This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Forage has always been more than just a fine-dining restaurant, it's been Salt Lake City's ultimate culinary experience.
Now, after nearly seven years in business, the ground-breaking restaurant will close at the end of April, its owners say.
The lease on the building, a remodeled home at 370 E. 900 South, will be ending soon and "the business will be dissolved," said Viet Pham, who along with Bowman Brown opened Forage in summer 2009.
The restaurant introduced a new level of dining to Utah's capital city, says cooking instructor Marguerite Marceau Henderson.
"It was revolutionary when it opened its doors," she said. "Labor-intensive, imaginative creations in a relaxed sophisticated atmosphere. It created a pathway for our burgeoning food scene and invited young chefs to be innovative in a city so ready for a welcomed food revolution. Viet and Bowman were brave. And we will miss Forage."
The small Forage kitchen resembled a science lab, as the dynamic duo turned fresh, top-quality ingredients into visually stunning multicourse meals, using unique cooking techniques such as sous vide, foam and other science-inspired emulsions.
Food & Wine magazine called it "ingenious modernist food" when it named Pham and Brown among the country's Best New Chefs in 2011.
For the food-curious and those who revel in gourmet dining experiences in larger metropolitan cities like New York and San Francisco, Forage's presence was a signal that Salt Lake City's dining scene was improving.
To others, the restaurant was curious — offering an 11-course fixed menu that cost $89 without tax, tip or a glass of wine. The opposite of popular fast-casual eateries, a meal at Forage easily took more than three hours to complete.
The highly stylized food, sometimes only one or two bites each, was unique — think blackcurrent leaf and frozen tomato, duck egg pierogi or goat with fava beans, green tomato and sprouted rye.
While Pham has remained an owner throughout Forage's run, he left the day-to-day kitchen operations in 2012 to start other projects and competed on three culinary reality shows: "Extreme Chef" (he was the runner-up), "Iron Chef America" (he bested Bobby Flay) and "Food Network Star."
Brown continued to cover the kitchen. Six times since the restaurant opened he has been named a semifinalist in the James Beard Foundation's Best Chef in the Southwest — one of the industry's most prestigious recognition programs.
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Ciao to Fresco
After nearly 30 years in business, Fresco Italian Cafe will cease operations on Saturday, April 2, the owners announced last week.
"We would like to thank our stellar staff, exceptional chefs and loyal patrons," according to an email sent to customers. "Please come visit us one more time before we say goodbye."
Fresco, next to The King's English Book Shop in Salt Lake City's 15th and 15th district, has been a true neighborhood cafe. Its small size was part of its charm. The dining room, with about three dozen seats, felt like someone's house, and its cozy patio was a favorite spot for summer dinner.
Through the years, some of Utah's best chefs have worked in the Fresco kitchen, starting with its owner/founder, Mikel Trapp. Later, Dave Jones, now at Log Haven, and Billy Sotelo, at La Caille, made their culinary marks at the restaurant.
Several years ago, Trapp — who also owns Trio restaurants in downtown and Cottonwood — joined forces with the LaSalle Restaurant Group, which operates Current Fish and Oyster, Oasis Cafe, Kyoto, Caffe Niche and the soon-to-open Italian restaurant called Stanza (formerly Faustina).
"After 30 years of fabulous dining it was time. Fresco has run its course," said Trapp, who opened Fresco in 1987 with partner David Harries. "The restaurant has spawned a lot of great chefs and won many awards, but with the opening of Stanza it just made sense to close."
Trapp has had the building listed with a real estate broker for about six months and plans to sell. It would be wonderful if another chef-owner restaurant replaced Fresco, he said, but he's not sure if any of the potential buyers are looking to make it a restaurant.
Fresco Italian Cafe • 1513 S. 1500 East, Salt Lake City; 801-486-1300 or frescoitaliancafe.com. Open daily, 5 to 9 p.m.
kathys@sltrib.com
—
Ciao to Fresco
After nearly 30 years in business, Fresco Italian Cafe will cease operations on Saturday, April 2, the owners announced last week.
"We would like to thank our stellar staff, exceptional chefs and loyal patrons," according to an email sent to customers. "Please come visit us one more time before we say goodbye."
Fresco, next to The King's English Book Shop in Salt Lake City's 15th and 15th district, has been a true neighborhood cafe. Its small size was part of its charm. The dining room, with about three dozen seats, felt like someone's house, and its cozy patio was a favorite spot for summer dinner.
Through the years, some of Utah's best chefs have worked in the Fresco kitchen, starting with its owner/founder, Mikel Trapp. Later, Dave Jones, now at Log Haven, and Billy Sotelo, at La Caille, made their culinary marks at the restaurant.
Several years ago, Trapp — who also owns Trio restaurants in downtown and Cottonwood — joined forces with the LaSalle Restaurant Group, which operates Current Fish and Oyster, Oasis Cafe, Kyoto, Caffe Niche and the soon-to-open Italian restaurant called Stanza (formerly Faustina).
"After 30 years of fabulous dining it was time. Fresco has run its course," said Trapp, who opened Fresco in 1987 with partner David Harries. "The restaurant has spawned a lot of great chefs and won many awards, but with the opening of Stanza it just made sense to close."
Trapp has had the building listed with a real estate broker for about six months and plans to sell. It would be wonderful if another chef-owner restaurant replaced Fresco, he said, but he's not sure if any of the potential buyers are looking to make it a restaurant.
Fresco Italian Cafe • 1513 S. 1500 East, Salt Lake City; 801-486-1300 or frescoitaliancafe.com. Open daily, 5 to 9 p.m.