Jewels Under The Kilt is a Canadian artisan nut company that offers flavored pecans, almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts. photo by Valerie Phillips An artisan nut company, Jewels Under the Kilt, sent me several boxes of roasted and flavored pecans, almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts to try. And they were really good — rather addictive, in fact. They have a crisp coating of real maple syrup, layered with other interesting flavors like chipotle, orange vanilla, apple pie, pear ginger, and Ceylon cinnamon. They come from a Canadian farm. The official Jewels Under the Kilt website says if you order three b ..read more

Andy’s Club has been going strong for 50 years. photo by Valerie Phillips   It’s been 50 years since Andreas “Andy” Konstantos Bolos turned a small bar on the north side of Ogden into Andy’s Club.   Today, the restaurant still serves up Greek specialties like souvlaki, gyros, spanakopita and dolmathes. It also has a long-time reputation for juicy steaks. Last year, Chelsey and Blayne Griffis bought the restaurant. They’ve kept it pretty much the same, while adding a few new menu items. Blayne and Chelsey Griffis bought Andy’s Club last year. photo by Valerie Phillips   Chelsey ..read more

The Mango Berry salad at Wedgies in Clinton. photo by Valerie Phillips Wedgies is a funny name for serious salad-lovers. This drive-thru restaurant has been open since January, at 2212 W. 1800 North, in Clinton. There’s no inside seating, but there are a few tables on the front patio if you want to enjoy your food on site. When I interviewed owners Jordan and Jennifer Olsen for a Standard-Examiner story, here are some things I learned: Owners Jordan and Jennifer Olsen with their Chicken Bacon Avocado Wedgie salad, at Wedgies in Clinton. photo by Valerie Phillips 1. The goal is to make getting ..read more

Jason Sanders, owner of Annie’s Diner in Kaysville, in happier times. He announced the restaurant’s closure as of June 1. photo by Valerie Phillips Annie’s Diner, the Kaysville landmark once known as Granny Annie’s, is closing for good on June 1, or sooner, according to its owner, Jason Sanders. “This is heart wrenching for our family,” Sanders wrote in a Facebook post. “We have loved this place and our guests — that’s why we bought it! But we’ve been losing too much money for too long; and we can’t do it any more.” Last year, the restaurant lost more than $93,000, according to an analysis don ..read more

Jordan and Jennifer Olsen will give a day of profits to their graduating senior staff this weekend at their Subway locations in Kaysville, Morgan and Ogden Walmart; and their Fiiz locations in Kaysville, West Kaysville and Clinton, and Wedgies in Clinton. photo by Valerie Phillips Local restaurant owners, Jordan & Jennifer Olsen, are honoring their graduating high school senior staffers by giving them all the profits earned this Friday or Saturday from the stores where they work.  This is the third annual “Senior Day” that the Olsens have sponsored. The community can raise those profi ..read more

Wild-caught salmon with a recent “seasonal preparation” on WildFin American Grill’s Early Dinner menu. photo by Valeie Phillips If you’re looking for a dining deal, try the Early Dinner menu at WildFin American Grill in Farmington. Some restaurants offer an “early bird special” to bring in diners during the pre-dinner rush. After discovering WildFin’s Early Dinner menu, I’ve taken advantage of it several times in the past six months, and I’ve seen a few friends and neighbors there who also know a good deal when they eat one. The Early Dinner menu isn’t posted on the WildFin website; I guess it ..read more

Ali Noori, a manager, and Mutjaba, a kitchen manager at Red Fort Cuisine of India. photo by Valerie Phillips Red Fort Cuisine of India planned to open in Ogden May 1 in the former El Matador Building at 2564 Ogden Avenue. But manager Noori Siar posted that the restaurant’s point-of-sale systems have still not arrived. But, you can go to the Layton location this weekend if you were planning on Butter Chicken. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and will postpone opening until we are fully prepared to provide the best possible service. Thank you for your patience.” El Matado ..read more

Bert’s Cafe was started in 1929 on Brigham City’s Main Street. photo supplied by Bert’s Cafe.   For 95 years, Bert’s Café has been serving up breakfast and burgers on Brigham City’s Main Street.     And for 94 years, there was always an Albert LeRoy Olsen at the helm. But now, instead of another “Bert,” it’s “Britt.” Brittnee Roskelley is now running Bert’s Cafe. in Brigham City. She’s the step-daughter of Albert “Bert” LeRoy Olsen III, who passed away in March 2023. photo by Valerie Phillips.   When Albert “Bert” LeRoy Olsen III passed away in March 2023, Bert’s step ..read more

Brian Zinsmann and Lane Montoya, former owners of Wimpy and Fritz in Ogden, which closed last year. photo by Valerie Phillips Here’s a memorial to some of the northern Utah restaurants that closed in the past year or so. I wrote about most of these restaurants when they were new, or got new owners or a new menu or some other newsy happenings. Some lasted over 60 years, some just six months. It’s not much fun to write about restaurants that closed. It usually means a disappointing end of someone’s hopes and hard work. In many cases, I don’t know the reasons for the closures, or what the chefs o ..read more

Red Fort cuisine includes (from top, clockwise) garlic naan bread, butter chicken, snacks of pakora chicken, samosas, and veggie balls, and jasmine rice. photo by Valerie Phillips Red Fort Cuisine of India will open in Ogden May 1 in the former El Matador Building at 2564 Ogden Avenue. El Matador closed in September 2022 after over 60 years in business. Last last year, owners Tony and Paula Hasratian sold the building to the Red Fort group, according to Ali Noori, a manager at the Layton Red Fort location. Noori’s father, Wahid Noori and partner Harpal Sing Toor own the Red Fort in Layton, whi ..read more