Amy T. Shuster
Do you believe in the afterlife? Well, if you are a fan of food from the boot country, and you happen upon Chicago’s Eataly, a mega market and Italian eatery, you may think you have slipped on a Pannetone, died and gone to foodie heaven…
I got the chance to visit the market, mega food emporium one freezing Chicago afternoon, just 5 weeks after their December 2nd, grand opening downtown.
They had over 120,000 visitors during their first week and had to actually close a full day to restock.
Though foodies and fans of the original NY location have had this place on their radar for a while, surprisingly, many of my local pal’s who reside in the Chi hadn’t yet heard about it. Most of my friends who had heard of it thought it was simply another Italian restaurant by Mario Batali. Well, actually, there’s a lot more to it than that. If you’ve never been, let me paint you the picture.
You walk in, and the first thing you see are little carts of fresh produce…
To your right, there’s a Nutella bar, Lavazza coffee shoppe, a gelato bar. All sorts of products (including various Mario Batali merch) sweets and kitchen gadgets make up the bottom floor.
Smack dab in the middle are the escalators stairways to heaven, where you can sip wine as you shop or relax with some casual conversation with friends as you grab some grub at one of their many restaurants upstairs…
Eataly is not only a shopping market for Italian goods; charcuterie, cheeses, freshly baked breads, pastas meats and seafood, it is also a centre for various sit-down restaurants and wine bars. This Eataly location even has their own artisanal craft brew pub and brewery!
They also feature a mozzarella “lab” where you can watch the cheesy goodness being made fresh right before your eyes. My friend’s and I, oo’ed and aaa’ed as we took pictures at the cheese maker behind the tall glass window. We all got a feeling, much like being at the zoo… watching something magical unfold before your eyes. It was almost scandalous.
I purchased some fig bread from their bakery, some hazelnut spread (though not Nutella), goat cheese, prosciutto and a black rice for dinner later on…
Then we headed to the gelato bar for some tiramisu ice cream, drinking chocolate (yum!) from the Lavazza bar and an espresso con panna (espresso with whip cream!).
It’s pretty much like the NYC location, although being that it’s got two levels, it’s a bit bigger. Venture over for a mid-day outing, special occasion or just for a tasty coffee break wine break while shopping downtown.
And make sure you add it to your Chicago itinerary of places To-Go when you’re visiting the Windy City. Good luck trying not to buy anything!
BYB Tip: Eataly validates at the 10 E. Grand Parking structure. 1 Hour Free or 2-3 Hours ($10bucks) with a $20 purchase.
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So, for the past couple of days, I’ve been recommending where to eat and drink during your visit to Park City, Utah. Now, let me tell you the best places to grab a great breakfast so you can cure that nagging hangover from a long night of partying. Also, to add to the mix, I threw in some quick bites and places to carb-load before a long day of Sundance movie watching and/ or hitting the slopes!
Best Breakfast and Quick Bites in Park City:
The Back Door Delicatessen – This little café was Voted Best sammie in Park City! It’s located right next to the Ticket Box Office for your Sundance ticket purchasing convenience. 50+ yummy sandwiches and great espressos too. Great for grab and go. Get in, then get to the theater!
Wasatch Bagel Co. (1 mile / 5 min ride) from the main downtown drag. If you feel like you gotta get out of Main St. to something more “local”, get on the bus – it’s FREE and get some damn good bagels, burgers and everything in between.
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The Bridge Café – Located directly at the bottom of the Town Lift on Main Street, The Bridge serves up breakfast all day and is inspired by Brasilian cuisine. I loved the Cristo Redentor which is basically a ham and cheese sandwich made into French Toast. It’s delish! (note: They are sometimes closed for private events during Sundance, call ahead before you go!)
350 Main – Brunch it up! Bloody Mary’s and Mimosa’s for $5 + big portions! Get the gourmet Chicken and Waffles. ’nuff said!
Squatters – THE locals spot for drinks and grub. I asked a few residents and they all listed this place as their favorite Breakfast in PC. Which is funny, cause it’s a bar. You can go any time of day – It’s an award winning micro-brew pub which also happens to serve up great buffalo wings, chilaquiles and Utah scones! Located just up the street a bit from Main St. (about 5 min drive).
