OLIVE GARDEN

Where: Olive Garden, 504 W 2230 N, Provo

Who Went: Chelsey & Owen

Number of Visits: 2

What We Ordered: Two Italian Sodas, Tortellini al Forno, Steak Gorgonzola-Alfredo, Ravioli di Portobello

What It Cost: $48

What We Thought: 

Man. What is it about Olive Garden that seriously sucks people in? I mean, there are almost 400 restaurants in Provo and Orem, and yet somehow, there is always at least an hour wait at this place! So, though I had visited an Olive Garden a couple of times in the past, we decided to give it another go with as much of an unbiased opinion as possible, trying to get the whole "Olive Garden Experience." 

So, when we got there, we were told that the expected wait would be an hour and a half. Cool! 

Luckily we had some friends who were also waiting in line, and we weren't in any hurry, so when we were finally seated, we were still in pretty good spirits. We OF COURSE started with the free soup and salad and breadsticks -- isn't that the big draw of this place? Owen got the Zuppa Toscana (translated: Tuscan Soup), which in theory had potatoes, sausage, kale, bacon and creaminess. It was alright -- pretty heavy, oil a little visible on top, but it wasn't bad.

We also got some Italian Sodas. Not memorable. Moving on.

This little starter was actually our favorite part of the meal -- it was cheese and prosciutto stuffed ravioli with a parmesan cream sauce, bacon crumbles and bread crumbs. Crumb. Anyway, the ravioli was surprisingly flavorful, soft and creamy with nice contrasting crunch. Pretty salty of course, but actually pretty good!

Then the salad and breadsticks arrived. Such a big bowl for a one-person salad :) The salad is nothing amazing, pretty pale vegetables, but I really think that its the dressing that makes the salad pretty dang good actually. Like in the kind of way you could just eat a million of these little salads. In fact, I weirdly want some right now...

Those breadsticks. Please, just Google Jimmy Fallon + Olive Garden breadsticks. You won't regret it.

Owen's pasta was actually pretty decent. The meat was a little overcooked and challenging to slice, but there was an appropriate amount of blue cheese, and all of the flavors meshed together pretty well. I thought the sharpness of the blue cheese counteracted the typical SALT taste you get at Olive Garden, and I would definitely replicate this dish at home.

My ravioli on the other hand was HEY-YO SALT CITY! (Different than Salt Lake City of course....) I was nervous about the mushrooms because I'm actually not a huge mushroom fan, but the flavor of salt and cream totally overpowered it, so no problem there. There were oddly a ton of green onions (healthy?) and the dish was satisfying but not anything to write home about.

What You Should Do: For the love of Italian food, please just skip this place. It's not really the food, its the whole concept that really drives me nuts. People say they like Olive Garden because its affordable and convenient and reliable. Well, nearly $50 for two people doesn't seem like that great of a deal for the quality of food we got, and I could NOT believe how long we had to wait. And it wasn't even a busy time of night! We were waiting to be seated for OVER AN HOUR, which seems literally insane when we could have walked to several other decent restaurant options in a quarter of that time. Olive Garden is Olive Garden. They have it everywhere, so you probably should enjoy some of the more unique and special (and family-operated!) places here in Utah County while you can instead! 

Read other reviews here:

DINNER PARTY GUIDE NO. 2

It's almost officially summer!

My birthday is actually June 21 - first day of summer, and I have to admit, it's truly my favorite season right now. Fresh fruits and vegetables, berries finally being in season - it is a good time to eat, my friends (very important comma...).

So if you're planning on having a little party this weekend, or just want to impress a certain someone...here is another dinner party guide!

Starter: Grilled Tomato Toasts

Fresh, home-grown summer tomatoes may be one of my top three favorite foods of all time.Glory in that seasonal tomato taste with these fantastic grilled tomato toasts, and you may never want to move on to the first course.

Salad: Avocado and Pineapple Salad

Keeping it fresh with a fruity and simple salad, this unique combination is sure to please. This salad is a super tasty way to start off the meal and is surprisingly refreshing.

