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City Cast Salt Lake

We had a reader searching for Caprese sandwich recommendations. Here’s what you declared as the best:

 - The best Caprese sandwich in SLC is the Fior di Latte from Caputo’s (either downtown or at 15th and 15th). It comes with a magnificent slab of mozzarella that can’t be beat. Pair it with a Chinotto to really live la dolce vita.



 - I have two favorite Caprese sandwiches. One is the Fior di Latte at Caputo's (classic!). It's a cold sandwich with big, juicy hunks of cheese, tomatoes, and basil. Ask for extra olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping. I also love the Caprese from Robin's Nest. Get it with their homemade orzo pasta salad, and don't forget dessert!




The mozzarella, tomato, and basil (aka Caprese) sandwich at Tulie Bakery. It’s warm, gooey, and has that perfect panini-pressed crunch.

Shelby Hintze

The food may be the main event, but the table deserves a little attention, too. I'm all for making Thanksgiving feel special without creating more work for yourself. Think festive paper plates (because nobody should be doing dishes all night), a tablecloth that doesn't require ironing, a few whimsical decorations, and a hostess gift that's a little more interesting than a candle. Here are a few local and small-business finds to pull it all together.

On a day like Thanksgiving, don’t worry about doing the dishes. I love, love, love Utah company 

 for the best party goods at reasonable prices (especially if you shop out of season for next year!) I would set 

I’ve been slowly replacing my dish towels with 

 that the company also makes tablecloths, placemats, and runners. I think 

 would be great with the plates we picked out. I know it’s a little pricey, but it is spill-proof and, most importantly, doesn’t need ironing, which is very important to me.

And to decorate the table, I’m obsessed with this 

 (I’ve never met a honeycomb decoration I didn’t like tbh) and this 

This may be an unpopular opinion, but I think a great hostess gift is a 

. There are a bunch of different animals, but the state bird … c’mon! (Do not take this to a minimalist household.)

Set a festive Thanksgiving table with Utah-made paper plates, a no-iron tablecloth, honeycomb turkey decor, and a hostess gift from Salt Lake shops.

Add to Cart Salt Lake: November Edition

Add to Cart: November Edition

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Let the professionals handle the pie, rolls, and maybe even the whole dinner. These local restaurants and bakeries are taking Thanksgiving orders, but you’ll want to act quickly!

: If you’re tired of the traditional pumpkin or apple pies, try an “Oreo cookie pie crust filled with a Hojicha (toasted green tea) chocolate custard atop a chestnut caramel and crispy candied sobacha (buckwheat tea), topped with vanilla bean chantilly and more candied sobacha,” among other twists on traditional flavors. Pick up in Murray and Salt Lake on Nov. 24 and 25.

: Order by Nov. 20; pick up on Nov. 25 in Heber City, Orem, or Salt Lake City.

: Gluten-free options. Order by Nov. 22; pick up on Nov. 25 in Salt Lake City.

: Gluten-free options. Order frozen pies now and bake on Thanksgiving so your house smells like freshly baked pie. You decide if you take credit for it or not.

: DM your order on Instagram, pick up Nov. 25.

: Order by Nov. 20, pick up in Salt Lake City.

: Order quickly because things are already selling out. Pickup available in Salt Lake City, Draper, and American Fork.

: You can get soft dinner rolls and denser baci rolls here. Plus cinnamon rolls or bagels, so you don’t have to think about breakfast.

: They are famous for a reason. And even though the Lion House is closed right now, you can still make the rolls at home with a mix that is just about as good as the original.

: If you’re planning a big gathering, get the comfort food from Big South. Sides feed 15 to 20 people! Order by Nov. 16.

: Everything but the Bird packages and à la carte sides at locations across the valley, plus gluten-free options.

: I wanted to include its “Everything but the Bird” option, but it's already sold out in Draper and Salt Lake. But the "Thanksgiving Feast" that serves up to six people is a great deal for $225, and you can still get some sides and desserts individually.

: If you’re having a small Thanksgiving, try Rouser’s $99 for 2 dinner. Get all the staples without eating leftovers for the next three weeks.

