A city can never have enough breakfast and brunch spots. At least in my opinion they can’t!  Hub & Spoke Diner just opened in a cosy Salt Lake City neighborhood, and their menu is just as cosy as their food. Chef Phelix Gardner brings a modern spin on Southern Diner foods like Shrimp and Grits, Kentucky Brown and Sweet Potato Pancakes (or flapjacks if your from the South).

I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to stray from their breakfast menu (and lucky for me it’s served all day) but if you’re not the breakfast type, there are lots of other great options.  Try their Fried Chicken Salad made with house-made buttermilk ranch, or the Patty Melt with Russian Dressing.  Also, you don’t have to eat like a Southerner here, they also offer plenty of lighter options like their Kale Tabbouleh Salad or the Tuna Melt.

While I’ve already given many reasons to make a visit to Hub & Spoke I’ll leave you with just a few more… pie, boozy milk shakes, and great coffee!  Pastry Chef Courtney McDowell has mastered the Southern classic pies like Strawberry Rhubarb Pie, French Silk, and Banana Cream Pie. Also, who does’t want to try a boozy milk shake, especially when they have flavors like Grasshopper and Irish Coffee.  Speaking of coffee, they serve our very biased favorite La Barba. No need to say more

Hub & Spoke Diner
MONDAY — SUNDAY:  7AM — 9PM
1291 South 1100 East

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

This article is written by Mary McIntyre, a new photographer/writer for theSLCfoodie.com.

Finca is a Salt Lake City restaurant focused on Spanish tapas from local products. The ‘Farm-to-Table’ restaurant was opened in 2012 by Pago owner Scott Evans. It’s often packed during dinner and is fairly busy for lunch as well.  Until a few weeks ago, I was unaware that Finca also serves a delightful Sunday brunch. Since discovering their tapas-style brunch, I’ve been back almost every weekend.

With so many visits under my belt, I’ve tasted a significant portion of the menu. The Mel I Mato has been a favorite every visit. The house-made ricotta is creamy and slightly sweet, the perfect accompaniment to ripe berries, crunchy walnuts, and local Clifford Farms honey.

The Ensalada de Remolacha (pictured below) features the house ricotta in a savory mixture of beets, local greens, and pickled strawberries – a very different presentation of the cheese, but equally tasty!  Don’t be scared of the pickled strawberries.

These Tapas are great accompanied by one of the house cocktails or a simple orange (or grapefruit) mimosa. The Mezcalrita has been my drink of choice – a simple, limey margarita with the tequila replaced by mezcal.  I’ve also tried the house Bloody Mary, which is definitely for those who like it hot! For Cinco de Mayo, I tried an equally spicy cocktail in which the vodka in a Bloody Mary was replaced with tequila- the Bloody Maria was born!

As for main dishes or Platos Grandes, the Tortilla de Setas is a delicious omelet-frittata hybrid made with Clifford Farms eggs, goat cheese from Snowy Mountain Creamery, mushrooms, and caramelized onions.  The mushrooms and onions are fried with the eggs and then folded in half with melted goat cheese in the middle.  Served with locally grown, crispy, paprika-laden house potatoes and garlic aioli, the omelet is a perfect breakfast.

Other items I’ve tried are the Huevos Benedict (the house hollandaise is great), the Orange Olive Oil Pancakes (fluffy and subtly citrusy), the Gazpacho de Guisante (chilled green soup made with peas and topped with crème fraiche and mint) and the Magdalenas (Spanish lemon cake).  I haven’t had anything I wouldn’t recommend yet!

As a parting gift (maybe a sign that I’ve been eating here too much..) the manager asked us to sample some fresh-squeezed Valencia orange juice that they are considering adding to the menu. Refreshing, tart, and slightly sweet, it was the ultimate way to end the meal.

Sunday Brunch 10am-3pm.

Pago is special.

I feel like this whole post could be summed up in those three words, but I’ll expand for posterity’s sake.

I’m not sure where to begin – the owner (Scott Evans), the way they source their food, from whom they source it, their wine list, their sommelier(s), dining aesthetic, their manager/sommelier/wine-maker (Evan Lewandowski), the risks they’ve taken on young brands (Charming Beard, Amour Spreads, many more) or their chef.

Honestly, all of its worth mentioning on some level, though I think I’ll just hit some of the high points and focus on Becky’s favorite meal of the week, brunch.

As Becky and I were in the waiting-for-the-baby-to-be-born days of her pregnancy, we found our Sundays a bit more available than usual so we wandered up to Pago for brunch.  One of the sweet servers saw Becky’s round belly and brought over a Dutch Baby Pancake before we could even order our coffee.  It’s a great way to start a meal and even better idea as way to  to coax a reluctant child out of the womb.  It didn’t work, but the house made strawberry rhubarb jam gave its best effort.