Main: Key West Grilled Chicken

I am a lime fanatic, and going to Key West, I absolutely loved all of the Caribbean flavors! It was actually our mission on that island to try as many key lime pies as possible - a very worthy mission indeed. This Key West grilled chicken recipe is super simple, super delicious, and a nice, light summer dinner to utilize that grill now that the suns out!

Side: Sticky Rice and Grilled Red Peppers

No recipe for this one - just make sure to buy calrose (sticky rice) at the store, and cover your red peppers with some olive oil and seasoning salt (Slap Ya Mama is the best!!) and toss them on the grill while you are cooking your chicken. You want to cook them (either whole or sliced) over a medium flame until they feel softened and are slightly charred.

Dessert: Homemade Ice Cream

Take your pic - there are SO many amazing recipes out there! My all-time favorite ones come from David Lebovitz - his salted butter caramel ice cream is from the gods, and the chocolate recipe on his blog is divine and infinitely adaptable. I don't know about you, but one of my goals this summer is to use my ice cream maker more (seems reasonable), and this weekend seems like the perfect time to get started!

(Top Photo from Rocket News 24)

CITY GUIDE NO. 1 - WHERE TO TAKE YOUR DAD IN PROVO

Hey! Father's Day is next weekend! And if you forgot to get a gift (dads are THE HARDEST to shop for! They are always so selfless and don't want anything!), and don't want to be a schmuck, treat Dad out to a dinner as a thank you for teaching you knife skills and how to change the oil on the car. 

And cherish your dad. You don't know how long he'll be around for. 

Cubby's

This place is the bomb, and the giant, ultra satisfying sandwiches are even decent on the budget. Dare him to the get the extra spicy :)

Buffalo Wild Wings

Okay, this one is definitely a stereotype, but if your dad is into sports, this is my favorite Utah County place to go. There are so many screens filled with so many sports (even tennis, yay!) and it’s a lot of fun to try a bunch of different wing flavors! Skip any of the sides or appetizers - the wings are really the main attraction here. The best flavors (in my opinion) are Salt & Vinegar (sounds weird, but you gotta try it), Jammin' Jalapeño, and Asian Zing.

The Smoking Apple

If your dad's into barbecue, then you can't go wrong with The Smoking Apple. Their meats are always super juicy and flavorful, they don't run out of stuff as frequently as (ahem) other BBQ places do, and their sides are the bomb. My two favorites are the cornbread and the baked beans, but you really can't go wrong here!

El Mexsal

Pupusas = life. That's all. Oh, and everything else here they have is amazing.

Firehouse Subs

If you're taking Dad out for lunch, these sandwiches are sure to satisfy, and are definitely a treat!

Joe's Café

And of course, Joe's Café is the most excellent choice for ALL occasions -- hopefully it won't be closed, and you can treat Dad to the most incredible breakfast in his life. Trust me, this is far above those banana pancakes you were planning to bring him in bed…

Me & my dad - can you tell we're related?

PARK CAFE

Where: Park Cafe, 604 E 1300 S, Salt Lake City

Who Went: Chelsey & Devynne

Number of Visits: 1

What We Ordered: Migas Special, Michigan Hash

What It Cost: 18.95

What We Thought:


Park Cafe is one of those "buzzy spots" according to my phone (I love how my phone sounds like a grandpa sometimes...) that everyone seems to be talking about, a place to see and be seen. So, obviously, I needed to see. 

We went on a Monday morning at 10, which felt like a random day and time, but it was definitely hopping already. Luckily we were seated quickly, but I could see how this place would get packed in no time. The place is decorated in your typical hipster fare (I secretly loved the stickers on the condiments), and had a pretty decent selection of options for breakfast. I ordered the breakfast special - some Mexican migas (mmmm), and my sister got the Michigan hash.

This place would definitely be a good place to go for brunch - the dishes were hearty and portion sizes generous (seriously - four pieces of toast??) Our favorite part was the homemade jam at each table - it was totally good, and I kept wanting to sneakily steal other flavors from the other tables...

My migas were pretty good, though definitely not the best I've ever had. They were a little dry, but the really great salsa helped with that. Normally migas has corn tortilla chips cooked inside with the eggs, so I thought it was a little weird that they served it with corn tortillas, and it could have used some sour cream maybe? Overall, it was a dish I would eat again, but maybe not one I would order again.

