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: 365 Meatless Breakfast Patties

April 14, 2019September 22, 2018 by Stuart Melling

After such a revelatory experience the with 365 Meatless Burgers I immediately made a mental note to check out any of the 365 vegan items whenever the opportunity arose. These …

Review: Field Roast Breakfast Sausage

June 1, 2019September 21, 2018 by Stuart Melling

Of all the vegan products that come across my desk kitchen counter Field Roast is one producer I always look forward to; their products are usually some of the best …

Review: Johnsonville Brats Original

November 14, 2018September 21, 2018 by Stuart Melling

These brats are perhaps one of the best known across the country – available in a variety of major grocery stores. It goes without saying there’s a reason for their …

Review: Sam’s Choice Beef Barbacoa Burrito Bowl

November 25, 2019September 20, 2018 by Stuart Melling

The first thing that drew my attention to this product was the eye catching packaging, not the run of the mill big brand design at all. The big bold box …

Review: Trader Joe’s Zucchini Spirals

October 20, 2019September 16, 2018 by Stuart Melling

If you spend any amount of time in the kitchen, you no doubt spend another good portion of time rummaging through cookbooks or on recipe websites. As such you’ve probably …

Review: Lean Cuisine Tortilla Crusted Fish

October 14, 2018September 16, 2018 by Stuart Melling

While I’m not particularly attached to any diet personally, I’m not against shaving a few calories off my average plate here and there. Every bit I can save is that …

Recipe: Lemon parsley sauce for fish

October 20, 2019September 14, 2018 by Stuart Melling

Lemon parsley sauce for fish ingredients

This one couldn’t be any simpler and is a perfect fit for a range of quick fish finishes (try saying that three times!). As you can see in the picture …

Review: Smart Sweets Gummy Bears

September 14, 2018 by Stuart Melling

Ever looked at the back of a supposedly healthy product and burst out laughing? Sure a single serving might be just 50 calories, provided of course you abide by some …

Review: Butler Soy Curls

April 24, 2021August 23, 2018 by Stuart Melling

I stumbled across this product via a friends Instagram feed, who seemed bowled over by the meat substitute. Over time the curly soy pieces kept popping up here and there …

Review: OXO Good Grips Hand Spiralizer

October 20, 2019August 23, 2018 by Stuart Melling

OXO Good Grips Hand Spiralizer spiralized zucchini noodles

If you’re like me, kitchen storage is a precious commodity; I hate clutter and useless gadgets taking up unnecessary space. Any potential entrant into this hallowed space really has to …