One of my favorite breakfasts spots is now open for dinner.  Desserts, drinks, and a full on dinner are all now available in the evening hours at Eva’s Bakery and now through November they are offering 20% off when you mention #EvasBakery4Dinner. I’m imagining the perfect downtown experience, perhaps tickets to a ballet or a musical, an early dinner at Eva’s Bakery or post performance dessert and drinks.  Their menu changes but a few things you can count on – decadent desserts, reliable wines and the salads and soups that we all enjoy there at lunch time. The entrees I’ve tried were both ones worth returning for, but instead I’ll go back in hopes for new flavors coming from the Eva’s Bakery kitchen.

Pecan Crusted Chicken with Currant Tomato Relish, seasonal veggies and a dijon cream sauce.

Braised Local Pork Roast with Potato Gnocchi.

Chocolate Molten Cake

With a new baby in tow, we aren’t doing much traveling this summer but we did get our fix with a few short stay-cations. Last week we drove just a few minutes and checked into pure extravagance, the Grand America hotel. This being one of our first nights away from home with a new baby, it was also nice to know we were only a short drive away if we forgot anything. Our minds at ease, we fully relaxed, feeling as if we were miles away in some exotic destination.

The Grand America makes you feel like you are somewhere dreamy, somewhere new and distant, somewhere not-Salt Lake. Just look around, all of the details from the flourished iron railings on each patio, to the fountains, gold frames, and extravagant chandeliers, all of these are definitely giving a boost to what you think of when you imagine Utah travel.

The first thing we did after arriving was change into our swimsuits to sit by the pool.  Sipping on cocktails, and getting updated in the latest issues of our favorite magazines, we enjoyed being poolside for at least a few hours.

A bonus for us was that we could stay in a suite with a kitchen, so we could make a couple meals inside and enjoy the peacefulness of being alone. For dinner that evening, we made an easy vacation meal, Apricot and Almond Couscous Salad, you can find the recipe on the Vintage Mixer blog.

Also, the accommodations came with everything we needed for a baby, so we could leave all of the baby gadget we just acquired at home (crib, baby bath, rocker, and they even provide a stroller!).

A trip to the grand, would not be complete without one of La Bonne Vie, the hotel bakery, French macarons. And you should have a few… our favorites were the pistachio, salted caramel, and vanilla. Oh and we had some white chocolate pistachio dipped strawberries too. It was, in fact, a vacation, even just for a day!

Food-wise, the real extravagance came from the Garden Cafe for lunch the next day.  We devoured a beautiful Peach Salad topped with granola, yogurt, and honey (a brilliant lunch-take on the fruit and granola we all enjoy for breakfast!). We also grazed the buffet, finding it hard to choose with all of the well prepared dishes. Some favorites were the trout, mediterranean pasta saladd, and of course the bread pudding with caramel sauce.

We found Grand America to be the perfect getaway close to home. Spoiled and full, we returned home in a matter of minutes!

More goodies at La Bonne Vie

I went and checked out the new interior of Gourmandise Bakery this morning.  It looks beautiful (thanks to a little help from Nash Martinez).  With the reinvention of the interior comes a nice wine list and a really inviting environment.  Go see for yourself.

Gourmandise Bakery
250 South 300 East
Mon – Thurs: 7am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 7am – 11pm

If you’ve ever been to Paris then returned home pining for a neighborhood Boulangerie in Salt Lake, you’re in luck.  Now you can pick up some fresh bread or a sweet pastry on your way home from work at Eva’s new Bakery. Or if you have yet to visit Paris, now you can have a taste of it right here in Salt Lake. This Boulangerie, simply meaning bread store, now graces on Main Street, specializing in fresh breads and European style pastries.  

The only downside to the new Boulangerie is deciding what to try.  A wall lined with fresh baguettes, and a pastry case stacked with fresh eye catching treats, leaves the indecisive in trouble.  Luckily, I came hungry so I had a few treats to share and didn’t have to pick just one.

From the bites we shared, my favorites were the Hazelnut Dacquoise, the Canelé- a small french pastry with a creme brûlée center (pictured above), the Pistachio Macaron, and I can’t forget the Almond Croissant (a staple of every morning Josh and I spent in Paris).  I just love how a bite of something can take you right back in time to a treasured memory.

As for the breads, we sampled a few of these as well.  The one I enjoyed the best was their house round (the one that comes in a unique round ‘floatie’ like shape) which was a wheat bread, perfectly moist with all of the dense, grainy characteristics that you hope for in wheat bread.  I imagine slicing it up for morning toast or dipping it into my favorite soup at home.

The head chef, Charlie Perry, was not only obviously talented but from first meeting you can tell he’s doing what he’s passionate about.  He could spend countless hours talking about different flours used in baking, his favorite pastries and his own experiences in Paris.  His zeal just makes this bakery all that more charming.

Although, I didn’t try a sticky bun, they were definitely calling my name. Just another reason I’ll have to come back to the Boulangerie soon. In addition to pastries for breakfast, they also serve up fritatas, stuffed french toast, and an egg and ham brunch pie. And just as if I need more reasons to return, the Boulangerie also serves up a light lunch with European-style flatbread pizzas, salads, soups, vegan selections, and more. Their baked goat cheese salad served over a baguette, with candied walnuts, arugula and pears, especially sounded delicious.

I have been back since my first visit, actually twice, once for breakfast and one for lunch. I had to try the Creminelli ham, fig and arugula slice and it proved to be just as delightful as it sounds.  I ordered it alongside a side salad,which was in generous proportions, and turned out to make the perfect lunch. So if you’re not a big breakfast or pastry fan, I’d highly recommend their lunch offerings as well!

