Serving up locally sourced, free-range storytelling.
There's no way around it. The food business sucks.
Eight out of 10 restaurants don’t make it beyond the first 18 months. The profit margins are razor-thin, competition is fierce, and every diner with a Yelp account thinks they’re a food critic.
But here’s the thing—the ones who succeed aren’t just in it for the food—they’re in it for the love of the craft. They’re the bold dreamers who transform simple ingredients into unforgettable experiences that bring people together. They know the odds, and still, they pour everything into making magic happen.
Because the secret ingredient isn’t on the menu. It’s in the people behind it.
In partnership with KRCL 90.9 FM, ”The Utah Foodie Podcast” was a showcase of the Utah food scene where we interviewed the state’s top chefs, restaurateurs, and culinary entrepreneurs.
Although the podcast is no longer active, it is still available on all major podcasting platforms.
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Host: Chase Murdock
Co-Host / Marketing: Keni Nelson
Producer: Ryan Samanka
Sweet Lake Biscuits & Limeade - It's All Gravy (and Limeade)
Like many great food businesses in our state, Sweet Lake Biscuits & Limeade began at the Farmer's Market. But before Sweet Lake opened its doors, owner and founder Hasen Cone was working a corporate job in a cubicle, and he wasn't satisfied with his work.
Argentina's Best Empanadas - Shaping SLC One Empanada At a Time
Ana Valdemoros grew up surrounded by food. Whether it was a family meal, a get-together with friends, or a neighborhood gathering, food was a staple. Ana was raised in Argentina, a country that blends Italian and regional Argentinian cuisines to create simple, hearty, flavorful meals that always draw from local ingredients. When Ana moved to Salt Lake City for college in 2000, it quickly became apparent that Utah was in dire need of an authentic Argentina experience.
Pig & a Jelly Jar - Southern Charm Served Up Hot and Fresh
There’s something about Southern cooking that evokes the memories of warm feelings, lazy afternoons, and cool summer nights. Southern cuisine is all about sharing and comfort, and the focus on family is dominant. While Utah doesn’t necessarily have the same kind of charm as the South, we definitely have the same love for family and large, traditional meals. For Amy Britt, the desire to bring her childhood experience to Utah complimented our community perfectly.
Bruges Waffles and Frites - Share the Fun, Waffles, and Frites
Pierre Vandamme was born in Brugge, Belgium, and grew up with frites and waffle stands serving as the go-to hangout spot for him and his friends. Food mainly served as a social element for Pierre, but deep family traditions and an immense variety of food in Belgian cuisine always kept his mind and stomach intrigued. When the opportunity to move to the United States arrived, Pierre and his wife made the jump to Salt Lake City.
Penny Ann's Cafe - From New York With Love (and Pancakes)
Paul, Warren, Penny Ann, and Cindy are all members of the close-knit Willey family and moved to Utah by way of New York. They grew up around food and were more than familiar with the important role a family-style, comfortable, relaxing restaurant has in a community. After relocating to Utah and gaining experience in the Utah food scene, the Willey team knew that a family establishment serving delicious, consistent, mouth-watering food was desperately needed. From there, Penny Ann's Cafe was born.
Scott Evans - Pago, Finca, East Liberty Tap House, Hub & Spoke, and Trestle Tavern
Let us make a bold statement: Scott Evans is the personification of what we stand for as a podcast. In 2009, Scott saw the potential of Utah’s food scene, the cuisine and concept gaps in the area, and decided he was ready to do something about it.
The Utah Foodie Reheated - Utah's Coffee Journey
Join us as we hear from the experts at Blue Copper, Publik Coffee, 3 Cups Coffee, Three Pines Coffee, and Watchtower Cafe. While all of these businesses are connected by a common thread, they all offer their own unique and personalized touch, philosophy, and feel to a coffee experience.
Publik Coffee Roasters - Good Coffee, Great Community
One of the most prominent leaders for the third wave coffee revolution is Publik Coffee. The word “Publik” is derived from the Dutch word “Community,” and the feeling of community can be found in every chair, barista, and warm piece of toast. Publik’s dedication to creating a community for coffee lovers of all backgrounds has led to an accelerated expansion into The Avenues and Ninth & Ninth.
The Big O Doughnuts - 100% Vegan, and Slightly Naughty
In early 2015 Allie Curzon and her mom Jessica Curzon were driving through Salt Lake City when they were hit with a craving: they wanted a doughnut. While Utah has some fine doughnut options, none would work for the Curzon family because they are vegan—and vegan doughnuts can be hard to come by.
Watchtower Cafe - The Idea That Never Went Away
For Cori Hoekstra and Mike Tuiasoa, geekdom wasn’t a trend. It was a lifestyle. With strong roots in the Salt Lake City geek community, Cori and Mike were more than aware of the community's needs. With Cori’s background in coffee houses and restaurant management, and Mike’s desire to have ownership of a project, their shared dream of having the freedom to create something on their own motivated them to look for opportunities.
Amour Spreads - “And so We Said, Let’s Make Jam!”
Amour is the French word for love, and that's the perfect way to describe how the local jam company Amour Spreads began. It was in 2011 that John and Casee Francis were looking to start a new chapter in life. They felt they were in a rut with their careers and needed a change, or as they say in the episode, they wanted a sign: something that would signal to them what their next life chapter had in store for them.
Vertical Diner & Sage's Cafe - Vegan and Vegetarian Before It Was Cool
Vertical Diner and Sage’s Cafe are two leading restaurants in Utah that promote plant-based foods on their menu, with large offerings of exclusively vegetarian and vegan dishes. Today, vegan and vegetarian menu options aren't uncommon, but it was rare back in 1998, and the thought of opening a vegetarian-only restaurant in Salt Lake City seemed impossible.
Karma Cafe - Good Karma, Good Food, Good People
Growing up in Southern India, Venkat was all too familiar with the power of a home-cooked meal. It was what brought the family together, and was a detailed process that delivered high-quality, flavorful food that warmed the soul.
When Venkat moved to the United States to pursue graduate school, the thought of opening his own restaurant was always in the back of his mind. Though the local Utah Indian food scene was slowly growing, he felt it was missing truly authentic Southern Indian cuisine. But with an established career in the chemistry field, the timing never felt quite right.
Waffle Love - Build a Truck and They Will Come
When Adam Terry founded Waffle Love in 2012, it was more than a labor of love. It was a dire necessity. With a family to support, bills to pay, and no other options, launching their unique and delicious waffle food truck was fundamental.
Food Tips With Foodies - Breakfast and Brunch in Utah
On this episode of The Utah Foodie, we sit down with some movers and shakers in Utah who know a thing or two about the best breakfast and brunch spots throughout the state! This episode is the second installment of our monthly series, "Food Tips From Foodies," where we bring in some of Utah's best food critics, chefs, podcasters, and food enthusiasts to talk about everything and anything in the Utah food scene.
Even Stevens Sandwiches - Food With a Cause
In this episode of The Utah Foodie Podcast, we talk sandwiches with Even Stevens' creative director Jamie Coates and director of community engagement Sara Day. But not just any old sandwiches—sandwiches with a cause. For each sandwich Even Stevens makes, they donate one to a local nonprofit partner here in Utah.
3 Cups Coffee - What it Takes to Open a Coffee Shop
Derek Belnap had been a barista at the Coffee Garden on 9th and 9th for almost a decade when he was approached about starting his own coffee shop. And just six short months later, he unveiled 3 Cups in Holladay with his pastry chef Amber Billingsley.