Maxwells Pizza – Great NY style pizza (Fat Kid Pizza)! Locals bar, lots of TVs + great beer selection. Homemafe Italian menu. Located in Kimball Junction, in the ground floor of Newpark Hotel – just 15 mins from the downtown Main Street.
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Park City Coffee Roasters – Also located in Kimball Junction, PCR was voted Best Coffee in Park City. They are a small batch roaster offering Fair Trade coffees. There’s a satellite location located in the Kimball Art Center on Main Street. Stop in on your way to the Town Lift and grab a fresh hot cup of joe to go. You can ride the lift with your coffee to warm you up on your way up the slopes! (Note: They close up early. Call before you go!)
The Eating Establishment – Established in 1972 and is the oldest full service restaurant in Park City. Chicken fried steak and huge omelets on the cheap. Yum!
Atticus Books and Coffee – This is a super cute boutique shop which supports local writers, designers and artists. Great locally roasted coffees, teas and snacks. I loved their London Fog! Perfect place to grab a quick breakfast + a book and relax a while. Unique gifts, eclectic journals and handmade cards too!
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Java Cow Coffee and Ice Cream – Think it’s weird to eat ice cream in the winter? Think again. It’s so cold outside, your ice cream won’t melt as you walk up and down Main! An independently owned shop and super cute too. Stop in during breakfast time for a coffee and a crepe or shop any of their cow-themed gifts; t-shirts, mugs, hats, pajamas, slippers, etc. Also, the ice cream here is made on-site with all natural ingredients and a custom locally made dairy mix. Yum! or should I say, Mooooo!
The town is pretty small so you’ll be a pro at navigating the area in no time. If there are any breakfast spots you think I may have left out, please leave a note in the comments section below! And I hope you enjoy Park City as much as I did!
Want more Park City dining tips? Check out my Park City Restaurant Guide, or my Guide to Bars and Nightlife.
OR
You can watch more Park City videos on my YouTube Channel or follow me on Tastemade!
Yesterday, I gave you my top 10 list of great restaurants on Main Street. Now, that you have some food in your belly, let’s go out for a drink, shall we?
There are a good number of local hangs, divey bars and hip clubs on the downtown Main Street drag. Here’s a sip of some stand-outs to help you familiarize yourself with the land before you go. The best part is… it’s all walk-able!
If you’re in town for Sundance then you’re only in Park City for a short while, so make it count!! Here are my Top 10 Bars in Park City:
High West Distillery
10. High West Distillery – This insanely popular whiskey distillery offers daily tours and tastings and is a must visit in Park City. It is Utah’s first distillery since the 1870′s and as it is located near the base of the Town Lift, it’s a great stop-in after a ski on the slopes. Great lunches and dinners in their restaurant too. They serve up Western cuisine which celebrates the rich heritage of Old West saloons. As the only ski-in gastro-distillery, (probably) in the world, it’s most definitely worth a pop-in for a drink or five. Watch:
9. Boneyard Saloon and Kitchen – Newly opened! They feature great local beers, whiskeys and a damn tasty cocktail selection. This place has all the “three c’s” It’s clean, chill and comfortable and having been newly constructed, it’s also very cool. They’ve even got heated floors on the rooftop so you can sip your booze and stay warm. You’ll have to drive or cab over (about $20 bucks) from Main St., but it’s worth the trek. Do yourself a favor and check them out!
Inside The Boneyard Saloon and Kitchen
8. O’Shucks – Great billiards and brew. A true locals bar, huge TV’s + peanuts to eat, then throw on the ground! Yay!
No Name Saloon on Main
7. No Name Saloon – Another great locals bar! Love their slogan “Helping people forget their names since 1903.” Get the Buffalo Burgers or Buffalo Wings! Also, featured on my Restaurants List.
