Salt Lake named one of 'America's 5 New Food Cities'

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Salt Lake City was named one of "America's 5 New Food Cities" by Wine Enthusiast.

The magazine singled out the 14-course "wild-to-table" tasting menu at Forage, the inventive small plates at The Copper Onion and the carrot tasting and the city's "best wine list" at Pago as examples of what Utah's capital city has to offer diners.

With offerings such as those, "Salt Lake City's under-the-radar restaurants won't stay there for long," according to the editors. They said the food scene matters to wine lovers because "where great food lives, great wine service follows."

The four other "unexpected" cities that have become "gastro destinations" like Salt Lake City are Charlottesville, Va.; Jackson Hole, Wyo.; San Antonio, Texas; and Portland, Maine.

Wine Enthusiast isn't the only national publication to take notice of Salt Lake City's food scene.

In early June, The New York Times did a brief review of The Rest, a basement speakeasy at 331 S. Main St.

"Funky sculptures give it a downtown New York-style ambience," wrote reviewer Nate Storey. "During my visit, the place was clamoring with young and stylish locals decked out in pressed flannels, skinny jeans and beanies."

As for the food, he said: "The locally sourced, satisfyingly hearty dinner menu from Brandon Cagle can best be described as campfire gourmet: smoked coffee duck jerky; honey-glazed beer-can chicken; fried brioche doughnuts."