: Full meals, sides, and desserts available in Park City and Salt Lake City.

Skip the cooking this year. Gourmandise, June Pie, Rouser, Vessel Kitchen, and more Utah spots are taking Thanksgiving orders, but act fast.

Where to Order Thanksgiving Dinner and Pies Around Salt Lake City

Outsource Your Thanksgiving

Utah really likes to have wars for some reason and they usually play out on billboards. So in honor of Rivalry Week aka Holy War game next week, do you know where collegiate allegiances lie for some of the state’s biggest retail competitors? P.S. Julia Reagan earned a Ph.D from the U!

Swig or Thirst? Take our quiz and guess which of Utah’s biggest business rivals were founded by BYU or University of Utah alumni.


 BYU or Utah? Guess Where Utah’s Business Founders Went to College

This year’s Brigham Young University vs. University of Utah rivalry game is on 

 in Salt Lake City. If you’re planning a watch party at home, why not take the rivalry a step further by serving snacks from businesses founded by your team’s alumni? It’s a delicious way to show your school spirit, and if your team loses, at least the food will be good.

Start the morning with pastries from The Kolache Place. 

The game kicks off at 10 a.m., which means breakfast is a must. Ross Hruska, a 2014 BYU finance graduate, founded 

Hruska’s Kolaches, now The Kolache Place

, in Provo with his siblings Cory and Devin in 2014. They brought their Texas family’s love of Czech pastries to Utah, offering sweet and savory fillings wrapped in soft, pillowy dough. The raspberry and cream cheese kolache even 

earned a spot on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”

The only hot dog I’ll even consider eating: J. Dawgs.

 in 2004 while attending BYU, turning a rundown shack near campus into a hot dog stand after pawning his favorite guitar to fund the business. What started as a student’s entrepreneurial gamble has grown into a Utah favorite with eight locations across the state, catering options, and another signature sauce to add to the Utah Sauce Hall of Fame.

Cookies for celebrating or drowning your sorrows.

 Say what you will, but the BYU grads know their way around a baked good. Utah County fans can pre-order cookies, including my favorite sugar cookies topped with Italian buttercream, from 

 offers inventive flavors that go well beyond your standard chocolate chip. And don’t let the louder cookie competitors distract you: A little more time actually baking a cookie can be just as valuable as opening another storefront. (I told you I wanted to trash talk!)

 traces its roots to 1982, when 8-year-old Joel Clark sold his mother’s homemade pancake mix from a red wagon. His brother and fellow Ute, Jon, founded the company in 1995, and Joel took over in 1997 while studying economics at the U. Today, Kodiak Cakes is known for its whole-grain 

, making it a fitting breakfast option for fans who want to fuel up before kickoff.

Classic pizza and burgers from Hires Big H and Litzas Pizza. 

University of Utah graduate Don Hale opened 

 in 1959, and has built a local following for its burgers, fries, and old-school drive-in atmosphere. He later founded 

 after deciding Salt Lake City needed better pies. I’m happy to report that both remain personal favorites.

Chips, salsa, guacamole, and queso from Cafe Rio. 

 is a University of Utah graduate, though he is no longer involved with the company. I tried the 

 recently, and I have to say, it’s getting closer to its former glory. I couldn’t find a confirmed University of Utah or BYU connection for Costa Vida’s ownership, so you don’t have to let alma mater sway your opinion on which restaurant makes the better sweet pork salad.

Hosting a Brigham Young University vs. University of Utah watch party on Nov. 7? Serve kolaches, J. Dawgs, Kodiak Cakes, and Cafe Rio from businesses founded by each team’s alumni.


Holy War 2026: Game Day Snacks From BYU and U of U Alumni

Eat Your Way Through the Holy War

Did you overestimate your ability to make gifts for everyone on your holiday list? That’s OK! Take a class, learn a new skill, or at least block off a couple of hours to work uninterrupted with someone to help you along the way. You get a new skill; your loved one gets a gift.

