The Fall Line blog has officially moved to a new blogging platform. The Fall Line can now be found at Taste of Park City.
We made this move to better organize our blog and to offer additional content about Park City, since we are based there. We hope you like the new format.
Please update any bookmarks or links you might have. Our old content will stay active at this address, but this blog will not be updated again after today.
Considering that we run a restaurant guide and that I'm domestically challenged in the cooking department, one can assume that Kevin and I eat out more than we should. We've tried almost every restaurant in town at least two or three times, if not more. But one place we haven't tried before was Nick-n-Willy's Pizza. We decided to give it a go last night.
First, a little about the restaurant from Nicknwillys.com "Nick-N-Willy's Pizza® was founded in Boulder, Colorado, and grew quickly as a purveyor of a truly unique concept serving high quality gourmet pizzas. Our signature pizzas gained an avid following and grew to be known by many as an incredible taste experience fondly recalled from a visit to Boulder. Our exceptional pies continue to form the mainstay of the Nick-N-Willy's menu today.
Nick-N-Willy's Pizza® now offers family-style restaurants designed for today’s busy working professionals and their families. Our fast-casual restaurants are designed for our consumers to enjoy the Nick-N-Willy's experience by providing dine in or take out. Pizzas are prepared fresh in an open style kitchen and baked in our traditional gas-fired stone oven while you watch. Our proprietary dough bakes to perfection in ovens that are specially designed to produce a light, crisp and golden brown crust, characteristic of traditional European baking."
Back to our experience: Our dinner experience began with heading to Albertson's to grab some salad making goodies. We then cruised to the Prospector Shopping Center off of Bonanza Dr., where Nick-n-Willy's is located. Since the restaurant is famous for their "take-n-bake" pizzas, we ordered a large Veggie Delight pizza and then took it home to cook. Our total for one pizza, uncooked, came to $20.41 (including tip). Definitely not the cheapest pizza in town.
The first thing I noticed is how many toppings were put on the pizza! It was loaded with fresh mozzarella, cheddar, provolone, marinated artichoke hearts, roma tomato slices, mushrooms, and green/red peppers. Underneath the many veggies was a very thin layer of freshly made tomato sauce, which I was very excited about as I hate when pizza sauce covers up the takes of everything else! I wasted no time when we got home and immediately set the oven to 425 degrees, as directed on the pizza label. After a quick 12 minutes in the oven and some speedy salad making, I could smell the yummy aroma oozing out of the kitchen and into the dining room.
My first bite was great, aside from having to run and grab some garlic powder from the pantry. (a side note: I believe that there is no such thing as too much garlic.) The crust was thin, but not crunchy, and the flavor of each veggie was apparent, even with all my garlic. The pizza sauce was very mild, but added a great mellow flavor to each and every bite. Kevin and I were both so satisfied with the pizza that we devoured most of it, but managed to leave a few slices for the next days lunch.
Nick-n-Willy's is definitely a place we'll visit again and is the perfect place to make a quick stop and grab something to take home to the family. To make your stop faster, call ahead on the phone and your order will be ready to go.
Nick-n-Willy's isn't on our restaurant guide just yet, but you can find more information about them at nicknwillys.com or by calling them at 435-658-4872.
Craving the irresistible flavors of Thailand? The spicy and peanut infused noodles that make your mouth water when hearing the words "Pad Thai"? Well check this out!
Bangkok Thai on Main is bringing back their amazing all you can eat Pad Thai special for $9.99! That's right, for ten bucks you can eat the best Thai food in town until it hurts. I double dare you to try and go for a second plate!
So grab some friends or a date, and head to Bangkok Thai on Main. Make sure you sit in the bar area and let the bartender know you want the local's special.
Java Cow Cafe and Bakery has just recently been added to our Park City Restaurant Guide. Java Cow has an amazing local's special going on right now. Considering that most of the restaurants on Main Street are closed for the Spring, make sure you put Java Cow on your to-do list for lunch this week.
Java Cow's Local Lunch Special - ONLY $6.50 !!!! Get a "half" Deli Sandwich & Cup of Soup or Chili Come with your choice of bagel chips or a roll
Visit their restaurant page here to see some pictures, check out their menu, and read more about them.
I'd like to announce our latest restaurant to be listed on our Park City Restaurant Guide, Prime Steak House and Piano Bar! Prime is currently closed for the Spring Season, however, they will be reopening on May 22nd for the Summer. They will also be offering their 2 for 1 dining special starting then. We'll keep you updated! Meanwhile, here's some info about Prime.
