Utah

5 Utah food spots we checked out this year

Published

1 month ago

December 28, 2025

5 Utah food spots we checked out this year

Utah has a unique and bustling food scene. This year, there were multiple new openings. We checked out some of the new restaurants and also visited some tried and true favorites.

Here’s a list of the places we checked out this year.

Chef Adalberto Diaz Labrada restocks pies in the front counter of his bakery, Fillings & Emulsions, in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

1. Fillings & Emulsions

Chef Adalberto Diaz Labrada baked his first cake at age 9 using a pressure cooker. And he’s been baking ever since.

His passion for baking sweet treats led him to open up Fillings & Emulsions in Salt Lake City — an “eclectic Latin bakery with a French flair.”

One of his favorite things is to share something he made “with somebody and see the reaction. Right? Like, giving somebody something to try and then say, like, ‘this is so good, right?’” he said. “It’s a great feeling.”

Last year, he was nominated as a semifinalist for a James Beard Award for outstanding pastry chef or baker.

What I ordered:

I’ve tried a few different things from Fillings & Emulsions. The macarons are amazing.

I love the layered desserts like the almond croissant or the pain au chocolat croissant. The guava cream cheese brioche is also tasty. The savory hand pies are also quite a treat.

I highly recommend even just the simple sourdough. It’s crackly on the outside and soft and pillowy inside.

Storefront information:

Website: fillingsandemulsions.com
Address: 1395 South 300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84115
Hours: M-Sa 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Closed Sundays.

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Ali Sabbah, Mazza owner and chef, works at Mazza in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

2. Mazza

The two-time finalist for the prestigious James Beard Award celebrated 25 years of business this year.

“You feel that you’re fulfilling a certain role within our community, and that’s a very satisfying feeling,” Sabbah told me about how it feels to be a staple in the Utah community for more than two decades.

What I ordered:

I tried the Mushroom & Cauliflower Kabseh while my friend ordered the Maghmoor & Rice. Both dishes were delicious and offered up their own unique flavor profiles.

We also shared the Baba Ganooj & Pita. The pita bread comes out all warm, and then I dipped it in the fresh roasted eggplant blend — it’s a real treat.

If you haven’t tried out Mazza yet, I highly recommend it. You can sense the passion for the food and you can taste the quality in ingredients when you check it out for yourself.

Storefront information:

Website: mazzacafe.com
Location: 1515 S. 1500 E., Salt Lake City, UT 84105
Hours: M-Sa 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Closed Sundays.

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George Fernandes, food runner and soon-to-be bartender, runs samosas to a table at Central by Saffron Valley in Salt Lake City on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

3. Central by Saffron Valley

Central by Saffron Valley is one of the hottest new restaurants in Salt Lake City, serving up Indian fare inspired by the railways of India and showcasing a train theme in its stunning downtown location.

The train theme runs deep throughout the restaurant, with some dishes served from tins often used on the Indian train system. There are platforms marking each table, and there’s even a giant train in the middle of the restaurant.

“I think every Indian has a beloved story or two about their train experience growing up,” owner Lavanya Mahate said. “It’s literally a journey and it’s built on connection, community, gathering, and good food. And who doesn’t love a good electric train, right?”

What I ordered:

When I sat down to talk with Mahate, we shared lunch together at Central.

Here’s what we ordered:

Cauliflower Manchurian: The cauliflower comes out all crispy and covered in delicious Indo-Chinese garlic chili sauce.
Railway Veg Cutlets: These are a tasty treat I enjoyed more than I would have expected. It’s golden beet and veggie patties served with tangy, tasty chutney sauces.
Paneer Butter Masala: You can’t go wrong with a classic. Paneer is like an Indian cottage cheese and the butter masala packs a punch of curry flavors.
Tandoori Lamb Chops: Mahate’s vegetarian, so I got these all to myself. The lamb is tender and juicy and smoky.
Saffron Fruit & Nut Biryani: This was my personal favorite and the star of the show. The nutty textures and saffron flavors make this dish shine.
Chai creme brulee: It was everything you hope when you see the name. The spices were perfectly blended and the top was nice and crispy like a creme brulee should be.

Storefront information:

Website: centralbysaffronvalley.com
Location: 454 E 300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Hours: T-Su 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 5-10 p.m. Closed Mondays.