Inside No Name Saloon
6. Ciseros – Located near the Egyptian Theater, this place doubles as a restaurant and nightclub. The night we went, there was bumpin house music, a full on dance club and nightly specials. That night was $3 Whiskey-Gingers. (Note: slight cover charge, but sometimes they hand out passes to cute girls and boys 😉
The Silver on Main
5. The Silver – Offering fresh, seasonal progressive American food. It’s a super hip, super sexy restaurant with an extensive wine and cocktail list featuring Vida Uncommon Tequila. The food here is classy (try the Mussels, Diver Sea Scallops). Don’t forget to visit the upstairs bar which also has a mini dance floor at night. It’s fun! Also featured in my Park City Restaurant Guide.
*Note: As of this posting The Silver has sadly since shuttered it’s doors (Spring 2015)
Inside The Silver
4. Wasatch Brew Pub – A partner brewing company to Squatters, Wasatch opened in 1986 and became Park City’s first brew pub since prohibition. Menu favorites include Ale Battered Fish and Chips, Mac n Cheese, House Tacos and Coconut Crunchy Shrimp. Yum!
@tammylalaland and @backyard bite doing shots! #dangerous!
3. The Spur Bar and Grill – A cool smoke-free, casual bar with a western feel that offers live music nightly and “Southern Pub Grub.” Located right next to 350 Main, (which is also RIGHT next to the Egyptian Theater!) so you can watch a flick, have a nice dinner and then walk over for some music and drinks!
Flanagan’s on Main Street
2. Flanagans – Traditional Irish Pub which features great fish and chips, live music and full selection of Irish whiskeys. Right in the center of it all!
A seat at the bar
1. The Downstairs – I didn’t actually get the chance to visit this place because they were closed the night we wanted to go dancing… so, make sure you call before you go to make sure they are open and not closed for a private party. If you can score a “VIP” pass you can bypass the cover charge and hit the dance floor for free. If you’re used to the Hollywood nightclub scene, I believe this is pretty much that… but with a small town feel.
Doin’ it up right! @organichobos, @codytesnow, @tammylalaland @backyardbite @tastemade
Bonus Bar: Red Rock Brewery – Local brewery inside of Kimball Junction, just a 15 minute cab ride from downtown Main Street. Yummy ales and stouts. Brewski’s for the sophisticated beer lover, since 1994. (Note: the only non-walkable bar on my list. Good if you have some extra time.)
Which bars do you love? Which did I miss? Please add your faves to the comments section below!
Want more great eats for Sundance? Click here for : 10 Great Restaurants in Park City…
OR
Check back tomorrow for my Park City Breakfast Guide!
Downtown Park City explodes with activity during the winter months around Christmas time and especially during Sundance. I recently spent a few days exploring the food scene on Park City’s downtown Main Street. I drank, I danced, I ate… a lot! And, I got a taste of some of the best restaurants and nightlife Park City has to offer.
Time can be of the essence when you are in town for only a few short days, so with the help of some Gastronoms, courtesy of Tastemade, I’ve complied a handy guide for you to explore and dine at your leisure. You’re only in Park City for a short while, so make those meals count!! To start, here are my top 10 restaurants on Main Street (and vicinity!).
Also, click here for my breakfast guide and list of top bars in Park City (hint: there’s more than just High West Distillery in PC!)
Historical Park City, Utah
10. Grappa – Named after the intense Northern Italian brandy, this Italian restaurant (part of the Bill White restaurant group), has gluten free options like Crispy Pork Belly and Filet Mignon. Perfect for pasta lovers – get the Lamb Tagliatelle or Lasagne ai Funghi! A romantic atmosphere for a decadent meal, it’s worth a visit!
Photo Courtesy of Shabu
9. Shabu – This highly recommended local favorite, is the original Park City Shabu on Main Street. Shabu shabu or Japanese “hot pot” is a meal that lets you be the chef, cooking the meat a your table, customizing your meal with homemade broths, made-to-order bento boxes and a variety of dipping sauces. Started up by two brothers with years of restaurant experience, come here for a unique “freestyle Asian cuisine” of sushi, sake, and gluten free options too.