Here are a few more photos, just because the bakery is so darn cute, I couldn’t stop taking photos…

Eva’s Bakery, The Boulangerie
155 South Main Street
7am-6pm Monday – Saturday

Mini’s Cupcake Cafes
14th East 800 South, & 1751 South 1100 East
Cafe hours
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Mini’s on facebook

This super fun cookie shop has recently been in the spotlight as it is goes through a law suit with Pillsbury.  I don’t know the details of the lawsuit but I know it has to do with the brand name, Ruby Snap being too much like the Little Dough Boy.  In my opinion, I can’t understand why a huge company like Pillsbury would be such a bully to desire a law suit over something that doesn’t effect them or their brand.  The two names are different enough and Ruby Snap is a small cookie shop in Salt Lake City, not a National brand. The whole news story just made me want to go eat a bunch of cookies.

And not only does Ruby Snap sell delicious cookies, they also have vintage gums and gum balls, cutsie aprons and dish towels, and a few gift items.

Ruby Snap Cookies make the perfect gifts, as they come in fun little boxed some with polka dots and ribbons with a fun logo sticker on top.

After grabbing a cookie you must stop by this new antique shop next door, Chic and Unique, they have lots of great finds and good prices.

Have you been to Ruby Snap?  If so, what’s your favorite cookie and does it fit your personality?

Ruby Snap
770 South 300 West
Mon- Sat 10am- 6pm
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In addition to good cannoli, Carlucci’s also has great chicken salad served on a butter croissant and an amazing veggie sandwich with hummus on herb focaccia bread. Plus they are located in a foodie haven, right next door to Tony Caputo’s Market and Deli, Aquarius Fish Market, Ekamai Thai, and Bruges Waffles and Frites.

Carlucci’s Bakery
314 West Broadway
Monday – Friday 7AM to 7PM
Saturday – 8AM t0 5PM
Closed Sunday

Les Madeleines is a small unique bakery in the heart of Salt Lake. I had heard delicious rumors about all of their baked goods and had the pleasure of experiencing them myself recently. My first visit was with group of foodies who met up weekend brunch and we tried much of their fare, deciding that their wasn’t a bad choice on the menu. Since then, I’ve been back and tried a few more tasty treats from their menu.

Le Madeleines is most known for their kouing aman pastry, which is layers of buttery, flaky pastry with a crusty sweet exterior. It is beyond description but I will tell you that people order them in advance and they sell them by the box full. We saw rows of them freshly baked and lined up to be sold the or boxed for pre-orders. The Bakery’s website describes the pastry as “A study in opposites: sweet and salty, gooey and crunchy.”

I first tried the Sesame Chicken Salad Wrap, which came wrapped in butter lettuce and a rice wrapper served with a miso dressing and edamame. Sometime I get food envy by checking out what others ordered but in this case I was completly satisfied with my choice. No food envy this trip. Although, I will say that everyone’s food looked tasty.

On my second visit Josh and I split the egg and cheese sandwich, which was also delicious. A fried egg topped with sharp cheddar cheese on whole wheat toast.

From their pastry case I’ve tried the Financier, a brown butter tart with quince fruit. I have recently learned about the beautiful aroma and flavor of browned butter through a Madeleine recipe I found. I enjoyed the tart and will continue to look for recipes and bakeries serving items with brown butter. Their lemon tart was beautiful and a delicious choice as well.

I was also tempted by their chocolate croissants which I noticed were made with Valhorona chocolate, which is now my favorite chocolate, thanks to all of the chocolate learning I’ve been doing recently. I made chocolate souffles with this specialty chocolate and hope to do some more experimental baking with it soon!

In addition, this fun bakery was recently awarded Best Bakery in Salt Lake City by Salt Lake Magazine!

Photos by professional photographer and my beautiful friend Amy Lashelle You can read her blog post about Les Madeleines here.

Le Madeleines Bakery
216 East 500 South
Tuesday thru Friday- 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday- 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday and Monday- Closed
twitter: @lesmadeleines

My Favorite: the Almond Croissant and the Morning Bun.  Oh and the house granola too!
On special Saturday mornings I order: Brioche French Toast with berries and creme fraiche
What took me by surprise: Their very cute but very pricey small cakes
Tips: No Internet Access
Address: 863 E 700 S

A place I have found myself frequenting is Gourmandise Bakery downtown. Most people just refer to it as The Bakery although its formal name is Gourmandis and its located on 250 South and 300 East.

I looked up the word Gourmandise online to figure just what does this strange word meant: def. unrestrained enjoyment of fine foods, wines, and the like. It can be used as a noun or a verb. Here is the dictionary example of is use as a verb: “You could see the gourmandise shining on his rosy lips” (Glenway Wescott). Well the funny word does give high expectations for this cute inner-city bakery.Let me be the first to tell you that the expectations will be met and even exceeded. I started going here to buy cakes for parties at my work in Deer Valley. Deer Valley folks expect nothing but the best and everyone loved the cakes. I’ve recently gone for Saturday breakfast and enjoyed their homemade yogurt with fresh berries, toasted almonds, and rasberry preserves- amazing! Just the homemade yogurt was enough but then with all of the toppings I was completly in love. And this is just one of many tasty delights at The Bakery. Try a bran muffin or a blueberry scone; take a loaf of cinnamon apple bread home; or endulge in a tasty dessert after a dinner downtown.