Prime Steak House & Piano Bar, Park City
Located right across the street from the town lift at the bottom of Historic Main Street, Prime Steak House and Piano Bar offers guests a dining venue close to everything in Park City. After a hard day of skiing or for an elegant night out on the town, Prime Steak House and Piano Bar is in the heart of it all.
Prime has been voted "Best Steak House in Utah" (2008) and claimed to be "By far, some of the best steaks in Park City" by the Zagat Survey. Try some local favorites like the mouth watering Sea Scallops appetizer or their Signature Filet w/ Crab Bernaise. Special menu items include Kobe Filets and 20 oz Prime Bone in Ribeye. Prime Steak House and Piano Bar also has a large array of wines to choose from and has one of the best selections in Park City. Most of their wines have been awarded over 90 points by Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and Robert Parker.
The Piano Bar and Lounge offers guests a less formal dining experience with the same menu that made the restaurant famous. Whether you want to catch a game or just grab a cocktail after a hard day on the slopes, the Lounge offers a variety of options. The Bar offers over 200 wines and many fine spirits to accompany any item on our menu.
The Staff at Prime Steak House and Piano Bar have been here since the beginning. Today you will find the same group of men and women serving you that you would have nine years ago when they opened. What does this mean to the guest? Outstanding service! They believe that their exceptional food is only half of the dining experience. The Staff is the other half that makes Prime Steak House and Piano Bar a wonderful dining experience.
Prime Steak House and Piano Bar offers outdoor patio dining with mountain side views in the summer, and free underground covered parking throughout the year. Reservations are highly recommended year round.
With the official closing of Park City's three famous ski areas, we have packed up our winter gear and are getting in shape for bike season. We are also in the process of building a new feature that will offer all of Park City's restaurant's coupons and dining deals. Our new Dining Deals page will have every restaurant's off-season deals, summer specials, and "two-fers" all in one place. You will no longer have to hunt down a Park Record or remember where you might have shoved your 50% off coupon to Bill White's restaurants!
Our Park City Restaurant Dining Deals page will be live starting May 15th, so stay tuned. However, while we are building the most desired feature on our site, we'll be offering a few dining deal samples till then right here on our blog.
Adolph's Restaurant is one of Park City's most successful restaurants and has been in business since 1974. Dine in their casually elegant atmosphere and enjoy exquisitely prepared cuisine such as their perfect Buffalo Burger ($15.50) or step it up a notch and taste their Tenderloin Elk ($45.50). Swiss specialty's include Roast Rack of Lamb, Veal, and Duckling a l'orange. Save room for a fabulous selection of desserts, enjoy patio dining, or sit at the bar which is open nightly.
Adolph's Restaurant is open all year and is offering this fabulous deal, valid till 7/31/09:
Price Fix Dinner Special $25.00 Includes Assorted House Salad & Choice of three nightly entrees Chef's choice dessert. Special valid for the entire table.
1. El ChubascoThis local favorite is tucked away in a strip mall in Prospector. The fresh salsa bar is one of the best I've ever tasted, and it goes great with authentic Mexican specialties like tostadas, large burritos, fish tacos, and much, much more. Expect a huge crowd during peak lunch hours, but the wait is worth it.
2. Szechwan Chinese Kitchen The secret may already be out on Szechwan, but it's a true local's hotspot. The incredible lunch specials are the best value in town, and the food is consistantly superb. Like El Chubasco, expect a large crowd during peak lunch hours. Located behind Wendy's at Kimball Junction.
3. The Famous Spring Chicken InnA short drive from Park City is one of the oldest restaurants in the county. The Spring Chicken Inn serves up genuine comfort food in a historic, cozy atmosphere. Friendly locals frequent this restaurant because of the great food and excellent prices. Fried chicken is their specialty, but they also serve great breakfast. Take a drive and dine at a true piece of Utah history.
4. Good Karma Good Karma features great Persian and Indian fusion dishes at reasonable prices. The curry platters are amazing and great for sharing. Friendly service and a funky vibe will keep you coming back.
5. The Stew PotThe Stew Pot is most famous for its large deck with views of the lake in lower Deer Valley. Locals congregate here in the off seasons for a working lunch or to relax after a Deer Valley bike ride. Located inside a lodging office in lower Deer Valley, The Stew Pot is a little hard to find if you haven't been there before. Give them a call for complete directions.
