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!

Stouffer’s Chicken Pot Pie Bites – a poor effort

September 18, 2021 by Stuart Melling

This new product from Stouffer’s sounds like the stuff of dreams. Take the comforting charm’s of the classic pot pie, but remake it into bite size poppable pieces. Who wouldn’t …

Del Real Foods Pork Chile Verde – a solid buy

September 16, 2021 by Stuart Melling

For a pre-cooked and packaged dish the ingredients listed on this Del Real product are refreshingly sparse. The pack lists simply: pork, tomatillos, chili peppers, salt and garlic powder. The …

Jimmy Dean Southern Style Chicken Biscuit Sandwiches – reviewed

September 17, 2021September 15, 2021 by Stuart Melling

When it comes to spotting NEW tags on product packaging my eyes are like that of an eagle soaring across the lands, hunting for prey. No, I’ve not been drinking. …

Pilgrim’s Tempura Chicken Breast Nuggets

September 15, 2021 by Stuart Melling

Next up in our ongoing search for the best and worst frozen chicken nugget in grocery stores – this self-styled tempura style nugget from Pilgrim’s. Unlike many nuggets that are …

Impossible Spicy Sausage – the best of the two new releases

September 15, 2021 by Stuart Melling

We already reviewed the regular Impossible sausage here – for the most part that review stands. The Spicy version of Impossible’s plant-based ground meat cooks exactly the same, has the …

Whole Catch Maryland Style Crab Cakes review

September 14, 2021 by Stuart Melling

Whole Catch is an in house label from Whole Foods one that I’ve enjoyed in the past (their shrimp poppers were quite good). I’m doubly attracted to the brand by …

Wild Coyote Cilantro Lime Ranch review

September 12, 2021 by Stuart Melling

Quick review: While my array of hot sauces is always in flux and change – one thing I always have on hand in the fridge is this fabulous sauce from …

Chicken tikka fried rice

September 12, 2021 by Stuart Melling

This one requires a little creativity the next time you place a togo order from your favorite Indian restaurant. Indeed, I’d recommend anytime you get food to go, you do …

Garden Inspirations Plant Based BBQ Sliders

September 15, 2021September 12, 2021 by Stuart Melling

Garden Inspirations is a new name to me. Close inspection of this packaging shows this is a sub label of FarmRich, their platform to compete in the ever growing plant-based foods …

Nummy Nibbles Kohlapuri sauce

September 12, 2021 by Stuart Melling

Quick review: Amongst all those jars of tikka masala and korma – it’s surprising to see anything markedly different. That’s why this Kohlapuri sauce leapt off the shelf and into …