Manolo on the Go
Manolo says, many apologies for the scarcity of the posting this week. The Manolo is yet again in motion. This week he will be travelling to Salt Lake City. If any of the Manolo’s friends have any suggestions as to where the Posse Manolo should dine and shop, the Manolo would consider it the great kindness.
Funny, No Comments is about what I’d expect in a ‘where to dine and shop’ request about Salt Lake City :)
All joking aside, my fiance visited there last year, and said it was a very pretty place. As per the typical man, however, he noted no particular shopping or dining experience. Sorry!
I have been there many times, and I’m very fond of SLC. It’s beautiful. Where to go depends on what kind of food The Manolo would like.
There is a lovely Italian restaurant called Fresco on 15th East. Across the street from Fresco is a lovely French restaurant called the Paris Bistro.
For an excellent hamburger from a real 1950′s drive in, go to Hires on 7th east. Crown Burger also has great hamburgers.
Little America has an unglam but absolutely delicious coffee shop where the food is excellent and the dinner rolls and bran muffins are to die for. (Yes, I said bran muffins. You’ll stop laughing once you try them.)
There’s also Ruth’s Diner in Emigration Canyon – it’s an institution.
Also the New Yorker club downtown is quite fancy but delicious.
The Salt Lake City also contains Squatters, an excellent steak-and-brew house which serves a local beer called Polygamy Porter (their slogan: “Why Have Just One?”) The Annalucia does not drink beer but the Tedesco assures her that it is very good. One may also purchase T-shirts and beer mugs with the Polygamy Porter logo if one is so inclined.
The Annalucia cannot recommend places to stay because she usually stays with daughter, son-in-law and grandbaby, whom the Manolo does not know. On her last trip she stayed at a Motel Six which she most emphatically does not recommend. In the downtown there is a large, foursquare, old-fashioned building called the Peery Hotel (and no, the name is not misspelled). Perhaps the Manolo can try it and report back to his readers.
Buon viaggio!
“(Yes, I said bran muffins. You’ll stop laughing once you try them.)”
This is no laughing matter, T! I love me a good bran muffin! You can keep your blueberry muffins, your chocolate chip muffins, your lemon poppyseed muffins, and all the rest. If I’m going to partake of a muffin, that muffin will be bran. Sadly, they seem to be quite scarce in the bakeries and delis of my city.
Cat if you ever find yourself in Salt Lake City, run do not walk to Little America and have a bran muffin. They are the fantastico.
Manolo! I am so excited knowing that you will be in my town!
It is not the most thrilling or sophisticated of towns, and being the poor working girl I do not do much fancy shopping. The closest I get is the Gateway Mall, which has Anthropologie and some other fun stores, but is not really the high-class place.
But that is part of the charm of Salt Lake City, in that it is friendly and not at all snooty. You can be very cool as a poor working girl, and in fact much cooler than some of the rich people who might be just a teensy bit dorky.
I have just moved here, so I am keeping my eyes open on the comments thread myself. I’m still learning where all the eating places are besides Cafe Rio and Rumbi. (Again, not so classy, but very delicious and happily priced.)
I have been to Salt Lake City. We went on the tour of the Mormon Temple which was one of the most enjoyable and memorable experiences I have ever had, I think of it often, but then I am a snotty European and pleased by examples of the extreme American demotic. The giant reproduction of The Last Supper in stained glass . . . because whoever has the original refused to sell it . . .
Oh and make sure you take some pictures for those of us who are not currently travelling anywhere and would like to see what the world looks like!
Oh yes: the Manolo should definitely visit the Cathedral of the Madeleine. It is a riot of color inside and one could easily spend half an hour gazing upon the organ with its Spanish trumpets, the Stations of the Cross in vivid Southwestern style, and the paintings of Biblical scenes upon the wall behind the altar – these last are a hundred years old and their style is a curious blend of Willy Pogany and Ivan Bilibin.
Also, the Cathedral is magnificent and the students of its Choir School frequently sing at the Sunday Masses. The Manolo should consisder going to hear them as well.
Addendum to the previous: the ACOUSTICS of the Cathedral are magnificent and to hear the Choir sing (as the Annalucia did last Christmas at Midnight Mass) – it will fill the soul and bring tears of wonder to the eyes.
If the Manolo and party find themselves at Temple Square (the attractive tourist spot) at lunchtime, The Garden restaurant features the lovely lunch menu, with notable rolls. Not inexpensive, but the view of Temple Square is pleasing. It is at the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, which is on Temple Square, so if the Manolo is wearing the superfantastic but unfortunately less comfortable shoes, it is very convenient.
As for the shopping, I am not the local, but I have seen the interesting shops in Park City, the ski resort town that hosts the Sundance Film Festival. It is the half-hour drive out of Salt Lake, but if the credit card becomes restless…
I go to Salt Lake twice a year and I will not go home without enjoying one of the fantastic moles at The Red Iguana. And if the manolo is very hungry the Rodizio Brazillian grill is my favorite place, although a buffet it is indeed, superfantastic.
The Gemdiva has dined at Fresco when visiting SLC and found it to be very good indeed. I must also agree with previous commentators that the surrounding scenery is most breathtaking. Have a wonderful time!
Have yourself a fun trip!
