Stuart Melling

Hi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you! I’m the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC - Utah's biggest and oldest online food magazine; I’m also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune. I’ve worked extensively with multiple local publications from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine, not least helped to consult on national TV shows. I’m a multiple-award winning journalist and have covered the Utah dining scene for the better part of fifteen years. I’m largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of big words I don’t understand. I started Shop Smart to catalogue my adventures in the grocery store and kitchen. Follow along on Instagram too!

Gardein Ultimate Plant-Based Burger review

September 24, 2020 by Stuart Melling

Gardein aren’t holding back with this name, “Ultimate!”. The moment I saw that name a couple months back, I’ve been trying hard to secure a box pf these meat free …

Worthington Meatless Corned Beef review

September 23, 2020 by Stuart Melling

Worthington Meatless Corned Beef package

After being so wowed by the Worthington Meatless Leanies, I immediately set myself the task of trying more of the brand’s plant based product line up. The next item I …

MorningStar Farms Buffalo Chik Patties review – 2020 version

September 23, 2020 by Stuart Melling

As with much of the MorningStar Farms range, this product has seen a relatively recent makeover, both in terms of the product and the packaging too. Four patties come in …

Niman Ranch Fearless Franks review

September 23, 2020 by Stuart Melling

Stuart MellingHi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you! I’m the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC – Utah’s biggest and oldest online food magazine; I’m also a former restaurant …

Asian salad with soy sauce fried Gardein tenders

September 23, 2020 by Stuart Melling

This one is super quick. Grab your favorite store brand Asian salad and while you’re at it some of the Gardein Seven Grain Tenders. We find this is the best …

Is Universal Yums any good?

September 11, 2020 by Stuart Melling

Universal Yums is a monthly subscription box service that promises to take you around the world, through the medium of snacks, all from the comfort of your home. No passport …

Garden fresh Caprese salad

September 6, 2020 by Stuart Melling

This one really only springs to life for a few months of the year, but when it does, wow! If you aren’t particularly green fingered you’ll want to hit up …

Kroger Salmon Burgers review

September 23, 2020August 27, 2020 by Stuart Melling

With all the headline fuss about meat free burgers, you might have forgotten about the humble salmon burger. I mean, I had. These caught my eye lately and seemed like …

Worthington Meatless Leanies Deli Dog review

August 27, 2020 by Stuart Melling

If you’re an out and out vegan I’m guessing you know about Worthington. Apparently this product lineup is the work of Heritage Health food – a very old brand that …

Tempura shrimp with Japanese curry

August 27, 2020 by Stuart Melling

For this dinner I used the SeaPak Tempura Shrimp product. The interior shrimp is overpowered by the overall tempura (which is great) so I wanted to bring more flavor to …