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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!  

Fish and chips with sweet potato

September 23, 2020May 24, 2020 by Stuart Melling
Fish and chips with sweet potato

Fish, chips and mushy peas, a trifecta made in heaven. For a different spin, nest time try some sweet potato fries. The sweeter side dish is a great match for …

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Categories Dinner Ideas Tags Alexia, Bigga Leave a comment

Spicy chicken sausage with linguine and pesto

May 24, 2020 by Stuart Melling
Spicy chicken sausage with linguine and pesto

This is one of those dishes where the simplicity demands excellent ingredients. Try to get some quality pesto and pasta first and foremost. I nabbed mine from local importers Caputo’s …

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Categories 30 Minute Meals, Dinner Ideas, Italian Tags Sprouts Leave a comment

Turkey, egg and onion sandwiches

September 23, 2020May 24, 2020 by Stuart Melling
Turkey, egg and onion sandwiches

There’s something just perfect about this trio of fixings. Roast turkey, hard boiled egg and thinly sliced raw white onions. I usually finish things up with a little crisp Iceberg …

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Categories Sandwiches Leave a comment

Egg fried rice with mushu vegetables and garlic bok choy

May 20, 2020 by Stuart Melling
Egg fried rice, vegetable mushu, garlic bok choy

This one requires a little planning ahead. The very best fried rice always starts from leftovers. When I find myself making long grain rice for dinner, I always make double, …

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Categories Chinese, Comfort Food, Dinner Ideas Leave a comment

Kroger Indian Inspired Tikka Masala

May 20, 2020 by Stuart Melling
Kroger Indian Inspired Tikka Masala

If you knew how many hours I’d poured into my own tikka masala recipe you’d probably weep. I’ve been trying to perfect the damned thing for more than a decade …

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Categories Cooking Sauce, Grocery, Pantry, Sauce Tags Kroger Leave a comment

Jamaican jerk cod with cous cous

April 24, 2021May 20, 2020 by Stuart Melling
Jamaican jerk cod with cous cous

Armed with some pristine cod from Sitka Salmon (see below for coupon code) I decided to use some jerk seasoning I had laying around my spice cupboard (side note: The …

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Categories 30 Minute Meals, Carribean, Dinner Ideas, Healthy, Mash Up Tags Sitka Salmon Shares, The Spice House, Zursun Beans Leave a comment

Impossible Burger review – 2021 update

April 24, 2022May 19, 2020 by Stuart Melling
Impossible Burger ground beef

It’s been quite a while since we first tasted and reviewed the Impossible Foods burger. Since then though, what’s changed? I’m happy to report – not much! The brand hasn’t …

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Categories Frozen, Grocery, Refrigerated, Vegan, Vegetarian Tags Impossible Burger, Impossible Foods 4 Comments

Bombay Kitchen Kadai Chicken review

May 18, 2020 by Stuart Melling
Bombay Kitchen Kadai Chicken

Bombay Kitchen is a name I am quickly coming to love more and more. Alongside Deep and Trader Joe’s they’re up there as some of the best frozen Indian food …

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Categories Frozen, Frozen Meal, Grocery Tags Bombay Kitchen, Indian Food Leave a comment

Sprouts Spicy Chicken Veggie Burgers

May 18, 2020 by Stuart Melling
Sprouts Spicy Chicken Veggie Burgers

I’ve only very recently become a customer at Sprouts. Mainly spurred on by the Coronavirus pandemic if I’m being honest. As our local grocery stores faltered in their supplies – …

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Categories Frozen, Grocery, Vegan, Vegetarian Tags Sprouts Leave a comment

Trader Joe’s Vegan Tikka Masala review

July 4, 2021May 18, 2020 by Stuart Melling
Trader Joe's Vegan Tikka Masala

Not gonna lie, I was not a fan of this one. As such this is going to be a relatively short review; I didn’t even bother taking a snap of …

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Categories Frozen, Frozen Meal, Grocery, Vegan, Vegetarian Tags Indian Food, Trader Joe's 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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  • Joe on Review: Kroger Pork Carnitas
  • K B on Review: Van de Kamp’s Crispy Fish Fillets
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