As we finished the Dutch Baby and waited for what we ordered, a nice French Press of Charming Beard Coffee’s Rwanda MIG Buremera found its way to our table.  There are only two places in town right now (we know of, do you know of any other?) that serve coffee in a French Press, Zy and Pago.  We love it when a restaurant puts a little more effort into their coffee regardless of who the coffee roaster is.

After the coffee came a wonder taste of Becky’s Pago Scramble and my Croque Monsieur.  I’m on a never ending quest to remember my 2012 trip to France. I’ll take absolutely any reminder possible.  The Croque Monsieur did a fine job.

As local food lovers, we’re immensely grateful for the risk Scott Evans took on Pago (and Finca).  We hope for many more free Sundays (with child) will find us at a table in the 9th and 9th District served by the wonderful folks at Pago.

It’s not hard to enjoy the food at Pig and a Jelly Jar.  This Portland-y cafe just North West of Liberty Park, offers up flavors of house-made sausage, unique jams and curds, and the mixed aromas of hot waffles and fried chicken.

Their special waffles are offered up with your choice of jam, pineapple curd, or fried chicken with maple syrup.  Intrigued by the unusual curd flavor and being a huge lemon curd fan, I ordered a waffle with pineapple curd on my first visit.  The waffle was crisp and yet a little doughy in the middle, just right for a Belgium-style waffle.  And the curd was evenly sweet and sour, providing a great condiment for the plate sized baked good.

My second visit, more conscientious of my protein intake (being pregnant), I tried the breakfast sandwich with their house-made sausage.  I admit to being a sausage fan but usually don’t order it as I tend to veer toward the sweeter breakfast goodies.  This time, I was very glad I made a change of course.  The breakfast sandwich at Pig and a Jelly Jar is quite a treat, with melted cheese over the egg, aoli, all on a crusty white roll.

Though I’ve only visited Pig and a Jelly Jar twice now, I know I’ll be back and I keep hearing good things.  I even hear that the line may be out the door and around the corner if you come to late on the weekends!  It is definitely a spot to eat and enjoy in Salt Lake City.

Pig and a Jelly Jar

401 East 900 South, Suite A

Serving breakfast & lunch:  7:30am – 3:30pm, 7 days a week
Sundays Suppers:  5:00pm – 8:00pm

For those of you who loved Diva’s Cupcakes and Coffee, they’re back with a slight change in name and vision. Now referred to as Diva’s Cafe and Spirits, this loved Salt Lake neighborhood cafe is serving up breakfast, weekend brunch, lunch, and dinner with a fresh and healthy flare and lots of great options for anyone with dietary restrictions.

A few things remain the same at Diva’s, the beautiful outdoor patio, with umbrellas and lanterns overhead, comfy chairs and a shaded area, perfect for warm afternoon dining. Their green house still remains as well, a indoor natural oasis, which is perfect for making you feel like you’re dining alfresco even in mid-winter. Diva’s also continues to serve coffee and pastries, the pastries now coming from City Cakes with a variety of vegan and gluten free treats available.

As Diva’s focus was primarily on coffee and pastries in the past, the new owners main focus is simply the food. Plus I must mentioned that they opened their doors this time with a liquor license and are now selling wine and beer. One of their high priorities is to buy locally whenever possible.  Their coffee boasts of Salt Lake flavor from Millcreek Roasters. They’re also proud of their healthy options and selection of vegan, gluten free and vegetarian menu items. From a hummus and veggie wrap to an arugula beet salad, he said their vegetarian customers have been pleased.  In addition to salads and wraps they offer a special vegan soup daily, which was a creamy spaghetti squash soup on the day I dined in for lunch.  I wished I had ordered a bowl it was so good!

I tried their hummus wrap which is made daily with the hummus of the day, which happened to be a beet hummus, hence the bright red color in my photo.  The wrap was light and flavorful, and perfect with a cup of soup.

My friend Haley, ordered their grilled cheese on gluten free bread and a cup of soup. The grilled cheese looked especially gooey and delicious!

Another thing – the new owners are especially proud of is their weekend brunch. A few weekends ago they had a line out the door of folks waiting to try this special brunch offering.  Their brunch consists of a full buffet with a selection of Eggs Benedict, Pancakes, French Toast, and Omelets as well as fruit and salads. And as in every other meal at Diva’s, vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options are many during brunch time.

I’m thankful Diva’s is back and they seem to be doing even better than ever! I’ll be returning soon for a warm bowl of soup and a refreshing meal in the green house!