Oh, Manolo- I have wanted to visit SLC for quite a while, and hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I have many of their albums, but I know that nothing could compare to hearing them in person. Enjoy yourself!
Do allow some time to visit Sam Weller’s Zion Bookstore, at 254 S. Main St. It is one of the most spectacular used bookstores I’ve ever spent time in. Meticulously organized, supurb choices, knowledgeable staff–and aisles and aisles of wonderful, unique choices. Also, take a side trip to Park City. Charming downtown, lots of delightful shops, beautiful setting in the mountains. It’s only about 35 minutes from Salt Lake City, and well worth the drive.
Manolo Darling,
Salt Lake City can be terribly fun! You just have to know the good places to go. The Gateway center downtown has quite a bit of shopping with stores that are better than your average mall. I highly recommend going to a boutique called Black Chandelier, the designer does a lot of interesting screenprinting techniques that result in some beautiful pieces.
Freeheel is right… the Red Iguana is a fabulous family-owned restaurant, with so many different moles, it’s impossible to decided which is the best. If you are after Italian food, I recommend Lugano (but it is a little ways out of downtown), for middle-eastern I recommend Mazza.
Ruth’s Diner is absolutely a staple for breakfast, but you also wouldn’t be wrong going to “The Other Place”, a greasy-spoon greek diner close to downtown. And my favorite bakery is aptly called, The Bakery.
You probably don’t want to bother going to the Great Salt Lake. Above all, don’t go in! It’s icky and very smelly. If you do feel you must go, try going out to SaltAir, which used to be a grand ballroom, and now hosts the occasional rock show.
Hope your time in SLC is amazing!
Yay! The Manolo visits my hometown! There is a fabulous Vietnamese restaurant downtown called Cafe Trang. Mazza is the best Middle Eastern food in the city and has 2 locations. If the Manolo is interested in the cajun food and the largest selection of beer on tap, he should check out The Bayou. Tavernacle Social Club is a great piano bar that does a dueling piano show Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights and the bartender is muy fantastico. Ruth’s Diner is, in fact, delicious but there is also a delightful organic cafe called Oasis Cafe that serves up some mighty fine food. The brunch is delicious and they have a glazed salmon entree for dinner that is divine.
Avoid the Gateway shopping center…it’s cookie cutter and not that impressive. Instead try shopping in the neighborhoods of 9th & 9th or 15th & 15th. There are tons of cute boutique style shops, locally owned and operated and both neighborhoods have a really unique, artsy vibe.
If the Manolo is feeling a need to see the great outdoors, do visit Red Butte Botanical Garden at the University of Utah. It is lovely and has the perfect blend of landscaped gardens and nature trails. You can hike there, or just wander the paths and feed the giant goldfish in the fish pond.
I have to agree with the Red Iguana comments. The mole is fantastic. Also, at 1500 South and 1500 East (called 15th and 15th where Fresco and the Paris Bistro are) there is an amazing Middle Eastern restaurant called Mazza. The owner is from Lebanon and makes the best hummus and a to-die-for pomagranite sauce. While in the neighborhood you should stop at the chicest boutique in town. Great Garb is right across the street. Also, the Blue Cockatoo is next door to that. You could also browse at The King’s English while waiting for your table. It’s a great little local bookstore that is very easy to get lost in.
Have fun and go for a little hike. The mountains are really what make this place amazing.
Oh yes, C* – Red Butte Gardens is lovely. I also went to the Tracy Aviary (located in a park, I think) and it was also lovely, if The Manolo enjoys our Feathered Friends.
While obtaining and enjoying the alcoholic beverages can be an interesting experience in SLC, enjoying a SLC institution — the garlic burger — at the Cotton Bottom is quite easy. Keep in mind, it is a typical bar — nothing even remotely glamorous. But no one has a menu, and the waitress will tell you how long the wait is for a burger, not a table.
From what I have heard from friends in SLC, The Bayou is another good choice. Either way, enjoy the mountains and lack of humidity!
The biscuits at Ruth’s Diner are the best anywhere. Well, well worth a visit for breakfast. It’s a mile up Emigration Canyon, which is just to the south of the University of Utah campus.
I also second the idea of going to the Red Butte Gardens.
Can’t wait to hear what you think of my old home town.
eeeee! the manolo is visiting SLC? fabulous. i live here right now.
gateway is good shopping, as is the 9th S, 9th E area. definitely look around downtown – temple square is a must-see. tracy aviary is in liberty park, just south of the 9th and 9th area. it sounds like you have a lot of fans here in the area – if you’ve got time, maybe you should set up a meet and greet?
or perhaps wishful thinking. :)
I second what Freeheels said about Rodizio’s. Best. Brazilian. Barbecue. Ever.
Love SLC, used to live there and visit often.
Make sure you visit the mountains–Snowbird is a great resort–ride the tram to the top for great views.
Restaurants: Tuscany and La Caille in Salt Lake City; Shabu in Park City, about 45 minutes away.
Have fun!
Did the manolo manage to get into the outdoor retailer trade show this week? This is usually why I am in town yet had to skip out this time. You could see the latest horrors yet to be released from crocs and dansko. Good luck in the crowds!
I am not the fool. Manolo is there to see the hot rods at Bonneville with Blair and Iowahawk!