The Mother of All Brunch Roundups

Even if your mom hates you, she’ll love these brunch options.

BY ALEX SPRINGER comments@cityweekly.net @captainspringer

Regardless of who your mom is, you should take her to brunch this weekend. The problem—and it’s a good problem to have—is that there are so many different brunch options in town, you have to pause and think about what vibe best matches your mom.

Is she the type of diner who doesn’t like surprises and only likes what she knows?

Or is she the type of mom who documents every family outing and gathering for her Instagram followers?

Regardless of which archetype best describes your mom, I’ve got things covered. Though I am not traditionally considered a “brunch guy,” my affection for breakfast has given me an inside track on the different bruncheries around town. I also taught high-school English for seven years, which has given me a decent understanding of Utah mom archetypes. Honestly, when it comes to Mother’s Day brunch recommendations, you could do a lot worse than yours truly. Here are some places both you and your mom will dig this weekend.

For the Traditionalist: Sometimes there’s a mom who talks a big game about living life to its fullest and trying new things, but clams the hell up when you suggest cuisine that she’s not familiar with. While you may be tempted to bring this type of mom to Village Inn out of spite, consider the Sunday brunch buffet at Laurel Brasserie and Bar (555 S. Main Street, 801-258-6708, laurelslc.com). Here you’ll find classics like Belgian waffles, omelets, lemon ricotta pancakes and more than a few types of eggs Benedict. Though the brunch menu is traditional, the team at Laurel takes great care to elevate each menu item to a high standard.

I also think that a traditionalist mom would enjoy Laurel’s restaurant space. Whether you’re sitting inside and basking in all that spring-colored tile or outside on their spacious patio, Laurel is a gorgeous place to spend a few hours.

For the Mom Who Says She Doesn’t Like Brunch but Secretly Likes Brunch: As one who took a bit of time to get over a brunch-shaped chip on his shoulder, I know that there is some serious antibrunch sentiment out there. And that’s okay; the brunch concept and its adherents can be extremely irritating to moms who are a bit more down-to-earth. If you have such a mom in your life and you still want to celebrate with a morning meal, give Sweet Lake Biscuits and Limeade (multiple locations, (sweetlakefresh.com).

I suggest Sweet Lake because long ago, it was the place that first helped me understand that brunch is a spectrum, and it truly belongs to everyone. Its unassuming space, bodacious biscuit breakfast sandwiches—just get the Hoss and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Sweet Lake is also a nice spot for moms who don’t imbibe but still like the concept of getting a special drink with their meal. All of Sweet Lake’s limeades are tasty, vibrant and can really make a non-brunch situation feel more like a brunch one. Which it’s not. Or is it?

For the Momstagrammer: Utah is big on moms momming it up on social media, so where can you go that will make a bomb-ass Instagram Story? Sunday’s Best (10672 S. State Street, 801-441-3331, brunchmehard.com), that’s where. With its cheeky slogans like “champagne in the membrane” posted on the walls coupled with a Palm Springs design aesthetic, this Sandy restaurant is a primo backdrop for any #brunchbunch. Their menu of Southern-inspired classics—like beignets and fried chicken & waffles—is sure to please any palate, and their cocktail menu is full of colorful options. This is one you’re going to want to book in advance, as momstagramming is a full-time job, and a tasty local restaurant that gushes with upscale kitschy style is always popular among those ladies who play as hard as they work.

For the Mom Who Is Perpetually Disappointed in You: This is a tough one, and it ain’t gonna be cheap, but hear me out. If you’re dealing with this type of mom, you’ll want to go to Franck’s (6263 Holladay Boulevard East, 801-274-6264, francksfood.com). Since this type of mom will likely find a way to turn this kind gesture into a trip down generational trauma lane, you may as well get one of the best damn meals of your life out of it. They’re serving up a five-course fixed price brunch that includes burrata cheese with sundried lime marmalade, sorghum butter roasted sashimi, a blistered green tomato emulsion with a croque monsieur crouton, some sweet tea-braised wagyu beef cheek and a strawberries and cream cake.