According to Park City Voyeaur, Cafe Sabor unfortunately became the first Park City restaurant closure of the year. It was announced on Saturday that the restaurant would be closing later that night. Cafe Sabor's owner, Mike, confirmed the closure this week saying, “Unfortunately the rumors are true. We had to close Saturday night. Many different issues and it was the right time to leave.”
Cafe Sabor had become a popular Mexican hangout in Jeremy Ranch, and we are saddened to see it go. Hopefully this economy doesn't claim any more restaurants.
1. No Worries Cafe & Grill Our top-pick for Park City’s best breakfast spot. This local’s secret boasts some of the best burritos, biscuits and gravy, and eggs benedict in Summit County. A definite don’t miss if you aren’t already “in the know”.
2. The Eating Establishment One of Park City’s oldest restaurants, the “double E” offers everything from healthy granola and fruit to killer Huevos Rancheros. Conveniently located on Main Street, make sure you visit this historical hot spot.
3. The Corner Store Known more for their crazy après ski and rowdy outdoor patio, The Corner Store has the best breakfast burritos in Park City. Before you hit the slopes, make sure you visit Miss Cheryl and tone-def Jeff at the base of PCMR.
4. Squatters Roadhouse Grill When Squatters Roadhouse replaced the beloved Mount Air Café, we were all afraid of losing one of the best breakfast spots in Park City. Well fear no more – Squatters breakfast menu offers all of your favorites, and is the best priced in Park City.
5. Wasatch Bagels Looking for something with a little more personality that Einstein’s? Check out Wasatch Bagels, located in the Park City Market Shopping Plaza. We highly suggest the Wasatch Huevos breakfast bagel and a cup of Park City Coffee Roaster’s finest.
Due to a mild dose of the "high pressure blues" and a lack of snow, we've been able to finish off our newest ski town. We welcome you to check out the Steamboat Springs Dining Guide!
Steamboat Springs is a cute and quaint ski town located in Northwest Colorado. The vibe in Steamboat is kinda country with a hippy twist. Steamboat has an eclectic mix of restaurants, ranging from amazing steakhouses and breakfast eateries to hip slopeside sushi joints and popular pubs.
Kevin and I had the opportunity to visit Steamboat twice in the last year. During our winter visit we skied some of the amazing trees skiing that the mountain offers, and during the summer we enjoyed ourselves while hiking and eating at all the best restaurants in town.
Here's a list of our favorite five Steamboat Restaurants and a sample picture of the goods.
1. Freshies - Hands down my favorite breakfast spot in Steamboat and is worth the wait to get in. Get the granola old fashioned oatmeal breakfast - you won't be sorry. No, seriously... get the granola breakfast!!!
2. Mahogany Ridge Brewery & Grill - A great apres ski hotspot that offers an incredible happy hour and very creative menu. It get's crowded in the winter, but again, well worth the wait.
3. Saketumi - Slopeside Sushi in Steamboat, not just a cool alliteration after all. (Someone should tell Saketumi that I've got a new catch phrase for them!) No, seriously though, Saketumi is amazing. Friendly owners, a local vibe, and yummy rolls that would give any coastal restaurant a run for their money.
4. Mambo Italiano - Mambo Italiano has a energetic atmosphere that you won’t find anywhere else in Steamboat. The owners make sure that their patrons experience "fun dining", not just "fine dining". Definitely check it out!
5. Rex's American Grill & Bar - To be honest, when we first walked in to this reinvented Denny's location, I was a little nervous about this highly recommended local's joint. After experiencing some gourmet mini grilled cheeses, basil infused tomato cream soup, and then the most tasty peel-n-shrimp I've ever had, I was sold. Run, don't walk, to Rex's American Grill & Bar.
Now that I've spent the last five minutes typing about amazing food, I've worked up one hell of an appetite. As promised, here is a picture from our ski trip last year, and don't forget to check out our new Steamboat Restaurant Guide, now up and running.
The other night Casey and I went to 350 Main with a few of our friends that just so happen to work there. They have a reputation as one of the finest restaurants in Park City, and we jumped at the chance to dine with our friends who know the menu inside and out.
We arrived around 7:30 to a completely packed house with several parties waiting for tables. This was definitely a welcome change from the empty restaurants we've been seeing all over Park City this year. We had brought a few bottles of wine with us, and we decided to open the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc while we waited for our table. A few minutes later we were seated at the best table in all of 350 Main; the round booth right up against the large windows that overlook Main Street. This table is perfect for people watching, as well as making passers-by jealous of your excellent food.
