Utah produces some of the country’s most delicious cheeses. Dairy farms like Snowy Mountain Sheep Creamery, Rockhill Creamery and Redmont Heritage Farms add a tasty element to the state’s already appetizing culinary culture. And for those visiting Park City, your sampling opportunities are endless. To help add flavor to your trip itinerary, here are some suggestions.
Photo above of blue cheese. Image via Halifaxsxc.
Purple Sage
Serving American Western Cuisine in an 1895 Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone Building, Purple Sage is a down-to-Earth yet romantic restaurant that will leave you satisfied and smiling. Along with an excellent beer, wine and spirit selection, their Blue Cheese Fondue is a local legend. Accompanied with fresh pears, crusty bread, spiced pecans and Port syrup, diners also have the option to add beef tips, chipotle bison sausage and duck and fois gras sausage to enhance the experience.
Slopes
At the Waldorf Astoria Park City’s fine-dining restaurant Slopes, guests can order from a menu of hearty Rocky Mountain cuisine as well as light fare. For those craving cheese, their butcher blocks — featuring a mix of house-made pate and local charcuterie — are a must. This includes a Chevre from Drake Family Farm, Belevedere tomme from Rockhill Creamery, Cajun Cheddar from Beehive and Delano baby blue from Snowy Mountain Creamery. The charcuterie is paired with hand-picked gooseberries and local honey.
Adolph’s
Known for it’s inviting ambiance and large portions, Adolph’s is a Swiss-inspired restaurant with entrees like Utah Golden Trout Meunière, filet mignon, roast rack of lamb and Mediterranean pasta. The real draw, however, is their creamy fondue menu. Along with a rich chocolate fondue and a savory beef bourguignone fondue, they serve a traditional Swiss cheese fondue with crusty bread, crisp apples and hearty potatoes for dipping.
Daly’s Pub & Rec
Located in the Montage Deer Valley, Daly’s Pub & Rec is a laid-back restaurant focused on fun with bowling, billiards, shuffle board, foosball, darts, arcade games and Ninetendo Wii. Along with games, they also feature a delicious pun menu and many cheesy offerings. Try their Pretzel Fondue made with Utah cheddar cheese and a side of Dijon mustard, their nachos with chili con Queso or a hearty bowl of cheesy chili. Daly’s also serves brick-oven pizzas including Margherita, Sicilian, white slice and the Chef’s “Pizza of the Day.”
High West Distillery & Saloon
The world’s only ski-in whiskey distillery, High West Distillery & Saloon is an old west-style restaurant and bar with a rich history. Once a horse livery during mining times and then a garage, the building is now heritage-listed as it preserves the history of Park City. Along with flavorful whiskeys and handcrafted cocktails, the venue serves up deliciously cheesy creations, often with a libatious twist. Their “Kentucky Whiskey Cheese Fondue” is a popular choice, showcasing Beehive two year-old Rendevous Cheddar whipped with beer, whiskey and spices and served with house-made pita bread and rye crisps. High West also serves up a rich “Bourbon Three Onion Soup” topped with nutty yet sweet caramelized gruyere. A creamy Swiss cheese raclette, three-cheese macaroni with cheddar, gruyere and alpine, and a charcuterie board featuring whiskey-infused meats, fruits and cheeses are also excellent queso-inspired options.
Drafts Sports Bar & Grill
This elegant sports bar serves traditional pub food in a high-quality way, like handcrafted burgers, stone-hearth pizzas and appetizers made with fresh ingredients. Along with featuring over 50 international beers, Drafts Sports Bar & Grill has an alluring selection of cheesy choices. Start with their jalapeño macaroni and cheese served with a cilantro lime cream sauce or a baked pretzel topped with beer cheese and served with habanero mustard. Additionally, their Quattro Formaggio pizza features a tantalizing blend of fresh mozzarella, smoked Gouda, creamy fontina and white cheddar.
Fireside Dining
Located in Deer Valley’s Empire Canyon Lodge, Fireside Dining is a cozy venue and a great place to warm up after a day on the slopes. The restaurant specializes in European Alp cuisine, showcasing four courses served from stone fireplaces. Along with Dutch-oven specialities, stews, charcuterie and salads, they serve a creamy Swiss raclette cheese with steamed new potatoes, house-marinated pearl onions, cornichons, cured meats, fresh baguettes, fig mustard and strawberry chutney.
J & G Grill
This Western European and Asian-inspired restaurant in the St. Regis Deer Valley features everything from an innovative bar and après-ski menu to full meals and a seasonal sampling menu. For some cheese culture, order their Swiss Fondue served with artisanal bread or a creme fraiche cheesecake with port and black mission figs. The J & G Grill black truffle pizza is also a delight, topped with a creamy fontina cheese.
Silver
Located in on Main Street in downtown Park City, Silver features modern American cuisine with a European influence through a mix of tapas and large entrees. A diverse wine menu, artisanal cocktails and live DJ and dancing are also part of the experience. Those with a queso craving can begin their meal with a tasty charcuterie board, featuring a variety of domestic and imported cheeses, a selection of pâtés and an assortment of cured meats. There’s also a goat cheese soufflé made with Humbolt Fog, tomatoes and a sherry reduction.
Talisker on Main
Talisker on Main is an award-winning restaurant, often touted as “Park City’s Best Restaurant” (Salt Lake Magazine, 2011 and 2012) and showcases regional flavors using local ingredients. Order a glass of red off their expansive wine list and relax in one of two indoor dining rooms or outdoor patio. Pair the experience with a cheesy dish, like their “Pleasant Creek Ranch Skirt Steak Fondue,” featuring juicy bites of local meat, Rockhill gruyere, torn croutons and mushrooms. Also recommended are the lobster hush puppies, made with an herb salad and Snowy Mountain sheep’s blue cheese-crab butter.
Where’s your favorite venue to experience Utah’s cheese culture?
Jessica Festa is the editor of the travel sites Jessie on a Journey (http://jessieonajourney.com) and Epicure & Culture (http://epicureandculture.com). Along with blogging at We Blog The World, her byline has appeared in publications like Huffington Post, Gadling, Fodor’s, Travel + Escape, Matador, Viator, The Culture-Ist and many others. After getting her BA/MA in Communication from the State University of New York at Albany, she realized she wasn’t really to stop backpacking and made travel her full time job. Some of her most memorable experiences include studying abroad in Sydney, teaching English in Thailand, doing orphanage work in Ghana, hiking her way through South America and traveling solo through Europe. She has a passion for backpacking, adventure, hiking, wine and getting off the beaten path.