If you play your cards right on this one, not only will you be able to enjoy a meal from one of our finest restaurants, but maybe—just maybe—you’ll be able to get your mom to pay the bill. I mean, she’ll still think you’re a failure, but hey! Free brunch. CW a Knife - Australian Cold IPA

Desert Edge Brewery

273 Trolley Square, SLC DesertEdgeBrewery.com

On Tap: Tropical Fruit Storm Pale Ale

Epic Brewing Co. 825 S. State, SLC

EpicBrewing.com

On Tap: Peach Cream Ale

Fisher Brewing Co.

320 W. 800 South, SLC

FisherBeer.com

On Tap: Up to 17 Fresh Beers!

Grid City Beer Works 333 W. 2100 South, SLC GridCityBeerWorks.com

On Tap: Extra Pale Ale

Helper Beer 159 N Main Street Helper, UT 84526 helperbeer.com/

Hopkins Brewing Co. 1048 E. 2100 South, SLC HopkinsBrewingCompany.com

On Tap: Apricot Wheat

Kiitos Brewing 608 W. 700 South, SLC KiitosBrewing.com

Level Crossing Brewing Co. 2496 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake

LevelCrossingBrewing.com

On Tap: Philly Sour Fruit Bat Bingo ($1,000 jackpot): Wednesdays at 7pm

Moab Brewing

686 S. Main, Moab

TheMoabBrewery.com

On Tap: Bourbon & Blonde (Bulleit Bourbon Barrel-aged Blonde Stout)

Mountain West Cider 425 N. 400 West, SLC MountainWestCider.com

On Tap: Pomme Paloma

Offset Bier Co 1755 Bonanza Dr Unit C, Park City offsetbier.com/

On Tap: DOPO IPA

Ogden Beer Company 358 Park Blvd, Ogden OgdenRiverBrewing.com

On Tap: Injector Hazy IPA

Policy Kings Brewery 223 N. 100 West, Cedar City PolicyKingsBrewery.com

Prodigy Brewing 25 W Center St. Logan Prodigy-brewing.com

On Tap: It’s Complicated Sour

Proper Brewing 857 S. Main, SLC ProperBrewingCo.com

On Tap: Cloud Chaser - Kölsch with Strawberry and Watermelon

Proper Brewing Moab 1393 US-191 Moab, Utah 84532

On Tap: Angus McCloud- Scottish Ale

Red Rock Brewing 254 So. 200 West RedRockBrewing.com

On Tap: Gypsy Scratch

Red Rock Fashion Place 6227 So. State Redrockbrewing.com

On Tap: Munich Dunkel

Red Rock Kimball Junction Redrockbrewing.com

1640 Redstone Center

On Tap: Bamberg Rauch Bier

RoHa Brewing Project 30 Kensington Ave, SLC RoHaBrewing.com

On Tap: Flash Flood Belgian Pale Ale

Brewers Select: Strength in Numbers Wheat Wine

Roosters Brewing

Multiple Locations

RoostersBrewingCo.com

On Tap: Identity Crisis Session West Coast Hazy Cold IPA – the name says it all!

SaltFire Brewing 2199 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake SaltFireBrewing.com

On Tap: Deep Dive Series - Steam Beer

Salt Flats Brewing 2020 Industrial Circle, SLC SaltFlatsBeer.com

On Tap: Save the Lake Pilsner - 5% of sales donated to local non-profits to support preserving our Great Salt Lake

Scion Cider Bar 916 Jefferson St W, SLC Scionciderbar.com

On Tap: Colorado Spruced Glider 6% ABV

Shades Brewing 154 W. Utopia Ave, South Salt Lake ShadesBrewing.beer

On Tap: Mango IPA

Live Music: Thursdays

Shades On State 366 S. State Street SLC Shadesonstate.com

On Tap: Mexican Lager

Karaoke: Wednesdays

Silver Reef

4391 S. Enterprise Drive, St. George StGeorgeBev.com

Squatters Pub Brewery / Salt Lake Brewing Co. 147 W. Broadway, SLC saltlakebrewingco.com/ squatters