For starters our hosts suggested the Tower of Ahi and Hamachi, Four Cheese Ravioli, the Roasted Eggplant Salad, and the Oganic Baby Greens. The sushi tower of maguro and hamachi was my favorite because it was surrounded by an excellent wasabi aioli for dipping. The server even brought out chopsticks specifically for this appetizer, which was a nice touch. Also, be sure to ask your server for the multi-grain bread basket, which is fresh-baked and perfect for soaking up the sauce from the Four Cheese Ravioli.
After corking our bottles of Argetinian Malbec and Coppola Diamond Claret, we decided it was time to order some entees. Casey went with the Ono-Ono prepared two ways, and I ordered the Coffee Rubbed Pork Tenderloin. Both entrees are priced around $35 and come with their own unique accutrements. The Ono plate is divided in half with one side containing grilled Ono on a bed of Asian stif fried vegetables, and the other with seared Ono on rice noodles. Casey and I both agreed that the grilled side had the better flavors, but the dish was great overall. My pork tenderloin came with black truffle mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, sauteed mushrooms and a simply amazing tomato bearnaise sauce. Our waiter even claimed that she would eat the plate if it was covered in the tomato bearnaise...I have to agree. The pork itself was cooked medium to medium rare and was extremely tender and flavorful. The coffee rub didn't detract from the pork flavor at all, but just gave it an extra, subtle enhancement. From talking to some of the staff, it seems that the pork tenderloin is the unanimous favorite at 350 Main. Definitely give it a try next time you're there. I also have to mention the Seabass that our friend Kristen ordered because I will most likely order that next time. I just had a bite, but it was supremely tender and had a great butterly flavor.
For dessert Casey and I decided to go with the Mocho Pot. It's basically a very rich mousse served in a latte cup with fresh berries. It doesn't look like a very large dessert, but we barely finished it between the two of us. The chocalate was rich and went well with our soft but full-bodied Malbec. It was the perfect end to our evening at 350 Main.
You can view a sample of the 350 Main menu here, but the chef is always making seasonal changes. You can also reserve a table right from Ski Town Restaurants using our Make a Reservation link.
Yesterday my friends Terry and Will invited me to do a sizable tour in the Wasatch backcountry. They were planning on skiing from Alta in Little Cottonwood Canyon to a campground just off the road in neighboring Big Cottonwood Canyon. They wanted to shuttle a car up Big Cottonwood and then drive over to Alta in another car. Sounds like a great idea to me.
We met at the mouth of Big Cottonwood at 8am to get an early start on the day, before the sun had a chance to warm things up and increase the avalanche danger. The avalanche report was reporting stable conditions on all aspects and elevations, and it sounded like tons of people had gotten out in the mountains over the weekend. I wasn't expecting much in the way of skiing; just great day in the mountains under sunny skies with marginal snow...I was seriously wrong.
After dropping off my car in Big Cottonwood, we arrived at Alta about 45 minutes later and began gearing up. We had decided to skin up the edge of Grizzly Gulch to the ridge above the Silver Fork drainage. The skinning was tough on the frozen sun crust of these south-facing slopes, but the views were incredible.
Petrified ancient trees with Mt. Superior in the background
We gained the ridge in about 45 minutes and peered over the edge, expecting crusty snow that had been skied out 2 days ago. Instead we were looking at 1000 feet of blower, boot deep powder with absolutely no tracks! We took our skins off, put on goggles, and proceeded to make some of the most perfect powder turns of the year. The snow was bottomless, very light powder that had re-crystalized over the past week from the cold temperatures at night. I think all three of us shouted out loud on the way down - it was that good.
The first run of the day in Silver Fork, with our 3 tracks on the left
After a short break for some food, we skinned back up to the Silver Fork ridgeline for another lap. This time we skied a more easterly facing slope, and while the snow wasn't as light, the turns were almost as good. Once we got to the bottom, we put the skins back on and headed up towards the ridge that separates Silver Fork and Days Fork.
Once on the ridge we could see into Days Fork, which had been skied much more heavily than Silver Fork. However, we spotted a long, north facing slope on the western ridge of Days that looked amazing. The decision was made to make the long trek around the rim of Days Fork, to Reed and Benson Ridge.