  Diva’s Cafe & Spirits
1560 East 3300 South
8:00am – 10:00pm

On a warm summer morning there’s not much better than sitting under the shade of a big umbrella or a Japanese Maple tree, sipping on a grapefruit mimosa, taking a deep breath of weekend air and catching up with friends over a delicious brunch on the patio. Josh and I’ve been on a ‘tour de patio’ of sorts over the last few weeks, checking out all of the best patios in Salt Lake, so now I have a pretty complete list of places you can dine al fresco around town.  And we’ve discovered more restaurants with patios who serve brunch than you’d expect, from patios covered in wisteria vines and places to tie your dogs up near your table, like at Pinon Market and Cafe, to casual city-side patios in downtown Salt Lake, like Faustina.

As for the brunch food, you won’t be disappointed by that either. My favorites include the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes from Pago, Eggs Benedict over Polenta at Faustina, the mega Cinnamon Roll at Pinon, and the Wild Rice and Artichoke Eggs at the Avenues Bistro. What are some of your favorite brunch offerings around the city?

Here is a list of patios to dine at for weekend brunch in Salt Lake:

Pinon Market and Cafe • 2095 East 1300 South

Caffe Niche • 779 East Broadway

Oasis Cafe • 151 South 500 East

Faustina • 454 East Broadway

Pago • 878 South 900 East

Avenues Bistro • 564 E. Third Ave.

Wild Grape Bistro • 481 East South Temple

Eva • 317 South Main Street

The Copper Onion • 111 East Broadway Suite 170

Em’s • 271 North Center Street

Zy • 268 South State Street

Silver Fork Lodge • 11332 East Big Cottonwood Canyon Road

La Caille • 9565 Wasatch Boulevard

Finn’s Cafe • 1624 South 1100 East

Weekday and weekend breakfast with patios:

Eggs in the City • 1675 East 1300 South

Park Cafe • 604 East 1300 South

Ruth’s Diner • 4160 East Emigation Canyon

Penny Anne’s • 1810 South Main Street

More casual bakeries and cafes with patios:

Les Madeleines • 216 East 500 South

Gourmandise • 250 South 300 East

Tulie Bakery • 863 East 700 South

If you have any to add to the list, please let me know.  Now go have some eggs benedict already!

Josh and I are on a Tour de Patio of sorts, checking out all of the best patios in Salt Lake that offer brunch. Our latest stop: Piñon Market and Cafe. Now I know the term ‘hidden gem’ is overused but I’m not sure how else to describe Piñon besides that it’s a unique offering, off the beat at path, in a Salt Lake City neighborhood.  Or better yet, I’ll start with a story of why this breakfast and lunch cafe in Salt Lake is in fact a hidden gem.

I think of my friends Big Al and Wainbow Oliver every time I go to Piñon.  (No, those aren’t their real names but that’s what I like to call them.)  They moved to Salt Lake from Texas and we instantly became friends for the length of time they lived here.  Just weeks before they were getting ready to move back to Texas, they happened upon Pinon Market.  They went and dined on the patio for brunch then cursed at the fact that they had just found this place yet they wouldn’t get to frequent Pinon because they were moving so soon.  Now, every time the Olivers return to their favorite city they go to Piñon and wish they had more time here for more brunches at this cute neighborhood cafe.

When Josh and I heard that the patio at Piñon Cafe was open for the season, we jumped at the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed weekend brunch under the vines.  Wisteria vines cover the patio, creating a cool relief from the hot summer heat. And your pups can enjoy the shade too, because at most tables there are hooks to tie up your dog’s leash.  I don’t know about you, but I’m always relieved when Henry can join us on a little outing.

To order at Pinon, you go to the counter where you may choose from their fresh baked goods, including their mega Cinnamon Rolls (only made on the weekends), or you can choose something off their menu.  They have omelets, quiche, granola, breakfast sandwiches and burritos, not to mention a plethora of salads in their deli case.  And you’ll be able to see for yourself that all of their food is fresh with high quality ingredients and a special touch from the sweet owner Victoria.

Victoria, has owned Pinon Cafe since it opened in 1996 and continues to serve her community by creating tasty, fresh foods and a comfortable a environment in which to enjoy them.  Victoria’s father’s family is from northern Italy, and her Italian heritage is obvious by her style of friendly family-like service in a casual and comfortable environment.  Even after you order at the counter, you don’t need to pay until you leave, but don’t forget (I had a few friends tell them they forgot on one occasion).  Also, feel free to take a pitcher of water outside with you.

And I must say that Victoria serves up the best cinnamon rolls in town, and I don’t exaggerate.  Cinnamon rolls bigger than your fist and cooked perfectly with crisp edges and a gooey center, with just the right amount of icing. And after you share one of those with your table, you really can’t go wrong with ordering anything else on the menu.  We had a delicious goat cheese omelet and a Tostada with black beans, salsa, a fried egg and a scoop of guacamole.  The whole family will find something to love at Pinon, and the cafe patio creates the perfect spot for kids and adults alike.