On Tap: Dark Haze Honey Porter (Nitro)

Squatters and Wasatch Brewery

1763 So 300 West SLC UT 84115 Utahbeers.com

On Tap: Pink Boots Collab Hazy DIPA, 9% ABV

Strap Tank Brewery

Multiple Locations

StrapTankBrewery.com

Springville On Tap: PB Rider, Peanut Butter Stout Lehi On Tap: 2-Stroke, Vanilla Mocha Porter

Stratford Proper 1588 Stratford Ave., SLC stratfordproper.com

On Tap: Yacht Rock Juice Box - Juicy IPA

TF Brewing 936 S. 300 West, SLC TFBrewing.com

On Tap: Edel Pils

Talisman Brewing Co. 1258 Gibson Ave, Ogden TalismanBrewingCo.com

On Tap: King Slayer- Pilsner

Uinta Brewing 1722 S. Fremont Drive, SLC UintaBrewing.com

On Tap: Was Angeles Craft Beer

UTOG 2331 Grant Ave, Ogden UTOGBrewing.com

On Tap: Love Punch for us –Tropical Hefeweizen-5% ABV. Pride beer! A portion of proceeds are donated to Project Rainbow

Vernal Brewing 55 S. 500 East, Vernal VernalBrewing.com

Wasatch 2110 S. Highland Drive, SLC saltlakebrewingco.com/wasatch

On Tap: Wasatch Salt Lime Cerveza (SLC)

Zion Brewery 95 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale ZionBrewery.com

Zolupez 205 W. 29th Street #2, Ogden Zolupez.com

Brews From the Altitude

Two brilliant IPAs from Heber Valley Brewing

BY MIKE RIEDEL comments@cityweekly.net @utahbeer

This week, we get into a couple of brews from the altitude—and by that, I mean Heber Valley Brewing Company. The small-town brewery doesn’t seem to get a lot of attention from the Wasatch Front, and I think that’s the way they like it. They specialize in small-batch beers of all stripes—like the two IPAs that we’ll be covering here—that take you by surprise as you exhale a quiet, “Whoa …”

Heber Valley - Citrocumulus: It pours an almost turbid golden burnt-orange body, capped with two fingers of lush, fluffy, white foam. Good head retention yields a thin layer of cap, a hearty, expansive collar and a generous spread of webby/spotty lacing coating the walls of the glass. Aroma opens to deeply-floral citrus, refined to fresh orange juice accents and a fluffy lime undertone; papaya rind and soft melon ease over the middle, as tinges of black peppercorn phase effortlessly into flaky, plush malt profile on the back end of the bouquet.

The taste shows mango upfront grazed with pineapple tartness, transitioning to lemon meringue against a fluffy malt base over the mid-palate. Melon touches the back end, a briefly sweet interlude as musty grass and delicate, underripe passionfruit and grapefruit finish. Mouthfeel in this 7.0 percent ale offers a medium body with a fluffy, moderate-high carbonation, dispersing a hoppy twang fusing to juiciness over the mid-palate. The back end highlights a zesty character invigorating a taut, drying finish.

Verdict: All of the layers here work quite well together. The pillowy malt profile supports the zesty citrus and pangs of sweeter tropical nectar in playful contrast, common with some of the more noted IPAs in and outside of our market. This one proves very enjoyable to drink.

Heber Valley - Eclectic Avenue: The beer pours a hazed orange-yellow color with a one-finger head of fluffy white foam. The head has a great level of retention, slowly fading over time to leave a ton of foamy lace on the sides of the glass. The aroma of the brew is big, with a tropical fruit smell of papaya and mango; it’s similarly strong in a bready malt smell. Along with these smells comes a rather decent showing of bitter grapefruit, as well as a touch of hay and a moderate showing of boozy alcohol. Overall, you get a pretty sweet and warming aroma.