London Broil of Elk at Chimayo
8. Chimayo – Another Bill White restaurant, Chimayo offers great Southwestern inspired cuisine, in a cozy setting. MUST get the duck enchiladas. Also, the Elk entree was once voted best dish in all of Utah! It’s crazy good.
7. Maxwells Pizza – Great NY style pizza (Fat Kid Pizza) right here in Utah! Locals bar, lots of TVs + great beer selection. A casual place with a homemade Italian menu. Located in Kimball Junction, in the ground floor of Newpark Hotel – just 15 min drive from the downtown Main Street.
No Name Saloon
6. No Name Saloon – A great locals bar, No Name is known for their great buffalo burger and draft beers! If you’re not feeling the bar scene, try Butcher’s Chop House just up the street for more casual fare by the same owner.
5. The Silver – Offering fresh, seasonal progressive American food, a super sexy ambiance and an extensive wine and cocktail list. The food is classy (try the Mussels, Diver Sea Scallops!) Don’t forget to visit the upstairs bar which has a mini dance floor at night. It’s SO fun!
Mussels from The Silver
4. Zoom – Opened in 1995 by Robert Redford, Zoom is a Sundance-owned restaurant located at the base of Main St. and was once the location for the Union Pacific railroad depot. It’s a true staple of the Sundance Film Festival and features “sophisticated American continental cuisine.” Mountain cabin/ modern feel. Stop in for lunch for a treat or dinner if you like to splurge. Locals say, great mussels and Wagyu Bavette Steak.
3. River Horse – For an elegant and romantic meal, try River Horse. It was the first restaurant in Utah to receive the prestigious DiRoNA Award. Try the Trio of Wild Game; North American Buffalo, Venison Chop and Elk and the Halibut which are their signature dishes. Reservations are highly recommended.
Grilled Chicken Salad from Royal Street Cafe
2. Royal Street Café – Award-winning American fare located in Silver Lake Lodge in Deer Valley which is just a few minutes drive from downtown Main St. AMAZING views of the skiers and lifts at 8,100 feet – which you can watch from the outside patio. If you don’t ski, like me, you can sit outside and live vicariously through these cold-loving snow gliders. Get the House Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich, Deer Valley Turkey Chili or Asian Grilled Chicken Salad. If you do happen to like to ski, it’s a perfect place to begin the day for a tasty lunch before or after hitting the slopes.
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1. Windy Ridge Café – I didn’t get a chance to visit this cute spot, but local’s raved about their casual comfort food as an alternative to the higher end dining on Main St. Good for lunch or dinner or to just stop by for their deli or bakery to grab something quick on the go.
Backyard Bite goes Park City!
Just a note: Thanks for being a loyal Backyard Bite reader over these past few years. Because of this blog, have been blessed with wonderful travel opportunities and I have met so many great people and made so many wonderful new friends. My palate has broadened and my culinary adventures have introduced me to foods I might have otherwise never ever tasted before.
Thank you for coming along with me on this delicious journey. I really love this blog and I hope to continue to introduce you to more exciting and interesting new restaurants, chefs, stories and dishes throughout 2014. I have some awesome videos lined up on the web channel too. Subscribe if you haven’t already, and get ready for a delicious ride.
Happy New Year Foodies!
Backyard Bite taking shots with blogger/host Tammy La!
Uh Oh! That burns!
Cinnamon-orange slice chaser to the rescue. Happy New Years!
Over the summer, the popular Magnolia Bakery held a video competition called #GoBananas to celebrate their insanely delicious banana pudding. When their LA location opened up on 3rd street, my eating partner-in-crime introduced me to this creamy, fluffy, cup of heaven and he told me it was the “Best F*cking Pudding” he ever had.
I took that quote, and a few tubs of banana pudding as inspiration for this video, which won me the competition. If you’ve never tried it before, and you live anywhere near one of their locations – make sure you got get some! Right after you watch this video, of course.
75-5828 Kahakai Rd · Kailua Kona, HI 96740
While in Kona on Hawaii Island, I saw a bunch of killer sunsets. Most of them, while I was on a beach or having dinner or drinking a tasty Mai Tai – A lot of times I was doing all three at once.
