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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!  

Alexia Sweet Potato Fries with Sea Salt

September 4, 2021 by Stuart Melling

Stuart MellingHi, 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 …

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Categories Frozen, Grocery Tags Alexia Leave a comment

The Alpha Nugget Plant-Based Chik’n Original

September 4, 2021 by Stuart Melling
The Alpha Nugget Plant-Based Chik'n Original

Stuart MellingHi, 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 …

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Categories Frozen, Grocery, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegetarian Tags Alpha, Alpha Foods Leave a comment

Fury Hot Sauce – impressive global flavors

August 30, 2021 by Stuart Melling
Fury Hot Sauce

My not so secret weakness? Hot sauce. Honestly, a whole shelf of my fridge is devoted to things bursting at the seems with fire and fury. Speaking of Fury – …

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Categories Gift Ideas, Grocery, Hot Sauce, Pantry, Sauce Tags Fury Hot Sauce Leave a comment

Gardein Ultimate Plant-Based Chick’N Filet reviewed

August 30, 2021 by Stuart Melling
Gardein Ultimate Plant-Based Chick'N Filet

Hot on the heels of Gardein’s Ultimate Tenders is this similarly packaged product – now in fried chicken patty format. Like the tenders, they come in a rather attractive black …

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Categories Frozen, Grocery, Vegan, Vegetarian Tags Gardein 3 Comments

Ore-Ida Golden Steak Fries

September 6, 2021August 30, 2021 by Stuart Melling
Ore-Ida Golden Steak Fries

Quick review: These are big thick chunky fries. The cook up bets in the air fryer where you’ll need up with a crisp exterior and soft fluffy interior. I find …

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Categories Frozen, Grocery Tags Ore-Ida Leave a comment

Incogmeato Chik’N Tenders review

August 29, 2021 by Stuart Melling
Incogmeato Chik'N Tenders review

Quick review: These are essentially an identical product to the Incogmeato nuggets. That’s no bad thing, these are some of the very best plant based chicken nuggets I’ve tasted. Here …

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Categories Frozen, Grocery Tags Incogmeato, MorningStar Farms Leave a comment

Thai yellow curry with veggie chicken

August 29, 2021 by Stuart Melling
Thai yellow curry with Royal Asia spring roll and Gardein seven grain tender

.This is a riff on the basic yellow curry I put together all year around. You can find the core of the recipe here. It takes about 20-25 minutes to …

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Categories 30 Minute Meals, Dinner Ideas, Thai Tags Gardein, Mae Ploy, Royal Asia Leave a comment

FruitsDeMer Smoked Mackerel review

August 29, 2021 by Stuart Melling
FruitsDeMer Smoked Mackerel

One of my personal secret loves is a good quality tinned or smoked fish. This mackerel from FruitsDeMer caught my eye in the refrigerated section at Whole Foods. It comes …

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Categories Grocery, Refrigerated Tags FruitsDeMEr Leave a comment

Alexia House Cut Fries with Sea Salt

August 29, 2021 by Stuart Melling
Alexia House Cut Fries with Sea Salt

Quick review: Like most of the Alexia line up, this is a clean and simple product, notably less processed than many of its peers. You will pay a little extra …

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Categories Frozen, Grocery Tags Alexia Leave a comment

Dr Praeger’s Perfect Burger reviewed

August 28, 2021 by Stuart Melling
Dr Praeger's Perfect Burger

It’s been a good three years since I’ve picked up a burger product from Dr Praeger’s. The last I sampled, the California Veggie Burger, really wasn’t my cup of tea. …

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Categories Frozen, Grocery, Vegan, Vegetarian Tags dr. Praeger's 1 Comment
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