Devynne's Michigan hash had high and low points as well - the sausage and eggs and cheese were all good. We actually liked the way their potatoes were cooked too - they seemed crumbly at first, but were quite delicious to eat that way. The only thing that had me like "really??" was the use of only green peppers - blech. We all know those are the worst bell peppers, and my sister is still on the fence about bell peppers, so I would have liked to see a mix at least with some red. And the bread just tasted like white bread, not sourdough. 

What You Should Do: It's a fun place to meet with friends, and I bet it would be super nice to sit outside on the patio in the summer. If it's a nice day and you've got lots of spare time, you could give it a try for brunch. I'm always sad at the paucity of weekend brunch places around here, so this one's decent.

Read other reviews here:

DINNER PARTY GUIDE NO. 1

One of my favorite things in the world is having people over for dinner. I admit, sometimes I like to be a bit of a show-off (acknowledging the problem is the first step, right?), but mostly I love to find great recipes and share them with others to make for a special evening.

You know that age-old advice of never try a new recipe on guests? I'm the worst at that! I almost exclusively try new things whenever we have company - I guess I like the gamble? Sometimes you totally win, and sometimes it’s a huge flop, but at least then you all have something to laugh about!

But if you don't feel like being as risky as me (probably wise), or if you just want to get some great ideas, I'm going to be pulling together some weekend dinner party guides for you all - a little menu, and maybe some tips, playlists, or decoration ideas! These recipes have all be tried by yours truly (I wouldn't send you out there to fail!) and are guaranteed to make your guests happy and your night awesome. Lots of people ask me how I got good at cooking, but I'm telling you - it's not about the skills, it's all about the internet. Anyone can learn to cook from the internet! (Or how to do anything for that matter….things Dr. Google has taught me: how to change oil on the car, how to beat box, how to fishtail braid, how to replace a broken iPhone screen…it's amazing!)

Without further ado, we'll start off with a menu that I shared with some friends just this past weekend!

Starter: Cheese Plate

You can almost never go wrong with a classic cheese plate to start off the meal and to entertain people while you sometimes run around like a crazy person. What's Gaby Cooking puts together some of the most beautiful cheese plates of all time, so I look at her pictures for inspiration, and then go to Trader Joe's to find affordable and amazing cheese. When making a cheese plate, you've always got to have at least three options (a blue, a soft cheese, and a hard salty cheese), and here are some of my favorite things to include: fontina cheese, gorgonzola (softer for those who don't like blue cheeses), cornichons, jalapeño jelly, fig preserves, dried unsulphured apricots (TJ's again), and obviously cute little cheese knives!

Salad: Watermelon Salad

The theme of our party was going to be summer (more on that later), so obviously watermelon had to be involved. This slightly savory take on watermelon from Cup of Jo was a total hit - I changed it a little by subbing pecans for walnuts, using a basil-infused olive oil, and adding balsamic vinegar as well. Get creative with what you've got!

Main: Grilled Salmon

Like I said, it was supposed to be a summer theme, which of course means GRILLING, but then an hour before the party, it started to POUR and HAIL and FLOOD OUR STREET! Yeah, so the grilling situation was out. But I had already marinated the salmon using this recipe from All Recipes, so I just used my old standby, all-time favorite way of cooking salmon from The Pioneer Woman, and it turned out amazing. Use this recipe for non-fish lovers, and you may convert them!

Side: Garlicky Spinach

Another classic from The Pioneer Woman - when I look for sides, I want something I can either prep in advance, or put together in less than five minutes. This one was of the latter, and it was good. It was a little too garlicky for some guests, so use you own judgment :)

Dessert: Brownies with Fresh Strawberries

Okay, I had to beg for this recipe, since its from my friend Jessica, who in my book, is the ultimate QUEEN of brownies. In the past, I have been strictly a "brownies-from-the-box" kind of girl, and homemade brownies sucked, but THESE CHANGED EVERYTHING. Add some fresh macerated strawberries on top or vanilla bean ice cream, and it’s a classic end to any meal.

