Blockbuster Bites at Nomad East
Food
Nomad East
1675 E 1300 S, Salt Lake City
(801) 883-9791
Mon-Thurs: 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.,
Fri-Sat: 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun: 5-9 p.m.
nomad-east.com
Tucked away in a mostly residential area just south of the University of Utah lies a little pizza shop on the corner of 1300 S and 1700 E called Nomad East. The second restaurant from the owners of Nomad Eatery serves creative seasonal pies and sides in a cozy intimate setting perfect for a casual date night or a night out with the family.
The aroma of fresh-baked pizza constructed from organic ingredients pleasantly spreads from the two fire-engine red pizza ovens, manned in an intimate kitchen and framed nicely by potted plants and cook books. Each table has napkins, cutlery and side sauces stored in classic tomato cans. Whether you’re dining inside or on the patio, Nomad East creates a relaxing environment, letting each guest know they will be taken care of.
Their nontraditional menu is brimming with exciting flavor combinations that go beyond just the pizza list. Immediately, the Roasted Fingerlings ($12) caught my eye on the list of starters. Crispy potatoes are glazed in a crimson gochujang sauce as green onions, sesame seeds and beautiful gobs of stracciatella are evenly dispersed on top. A sweet and spicy Asian sauce with creamy cheese on top of a bed of potatoes — it seemed like a no-brainer. A pleasant surprise was the mixing of traditional fingerling potatoes and purple potatoes, adding extra variety and complexity to an already delicious dish that was quickly picked apart. It was exactly what I needed to build my excitement to try three different pies.
While there are traditional pies permanently listed on the menu, the beauty of Nomad East is the creativity that goes with the seasons and pizzas named after movies and elements of pop culture. The three pies that won me over included Children of the Corn, The Braveheart and Popeye’s Pie, each being $20 and using dough that’s crispy on the edges and doughy in all the best places.
The Braveheart, which likely earns its moniker from the artichoke hearts playing a prominent role in its flavor profile, had a cheesy pull reminiscent of the demise of William Wallace. After a couple slices, you’ll be yelling “Freedom” and start unbuttoning your pants after a comforting pizza. It balances classic elements like mozzarella and tomato sauce with a battalion of veggies including artichoke hearts, red onion, mushrooms and roasted red peppers that give an enjoyable, vinegary contrast to the classic and familiar feel of cheese and red sauce.
The heaviest of the three (which wasn’t regrettable in the slightest) was no doubt Popeye’s Pie. It’s what you budget your calories for during the week, the reason I eat healthy the other six days so I can enjoy this treat, even though cheating on my diet is inevitable. After destroying a couple slices, the inside of my stomach felt a warm hug from the garlic cream sauce, creamed spinach and bacon while the dough wrapped me in a blanket by the fireplace. If Popeye ate this titular pie, there wouldn’t be enough cans of spinach in the world that could make him triumph over a post-meal nap.
Lastly, the star of this trilogy was Children of the Corn. Each bite felt just as fresh as it was creamy, the corn balancing the delectable creaminess of the garlic sauce and chorizo with its freshness and texture. It felt fresh, sexy and sloppy without actually being messy, holding itself together neatly. The memory of that pie still strikes a chord with me and my girlfriend, who knew the pizza alluding to Stephen King smothered in chorizo, creamy garlic sauce and fresh corn would be a must, and a must it was.
I will eagerly await the reappearance of these seasonal pies next summer, but in the meantime, I can’t wait to see what other pizzas come from the lab at Nomad East that have only been dreamed of as science fiction.
Read more reviews of Salt Lake City eateries:
Goat Head: Wouldst Thou Like To Eat Deliciously?
Cosmica: A Star-Studded Spin on Italian Cuisine
