tab. So basically, you have to spend $35 (not hard to do if you go with a group of four- so I'm forcing you to invite some friends and thus providing some community) and you'll get $25 off the bill. This does not include tax, tip, or alcohol.

So here are the super easy instructions for the contest...

1. Go to Josh's myspace and listen to Amy Please: Josh Rosenthal on myspace (you have to scroll down and the new song is under the video under music on the right side)

2. Leave a comment on my blog

Contest will end at the end of the day this Friday.

That's all. From the comments Josh and I will choose our favorite and send you the info for the free download and mail you the dining certificate to Salt Lake's best Thai food, Chanon Thai! Good luck! And I will be keeping all of you updated on the latest with Josh's music releases including free giveaways.

9 comments

2 Salt Lake Hikes: Secret Lake & Mt. Olympus

In the last couple of weeks I've been able to get out and take some amazing hikes. Secret Lake at Albion Basin (near Alta Ski Resort) and Mt. Olympus couldn't be more different, just proving that there is something for everyone in the mountains of Salt Lake. Right now is the perfect time to get outdoors, away from the city, and soak in some of the beautiful nature that graces us daily with its presence. Every time I take a hike I can't help but be reminded of how small I am and how there is a much larger/grander picture of life that sometimes I miss out on because I'm too focused on myself or what's directly in front of me. When I make time to get out in the mountains it seems to bring everything else back into perspective. I hope you all will take advantage of this beautiful time of year to get up, out, away from yourself, and closer to nature!
Here is the scoop on these two beautiful hikes:

Secret Lake at Albion Basin
This is the perfect time of year to head up to Albian Basin for views of flourishing wild flowers and the occasional wild animal sighting. Take a picnic to Secret Lake, or stay over night at the camp sight, or just go for a casual hike- you'll be glad you came!
Where: up Little Cottonwood Canyon past Alta
Parking: park right past Alta and take a shuttle to the base of the hike
Distance: 1.5 miles round trip
Reward: serene lake and beautiful wild flowers
Best Time of Year to Visit: late July to mid August
Age: perfect family hike for all ages

Mt. Olympus
I've hiked Mt. Olympus multiple times and my last visit was by far the best. Maybe I am in better shape now or maybe it was just the perfect day for this hike, whichever it was I'm glad I returned! This is a 'strenuous hike'- as described in the Utah Hiking Guide book, but the rewards at the end are great with fabulous views. There is not much shade and a constant upgrade in elevation. To summit you must scramble up some rocks for about 25 minutes- pretty fun if you like bouldering and there is a notebook at the top to record your visit. Good Luck!!
Time Round Trip: 5.5 hours
Perfect Time of Day to go: leave early morning
Parking: along Wasatch near 5400 South (don't park in the lot- cars often get broken into here)
Bring: lots of water, gatorade, and energy filled foods
Reward: panoramic views of Salt Lake City valley, the Great Salt Lake and all the surrounding mountains
Worst time to go: when its raining (just don't do it- take my word for it! The guidebook says during rain the point near the summit is 'murderously difficult')

2 comments

Tulie Bakery, Salt Lake City UT

Almond-Lemon bread, cinnamon buns, gourmet cakes, and rich coffee drinks ...need I say more?! Tulie Bakery is on 700 South and 1000 East and is a great spot for breakfast or to pick up a very special birthday cake for a girl friend. I have visited several times now and have yet to have anything negative to say. Both Josh and I have been habitual in our ordering from here- He consistently gets the blueberry muffin, perfectly baked with fresh blueberries, and I get the Almond-Lemon Cake slice, a dense moist cake with a powder sugar crust. Both are to die for!! Here is are my highlights:

My Favorite: Almond-Lemon Tea Cake and the Morning Bun
What else I'd like to try: Brioche French Toast
What took me by surprise: Their very cute but very pricey small cakes
Tips: No Internet Access and closed on Mondays
Address: 863 E 700 S

