“I still remember the moment I realized that food had the power to bring people back to their childhood,” Jorge Galvez told me, seated at a corner table at Sol Agave in downtown Salt Lake City. “Someone took a bite and said it reminded them of their grandmother’s cooking. That’s when I knew - this was bigger than just a restaurant.”

“There is a difference between eating and dining,” said Marco Stevanoni. “Dining is an art that is being lost, but it is an experience that brings people together.” This philosophy is at the heart of VENETO, the Italian restaurant he and his wife, Amy, opened in 2016 in Salt Lake City. Born out of a desire to create the kind of culinary journey they longed for but could not find locally, VENETO is more than just a restaurant; it is a deeply personal expression of their shared passions, backgrounds, and values.

“I have been doing this since I was eighteen. I am sixty now. We just keep going because we love it, and because this is our fate.” Anna Tran, owner of Oh Mai, never set out to become a restaurateur, but food has always been central to her family’s story.

“My family has been in the business since 1959 when my grandfather opened his first restaurant.” Today, Matt Crandall is the head chef and partner of three of Salt Lake City's most celebrated restaurants - Whiskey Street, White Horse Spirits & Kitchen, and Franklin Avenue Cocktails & Kitchen - all of which he created and runs alongside his longtime friend and business partner, Jason LeCates.

“The devil is in the details but that is also where the magic happens. I believe if you marry food, service, and music just right, people can feel the love in the space.” Loren Bell, owner of Contento Cafe, never imagined that grief would be the bridge to his dream.

“There’s never a day I walk into the brewery and do not smile - no matter what’s going on in life, when I walk through those doors, I light up,” beamed Mark Medura, owner of Level Crossing Brewing Company.

“I am not going anywhere. I will grow old right here.” Azar Farajnedad, a warm, sweet woman sat at one of the small tables inside Best Chicken and Ribs Greek Food, her husband Asghar working just a few feet away in the kitchen they have shared for over two decades. The couple opened their South Salt Lake City restaurant in May 2002, and from the very beginning, the support of their community has never wavered.

"This restaurant is our love letter to the community," Jennifer Hannon said, seated at a table in the lounge at the back of Laziz Kitchen. "We want people to feel safe, welcome, and fed with care."

"I have always had a vision for this restaurant," Tim Rammell reveals. "I put in the work, learned from the best, and took notes. When the opportunity came, I knew I was ready." Tim and his younger brother - by one year and one week - Joe, share a journey to opening Drunken Kitchen that is rooted in determination, friendship, and an unwavering passion for food.

"If you don’t do what you love when you’re twenty-five, you’re never going to do it in your life." These words from Matteo Sogne perfectly encapsulate his journey from Modena, Italy, to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he now shares his passion for food at Matteo Ristorante Italiano.

“When you do what you love, it’s no longer a job. This restaurant, this food, it’s my story, my memories, my family. Every dish has a piece of my past in it.”

“I grew up on a commercial orchard in Logan, Utah,” recalls Jennifer Felton, “where my grandpa, a professor of agriculture, instilled in me a love for old-school cooking.” This early immersion in traditional culinary arts, including baking and jam-making, laid the foundation for what would become Atomic Biscuit.

"We wanted to create a space where people could turn their culinary dreams into reality without the financial burden of a full-scale restaurant," Ana Valdemoros shared, reflecting on the origins of Square Kitchen.

“People tell me, ‘Don’t worry about the little things.’ But that’s where it starts. If you don’t pay attention to the little things, then the problems will only get bigger.” If there is anyone who embodies the soul of a true artisan and perfectionist, it is Jean Jacques Grossi - though most know him simply as JJ. Beloved by his customers, respected by his staff, and renowned for his meticulous dedication to quality, JJ has spent his life perfecting the art of French pastry and baking. His journey, however, has been anything but ordinary.

“I feel a sense of responsibility to provide people with the things that are getting harder and harder to find,” Annette Raverino says with a warm smile. “I am really lucky.” Luck may have played a small part in Annette’s journey, but passion, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to tradition have been the true foundations of Mediterranean Market & Deli. Her story stretches back generations, rooted in the northern Italian Alps, a place where her mother was raised and where Annette spent time cooking with family.

"Ramen was born in China, grew up in Japan, and died in America." Hiro Tagai chuckles as he recalls a conversation with his cousin that has stuck with him ever since. But for Hiro and Felipe Oliveira, ramen is very much alive, and they have made it their mission to share its true essence with the world through Koyote, their dream restaurant.

"So, tea is my happy place, admits Ripple Desai, owner of Tandoori Taqueria in the Maven District. Every time you walk into my parents' home, my dad asks, 'Do you want tea?' And tea in our house is a cup of hot Indian chai.

“Cooking has always been a way for me to be creative, but more importantly, it connects me to my family, my culture, and my roots.” Anthony Chung opened Red Lotus Bistro in April 2020, just one week after Salt Lake City was hit with a wave of closures and uncertainty due to the pandemic. 

“Edison House is not your grandfather’s social club,” explains George Cardon-Bystry, one of the co-founders and visionaries behind this dynamic, upscale social club in Salt Lake City. With deep roots in the area as an eighth-generation Utahn, George returned home to create a space that reflects the changing nature of the city and its community. Opened in late 2022, Edison House stands out as a modern reimagining of traditional social clubs, offering an inclusive, vibrant atmosphere that attracts a diverse membership.

“I’m not a chef; I’m a pilot who just happens to love good food.” Pierre Vandamme laughs as he reflects on the winding path that brought him from Belgium to Salt Lake City - and to opening Bruges Belgian Bistro.