Tips to improve the dining experience

   

 It has been said that the enemy of great is good. This applies very well to the dining experience in any restaurant. In this post, I wanted to give you, the reader, some ideas on how to improve the eating out experience. 

1. Make a reservation

- Making a reservation ensures obviously that you get a table. But also I have found that it makes your dining experience feel exclusive. It also helps the servers to prepare for you, this ensures that you have better service. Often restaurants will ensure that only their more experienced servers take on the reservations.
2. Talk to your server

- Do your best to get to know your servers. By getting to know them you will not only make a new friend, but also help facilitate the service you will receive. Having been a server I have been guilty of favoring my nicer clients with favors and faster service.  On top of that your server will have access to tons of information to allow you to make the best decision for your meal.

3. Step outside of your comfort zone

- Nothing makes a meal more enjoyable in my opinion than a surprise. Whenever you go out to eat, make sure to choose something that you have not tried. Now I'm not suggesting that you eat things that you do not enjoy, simply try to get free of the same old when it comes to your order. 

4. Make time for your meal

- Take your time with your meal and really enjoy every bite. Take in the sight, and the sounds, but make sure that you do not over eat. Enjoy the company you have, meals are filled with many subtle pleasures that transcend the food. Imagine if every time you went out to eat you had just the best experience. Also eating more slowly and enjoying food helps your metabolism and digestion. 

5. Save room for dessert

Try your best to get a dessert that you can enjoy at the end of your meal. Most desserts in restaurants are hand made, and therefor unique to the establishment. Eating a dessert can really finish the meal, also your body will feel more satisfied and full due to the sugar found in the desserts. 

Eating out is an experience rarely treasured by a majority of restaurant goers. I hope these tips can not only help you enjoy your next night out, but also every meal in between.

Chefs Table - Le Piece De Resistance

I have been waiting ever since I began this blog to go to, in my opinion, the best restaurant in Utah Valley. The Chefs Table. Located on what us locals call the landing strip, the south end of state street where Orem becomes Provo. This elegant restaurant, if not for its sign out front, could be mistaken for a very wealthy home. When you arrive at the Chefs Table, it is very apparent, even from the cars in the parking lot, that you are at an upscale eatery.
Upon entering we were impressed by the ambiance. The decorum was elegant, and the layout of restaurant was nothing short of classy. Once we were seated our waiter promptly took care of any questions. The service at The Chefs Table is nothing short of amazing, the atitude and timing of each server was very well sharpened. All of the food was brought to us right on time.
I ordered the filet mignon steak cooked perfectly (medium) along with a potato lemon oil bisque soup (the soup of the day,) and to start a butternut squash risotto. I should have brought some luggage, because I was taken on a trip. A wonderful journey of flavor and self discovery. The food was exquisite, absolutely amazing. Each bite seemed to improve on the last. The risotto was so smooth and cooked to perfection. The portion only prepared me perfectly for the bisque. The bisque transported me to a magical place, it was utterly astounding how powerful the flavor, and yet at the same time the subtlety of the lemon oil blew me away. It was over much too soon, and then came most likely the greatest thing my taste buds have yet experienced. The filet mignon was elegant, and perfectly cooked through. It was so tender, I would equate it to finally falling in love with a life long friend. The feeling was just great, and the flavor could not be matched. The steak had been smothered in a sweet chutney sauce that took the whole meal to another level.


I was utterly blown away by the whole experience, after the meal was done they cleared the plates and gave us a moment to rest and just talk.



I would highly recommend The Chefs Table to anyone looking for just the best of Utah Valley. I would give it a 10/10 and even more if my scale allowed. It was hands down the best meal this blogger has experienced and I look forward to returning soon, hungry for more.

Baaah Baaah Black Sheep...Cafe

Situated almost on the corner of center street and University Ave, you will find the Black Sheep Cafe. You might have heard other raving reviews of this new little place. The fact of the matter is, when you first walk in you don't know whether to say "cool!" or to say "this is weird." The immediate confusion that one experiences upon entering the restaurant is due to its very alternative decorum, and native american art work. It almost feels as though the restaurant is trying to combined the native american culture with the more popular modern feel.

The Food, was in a word, unique. Every dish at the restaurant is made to order (it took a little while), and is grown locally. Never had I experienced the styling or the flavors presented at the Black Sheep Cafe. I ordered the Blue burger, with a side of true sweet potato french fries. The burger, was exquisite, it came topped with blue cheese, mixed greens, and bacon. All smothered in a beautiful almost smoky burboun sauce. The burger was wrapped in pitta bread, that held together everything surprisingly well. The sweet potato fries were very authentic, in the sense that they were white sweet potatoes and not yams. To top it all off, we enjoyed a pare and cactus lemonade, it was like drinking jelly bellies, it was amazing. Every aspect of the experience felt fresh and authentic, which to this critic is one of the most important aspects of any up and coming restaurant.




Everything from the decorum (that ended up growing on me) to the food, to the service. I would give the black sheep cafe a 9.4/10 and would highly recommend it.