Utah food news: Waffle Love races on in Food Network competition, Faustina closes for redo

Waffle Love survives second week on 'Great Food Truck Race'

It hasn't been pretty, but Utah's Waffle Love food truck has survived the first two weeks of "The Great Food Truck Race." Truck owner Adam Terry, and his brothers, Jared and Steven, have had troubles during the first two stops of the culinary reality show that is traveling along America's famed Route 66. The 2,500-mile race started in Santa Monica, Calif., on Aug. 23 and has stops in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri before ending in Chicago.

During week two in Arizona, the six teams were challenged to make a dish incorporating the local delicacy, rattlesnake/rabbit sausage. The teams had to leave their trucks behind and sell from Pink Jeeps. The Waffle Love team was the last to start selling — waffle dough had to be remade after it exploded from the blender. By then, most customers in the area had already purchased lunch from their competitors. After paying the butcher for the meat, the Waffle Love team ended up $5 in the red, something host Tyler Florence said had never happened before in the history of the show.

However, in the second part of the episode, the Terry brothers were able to rebound and sell more than $4,000 of their fruit-topped waffles. That put them in second place and pushed them through to next week's episode in Santa Fe, where five trucks will compete. "The Great Food Truck Race" airs Sundays on The Food Network. Check local listings for times.

Faustina closes, new restaurant on the horizon

Salt Lake City's Faustina restaurant, 454 E. 300 South, has temporarily closed for a $1 million renovation, expansion and rebranding. When it reopens, the restaurant will have a new name, more seating and offer an Italian bistro menu, according to a news release issued by the LaSalle Restaurant Group and Mikel Trapp's Trio Restaurant Group, which are collaborating on the project. The owners, who recently joined forces to open Current Fish and Oyster nearby, plan to add a second-floor mezzanine that overlooks the main dining room and more outdoor seating. Logen Crew, chef of Fresco and Current, also will oversee the new menu.

Vote for Utah's best beer bar

The National Brewers Association has changed its annual Great American Beer Bars competition in 2015, asking craft beer drinkers across the country to name the best beer bar in every state. To vote, visit craftbeer.com and nominate your favorite Utah beer bar and explain what makes it so great. Since it's just one vote per IP address, it might be difficult to pick just one. Here are few of our favorites: Avenues Proper and Publick House, Beer Bar, Beerhive, The Bayou, Deseret Edge Brewery, Green Pig Pub, Piper Down and Squatters.

Campfire Culinary Adventure at Bear Lake

Join Utah chefs Julie Paine and Greg Neville for a weekend of glamour camping and outdoor cooking classes at the Conestoga Ranch, a new glamping resort near Bear Lake. Stay the weekend in a comfortable covered wagon or tent and learn to use a wood-burning oven and outdoor fire pit, to create artisan pizza, trout en papillote with potatoes and skillet s'mores. An autumn-themed wine seminar also will be offered.

When • Sept.18-20

Where • Conestoga Ranch, 427 N. Paradise Parkway, Garden City; 844-464-5267.

Cost • Packages range from $509-$599 and include two nights stay and three culinary seminars with meals. Children under 17 are an additional $100. Prices do not include tax and are based on double occupancy.

Details • Reserve a spot before Sept. 9 by calling 844-GO-GLAMP or conestogaranch.com