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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!  

Saffron Road Chicken Biryani

June 26, 2020 by Stuart Melling
Saffron Road Chicken Biryani

Saffron Road is one of the more common names in the freezer aisle when it comes to frozen Indian cuisine in the store. I actually surprised myself when I checked …

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Categories Frozen, Frozen Meal, Grocery Tags Indian Food, Saffron Road Leave a comment

Cod fried rice

June 26, 2020 by Stuart Melling
Cod fried rice

Let there be no doubt, if it’s in my fridge or freezer, it’s game for fried rice. Don’t believe me? Check out Thai green curry fried rice or the heart …

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Categories 15 Minute Meals, Dinner Ideas, Mash Up Tags Sitka Salmon Shares Leave a comment

House Foods Chinese Mabo Tofu Sauce

June 26, 2020 by Stuart Melling
House Foods Chinese Mabo Tofu Sauce

Sichuan cuisine has to rank up there with my most favorite of foods from around the world. There’s the spicy punch, the sizzling and numbing Sichuan peppercorn bite, and the …

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Categories Cooking Sauce, Pantry, Sauce Tags House Foods Leave a comment

Beyond Burger with mushrooms, Swiss and sweet potato fries

June 26, 2020 by Stuart Melling
Beyond Burger with mushrooms swiss and Alexia sweet potato fries

O.k. so it’s not vegan but it’s still vegetarian – we give you the mushroom Swiss with sweet potato fries. It’s the perfect weeknight junk food treat without all the …

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Categories 15 Minute Meals, Burgers, Dinner Ideas Tags Alexia, Beyond Meat Leave a comment

Sablefish with cous cous and chickpeas

June 20, 2020 by Stuart Melling
Sablefish with cous cous

Sablefish is so often featured with Japanese flavors, Iw anted to try something different here. I cooked the fish (aka black cod) until the skin came away then cleaned the …

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Categories 30 Minute Meals, Dinner Ideas, Healthy Tags Sitka Salmon Shares Leave a comment

Tyson Frozen Chicken Patties

June 20, 2020 by Stuart Melling
Tyson Frozen Chicken Patties

If you’re looking to create the fast food chicken experience at home, the freezer aisles are loaded with options. There’s everything from whole frozen sandwiches through to single serve frozen …

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Categories Frozen, Grocery Tags Tyson Leave a comment

Patak’s Rogan Josh Curry Simmer Sauce

June 20, 2020 by Stuart Melling
Pataks Rogan Josh Curry Simmer Sauce

When it comes to cooking sauces in jars, I am like a moth to the flame. Time and again I dive in, maybe this is the one, one of them …

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Categories Cooking Sauce, Grocery, Pantry, Sauce Tags Patak's Leave a comment

Birds Eye Cauliflower & Ranch Fries

June 20, 2020 by Stuart Melling
Birds Eye Cauliflower & Ranch Fries

Sometimes choosing a side dish for a meal feels like the toughest challenge of the day. I know I know, it’s a hard life. Sometimes I can’t seem to think …

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Categories Frozen, Grocery Tags Birds Eye Leave a comment

Lightlife Smart Dogs

June 20, 2020 by Stuart Melling
Lightlife Smart Dogs

We’re still waiting for someone in the new plant based world to tackle the old school hot dog. Sure there are alternatives like brats from Beyond, but there’s nothing we’ve …

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Categories Grocery, Refrigerated, Vegan, Vegetarian 1 Comment

Whole Foods Vegetable Egg Rolls

June 17, 2020 by Stuart Melling
Whole Foods Vegetable Egg Rolls

This is one of the better frozen egg roll products we’ve tasted. In truth we’ve yet to come across one that really works well in the home setting. Well unless …

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Categories Frozen, Vegetarian Tags Whole Foods Leave a comment
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  1. Joe on Review: Kroger Pork CarnitasMarch 10, 2024

    I'll never buy again! The package contained fully 12 (out of 16) ounces of pure pork fat. Totally unacceptable. Major…

  2. K B on Review: Van de Kamp’s Crispy Fish FilletsFebruary 28, 2024

    I complained to them and they sent me a measly $4 coupon to buy them again.’they won’t be in my…

  3. Melissa on Kroger Private Selection Angus Beef Burgers reviewFebruary 27, 2024

    I like them if you add water to the hamburger. When it's cooking it won't be so much grace

  4. Pamela D. on Tai Pei Chicken Egg Rolls reviewJanuary 18, 2024

    I had some for dinner last night . The first bite was so spicy, I had trouble getting back into…

  5. Robert Whitney on Simple Truth Natural Beef Burgers reviewJanuary 6, 2024

    YES!!! I both them a little bit ago and made them but they taste like they have permanent freezer burn…

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