This article is an excerpt from the Utah Eats newsletter, compiled by Kolbie Peterson, the Salt Lake Tribune’s food and drink reporter. To receive the full newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday, become a subscriber at sltrib.com/newsletters.
Hello, eaters!
As some of you know, on July 3, Mazza, the renowned Middle Eastern restaurant that is one of my favorite restaurants in Salt Lake City, experienced an mechanical/electrical fire that damaged the roof and kitchen.
According to the restaurant’s Instagram account, no one was injured in the fire, but Mazza had to close for repairs and cleaning.
As of July 29, Mazza, 1515 S. 1500 East in Salt Lake City, reopened. Last weekend, I went back to Mazza to show them my support in their recovery after being closed for nearly a month.
For our meal, we started with Baba Ganoj and Pita ($12). Read more in the Dish of the Week section of this newsletter.
For starters, I ordered baked kafta and potatoes with rice ($29). For drinks, I had the house black tea with cardamom ($5), which was sweetened with a really wonderful rose water and orange blossom syrup.
(Kolbie Peterson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Vintage photographs from inside Mazza taken Saturday, August 17, 2024.
While my table neighbor and I waited for our food to arrive, I enjoyed looking at the collection of framed vintage prints on the north wall of the cozy restaurant.
The baked kafta turned out to be a typical comfort food consisting of lean minced meat mixed with spices, finely chopped onions and parsley, which was then topped with seasoned fried potatoes and baked in a tajen sauce. The whole thing was then served on basmati rice.
(Kolbie Peterson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Baked kafta and potatoes with rice, photographed at Mazza on Saturday, August 17, 2024.
Chef Ali Sabbah – nominated as a 2024 regional finalist at the prestigious James Beard Awards – interacted frequently with guests that evening, greeting us as we ate.
He explained that in Lebanon, kafta is usually served with a tomato or tahini sauce, but he finds that the tahini sauce has too much sesame. So Mazza’s tajen sauce blends those two flavors, “so you get the best of both worlds,” he said.
We finished our meal with a selection of desserts, and my favorite was the baklava finger ($4), consisting of a roll of delicate puff pastry filled with sweet cashews, drizzled with orange blossom syrup and sprinkled with pistachios.
Live deliciously,
Kolbie
Food News
• Guests who enjoy a view during brunch can Snowbasin Resort‘s Mountain-Top Brunch through Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a press release said. After arriving in Snowbasin, guests will ride the Needles Gondola up to the Needles Lodge, where they can enjoy the weekly changing Grand Buffet, which includes made-to-order omelets, waffle and eggs Benedict stations, pastries and select dishes from Snowbasin’s culinary team, the press release said.
Tickets are $79 for adults, $43 for youth ages 5-12, and free for children under 4. Reservations are required and can be made through OpenTable. Tickets include the buffet, refreshments, and the gondola ride.
Opening hours:
• The first Baskin-Robbins According to a press release, a new location opened in Farmington last weekend at 1076 W. Park Lane. The new shop will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Through Sunday, guests can get scoops for $2, and from Monday through September 1, guests can get a free scoop with any ice cream purchase.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) A new Dunkin’ location in West Jordan on Tuesday, July 16, 2024.
• The new Dunkin’ West Jordan location, 1410 W. 9000 South, is hosting a grand opening celebration from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, according to a press release. Get in line early; starting at 2 p.m., the first 100 Dunkin’ Rewards members in line will receive a free medium iced coffee or hot coffee for 100 days through the Dunkin’ app, the press release says. (You must already be a Dunkin’ Rewards member or at least sign up the day of the event.)
• A new location of TacoMania7786 S. 5600 West in West Jordan, had its grand opening last weekend, according to Facebook. TacoMania also has a location in Riverton, at 3673 W. 13400 South, Unit G.
Dish of the week
(Kolbie Peterson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Baba ganooj and pita bread, pictured at Mazza on Saturday, August 17, 2024.
I’ll say it officially: I like baba ganoj much better than hummus. At Mazza, it’s made with freshly roasted eggplant, which is then tossed with lemon juice, garlic and tahini and drizzled with olive oil. This vegan dish is a real flavor punch that’s part smoky, part brightly lemony—dunking warm, crispy pita bread in it is heavenly as an appetizer.
