One of Utah’s most anticipated and well-known food festivals kicked off 2019 with a huge splash. Salt Lake Magazine’s annual Tastemakers event is a two-day food, wine and beer festival catered by Utah’s most talked-about bars, restaurants and distilleries. Tastemakers gives patrons the opportunity to sample flavors from a variety of restaurants around town and is a great introduction to new experiences they might not have otherwise tried.
This food-lovers paradise had a little something for everyone. Whether you were looking to try some new thai food, a craft cocktail or just wanted get out and about for a quick stroll around the downtown area, this event had it all. Nestled in the heart of The Gateway, foodies from all around the valley joined together to eat, drink, dance and play as they filled their bellies with delicious food. What more could one ask for on a summer night than to spend two days wining and dining with a bunch of friends? As this event continues to grow, so does our appetite for next year’s installment.
San Diablo churros were the perfect introduction to Tastemakers patrons.
(L–R) Kyla Peterson and Emily King from Homie came out to talk to shop with local homebuyers.
Tsunami Sushi served up a heaping spoonful of delicious ceviche.
Beehive Cheese gave us all a little charcuterie board to pair with our wine throughout the night.
Tucanos Brazilian Grill kept us refreshed with their lemonade to-go.
Campos Coffee sampled some Ethiopia cold brew and maple spritz to pair with a shrimp salad, complete with peach corn and avocado.
The staff at Tsunami were excited to come out and discuss their newest location opening, up in the 9th and 9th neighborhood.
Texas de Brazil dishes up their famous steak with chimichurri and horseradish potatoes.
Creminelli meats are always a nice touch to any food event.
Twigs Bistro gave out one of the best plates of the night with their savory Moroccan beef bites.
(L–R) Jade Earle, Kaylene Affleck, Chef Scotty and Caitlin Nolen make up the food crew of Twigs Bistro.
Fav Bistro had one of the longest lines of the night while people waited to get their hands on this delicious vegetarian dish of popcorn tofu, curry puffs and rice with curry sauce.
Rye served up some mini rice bowls with kimchi, green onion, soy sauce and crispy pork belly.
Corelife Eatery gave Tastemaker patrons a healthy serving of chicken, pineapple, quinoa and blueberry sauce.
Eva Small Plates didn’t pull any punches with their take on a bahn mi and a raspberry éclair.
(L–R) Eva Small Plates and Bakery owners Ashley and Charlie Perry are responsible for one of my favorite restaurants of all time.
Tucanos had us salivating over their bacon-wrapped chicken and grilled pineapple.
The spaghetti verde with basil pesto and seaweed salad (finished with tuna) was a Tastemakers crowd favorite from Stoneground Kitchen.
(L–R) Allison Davis, Ian Hendry, Samuel Green and Chef Justin make up the culinary crew behind Stoneground Kitchen.
Park City Culinary Institute was sure to brighten up our plates with their colorful and savory crepes.
Squatters created some special brew stickers so you can enjoy your beer anywhere, anytime.
Utah’s newest distillery, Holystone Distilling, is making waves in and around the Salt Lake valley.
Martine kept us well satiated with their crab salad with a creamy cauliflower puree.
Templin Family Brewing put out some great brews that were sure to get the Tastemakers crowd’s attention.
Dented Brick Distillery welcomed us into the VIP lounge with open arms and tasty cocktails.
A delicious and beautifully designed watermelon cocktail is only complete with a splash of Holystone Vodka.
Waterpocket, my favorite herbal liquor in all the land, brought out every flavor they had to offer.
RubySnap gave the gift of cookies to all VIP attendees.
Sugarhouse Distillery talks vodka and whiskey with locals and visitors alike.
Alpine Summit Gin was a highlight of the night with their subtle juniper flavors.
Celebrity Cruises gave us a taste of the sea life by sampling some of their house-made wines.
DJ Joune kept Tastemakers attendees entertained throughout the night as we wined, dined and danced.
Even on an overcast day, The Gateway still proved to be an excellent host for Tastemakers.
Patrons made their way to each booth as quickly as possible to sample anything and everything that came their way.
Wayne Sellers came out to Tastemakers for the first time to enjoy the flavors the featival had to offer.
(L–R) Katy Rackham and Racheal Kho talk about their favorite dishes of the day.
(L–R) Chris, Hendrix and Tiffany Hemsley take a seat and let their bellies rest before moving on to the next meal.
(L–R) Andrea Ashdown, Jesse Massey and Will Hagen dig into their samples from Fav Bistro.
(L–R) Annie, Jackson and Dean Kazi make their way through the maze of food to find their favorite plate of the night.
(L–R) King Ihenkoro and Irene Kanga had nothing but great things to say about this year’s Tastemakers.
(L–R) Javin Hull, Alli Milne, Jarom West (designer for Salt Lake Magazine) and Madaline Slack take a break from the festivities to enjoy the relaxing lounge seats on the lawn.
(L–R) Lena Jones, Leah Richardson, Corey Jones, Lakisa Ellis and Angelica Briggschill rest out on the steps before heading back into Tastemakers for a second round of snacks.
Overlooking the festival grounds, we can see the crowds as they make their way out to the shuttle for the stops around town.
Over at Dave & Busters, Tastemakers patrons are welcomed with meatballs and potstickers.