4 comments

Peoria Avenue, Tulsa Oklahoma

During our short time in Oklahoma we ran across a few hot spots worth visiting if you're in the area. We didn't have a whole lot of time to explore since our main objective for the trip was a wedding but we did find a street in Tulsa worth mentioning for sure, Peoria Avenue. Our friends took us to Keo, an pan-asian style restaurant on Peoria and we discovered that there is a variety of restaurants on this street worth visiting. First of all, Keo was fabulous, although the servings were a bit small we enjoyed every bite. I don't think any one of us left anything on our plates. I had the shrimp crepe and loved it. I'm not a huge shrimp fan but this dish was especially good and the sweet orange dipping sauce was the perfect addition. We also enjoyed their lengthy wine list as well as their martinis! On Peoria Avenue, you will also find small art galleries, a few kitchen and gourmet food stores, modern furniture stores, chic clothing stores, a fine food market, and a chocolate cafe. Here is a short list:
Peoria Avenue in Tulsa

Art
MA Doran
Art Collections
Stewart Cynthia
Art Gallery and Framing
Brookside Art Gallery
Dos Rios Pottery

Restaurants
In The Raw Brookside - Sushi
Brookside Restaurant - American (serves breakfast)
Brasserie Restaurant and Bar - French
Crow Creek Tavern and Restaurant -Pub Food
Charleston's Restaurant - American
Weber's Root Beer Stand - Old Fashioned Root Beer and Burgers
Elmer's BBQ - Barbeque
Center 1 Market- fresh meats, gourmet cheese, pastries, and meals to go
Cafe Ole' - Mexican
Sonoma Bistro and Wine Bar - Global Cuisine and Wine Bar
Oliver Twist - American (serves breakfast)
KoKoa Chocolatier - Gelati, Hand-crafted Belgian Chocolate, Patisserie
Keo - Pan Asian

Clothing
Eco Baby & Kids
Abersons - Men and Women's Fashions
Judd Saxon - Men's Clothing
Gaga-A-Gogo - High-End Children's Clothing
Ribbons - Boutique

Photos from Keo, Asian Restaurant on Peoria

Best Shopping
Another area of town worth mentioning: Utica Square. There are lots of shops here, mainly chain stores and a few boutiques. There are several restaurants with outdoor dining, which is pretty daring if you know the humidity of Tulsa weather but none the less I can hardly turn down al fresco dining. We especially love Left Fork Grill in Utica Square and have had breakfast there a few times. Here is a photo of their Cinnamon Pecan Pancakes:
Downtown Pub
And one more Tulsa restaurant and bar I can't leave out: McNellies, a charming pub with a beer list so long you may not be able to decide. Also, a great spot for sweet potato fries! Customers' personalized beer mugs line the walls and they serve many of their beers on tap.

5 comments

Grilled Peach Salad and a hike up Iron Canyon in Park City

Last weekend I was invited to be a leader for a high school girls retreat in Park City, Utah. I was a bit unsure about it at first as I thought back to what it was like to a be a high school girl and how I would be surrounded by lots of them for 3 solid days. Then I thought about how much it meant to me when any older girl spent time with me and how much I was impacted by a select few older women in my life so, I decided to go! I was in charge of leading two hikes over the weekend, one longer hike and one sunrise hike. Another friend of mine was in charge of cooking- I was glad to not be in charge of feeding 20 'starving' and picky teenage girls. She did a great job cooking while I learned a lot about cooking for a large group and got some really great recipes to try out! She is a gourmet cook and enjoys food and talking about food as I do. We had three gourmet meals a day and ironically at the end of the retreat a few girls commented that they were 'starving' between meals- I can't believe how much teenagers eat...did I eat that much?? My favorite meal that she made was a grilled peach salad with smoked proscuito, sauteed chicken, goat cheese, and pecans, in a honey vinaigrette dressing. A few other signature dishes over the weekend included chicken enchiladas, french toast, and sausage ragu over polenta (most of the girls had never heard of polenta before). Besides meals we swam in the pool, listened to a speaker talk about the trials of being a teenager, learned Michael Jackson dances, played lots of catch phrase, and then of course we also hikes (or some did.) I must say that I was surprised at the lack of enthusiasm about hiking. Only a few girls wanted to come and those who came didn't much care for the hike. I promise I wasn't a hard core hiker drill sarget either...I took them on two pretty easy hikes. I guess Utah teenage girls don't like hiking?! But overall I would say that they enjoyed the weekend and hopefully didn't end up hating me for taking them hiking. So, I will leave you with a recipe from the weekend and directions to hike Iron Canyon in Park City (hikers beware...don't take your teenage girls on this hike or any for that matter!). The hike up Iron Canyon is one of most beautiful in Park City and overlooks Historic Main Street as well as the whole city and all of the ski resorts.