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A customer eats a slice of deep dish pizza at Rosati’s Pizza in Orem on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

4. Rosati’s

Rosati’s Chicago-style, deep-dish pizza has finally arrived in Utah.

The Chicago establishment, known for its delicious thin crust as well as its Chicago deep-dish, recently opened a location in Orem, Utah.

“We’re getting people from all over the state coming in,” one of the owners, Katie Jacobson said. “It’s amazing how many people have Chicago connections.”

What I ordered:

When I went into the Orem pizza spot, I ordered one of the owner’s (Mike Sonnenberg’s) favorites — thin crust with pepperoni, olives and sausage.

It was delicious, arguably one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had in my life.

I went back to try to the deep-dish as well, which is just as cheesy and packed with flavor, as you would imagine. It’s almost akin to a lasagna. Because of all the layers, it takes a while to make the deep-dish, so if you order that, just be prepared to be patient.

The thin crust is the real star though.

“Their deep-dish is amazing, but Rosati’s is actually known for its thin crust,” one of the owners, Heidi Sonnenberg said. “It is what people keep coming back for. People come in wanting to try the deep dish and they’ll keep coming back for the thin crust.”

Storefront information:

Website: myrosatis.com
Address: 775 E. University Pkwy, Orem, Utah 84097
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Closed Sundays

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Customers build their own cones at the register at the opening of a new Crispy Cones location in Draper on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

5. Crispy Cones

Crispy Cones started in a tent in Rexburg, Idaho, and in a few short years, it now has more than 20 locations across the U.S.

The European-style shop serves up a new ice cream experience with cones handcrafted from freshly-made dough, grilled rotisserie-style and then coated in sugar and cinnamon. The pastry cone is then slathered in cookie butter, Nutella or whatever spread you like.

Premium soft serve ice cream made with 10% butter fat is poured into the gourmet cones, and then the dessert is then loaded up with fresh fruit, chocolate treats or whatever toppings the heart desires.

“I’m trying to bring that European vibe here, and people love it,” franchise owner Andrei Popa said.

What I ordered:

I ordered the Cookies a la Mode, which comes with the following:

A rotisserie-style grilled cone coated in cinnamon sugar
Cookie butter
Vanilla ice cream
Cookie dough bites
Oreo chunks

The cone was warm and crispy on the outside with soft, pillowy dough on the inside. The ice cream was creamy and smooth, while the dough bites and cookie bits added a little special crunch. I truly enjoyed the decadent dessert and will be going back to try more.

Website: crispycones.com
Address: 129 E 13800 S. Suite A3, Draper, UT 84020
Hours: Monday-Thursday, noon-11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, noon-midnight; Sunday, 2-10 p.m.

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Utah

Inmates create first‑of‑its‑kind documentary inside Utah State prison – KSLTV.com

Published

12 hours ago

January 28, 2026

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Inmates create first‑of‑its‑kind documentary inside Utah State prison – KSLTV.com

SALT LAKE CITY — A groundbreaking documentary — conceived, filmed, and produced entirely by inmates at the Utah State Prison—is giving the public an unprecedented look at life behind bars.

The film, Breaking Chains, follows six incarcerated men and women as they confront their pasts, reflect on their choices, and work toward rebuilding their lives.

The Utah Department of Corrections collaborated with the One Kind Act a Day initiative to secure funding and equipment for the inmates. The result is a raw, emotional film that highlights a little‑known educational program operating inside the prison.

The documentary opens with a stark confession from participant Casey Vanderhoef.

“When I was incarcerated in 2021, I had no more answers,” Vanderhoef says in the film. “I knew I was broken in a way I couldn’t fix.”

Vanderhoef, now living in a halfway house as he completes his sentence, says revisiting his past on camera wasn’t easy.

“There are certainly regretful decisions—and sometimes embarrassing ones—that are definitely part of my story,” he explains.

The project was coordinated from outside the prison by filmmaker and educator Bo Landin, who says the decision to have inmates interview one another created a level of honesty he didn’t expect.

“It’s authentic. It’s raw. It’s emotional,” Landin says. He admits he became emotional himself while transcribing the conversations. “I think it’s important because it is their voice. They are telling us a story.”

The program began with roughly 18 to 20 students learning the fundamentals of filmmaking, storytelling, and production.

