Hello, Eaters!

Kolbie Peterson here, the new food and drink reporter for The Salt Lake Tribune. I’m excited and honored to be taking over the writing and curation of the Utah Eats newsletter, sharing food news, openings/closings, occasional recipes and more.

Before I go further, I want to take a minute to thank you for reading. This article is taken from The Tribune’s Utah Eats newsletter, delivered to subscribers every Wednesday morning. If you would like to be a subscriber, and get an early look at news from Utah’s food and beverage scene, click on our newsletter page — where you not only can sign up for Utah Eats, but our other newsletters.

Just to tell you a bit about myself, I’ve been working at The Tribune for eight years, first as a copy editor and, for the last few years, as a reporter. I live on Salt Lake City’s west side with my husband and five delightful cats, and I have loved food ever since I started my first and only food business, Kolbie’s Kookies, when I was 9 (it was short-lived).

I love exploring Salt Lake City’s food scene. If you’d like to accompany me on my food adventures, follow me on Instagram at @kolbie.peterson.

Live deliciously,

Kolbie

Food News

If you’d rather sip cocoa in your pajamas than cook on Christmas, I’ve compiled a list of restaurants that are offering Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining. These options include sumptuous buffets, festive sit-down meals and convenient takeout, and range from extravagant to budget-friendly.

The Pearl, at 917 S. 200 West in Salt Lake City’s Central Ninth neighborhood, is now open for lunch Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to an Instagram post. This restaurant and bar features a menu of Vietnamese street food curated by Chef Tommy Nguyen, as well as cocktails and wine.

Mims Bakery, the microbakery owned and operated by Tripp Mims, is donating all tips for the month of December to Utah nonprofit The Sharing Place, according to an Instagram post. The Sharing Place provides grief support for children and their families. Mims and his two sons received such support after his wife, Thy Hoang Vu, was killed in a car crash caused by a suspected drunken driver in 2021. In his post, Mims said he hopes to raise $1,200, which would cover a year of counseling for a child.

Crumbl has released a new cookie in celebration of the movie “Wonka,” an origin story for the famous character from Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” which arrives in theaters Friday. The Wildly Wonderful Red Velvety Cookie is a red velvet sandwich cookie with a center of vanilla cream cheese frosting, rolled in rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips and decorated with a gold-dusted “W,” according to a representative for Crumbl. Get your hands on these cookies at one of Crumbl’s multiple locations.

Openings:

• Noodles & Company has opened its first location in Eagle Mountain, at 4315 N. Pony Express Parkway, Suite 160. This fast-casual restaurant serves globally inspired dishes, such as Japanese pan noodles and Wisconsin mac and cheese.

• The Hub, at 1165 S. Main St. in Heber City, has reopened for all-day dining, according to KPCW. The restaurant, which first opened 90 years ago, has a new look and a new menu, featuring such hearty fare as Utah scones, burgers and steaks.

• Raising Cane’s has opened a new location in Logan, at 1165 N. Main St., less than a mile from Utah State University. This international chain is known for its chicken fingers, served with Cane’s sauce on the side.

• Mo’ Bettahs Hawaiian Style Food will be opening its 50th restaurant Friday, at 163 E. 13800 South in Draper. A grand opening will be held at 10:30 a.m., and the first 50 guests in line will get free Spam musubi for a year, according to a news release.

• Tokyo Tower is a new Japanese restaurant located at 1158 S. State St., Salt Lake City, that offers sushi, sashimi, lunch and dinner combos and more.

Booze (and Drink!) News

The next time you’re at a state-owned liquor store, you can also help someone in need by donating to one of several Utah charities this holiday season and beyond. Through Feb. 29, 2024, each liquor store in the state will become a hub for community support by collecting donations for such organizations as Toys for Tots, the Utah Food Bank, the YWCA, The Road Home and others. Each store will be collecting items for a different charity. Click here to view the complete list.

In Utah whiskey news, a local bourbon has won gold, and High West has released a new single-malt whiskey. Find out where to get these spirits and others for holiday gifting and celebrating.

Dish of the Week

The fig pizza at Wasatch Brew Pub features pesto, tangy goat cheese, caramelized onions, peppery arugula, smoky bacon crumbles, creamy mozzarella and sweet sliced figs, creating a pizza that’s earthy, complex and satisfying. Plus, the crust is perfectly chewy and crunchy. Try this Dish of the Week at Wasatch Brew Pub, at 2110 S. Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, in Sugar House.

Eaters: I want to hear from you!

Joy suggested checking out the northern Utah scene. Bruce wants to see more foodies at Hong Kong Tea House in SLC. What do you want to see in Utah Eats? To share your favorite food vendor, a trend you think I should cover, or a dish you’d love to see featured here, just email us at food@sltrib.com.

— Newsletter compiled by Kolbie Peterson, The Salt Lake Tribune’s food and drink reporter.