This article is excerpted from the Utah Eats newsletter, compiled by Kolbie Peterson, The Salt Lake Tribune’s food and drink reporter. To get the full newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday, become a subscriber by going to sltrib.com/newsletters.
Hello, Eaters!
As some of you know, Mazza — the acclaimed Middle Eastern restaurant that’s one of my favorites in Salt Lake City — had a mechanical/electrical fire on July 3 that damaged the roof and kitchen.
According to the restaurant’s Instagram account, no one was hurt in the fire, but Mazza closed for repairs and cleaning.
Since July 29, though, Mazza, at 1515 S. 1500 East in Salt Lake City, is back open. Last weekend, I went back to Mazza, to show them support in their recovery after being closed for almost a month.
For our meal, we started with the baba ganooj and pita ($12), which you can read more about in the “Dish of the Week” section of this newsletter.
For my entree, I ordered the baked kafta and potatoes with rice ($29). To drink, I got the cardamom house black tea ($5), which was sweetened with a really lovely rosewater and orange blossom syrup.
(Kolbie Peterson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Vintage photographs inside Mazza, pictured on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024.
While my dining companion and I waited for our food to come out, I enjoyed looking at the collection of framed vintage prints on the north wall of the cozy restaurant.
The baked kafta ended up being just quintessential comfort food, made up of lean ground beef mixed with spices, finely chopped onion and parsley that was then layered with seasoned fried potatoes and baked in a tajen sauce. All that was then served over basmati rice.
(Kolbie Peterson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Baked kafta and potatoes with rice, photographed at Mazza on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024.
Chef Ali Sabbah — who was named as a regional finalist for 2024 in the esteemed James Beard Awards — was frequently interacting with guests that evening, and he said hello to us as we ate.
He explained that in Lebanon, kafta is usually served with a tomato or tahini sauce, but he feels that the tahini sauce is an overwhelming amount of sesame. So Mazza’s tajen sauce blends those two flavors together “so you get the best of both worlds,” he said.
We concluded our meal with a sampling of desserts, and my favorite was the baklava finger ($4), made with a roll of delicate phyllo stuffed with sweet cashews, drizzled with orange blossom syrup and sprinkled with pistachios.
Live deliciously,
Kolbie
Food News
• Diners who like a view with their brunch can experience Snowbasin Resort’s Mountain-Top Brunch through Oct. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to a news release. Upon arriving at Snowbasin, guests will take the Needles Gondola up to Needles Lodge, where they will be able to browse from the weekly rotating Grand Buffet, which includes made-to-order omelets, waffle and eggs Benedict stations, pastries and curated dishes from Snowbasin’s culinary team, the release stated.
Tickets are $79 for adults, $43 for youth 5-12, and free for children 4 and under. Reservations are required and can be made via OpenTable. Tickets include the buffet, refreshments and the gondola ride.
Openings:
• The first Baskin-Robbins location in Farmington opened last weekend at 1076 W. Park Lane, according to a news release. The new store will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Through Sunday, guests can get $2 scoops, and from Monday through Sept. 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’ location in West Jordan at 1410 W. 9000 South is holding a grand opening celebration Saturday, 2 to 4 p.m., according to a news release. Make sure to get in line early; starting at 2 p.m., the first 100 Dunkin’ Rewards members in line will receive a free medium iced or hot coffee for 100 days on the Dunkin’ app, the release said. (You have to be a Dunkin’ Rewards member already, or at least sign up on the day of the event.)
• A new location of TacoMania, at 7786 S. 5600 West in West Jordan, held 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, Aug. 17, 2024.
I’ll go on the record and say I like baba ganooj so much more than hummus. At Mazza, it’s made with fresh roasted eggplant that’s then blended smooth with lemon juice, garlic and tahini, then drizzled with olive oil. This vegan dish packs a flavor punch that’s part smoky, part bright lemon — dipping pieces of warm, crusty pita bread into it is just heaven in an appetizer.
