(435) 757-9310
MOUDI SBEITY AND DEREK KITCHEN, OWNERS
It’s a luxury to like the people who make your food as much as you like the food they make. It’s ideal, but in our hyper-processed world of fast food we rarely think of our producers as knowable let alone likable. Laziz Foods marries great Lebanese food with responsible ownership, which comes together to make Utah proud and the food community hungry.
Moudi Sbeity and Derek Kitchen are partners in business and life, championing admirable causes across the board—marriage equality, public transportation, pet adoption, and just about anything else that makes Utah a better place to live for everyone. However, their food warrants attention on its own merit. That’s what makes this such an ideal marriage. One taste of Laziz Foods and you’ll see that clearly it stands on its own.
Laziz began with hummus at the Downtown Farmers Market in Salt Lake City, and news of the creamy, simple ingredients spread across town, quickly inspiring ethnic food fans across the board to taste and see the real deal. No added oils and no preservatives tell Utahans the story that great food is made from natural ingredients and when it’s made locally, preservatives are unnecessary. At the farmers’ market you can taste, purchase, and meet the guys who make the food you’ll likely consume entirely when you get home.
After the success of the hummus, Laziz Foods moved forward with muhummara (roasted sweet red peppers, pomegranate molasses, and walnuts) and eventually toum (a Lebanese garlic spread). It likely won’t stop there either. Anything from Moudi’s native Lebanon is up for consideration. The more Utahans gain a taste for it, the deeper Moudi will go into his culture’s recipes.
Derek and Moudi are partially riding the wave and partially driving the car that is elevating Utah’s food from expected to unexpected, boring to interesting and memorable.
(MAKES 1 CUP DRESSING)
⅓ cup vinegar (we used Slide Ridge Honey Wine Vinegar)
¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon toum (add more depending on taste)
½–1 teaspoon black pepper
Salt to taste
Blend all ingredients with an immersion blender. Serve on salad, over pasta, in a sandwich, or as a dip.
ETHNIC MARKETS
For imported groceries there is a variety of stores—small to large—selling unique goods.
The Oriental Market, Ocean Mart, and South East Asian Market are great spots to find Asian imports, from ingredients to make homemade pho, to unusual vegetables, kimchi, miso, spices, fresh herbs, sauces, and even mochi ice cream.
Pars Market offers Persian cuisine and groceries, including dates, rice, beans, and spices like saffron.
At Rancho Market you will find a food court with a bakery as well as a variety of Mexican imports. The marinated meats and chile verde are not to be overlooked, and the chicharron torte is worth the visit alone.
For Eastern European goods check out Black Cherry Market, where you can find Russian chocolates, European sodas, imported yogurt and kefir, grape leaves, and lots of unusual candy.
The Japan Sage Market carries kombu, togarishi, furikake, and many other Japanese favorites.
Shop N’ Go is the place to go for Indian and Pakistani foods like spices, rice, beans, dosa batter, and sauce mixes.
Most markets also carry ready-to-eat prepared foods like kimbap at Oriental Market, roasted pork and duck at Southeast Market, samosas at Shop N’ Go, and Mexican pastries at Rancho Market.
ETHNIC RESTAURANTS
No one would expect it, but Salt Lake City has a thriving ethnic food scene. With a large population of refugees, return missionaries, and a decent amount of daring diners, there’s a growing demand for more diverse foods.
You don’t have to go far to find Ethiopian food, where diners can enjoy eating (with their hands!) a variety of meat stews, lentils, and other braised vegetables, all gathered up in traditional sourdough sponge bread, injera. Try the African Market on Redwood or Blue Nile on State Street.
You don’t have to have a cold to enjoy a big bowl of pho, though it’s like medicine if you do. Pho Tay Ho resides in a small house on Main Street and serves up delicious pho daily. Oh Mai offers up MSG-free pho as well as Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches.
Though Utah tends to be a little bland in flavor, the Indian food restaurants don’t tone it down for locals. Himalayan Kitchen, Saffron Valley, and Bombay House are the local’s favorites for authentic Indian cuisine.
Chanon Thai offers up traditional Thai food in a simple atmosphere, giving you a glimpse into Thai culture.
And if you want to hop on the dim sum train for brunch, stop in at New Golden Dragon and bring friends.