Backyard Bite enjoys the sunset in Hawaii
On the Kona side of the Big Island, there are a lot of local and commercial restaurants to choose from, so you shouldn’t ever have a problem finding a place to eat. My dining partner and I were invited to try Huggo’s, a restaurant which has been in business since 1969. What was once a regular haunt for local fisherman, is now a favorite place among locals and tourists to have fresh seafood and stiff drinks on the ocean front. And, don’t be surprised if the fish you ordered was caught just hours before. Huggo’s prides itself on fresh sea-to-table procurement.
Huggo’s
Huggo’s has an adjacent sister restaurant called Huggo’s on the Rocks and the two beach front properties feature one of the best sunset views from their dining patios. Musicians serenade locals at the bar as diners spy on sea turtles washing up on the shore.
A turtle came to say hello to us!
Some classic island cocktails, a couple of tasty seafood dishes, ribs and clam chowder for good measure, my eating partner and I toasted to another great dinner and beautiful sunset while visiting Hawaii. At the very least, come for a drink, sit on the patio and watch one of the best shows mother nature can give.
Here are some photos from our dinner:
Another lovely sunset in Hawaii
A view from our table of Huggo’s on the Rocks
Don’t fill up on bread!
Classic Seafood Chowder
View from our table
Huggo’s restaurant
Our table
Manta Ray: Light Rum, Brandy, Guava and Island Juice
Guava Braised Baby Back Ribs~Hoisin BBQ Sauce and Asian Herb Slaw
Island Fresh Catch~ Spicy Sichimi Togarashi, Molokai Sweet Potato Puree, Asian Sprout Salad, Lemongrass Haupia Sauce.
Grilled Hawaiian Caught Mahi Mahi~ Kabocha Pumpkin Risotto, Local Garden Beans, Herb Sauce with Balsamic “Caviar”
Chocolate Génoise, Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Ganache Chocolate Sauce
Until next time. A Hui Hou!
[Note: I was a guest of the Hawai’i Visitors and Convention Bureau and their partners. Mahalo for having me as your guest. All opinions expressed are my own.]
Last month I got to take part in a festive shoot called Hungry For The Holidays produced by Tastemade. We were a fun group of chefs, cooks, foodies, friends and YouTubers gathered ’round the table and we got to eat a fantastic feast of 12 different holiday dishes specially paired with Stella beers.
See if you can spot me in any of the videos… I’m in disguise (with straight hair!) Click below to watch the teaser and then try a recipe or two for your Christmas dinner. Enjoy!
While Christmas shopping for those on my “nice” list, I couldn’t help but find a few nifty gifts for foodies (wink wink!) along the way. Although most of these gifts were found at various small businesses around my local Los Angeles, most of them, if not all, are also available online. There’s only a few shopping days left – what are you waiting for!? Get shopping!
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All items in the video are found at Paper Source, Sur La Table or OK Store. Read on for more unique gift ideas:
Instant pour over coffee? It exists! And it’s incredibly cool and stylish too. Designed in Portland, Oregon, this Ratio coffee maker believes “You shouldn’t have to be a trained barista to make great coffee.” It blooms! It drips! It pours! And it looks damn cool.
These super cute Toast Hand Warmers by Smoko warm you up while you type! Mmmm toast. Found at Fab.com.
Also from Fab.com try this DIY Kombucha making kit! It’s got everything you need to make the stinky tea at home!
Speaking of tea, here’s some fun for kids and adults alike. Deep Tea Diver and ManaTEA for that loose leaf tea lover in your life:
For that special Muffin Top, I mean, baker in your life:
Found these popcorn makers at Sur La Table. I’m a big fan of popcorn – any day, all day. For someone who doesn’t own a microwave, (like me) this would be a great gift, plus popcorn is a great low calorie snack! As I said, all day… any day!
Another couple of funny food related gifts for that bacon and eggs lover in your life. I found the skull egg maker also at Sur La Table and the “I Love You More Than Bacon” sign at Paper Source.