The rim of Days Fork, with a great view of Mt. Superior
About an hour and a half later we made it to our destination on the other side of Days. We celebrated by eating some lunch on a helicopter landing zone for the Wasatch Powderbirds.
Terry and Will relaxing on Reed and Benson Ridge
The descent that was before us turned out to be one of the best runs of the year. I dropped in to 2500 vertical feet of untracked, boot deep powder that was incredibly light. I made about 10 turns on a small ridge above a cliff, veered right and aired off a smaller cliff above a narrow chute, and then proceed to ski another 1000 feet of perfect powder on steep, rolling slopes. It was incredible.
Looking down Days Fork, towards Park City
After this epic run, we had to ski another 4 miles or so along the canyon bottom to finally reach the car parked in Big Cottonwood. The ski out was fast, icy, and mostly all downhill so we made quick work of the 4 miles.
We arrived at the car around 3pm, and couldn't believe how good our day was. The ski resorts were crowded and filled willed icy moguls, but we skied untracked deep powder and saw maybe 3 other skiers all day. The Wasatch backcountry is no good, stay away....
Now that the Sundace crowds have left Park City, it's time to get back to what Park City does best, skiing and hosting great parties. Last night was the kickoff of the Visa Freestyle International competition that comes to Park City every year. Some of the best halfpipe, moguls, and aerial skiers from around the world compete in this 3-day event held at Deer Valley and Park City. This weekend is known for it's live music, incredible skiing, fireworks, and best of all it's a free event for all the locals.
This year they kicked things off on Thursday night by closing lower Main Street for a free concert by Michael Franti and Spearhead. I don't think Main Street has hosted a concert of this size since the Olympics in 2002, and the locals turned out in massive numbers. The night was clear and cold, with most everyone dressed in their warmest puffy jackets and hats. Franti comes to Park City once or twice a year, but I don't think he was ready for a truly cold winter night.
Despite the fact that the band couldn't feel their fingers, they put on a great show. The highlight was definitely "Obama Song" that pays tribute to our new President. Who would have thought, four years ago, that a social activist band would be sining about the President in a good way? That was a pretty cool sight. Check out the video below for a short clip of this song.
Casey and I got to catch up with tons of people we hadn't seen all winter, as well as hang out with the people we see every day, while listening to a great show. The night was capped off by fireworks over Main Street...it's good to live in Park City.
With the arrival of the Sundance Film Festival to Park City, I decided to get away from the chaos and escape to the Wasatch backcountry with my friend Ben. The weather was warm, but it had been a little while since the last snow, making for very stable backcountry avalanche conditions. Just a few weeks earlier the backcountry had been so dangerous no one was venturing out, but time and warm temps do seem to heal the snowpack very well.
Ben digging a pit to see how the snowpack is shaping up underneath
We decided to ski a line called the Hallway Couloir, which is off of Reed and Benson Ridge in Cardiff Fork in Big Cottonwood Canyon. The Hallway is a classic Wasatch chute that runs about 2000 vertical feet, is somewhat narrow in spots, and has large rock walls on both sides that keep the snow cold and pristine for making good turns. It is best accessed from Little Cottonwood Canyon at the lower Alta parking area. From there you skin up about 1600 feet to the top of Flagstaff Mountain and traverse the ridge to the north.
The skin up Flagstaff was especially grueling because of the warm temperatures. It felt like summer up there. A nasty inversion was in place in SLC, making the temps on the mountains much higher than in the valley. It was around 45-50 degrees out, but the route up Flagstaff is completely south-facing and just bakes in the afternoon sun, making it feel like 75 degrees. I would have been perfectly comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt on the way up.
The view from Cardiff Pass looking back towards Alta, just below the peak of Flagstaff
The entrance to the Hallway Couloir hasn't totally filled in yet this year, but we managed to work our way in from the left side. Once inside the couloir, the snow was colder and chalky, making for good turns all the way down.
Ben at the top of the Hallway
Looking down the couloir
The Hallway with Cardiac Ridge in the background
After we exited the couloir the snow got much more firm, with a nice inch-thick layer of ice crust on top. That made for tricky riding conditions on the way out. We then had to skin for another 45 minutes or so, to get back over Cardiff Pass so we could ski back to Alta. The snow on the Alta side of the ridge was warm, slushy, and soft, just like it is on the best spring days...except it's the middle of January. This long, soft descent back to the car was a great end to the day.
Another great day in the Wasatch backcountry away from the crowds and the smog in the valley below.
Stumble It!
