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!

Review: Trader Joe’s Vegetable Fried Rice

July 13, 2021January 14, 2019 by Stuart Melling

Truth be told, I don’t think I’ve ever had much luck with pre-prepared frozen fried rice. It just doesn’t seem to be a dish that translates all that well to …

Trader Joe’s Garlic Naan brings the restaurant to your home

May 7, 2021January 7, 2019 by Stuart Melling

Until I finally purchase my own personal tandoor oven – this Trader Joe’s product will remain a year around staple of my freezer. On pretty much every point, this is …

Review: Trader Joe’s Lamb Vindaloo

July 21, 2021January 3, 2019 by Stuart Melling

I’d estimate at least 10% of me is curry at any given time. In fact that’s probably an underestimation. Lets just say, I’m a curry fan. Dopiaza to Dhansak, Korma …

Review: Tandoor Chef Tandoori Chicken Samosa

September 23, 2020January 2, 2019 by Stuart Melling

I find that Tandoor Chef are one of the more reliable pre-made Indian food products around. I’d go as far as saying they even best some sit down full service …

Review: Trader Joe’s Pork Shu Mai

September 21, 2019January 1, 2019 by Stuart Melling

These small Chinese dim sum are sold with a little brevity under the branding of Trader Ming’s. You’ll find them in Trader Joe’s of course amongst all the other frozen …

Pie Fried Rice

March 7, 2020December 30, 2018 by Stuart Melling

Like many other scientific luminaries of our age, I didn’t stop to ask if I should, only if I could. Oppenheimer, Edison, Turing…and now…yours truly. To paraphrase Oppenheimer himself, “I …

Recipe: British beef and onion pie

October 20, 2019December 29, 2018 by Stuart Melling

Pot pie to Americans, just plan and simple pie for us Brits; but equally delicious regardless of name or whatever continent you happen to be eating this on. First up, …

Review: El Mexicano Achiote Paste

July 14, 2021December 26, 2018 by Stuart Melling

I bought this on Amazon (affiliate link) chiefly to make home cooked cochinita pibil, one of my favorite Mexican dishes. The dish – and this signature spice – both hail …

Recipe: Easy Cochinita Pibil

October 20, 2019December 26, 2018 by Stuart Melling

If you Google this classic Mexican dish, it’s easy to be quickly intimidated by the exotic ingredient list and complicated instructions. While bitter (Seville) oranges and banana leaves might yield …

Review: Trader Joe’s Triple Ginger Cookie Thins

October 20, 2019December 20, 2018 by Stuart Melling

Nothing says Christmas time like Wintery warming spices. Nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger speak to flames licking a fireplace log, twinkling lights bedecking a fresh Christmas tree, and soft fluttery snow …