The One Kind Act a Day initiative—created by philanthropist Khosrow Semnani—donated the professional equipment used to make the documentary. The Semnani Family Foundation will now support an ongoing media program integrated into the prison’s career‑training and productive‑time initiatives. Semnani hopes the effort encourages compassion in a place where it can be hard to find.

“Human nature is born with kindness,” Semnani says. “But in prison, it’s not there.”

For Vanderhoef, the experience has been transformative.

“As I look back at the mistakes that were made, I have some regret and embarrassment,” he says. “But I have a lot more gratitude.”

Semnani says he recently spoke with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi about expanding the program nationally, potentially bringing similar opportunities to prisons across the country.

Breaking Chains debuted at the Utah International Film Festival and won the Audience Choice Award. Landin now hopes to promote it at film festivals worldwide in hopes of getting it in theaters for the public to see.

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Utah

Nina Dobrev Wears a Bathrobe While in Utah for Sundance Film Festival

Published

24 hours ago

January 28, 2026

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Nina Dobrev Wears a Bathrobe While in Utah for Sundance Film Festival

Nina Dobrev‘s bathrobe photo has fans checking in from Park City, Utah, during Sundance weekend. She posted it 18 hours ago, tagged Park City, and wrote, “Final Sundance in Park City, Utah? bittersweet doesn’t begin to describe it…” Nina’s carousel from the Sundance Film Festival reads like downtime between screenings. The post shows about 480.8K likes and 888 comments.

Nina Dobrev shares a bathrobe photo from Utah during Sundance Film Festival

Have a look at Nina Dobrev in a bathrobe:

Photo Credit: Nina Dobrev Instagram

The “Vampire Diaries” alum wears a plush white hotel robe, loosely cinched at the waist. It falls open at the neckline. Her hair looks half-done, pinned up at the crown, with loose lengths down.

The warm bathroom lighting highlights marble counters and polished wood doors. The photos also landed after she discussed recovering from a dirt bike injury. Fans replied fast, with one writing, “Such a cutie,” another said, “Gorgeous,” and a third added, “THE DIVA”.

Originally reported by Santanu Das on Reality Tea

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State officials killed three wolves in northern Utah. Here’s why.

Published

1 day ago

January 27, 2026

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State officials killed three wolves in northern Utah. Here’s why.

The killings took place in a region exempt from federal gray wolf protections.

(Dawn Villella |AP) A gray wolf is pictured in 2004 in Minnesota. Utah officials recently killed three wolves after they were seen near livestock in Cache County.

In a rural stretch of southwestern Cache County, state officials killed three wolves earlier this month after the animals were spotted near livestock, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources confirmed Tuesday.

The wolves were shot Jan. 9 by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, said DWR spokesperson Faith Jolley, a move allowed because the animals were found in a small corner of northeastern Utah exempt from federal gray wolf protections.

The region, which lies mostly east of Interstate 15 and extends roughly as far south as Ogden, is considered part of the greater Yellowstone region, where the predator is in recovery. It is the only part of Utah where the state is allowed to manage wolves.

(Christopher Cherrington | The Salt Lake Tribune)

Across the rest of the state, the animal is considered an endangered species. It’s illegal to hunt, harass, trap, shoot or harm them without permission from the federal government.

Jolley said state law directs DWR to prevent wolves from breeding in the delisted area. While the animals were not considered a pack, she said they were believed to be traveling together.

“Lethal removals ensure they don’t establish breeding populations in Utah,” Jolley wrote in a text message.

Caroline Hargraves, a spokesperson for the state agriculture department, said the wolves were found near Avon, a small census-designated community in Cache County of about 500 residents, surrounded mostly by farmland.

Utah leaders have long been hostile to wolves for preying on livestock and thwarting hunters. The state has doled out millions in taxpayer dollars in an effort to get gray wolves removed from the federal endangered species list.

Most confirmed wolf sightings in Utah have involved lone wolves, Jolley said, though small groups have been documented on a few occasions since the first confirmed sighting in 2002.

During the past year, she said, a handful of lone wolves have migrated into Utah from Wyoming and Colorado.

Wolves from Wyoming and Idaho have made their way into Utah at least 21 times since 2004, according to DWR. In September, the agency said it was aware of at least one lone male wolf present in the state.

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