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!

Recipe: Lemon Yogurt Sauce

October 20, 2019April 23, 2019 by Stuart Melling

This one proves the truism that the simplest things in life are the best. This quick and healthy sauce is ready in minutes, is impeccably healthy and can be used …

Review: Chef Bombay Chicken Tikka Masala

September 21, 2019April 23, 2019 by Stuart Melling

Indian cuisine is one of my favorites, not least when it comes to freezer borne meals. Of all the options in the freezer cabinet, I find Indian cuisine is one …

Beyond Meat Beef Crumbles

October 11, 2019April 21, 2019 by Stuart Melling

This product is something of an anomaly in Beyond Meat’s larger line of products. Where the sausage and burger seek to provide a fresh product right there in the meat …

Review: Trader Joe’s Julienned Root Vegetables

September 21, 2019April 20, 2019 by Stuart Melling

It’s not unusual for me to sneer in self satisfaction at pre-prepped veggies in the store. Fajita veggies precut? Please. Mashed potatoes already mashed. Cmon! Who doesn’t have time to …

Review: MorningStar Farms Chorizo Crumbles

September 21, 2019April 19, 2019 by Stuart Melling

As I fancy myself something of a whizz in the kitchen – not least the spice cabinet – it’s with some leery caution I pickup products that come pre-seasoned or …

Review: Sukhi’s Chicken Biryani

April 19, 2020April 19, 2019 by Stuart Melling

Biryani, a dish fit for royalty! At least that’s part of the back story of this classic Indian dish; often the centerpiece of a celebratory affair loaded with luxurious ingredients …

Review: Great Value BBQ Pork Rib Sandwiches

June 21, 2022April 15, 2019 by Stuart Melling

It’ll come as no surprise what this product is trying to emulate; a certain fast food brands oft time special, that blinks in and out of existence on menus up …

Review: 365 Plant Based Smoky And Spicy Burgers

July 22, 2020April 14, 2019 by Stuart Melling

Another day, another veggie burger. If you hadn’t guessed by now, I’m slightly obsessed with the things, and am committed to finding the very best veggie burger in the land. …

Review: Gardein Meatless Chick’n Strips

April 13, 2019 by Stuart Melling

Over the past twelve months I’ve found myself relying more and more on Gardein products. As MorningStar Farms continue to tweak their product range (for the worse I think), Gardein …

Review: Van de Kamp’s Crispy Fish Fillets

March 19, 2021April 13, 2019 by Stuart Melling

I’m always on the hunt for a killer frozen fish fillet, because I’m essentially always one the mission to recreate fast food fish sandwiches at home. Yeah, I know, Im …