Pinon Market and Cafe

2095 East 1300 South

dog friendly

7am- 7pm Mon – Sat

We found a hip little brunch spot in Salt Lake that I think we’ll be frequenting from now on.  Faustina serves up a delectable brunch under unbrellas and Japanese Maple Trees on their secluded city patio in downtown Salt Lake. Eggs Benedict with local sausage over creamy polenta, thick sliced French Toast with house-made almond butter and roasted grapes, and fresh citrus salad with goat cheese, not to mention a selection of mimosas… are you craving brunch yet?!

Something always stands out when you visit a restaurant for the first time, weather good or bad. At Faustina we were drawn in by the quality of service.  Our waiter not only served us with a candidly friendly personality but she also really just worked her heart out on the patio, talking to her guests and making sure everyone was having a perfect weekend morning. And even the kitchen staff seemed to be having fun, making a contest out of the cappuccinos that Josh and I ordered to see who could make the most perfect foam.

But service aside, the food was darn good.  Every bite delicious. The Texas French Toast, was done up right  (and I can say that since that’s were I’m from), with generously thick slices battered in a vanilla egg mixture then toasted perfectly and topped with almond butter and a garnish of roasted grapes (which I love!!).

Eggs Benedict at Faustina for Brunch

The Eggs Benedict over polenta was a dish that had us talking for days.  We later ran into some friends who were also raving about this dish and how they tried to make it at home the following day and couldn’t get it quite right.  The polenta is served in cake-like rounds, similar to the size and shape of the traditional English Muffin, yet so much better with a grainy texture and a savory flavor. Instead of canadian bacon or ham, the meat of their benedict is sausage, and you can’t really go wrong there.  The benedict is then topped with perfectly poached eggs and creamy hollandaise sauce.

I would recommend getting a half order of French Toast seeing as the full order gives you four ginormous slices.  If it was a perfect world I would get one slice of french toast and a half order of their eggs benedict… but I don’t want to be too picky I always want a little mix of sweet and salty but menus never seem to cater to that unless you want a serving size that you can’t possibly imagine eating. Anyone else with me on this?

Locals know best that the patio at Caffe Niche is one of the best in Salt Lake to sit down for a weekend brunch.  The setting is just right, with a covered patio enclosed by green planters, taking diners away from the street noise and into an intimate surrounding.  Though I’ve had breakfast at Caffe Niche several times, I had yet to try their weekend brunch until recently. And when we walked in it seemed as if we were stumbling into a neighborhood get-together of sorts, perfect for the cafe’s name meaning a suitable place that somebody can make their own. Many people pulled up chairs and chatted with neighboring tables, as if the whole patio was filled with folks who knew each-other.  Not only did I eat a scrumptious brunch but I also found some friends who lived close by that I was able to catch up with.

We started the meal with an order of fresh fruit some cappuccinos and mixed drinks.

The fruit and drinks hit the spot, as we had an unseasonably hot spring morning.  Glancing around the patio, people were pushing down their socks and kicking back under the sun, fully enjoying the comfortable patio and the food they were being served. We spotted the manager of Pallet as well as the owner of The Rose Estblishment dining here as well. Ashley from Pallet, raved about the the Kobe Corned Beef Hash, which se said she orders every time and Erica, from The Rose, ordered the the Vegetarian Huevos Rancheros which she also highly recommended.

Chef, Ethan Lappe, couldn’t be more down-to-earth as we chatted about where his favorite places to golf around town are as well as his experience at culinary school.  His menu speaks for itself, delivering enough variety in to satisfy almost anyone yet not being too lengthy as to be serving something he’s not proud of.

We dined with a couple of our best friends and all selected different menu items. After Ethan told us about his Huevos Rancheros with pork chile verde sauce I caved and ordered them, although it was a hard decision after he described the coconut pancakes served with a butter rum sauce (I’m going to have to go back soon for those!).

huevos rancheros. Eggs cooked to perfection, served over a crisp corn tortilla and smothered in a sweet pork chile verde sauce that added just the right amount of flavor and spice to the dish.

steak and eggs with hanger steak and Tifie ranch fresh eggs.  Again the eggs were cooked perfectly as was the steak in this dish.  Josh ordered this but I admit to stealing several bites of his hanger steak (my absolute favorite cut of steak).

breakfast burrito smothered in chile verde. Potatoes, cheese, pico de gallo, and scrambled Tifie Farm eggs, wrapped in a flour tortilla and covered in Ethan’s signature Chile Verde sauce plus some bonus cheese on top.

None of us left even a bite on our plates but best of all we enjoyed the cool spring air and the comfort of eating in our neighborhood. Over the course of this month I’ll be patio dining for brunch at several locations so stay tuned for more patio dining around Salt Lake.

Caffe Niche

brunch: Sat & Sun 9am-2pm