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Although the podcast is no longer active, it is still available on all major podcasting platforms.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
Rawtopia - A Food-Inspired Spiritual Awakening
Omar Abou-Ismail doesn't have your typical restaurant owner story. Originally born in Lebanon, Omar and his family traveled and lived throughout West Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, and the Middle East, and eventually settled in Utah. After studying geophysics and mechanical engineering at the University of Utah, he began working with the U.S. Navy as a geophysicist. And then, in 2005, he opened Rawtopia. You could say it was a bit of a leap in career.
Millcreek Cacao Roasters - Love Is in the Heirloom
Mark DelVecchio and Dana Brewster have always been curious. With Mark's background as an educator and Dana's career as the owner of Millcreek Coffee Roasters, curiosity about the world around them and the food we consume has driven their careers and passions.
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.
Creminelli Fine Meats - From Italy to Salt Lake City, to Every Starbucks Across North America
The story of Creminelli Fine Meats begins several hundred years ago, in a small town in Northern Italy. It was then, in the late 1700s, that a man called Francesco Creminelli would open a humble cheese and salami corner shop business that would come to change his family’s history forever.
Three Pines Coffee - "This Is What Coffee Can Be, and You Should Enjoy It"
We bring in Three Pines Coffee’s founders to talk about their inspiration for their coffee shop and what they feel they have to offer to Salt Lake City’s coffee scene. We also learn about Nick Price’s rich experience as a barista, starting humbly at Beans & Brews before working at one of LA’s most respected coffee shops, Handsome Coffee. Last year, he competed in the US Barista Championship, and on the program, he shares stories from that competition and insight on what makes a great barista and how to brew the perfect cup of coffee.
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.
Solstice Chocolate - Artisan Chocolate: “How Hard Could It Be?”
Scott was comfortable in his career as an air traffic controller and DeAnn was a sales manager at a local Utah business. But their kids were growing up and leaving the house, and behind the scenes, Scott and DeAnn's homemade chocolate was becoming much more than a hit among friends and family and was turning into an obsession.
Food Tips With Foodies - An Evening Out in SLC
On this episode of The Utah Foodie Podcast, we bring in two of our state's top food writers and critics to help us craft a perfect night out on the town exploring Salt Lake City's food scene.
This is our third installment in our monthly "Food Tips With Foodies" series where we bring in local food experts and talk food for an hour on a pre-selected topic. Last month, we explored Breakfast & Brunch in Utah with Chris Holifield of I Am Salt Lake and Chelsea Nelson of Heartbeat Nosh. In October, we brought in Amanda Rock of Amanda Eats SLC and Jeffrey Steadman from Yelp.com to talk about Fine Dining options around the state.
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.
Communal Restaurant - From Busboy to Restaurateur
When a busboy job in high school turned into a job as a line cook, Colton Soelberg quickly realized that cooking and the restaurant industry was more than a stepping block, it was a passion. After working at various restaurants throughout Utah, Colton ended up at the Tree Room in Sundance, where he quickly learned that his cooking skills and knowledge were only at the beginning stages.
Rubadue's Saucey Skillet - Food Trucks, Catering, and Hospital Food
Carl Rubadue has spent over 40 years in the food business, so you can say he’s been around the block here in Utah and around the food scene. He got his start at the Mariposa restaurant at Deer Valley resort in 1981. He’s since worked for a variety of resorts and catering services, cutting his teeth in kitchens all across the Western United States.
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.
Allgood Provisions - Responsible Snacking
Jake Boyd has always been passionate about organic food and environmental sustainability but didn't know the best way to make an impact. After working full-time and moving to Park City to explore the famous Utah ski slopes, his childhood roots came full circle and he ventured into the food world. Having been raised by parents that grew up farming, the passion and drive to start a company from scratch that focused on non-GMO, sustainable, organic snack foods.
Dolcetti Gelato - Finding Love Through Gelato
Founded by Elizabeth and Mark England over ten years ago, this neighborhood staple specializes in homemade, locally flavored Italian delicacies that will take your mouth on a scenic tour of the Italian countryside. When Elizabeth and Mark began their endeavor into the food scene, Mark wanted an excuse to spend more time with Elizabeth. What better way to spend time with someone than through launching a gelato business together?
Food Tips From Foodies - Fine Dining in Utah
On this episode of The Utah Foodie Podcast, we sit down with some of Utah's finest foodies to talk about the fine dining scene here in Utah. This episode is the first installment of a new monthly series called "Food Tips From Foodies," where we bring in a few of Utah's best food critics, chefs, podcasters, and general food enthusiasts to talk about a topic related to our food scene. Today we're joined by food writer Amanda Rock and Jeffrey Steadman, the Community Director of Yelp Salt Lake City.
Laziz Foods - Nothing Lazy About This Hummus
On this episode of The Utah Foodie Podcast, we sit down with Moudi Sbety, co-owner of Lazis Foods, to hear his entrepreneurial journey in the food business, making hummus. Laziz is a local maker of Middle Eastern spreads like their popular hummus, muhammara, and toum garlic sauce that can be found in a variety of local grocery stores like Whole Foods and Liberty Heights Fresh.
Amy Riolo - Building Bridges Through Global Cuisine
On this episode of The Utah Foodie Podcast, we’re joined by Amy Riolo, award-winning author, chef, TV personality, cuisine and culture expert, and educator who makes frequent appearances on television and radio programs in the United States and abroad, including Fox Television, CBS, The Travel Channel, Martha Stewart Living Radio, WHYY, and now... the popular podcast that is The Utah Foodie.
Sugar House Distillery - The Craft Distilling Movement
In early 2014, James Fowler introduced Sugar House Distillery and became Utah’s very first grain-to-glass, small-batch spirits distillery, where the entire production—from the raw ingredients all the way to the bottle—is done in-house using their own still. And it all happens in their warehouse in South Salt Lake that just so happens to be South Salt Lake's first privately-owned liquor store since prohibition.
Zest Kitchen & Bar - Healthy Eating With Casey Staker
Casey Staker’s career started in 2004 when he bought into a new nightclub at the time, the W Lounge. And almost 10 years later, Casey closed it down to pursue his next project—a place he would actually want to hang out at—a restaurant with healthy food and drinks that’s open late, and he could go to on the weekends. So in 2012, Zest Kitchen & Bar was born.