BEST BROWNIES EVER

1/2 cup butter

1 c white sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Frosting:

3 tablespoons butter, softened

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8-inch square pan.
2. In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, salt, and baking powder. Spread batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Do not overcook.
4. To Make Frosting: Combine 3 tablespoons softened butter, 3 tablespoons cocoa, honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 cup confectioners' sugar. Stir until smooth. Frost brownies while they are still warm.

** She doubles the recipe and puts it in a 9x13 pan, and you should too. 

(Top photo from Domaine Home)

CHELSEY EATS

Who's Chelsey?

scary Hawaii beach hair, giant burger, and everything

Hey, it's me!

As I'm sure you'll notice, there's been a bit of identity change over here, and I want to welcome you all to my new site, Chelsey Eats!

Yes it looks the same. But I've got to ask you - have you ever wondered why I am still in college after five years…? Confession time: I'm in graduate school. At the University of Utah (I know!) I still live in Provo (and love to cheer for our ever-disappointing teams at BYU!!!), but my time in my program is swiftly coming to an end (HALLELUJAH!!) I have to admit, I was pretty sad to think about leaving the blogging world behind when I announced here that I am going to be moving in December. And I've always wanted to bring a bit more of me into the blog, so here we are!

Not only do I love eating out at restaurants and giving you all the insight here (like, really love it), but I also love traveling, trying new recipes, and sharing good food with people I love. So, look forward to some fresh new content (coming soon…this afternoon!)  in addition to the good ol' restaurant reviews, and I hope you like the change! 

SWIG

Where: Swig, 1523 N Canyon Rd, Provo

Who Went: Chelsey & Owen

Number of Visits: 1

What We Ordered: Strawberry Bliss Soda, Dirty Coke with Cherry, Sugar Cookie

What It Cost: ~$9

What We Thought:

In essence, we like Sodalicious better. It's not as close, but I like their predetermined flavor combinations better (don't make me make too many choices here, please), the sugar cookie seemed better there, and the seating at Swig was just awkward.

What You Should Do: Go to Sodalicious to get your drink fix instead. This place is fine, but it made me think too much, and I need to save my brain power for chemistry, not sodas.

Read other reviews here:

THE MOUSE TRAP

Where: The Mousetrap Food Truck, Various

Who Went: Chelsey & Owen

Number of Visits: Many...

What We Ordered: Nicolas Cage, Dave's Spicy Crack, the Odd Father, and more

What It Cost: $16

What We Thought:

GUYS GUYS GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since its been so long since I've posted, I kind of have forgotten how there are some true gems that I have now visited several times without informing you all! You probably are sick of these places already if you follow me on Instagram, but for those of you social media-savvy, I just HAVE to tell you about this one. 

When I eventually leave the warm embrace of Utah County, this blessed food truck is on the top 3 list of places I will miss. Do you think I could convince them to move with me? If you're reading this, please comment below (I'm planning on going to Seattle, if that helps...?)

The first time we tried this place, we were instantly hooked. In fact, we were so obsessed, that we actually kind of stalked them the next day...it was awkward.

The above sandwich is my personal favorite - Dave's Spicy Crack. First off, the name. It's just hilarious. This sandwich is loaded with pepper jack, sriracha sauce, spicy chicken, tomatoes and jalapeño chips. I was one of those kids who always put plain potato chips inside of their sandwich, to add some crunch, so this obviously was right up my alley. The bread, so good. The spicy factor, divine. The whole thing, a revelation.

The Odd Father, above, is Owen's favorite. Grilled chicken again, with sautéed onions, harvarti cheese, goat cheese, spring mix and a balsamic glaze. OH MY GOSH I LOVE THIS THING. Yeah, its a little messy, but heck, you're eating outside, so no one's going to judge. Man. I wish I was eating this right now. Crispy, crunch, gooey and amazing.

The Nicolas Cage also deserves an honorable mention. This clever concoction pairs pulled pork with sharp cheddar, green apple, spring mix, and a brown sugar glaze. For those of you who like sweet + salty + tart all in one, you HAVE to try this one. Well, actually, even if you don't like that combination particularly, you should probably try it anyway, and have your mind changed. Its so dang delicious. 