A cool fishy corkscrew also from Paper Source.
Also, found at Paper Source (and everywhere really), a super cool Corkcicle that keeps your wine chilled and a fun Kitchen Kong whisk.
Found this sleek wine opener at a boutique called Nathalie Seaver on W. 3rd Street in West Hollywood and this awesome in-bottle decanter by Soirée.
A cute macaroon apron from Paper Source! Although, Anthropologie also makes great aprons too. I got one from there last year for Christmas!
Also, love this sparking bling bacon ornament made by Archie McPhee. They have a huge selection of bacon themed items including bacon lip balm, bacon soap and bacon toothpaste.
Love these whisky stones (not to be mistaken for gallstones – yuck!). They keep your whiskey cold without diluting it and sure look cool too. There’s also sleek, stainless steel wine pearls for that special wine-o in your life (ahem). I found them at the OK Store, a cool boutique store on W. 3rd Street, but they are so popular I’ve seen them pretty much everywhere.
Good luck shopping my lovely readers! And remember… “I Love You More Than Bacon!”
[Note: All opinions espresso’ed are my own. I was not influenced or contacted by any of these manufacturers at any time.]
741 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069 · Neighborhood: West Hollywood
Upscale Italian restaurant, Al Bacio quietly opened to the public this past weekend, just across the street from the (also newly opened), Church Key. Blowing the Sunset Strip “a kiss”, Al Bacio replaces the space left behind by former tenant, Osteria Drago. As for the design, I’m told not too much has changed from the layout of Drago (I had never been), except for some new paint and nice paintings. As you walk into the restaurant, you immediately face the glowing bar. The restaurant features a quaint private dining room as well as a small patio at the front. It’s a sophisticated restaurant that well suits this side of Sunset Boulevard.
Ingredients are made in-house, the dishes are simple, yet full of traditional Italian flavors and the chef is actually from Italy. I chatted with the well-travelled chef, Christian Simionato about his food and the meaning of Al Bacio.
Backyard Bite: Where were you cooking before Al Bacio?
Chef Simionato: Before, I was the sous chef at Andrea Ristorante at the Pelican Resort in Newport Beach for two and a half years. It was a beautiful experience and it was a really good school for me to start this new project. Before that, I was in Bejing. Another beautiful country. There, I learned a lot from a lot of good, good chefs.
BYB: Where in Italy are you from?
Chef: I’m from Padua, close to Venice. My family has a little farm, I grew up in a little town. I grew up touching the the vegatables, seeing the meat first hand, milking… I was involved from the ground to the plate.
BYB: What does Al Bacio mean?
Chef: Something made al bacio (“the kiss”) means something is made in a exquisite way. As we say in Italy, if something is al bacio, it means something is really good. The traslation is like a big, big WOW.
BYB: How would you describe the menu?
Chef: We wanted to give guests a taste of authentic Italian food. Simple, but full of taste. I try to give the tradition of my country; the rum babá is from Naples, there’s tiramisu, homemade lemon sorbet, Orecchiette and rapini sauce from Puglia… One year aged risotto and the beautiful piece of meat… Wagyu from New York and beef cheek: it’s the rich part and the poor part (of the cow) combined together. Here, there is a little bit from all of Italy, from south to north.
I was treated to a special tasting menu just before they opened to the public. Here’s a peak at what you can expect:
Our special tasting menu
An amuse in a cute little jar – bacon, something pickled and a little crouton.
Black Label San Daniele Prociutto, Burrata Cheese, EVOO Candied Tomato
1 Year Aged Acquerello Risotto, Quail Braised Ragu
Orecchiette, Sausage and Rapini Sauce
Duo of Beef: Wagyu New York Steak, Cipollini Fondant, Roasted Carrots, Red Wine Sauce, Barbaresco Braised Beef Cheek, “Mulino Sobrino” Polenta, Sauteed Seasonal Mushrooms
Inside the private dining area
Hellooo wine! At the bar
Open Mon-Sat with lunch served Wednesdays – Fridays beginning in 2014. Happy hour is from 5 – 7 p.m. weekdays.
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