The taste begins with a thick, bready taste that has a moderately strong presence of caramel and a hint of light tropical fruits like tangerine, papaya and mango. At the start, there is also a lighter presence of herbal and grapefruit hops, which grows stronger and stronger as the taste advances. These flavors are joined by a nice earthy hop taste, as well as some notes of peppery spice and some pine. Toward the end, the sweet fruit fades a tad, and is replaced by more caramel, leaving the drinker with a somewhat malty and moderatelyhopped taste to linger on the tongue. The body of the brew is thick ,with a carbonation level that is on the slightly higher side. Overall, considering the bready and thick malt nature mixed with the hops, it makes for a nice-sipping 8.0 percent brew with lots of flavor.

Verdict: A rather tasty and slightly heavier interpretation of a double IPA. Quite nice.

Sadly, at this time there’s no distribution for these beers outside of Heber. So if you want to taste the magic, a scenic trip by car or bike will be in order. Citrocumulus comes in a 16-ounce can, while the stronger Electric Avenue is in a more appropriate 12-ouncer. As always, cheers! CW

the THANK YOU! FOR TELLING US WE HAVE THE GREATEST BURGERS FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS! HERE’S TO ANOTHER 15!

Queer Food FEASTival

Breakfast • Salads Sandwiches • Pasta • Burgers Protect Your Loved Ones CITY WEEKLY salt lake DRIVER WANTED DRIVER WANTED Please email: Eric Granato Egranato@cityweekly.net

BACK BURNER Monday-Saturday 10:30am-2pm Dine in, Delivery, Take-Out, or Catering mypeppercinis.com @mypeppercinis

After the success of the Utah LGBTQ+ Chamber’s inaugural Queer Food FEASTival last year, the organization is excited to usher in year two of its local food celebration. This event is a gathering of small queer and allied restaurants, entertainers and purveyors of spirits, and will be an excellent way to sample some of Utah’s culinary talent. Participants include Laziz Kitchen, Sugarhouse Coffee, Sweet Hazel & Co., Kahve Café, San Diablo Churros, Tea Zaanti and Fry Me to the Moon. The event takes place at Mountain West Hard Cider (425 N. 400 West) on May 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and tickets can be purchased at utahlgbtqchamber.org

Zoo Brew at Hogle Zoo

The 2023 season of Zoo Brew at Hogle Zoo (2600 Sunnyside Avenue, 801-584-1700, hoglezoo. org) will be kicking off on May 17 at 6:30 p.m. For those new to the experience, Zoo Brew is a series of 21+ evenings where attendees can enjoy the sights and sounds of Hogle Zoo, but with 100% more beer. It’s perfect for those seeking a deeper connection with their animal counterparts through the imbibing of local brews and the consumption of tasty treats. Each Zoo Brew event will benefit different environmental efforts, with the first event focusing on the Jordan River Restoration conservation project. Zoo Brew will take place every Wednesday through Oct. 18; tickets can be purchased via the zoo’s website.

Stack 571 Burger and Whiskey Bar Opens

The owners of the recently-opened WildFin American Grill have brought another one of their Washington-based concepts to Riverton, and it sounds awesome. It’s called Stack 571 Burger and Whiskey Bar (13311 S. Tree Sparrow Drive, Ste. PD-S3, 801-285-0068, stack571.com)—and, as you may have guessed, it specializes in burgers and whiskey. Their burger menu is impressive, and incorporates classic dishes like poutine and banh mi into their roster of classics. On top of that, you can get milkshakes with a shot of local spirits, doughnuts and plenty of whiskey cocktails. These Washington restaurateurs are continuing to bring some interesting concepts to our neck of the woods, and I am looking forward to exploring this one.

Quote of the Week: “We all need to make time for a burger once in a while.” -- Erica Durance

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