YUM-O

Here's a list of favorite restaurants/eateries.  By no means is this list all inclusive, but you're always sure to have an excellent meal at all of these places.  

1. Roosters - 748 Heritage Park Blvd. Layton.  There's not a lot of choices in Davis Co. but this is always a sure bet.  We've always enjoyed our meal.  Lots of different choices on the menu.
2. Cafe Rio - Various Locations. Who doesn't love this place?  Generous portions, the grilled chicken tacos are my favorite.
3. Cafe Trio - 680 South 900 East SLC.  I loved their roasted beet salad.  Great pizzas and pasta.
4. Settebello - 260 South 200 West SLC.  BEST PIZZA in Utah.  We are so lucky to have an authentic Italian pizzeria, plus gelato for dessert is divine.
5. Cafe Molise - 55 West 100 South SLC.  Really lovely Italian restaurant, always divine.  Great for a pre-concert dinner, reservations recommended.
6. The Pub - Trolley Square SLC.  Awesome pub food.  I get the Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich EVERY TIME,  but they also have other awesome sandwiches, salads, nachos...
7. Biaggi's - The Gateway SLC.  Yes...this is a chain restaurant but I love it.  Can't miss on anything you choose, I often get the fish of the day.
8. Thai Siam - 1435 South State SLC.  I love, love, love Thai food.  The location isn't great, but once you taste the food, you forget about that.  When mangoes are in season, the mango with sticky rice is a must.
9. Bombay House - off of Foothill Blvd. SLC.  I love, love, love Indian food as well.  Nothing better than the garlic naan, chicken coconut kurma, and a mango lassi - that's comfort food!
10. Gourmandies - 250 South 300 East SLC.  I hadn't been here in a while and I recently had dinner here, reminded me of what I was missing.  The hardest thing is choosing dessert from their fabulous bakery!
11. Granato's - 1391 South 300 West SLC.  At work, we sometimes send someone to pick up sandwiches here.  Great lunch!
12. Sawadee Thai - 754 East South Temple SLC.  Another great Thai place, the restaurant is beautiful.
13. Loco Lizard - Kimball Junction Park City.  Great mexican....a perfect day is shopping at the outlets, and lunch here.  The enchiladas are great.
14. Plates and Palates - 390 North 500 West Bountiful.  Another great Davis Co. option for lunch.  Go for the panini and salad.
15. Red Iguana - 736 West North Temple SLC.  The ultimate Mexican dining experience, the mole is amazing.

Here's a list of a few restaurants that I would like to try...anybody in?

1. Cucina Toscana - 307 West Pierpont Ave. SLC
2. The Bayou - 645 South State SLC.  Boni's friends own this place and she is always telling me about the great food.
3. Les Madeleines - 660 South State SLC.  French bakery, need I say more?
4. Moochies - 232 East 800 South SLC.  My aunt and uncle are friends with the owner, Joanna.  They rave about the Phillie Cheese Steak Sandwiches.
5. Fresco - 1513 South 1500 East SLC. I've always wanted to go on a romantic dinner date here.
6. Paris Bistro - 1500 East Emerson SLC.  
7. Lugano - 3364 South 2300 East SLC.
8. Chez Betty - 1637 Shortline Road Park City.
9. Citta Gelateria - 2101 East 9400 South SLC.  What?  Another gelateria in SL?  I've heard good things about this place, they also serve lunch.

Wow!  I didn't realize this post would be this long, but this is food we're talking about!  Just a few more notes for those of you out there still reading...I was driving in Sugarhouse the other day by Wild Oats and realized the name has finally been changed to Whole Foods.  I immediately swerve into the parking lot and walk in to see what this place is all about. I must say I was a little disappointed, I was expecting to see mind blowing food displays, but I didn't see a whole lot of new things.  Maybe they're still switching over products, I hope.  Also, driving in Bountiful by Lowe's I saw a sign for a new place opening soon called.....drum roll please....Bellissimo Gelato.  Can it be true?  We could actually have gelato in Davis County?  Prepare those taste buds!  

Guilty Pleasures

Okay...I realize this is such a totally trashy, slutty, unrealistic show, but it is way too fun to watch! Every time I watch this show I say that I'm never going to watch it again and I am totally disgusted, but I always come back.  It's like watching a train wreck.  So now you know my dirty little secret.

Face Your Fears

Everyone know that I love to cook, but I'll let you in on a secret...YEAST terrifies me.  When I'm looking through a magazine or cookbook and see an interesting yeast-based recipe, I generally pass it over.  Clearly my ability to create gorgeous loaves of bread fails me.  Not anymore.  I'm on a quest and I'm facing my fears head on.  About a week ago I made some awesome pizza dough, so I thought I would graduate myself to cinnamon rolls.  Molly Wizenberg, also known as Orangette, contributed an article to the March issue of Bon Appetit.  Here is her recipe for Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Glaze.  They turned out pretty good for my first try and I think this is a recipe that I'll use again.  I think baking with yeast is just is something that needs practice, practice, practice!

P. S. I had a great picture of my cinnamon rolls but I think I still need to practice adding pictures to  my blog.  Maybe next time!

Welcome!

Wow...my first post!  I should say that I've been planning to start a blog for months now but I think performance anxiety has gotten the better of me.  Sometimes, you just need to jump in with both feet, and I think today is the day.  Writing has never been one of my strong suits, which is kind of comical because I was a history major in college and I was blessed with endless papers and essays.  Of course I procrastinated and it was always a furious storm of writing and panic the night before.  Yeah...not to confident in my writing ability.  Plus I have my sister Meridith's blog to live up to.  Her blog is awesome!  If you haven't read it, it's a must.  She is an amazing writer.

Why Joie de Vivre you say?  I have a limited vocabulary in French, but this phrase always stuck with me.  It's not easily translated into English, but generally it means the joy of living.  It can be a joy of conversation, joy of eating, joy of anything one might do.  That idea appeals to me because I want to share the parts of my life that bring me joy.  That might include sharing a recipe, raving about an awesome book I just finished, a fun restaurant I ate at, or pictures from my latest trip (By the way, be on the lookout for pictures from my trip to Italy soon).  So...hope you enjoy my crazy posts  and let me know what you think!

Cheers!