The time of year we have all been waiting for has finally arrived. Hosted by Salt Lake Magazine, Tastemakers marks the official opening to what is to be expected in the coming months full of food, drink and all around good times. This two-day food festival promoting the local creative minds behind many of Salt Lake’s greatest flavors brings people from all around the valley to bask in the delicious treats that highlight the culinary skills of their respective chefs. From the live music to the mini beer garden, this event is more than just a trip down culinary lane. For this year’s event, The Gateway played host to the seemingly endless horde of hungry travelers who were desperate to sample every bit of food that caught the periphery of their eye. The most courageous and large stomached among us were able to complete the tour in a single night, while the average consumer would spread their tastings over the course of the two days. To help ease digestion between samplings, Yelp SLC showed up to provide Tastemakers patrons with a few games from giant Jenga to the good old game of Corn Hole. After a few hours of dancing, drinking and struggling to keep the Jenga blocks upright, guests are invited on to the Salt Lake Sightseeing tour bus to travel to a variety of restaurants and sample more food. Whether your palette calls for steak, seafood, veggies or any obscure category not listed on the most recent food pyramid, Tastemakers has something for you to enjoy.
Delicious build-your-own chicken street tacos courtesy of Squatters. Photo: Talyn Sherer
The New Yorker treated us to a specialty Wild Boar Bolognese. Photo: Talyn Sherer
A Tastemakers personal favorite, the crab cakes from Market Street Grill. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse provided us with their staple filet steak on a garlic buttery bun. Photo: Talyn Sherer
In addition to their tasty steak samples, Spencer’s provided us with a sample of their Key Lime Pie, complete with a whipped blueberry mascarpone. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Chip’s Cookies are a home-delivery service complete with a glass of milk. Now that is a business model we all can get behind. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Nothing beats fresh baked. Chip’s Cookies were by far the spotlight of the entire Tastemakers event. Photo: Talyn Sherer
La Caille provided the Tastemakers VIP members with a chocolate brownie complete with a cherry compote. Photo: Talyn Sherer
This year’s VIP swag was a practical gift for those looking to relax in the sun all day, courtesy of Kettle One Vodka, Bulleit Bourbon and Don Julio Tequila. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L–R) VIP Members Rick and Heather Hamby chill out on the Yelp couches. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Lunar Soul performs onstage to help set the mood for the grub hub that is Tastemakers. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L–R) Loren Micalizio, Lauren Call and Tyson Call were thrilled to be a part of this year’s event, which brought out new vendors and those from years past. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L–R) Hannah Martineau, Phil, Deborah Byrns, Liz Kiger and Antonio Paramo have to take a seat on the steps of The Gateway’s fountain to help the unending supply of food settle. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L–R) Anthony Ranallo and Jason Hahn discuss life and food over a few drinks while basking in the sunlight. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L–R) Rachel Chamberlain, Alexandra Best, Chelsea Best and Sunglee Suaste worked tirelessly to provide all the new entrants with some tasty treats courtesy of Cummings Studio Chocolate. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Caramel corn and chocolate-covered grapes from Cummings Studio Chocolate. What more could you ask for? Photo: Talyn Sherer
My new favorite coffee shop worth driving to Park City for is officially Hugo Coffee. Their cold brew and tonic was a crowd pleaser all around. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Salt Lake’s newest restaurant craze, Eklektik, brought out their chicken “wing” sandwich that included frank’s red hot, chicken breast, house cole slaw and ciabatta bread. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Eklektik’s Tilapia Rodrigo was a flavorful tilapia filet, green onions, cilantro, fresh jalapeño, lime juice, olive oil, kosher salt and black pepper, served on a corn tortilla. Photo: Talyn Sherer
The staff at Frida Bistro were swarmed with people like me who were desperate to taste their incredible food. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Frida Bistro’s roasted pork belly taco with roasted tomatillo salsa, pickled red onions and micro greens. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Eva, my home away from home, came out both nights and treated us to their infamous harissa roasted carrots and black sesame complete with Duhka served with whipped tahini and mint. Photo: Talyn Sherer
The infamously decadent Rodizio’s Grill brought out their chicken wrapped in bacon with the glazed pineapple chaser.
Redstone Olive Oil provided us with a trio platter consisting of caprese salad skewers, crostinis with garlic spread and a strawberry with mint and chocolate balsamic glaze. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Himalayan Kitchen had me salivating at the thought of their veggie samosas. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Beehive Cheese Co. combined their powers with Creminelli Fine Meats to provide us with a nice meat and cheese tasting that went very nicely with my wine. Photo: Talyn Sherer
The Park City Culinary Institute provided us with some savory herbed puff pastries. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L–R) Mindy Booth, Penelope and Sean Woodward could not say enough great things about the Park City Culinary Institute and the creative teams who support their work. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Mountain Town Olive Oil showed us the perfect use of their signature house olive oil, spread over stove-popped popcorn. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Despite my desire to cover more ground, I was drawn back to the Chip Cookie booth as the giant cookies cooled to perfection. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Stoneground provided us with a fresh sample of their heirloom carrot salad with spuma and puffed farro. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Mini noodle cups with almonds and peppers paired great with the Mountain Town Olive Oil. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Aj Wentworth is the creative genius behind Chocolate Conspiracy, where he sampled out a blended chocolate smoothie for fellow Tastemaker foodies. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L–R) Bobbie Wolbach gets a photo with her longtime friend and Cache Toffee Collection owner Lori Darr. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Penelope Lorenzana is the youngest chef to be admitted to the Park City Culinary Institute and is on her way to Food Network stardom in the very near future. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Despite my hesitation, I found The Gateway to be the perfect venue for this year’s event. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Chef Matt from Spencer’s prepares a filet mignon with roasted garlic smashed potatoes, sautéed onions and a three herb demi-glace. Photo: Talyn Sherer
R&R BBQ did not hold anything back with these amazing sweet BBQ brisket tacos topped with feta, coleslaw, tomatillo salsa and a cilantro garnish. Photo: Talyn Sherer
The VIP lounge was full of tasty surprises like these chai-spiced cookie dough cones provided by local business Hand Scooped. Photo: Talyn Sherer
350 Main has piqued my interest and excited my tastebuds with their cold smoked foie gras on a truffle pancake accompanied with lovage and candied pecans. Photo: Talyn Sherer
One of Salt Lake’s most recently discussed restaurants, Prohibition came out to the VIP lounge to give us a lesson in whiskey-flavored desserts. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Provisions was a highlight of the event with their chicken liver mousse on a crostini, topped with strawberry rhubarb jam and pistachios. Photo: Talyn Sherer
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