Soter Vineyards at Silver Fork Lodge
One of the America's best winemakers, in my opinion, is James Cahill of Oregon's Soter Vineyards. And one of the best destinations for rustic, canyon dining is Silver Fork Lodge & Restaurant (11332 E. Big Cottonwood Canyon Road, SilverForkLodge.com). So, that makes the Soter Vineyards' wine-pairing dinner at Silver Fork Lodge on Monday, Aug. 17, a no-brainer. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and will feature dinner courses designed to highlight Soter wines, such as the 2012 Soter MS Ranch Pinot Noir, which was ranked No. 17 in Wine Spectator's annual Top 100 Wines list. In addition to Cahill, Francis Fecteau, proprietor and "Chief Wine Pimp" of Libation, LLC, will be onhand to discuss the wines and pairings. The cost is $60 per person, plus tax and gratuity, for the dinner and wine pairings, or $25 for dinner without wine. Phone 801-533-9977 for reservations.
Dinner and a Show
I often lament the lack of dining venues here that feature live music with quality cuisine and libations. In that regard, Bleu Bistro (1615 Foothill Drive, BleuBistroSLC.com) is a bit of an outlier—a venue offering live music performances by nationally recognized artists, plus great good and drink, including an excellent wine selection. To wit, Bleu Bistro will feature a live show with the great guitarist Scott Holt (who played with Buddy Guy for many years) on Friday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. Tickets are a mere $20. It's proof that you can have your live blues and eat quinoa salad, arancini and beef empanadas, too. Phone 801-583-8331 to reserve your table.
Fiesta de Yucatán
On Thursday, Aug. 13, Alamexo (268 S. State, Alamexo.com) will feature the second of its series of regional Mexican dinners. It's a reservation-only event featuring the cuisine of the Yucatán Peninsula: Fiesta de Yucatán. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and features family-style dishes like cochinita pipil with Kurobuta pork; camarones con recado negro; pan de cazon with snapper; fresh guacamole; desserts, and more. Beverages include award-winning Espolón Anejo Tequila and other South of the Border libations. The cost is $55 per person. Reserve a seat by calling 801-779-4747.
Quote of the week: A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand. —Barbara Johnson