Grilled Peach and Prociutto Salad with Goat Cheese and Pecans
serves 4 (unless your serving very hungry teenagers)
INGREDIENTS
1 head of Romaine lettuce
a few handfuls of Arugula
1 cup pecans
3 peaches sliced and grilled
Sauteed Chicken cut into strips
1/6 lb of Prosciutto or about 10 strips (Tony Caputos has great smoked prosciutto)
3/4 cup Goat Cheese
1/4 cup Olive Oil
3 TB Balsamic Vinegar
2 TB Honey
Salt and Pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS
Chop lettuce and mix in Arugula. Saute chicken in olive oil and seasoning of your choice (oregano, basil, or just salt and pepper). Slice chicken into long strips and set aside. Place prosciutto on skillet and cook on med heat for 2-3 minutes or just before it gets crispy then into small into pieces and set aside. Grill or saute peaches (if you saute them just heat olive oil over medium heat and cook for 3 minutes/ if grilling grill until barley blackened and and not mushy.) Toss pecans, chicken, peaches, prosciutto and goat cheese in with lettuce. Whisk olive oil with balsamic vinegar, honey and salt and pepper then drizzle over salad. Serve with warm bread.

Iron Canyon

Beautiful photos by Dana Snyder
Directions: Iron Canyon is right off of hwy 224 and Park Avenue as you're coming into Park City. If you are coming into Park City from Salt Lake on hwy 224 take a right onto Pay Day Drive which will continue onto Iron Mountain Drive. Here is a map of where to park for Iron Canyon. There are signs along Iron Canyon Drive telling you where you can and cannot park.
Distance: The hike to the top takes about an hour. Total round trip hike 1.5 hours.
The reward: Beautiful views of Park City, the ski resorts, plus lots of butterflies and foliage along the way.

For more hikes around Park City go to Mountain Trails Online. They have a great interactive map and all of the latest information for hiking in the area.

For a full list of VintageMixer recipes click here.

5 comments

Cucina, Salt Lake City, Utah

Cucina is a gourmet deli in the Avenues of Salt Lake City, the perfect location for a small neighborhood restaurant. It is one of my personal favorite meeting places for lunch, coffee, or a casual dinner.

Right now they are offering a fabulous deal- Free coffee Mondays (which includes lattes and mochas) until the DOW reaches 10,000. Just bring your own mug and choose your favorite coffee drink. Be sure to check out their free coffee wall when you come in.

They have a great patio as well as dining inside and wireless Internet. Their breakfast menu is slim but I've tried the homemade cinnamon scones and they are a great choice for a breakfast treat. They also have pastries, croissants, granola, oats, and breakfast sandwiches. Their lunch menu is much more extensive. Some of my favorites include their curry chicken salad, orzo pasta salad, and the Tuscan Chicken Sandwich. They have all kinds of veggie sides like asparagus, broccoli salad, potato salad etc. You can order a salad trio and pick 3-4 salad choices plus one of their delicious rolls. For dinner they have several salmon entrees, meat or cheese lasagna, orange glazed pork tenderloin, chicken or cheese enchiladas, or you can order a sandwich or salad from their lunch menu.

Cucina Deli is open Monday thru Friday, from 7 AM to 9 PM. On Saturday, 8 AM to 9 PM, and on Sunday, 8 AM to 5 PM. A special birthday lunch at Cucina Deli with good friends.


Click here for a list of all VintageMixer Reviews

3 comments