What You Should Do: Become stalkers like us. Track this truck, and enjoy. Repeat. Several times. If it's Friday when you're reading this, they are probably at the Scera Food Truck Roundup in Orem, so now you have a head start. 

EL AZTECA

Where: El Azteca, 46 E Bulldog Boulevard, Provo

Who Went: Chelsey, Owen and Aaron

Number of Visits: 2

What We Ordered: Carne Asada Burrito California Style, Salmon Tacos, Enchilada & Taquito Plate, and Chips

What It Cost: $28

What We Thought:

I remember the very first time I went to El Azteca. I was fascinated by the fluorescent painted walls and sort-of dingy-exciting-atmosphere. The burritos were bigger than could be believed, and it was a distant happy memory from freshman year.

Then they got a new location, and you know how I've got a weak spot for Mexican food, so I thought it needed another try. Unfortunately we were in a huge hurry, and of course I forgot my good camera, so you'll have to bear with me.

Though we all know how well burritos photograph anyways, right? Well sadly this time, the photo was equal to the burrito. The carne asada was dry, the "california style" was not worth the $$ (weak amount of sour cream and guacamole was sort of, old tasting. On the plus side, it was still quite as large as my memory suggested. So that was good, I suppose.

The enchiladas had a nice sauce, but the shredded iceberg and unmelted cheese kind of detracted from the overall experience. I like how they have an expansive salsa bar with many topping choices and salsa flavors so you can personalize your tacos or whatever, though none of them really sparked my interest.

We also got the salmon tacos, which were a brave choice considering...where is the nearest place that salmon live around here anyway...? Anyway, the tacos were alright - I actually found the guacamole more fresh than in the burritos, and though the onions were a little strong in the pico, the tacos were overall pretty good. The tortillas were my favorite part!

What You Should Do: I hate to be one of "those people," but I really feel like the old location was better. Cliché, I know. The flavors weren't as good as I remembered, though if I was required to go again, I'd probably stick with the tacos. But, there are lots of other Mexican restaurants around, so try to convince the others to head to 180 Tacos or something instead...

Read other reviews here:

ALAMEXO

Where: Alamexo, 268 S State Street, Salt Lake City

Who Went: Owen and Chelsey

Number of Visits: 1

What We Ordered: Guacamole en Molcajete, Carne Asada Tacos, Enchiladas Barbacoa de Res

What It Cost: $63.76

What We Thought: 

Expensive, quite tasty, artisan Mexican food.

Mexican food in Utah certainly is of no shortage (thank goodness).

I have to make a confession to you - there are no other guacamoles in my life anymore. I've given them all up in complete devotion to this perfect, amazing, wonderful guacamole. The servers surely hate it, since they are required to mix up all the perfectly chopped ingredients in the molcajete right by your tableside, but it is so fresh and creamy and ripe and amazing that I will have to have to inconvenience them longer. It has inspired me to make molcajetes my new gift for newlyweds, because if it is the secret to Perfect Guacamole, everyone needs access. STAT.

Alamexo focuses on fresh, flavorful, and inventive Mexican flavors, and each dish shines in a unique way. The food is very filling and satisfying - definitely work up an appetite before going here!

Even the side dishes are divine - flavored rice with pepitas and slow roasted black beans with cotija. The beans were so delicious, I wish I could eat them every day!

I ordered the tacos de carne asada, so I'm sure you could imagine my surprise when this "DIY" plate appeared in front of me :) In the mini skillet, there was melted Oaxaca and adobe marinated bistek topped with pico de gallo, which I was to pile onto fresh tortillas. Though the flavors were quite delicious, THERE WAS SO MUCH CHEESE. The cheese was really rich, and I have to admit, it was a big intense and a little indigestion-prone...

And then, churros con chocolate. WOWZA. It has redefined churros for me, they were so amazing. This almost led to challenges in our marriage, since I tried to sneak it from my husband's plate...

What You Should Do: I would totally go again, just for the guacamole. It was definitely filling enough for a meal! I just wonder two things -- 1) Would they be totally pissed? and 2) Will I still get the churros? It is a little expensive, but for a special Mexican treat, you can't beat this place!

Read other reviews here: