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: California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil

October 20, 2019July 2, 2018 by Stuart Melling

California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil front

If you haven’t read the book Real Food Fake Food (affiliate link) by Larry Olmsted, I recommend you do so right away. If you’re even only slightly interested in food …

Review: Sukhi’s Chicken Curry

April 24, 2019July 2, 2018 by Stuart Melling

This product combines two things that I love dearly: Indian food and convenience. That last part is of course critical with any frozen meal. Any sensible shopper knows that a …

Review: Kroger Pork Carnitas

October 18, 2020July 2, 2018 by Stuart Melling

No matter how much I might love certain dishes, I just don’t care to cook them at home. Duck confit and tempura come to mind for example – they’re just …

Review: Pierre Hearty Rib Sandwich

June 10, 2020June 25, 2018 by Stuart Melling

A pre-made processed meat sandwich with a shelf life of weeks – at least the one I grabbed at Walmart anyway – what could possibly go wrong? This is the …

Review: Sweet Earth Sante Fe Veggie Burger

September 21, 2019June 23, 2018 by Stuart Melling

Long time readers will know I’m a sucker for well designed packaging. Sometimes I don’t even really read what I’m buying, “hey look at this neat cardboard box, this must …

Review: Hillary’s World’s Best Veggie Burger

September 21, 2019June 13, 2018 by Stuart Melling

The World’s Best – it’s a bold claim in any field. So much so, you’d imagine the assertion would only be made by someone with supreme confidence or endless plaudits. …

Review: Upton’s Naturals Traditional Seitan

July 17, 2018June 8, 2018 by Stuart Melling

I’ll make no bones about it, I’m a self confessed fan of Upton’s Naturals. From the first moment I spied one of their beautifully packaged products I was hooked. Ever …

The Beyond Sausage Hot Italian – updated 2022 review

July 10, 2022June 3, 2018 by Stuart Melling

Beyond Sausage - Hot Italian style 2022 packaging

In the Summer of 2022 Beyond Meat started to release new packaging across their product lines. This is the 2022 packaging for the the Hot Italian sausage; you will notice …

Review: El Burrito Soyrizo

April 24, 2021May 22, 2018 by Stuart Melling

Non GMO, vegan, gluten free, ero preservatives, no cholesterol…and actually tastes good? Almost impossibly – yes! Quite how I am unsure, I can only assume there’s some witchcraft afoot in …

Review: dr. Praeger’s California Veggie Burgers

September 21, 2019May 20, 2018 by Stuart Melling

Or Dr. Praeger’s™ Purely Sensible Foods® California Veggie Burgers – to give them their full name. The package and name immediately suggests an ultra health forward product, and a glance …