: Are you feeling the call of your inner Nick Offerman? Take a four-week-long intro to turning course at 

 and leave with four gift-worthy projects. You can also learn to use the woodshop at Make Salt Lake and 

 Go solo or with friends to make your own candle at 

Get a kit with all the supplies to make five cards and then actually MAKE THEM at the 

. A set of ready-made cards for multiple occasions is an awesome gift to your most thoughtful friend.

. Your impending late-night breakdown over a broken needle while you finish all these other projects thanks you.

Make a cutting board, a leather journal, or a set of handmade cards for someone special while picking up a new skill at these local workshops.

Craft Classes in Salt Lake City to Make Holiday Gifts

This article is sponsored by Rocky Mountain Power.

Test Your Energy-Saving Knowledge

Tips and tricks for living your best Salt Lake City life, by locals, for locals.

Salt Lake Life Hacks

If this is the year you vowed to make all your Christmas gifts, I have some bad news: You have about 60 days. The good news? Utah has a long crafting tradition, and the local crafting community is ready to help.

So grab your shopping list, clear some space on the dining room table, and prepare to develop a very specific new personality trait. Let’s get making!

Needlepoint, Cross-Stitch, and Embroidery

Yes, there’s a difference. And I was reminded that if I confused any of them, I’d get emails.

 in Midvale offer modern takes on this classic craft. Both carry canvases, threads, and other supplies, plus classes for all skill levels. If you finish a project and have absolutely no idea what to do with it next, check out 

 on Instagram for local finishing services.

For patterns, kits, and supplies, I love the selection at 

 in Gardner Village. It’s also a massive quilting store with tons of kits, fabric, quilting notions, and knowledgeable staff. Shout out to the employee who called me brave for buying a tough cross-stitch pattern as my first project. No, I haven’t finished it yet.

Any good sewist knows not all fabric stores will have what you need for your specific project.

 for high-quality apparel fabric, patterns, specialty tools, and everything you need to make something for your friend’s closet.

 For a huge selection, your go-to should be the 

 in West Jordan. I also love the curation at 

 in Provo. Fair warning: You’ll probably leave with fabric for a project you weren’t planning to make. That’s just how it works. Accept it.

 If you’re planning to make a bag for someone on your list, I’d recommend 

 in Salt Lake City. Choosing the fabric is the fun part, but don’t forget the stabilizers, hardware, and straps.

Scrapbooking has gotten a rebrand as junk journaling, and the wood crafts my mom made at Relief Society are making a comeback.

Support Utah-based businesses and shop online from 

 for coordinated collections of paper, stickers, and embellishments.

For classic scrapbooking supplies, check out 

 in Orem (note: the store is not wheelchair accessible). Despite not being a traditional scrapbooking store, I also love 

 in Murray offers unfinished wood projects, seasonal decor, and kits for the kinds of crafts you might remember from childhood.

Whether you’re making bracelets for everyone you know or attempting a pair of earrings that look like they belong in a boutique, these shops can help you find the supplies to make it happen. For walls of beads, findings, and tools, check out 

I know there are a million other craft stores I missed (I didn’t even TOUCH on knitting and crocheting!).

My Happy Place

What’s Your Favorite Craft Store?

Utah has a long crafting tradition, and the local crafting community is ready to help. Here’s where to buy craft supplies for DIY gifts.

Utah Craft Stores for Handmade Christmas Gifts

Utah’s Craft Stores to the Rescue (Because Christmas Is Coming)

For small businesses, it’s not always about selling you something. Sometimes, the goal is to also bring people together — through classes, book readings, seasonal celebrations, and events that turn strangers into regulars. (Of course, if you want to spend a little money while you’re there, no one’s going to complain.)

Whether you’re a corporate baddie (or a corporate saddie) looking for an excuse to leave the house, a parent trying to keep the kids entertained over fall break, or just someone who thinks autumn is best spent out in the community, Salt Lake businesses have plenty going on. Here’s what to add to your weekend agenda.

 On Saturday, Oct. 17, The Gateway will host a full day of author conversations, panels, signings, and local vendors from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There’s also a dedicated kids’ stage and storytimes, like with the author of “How to Escape a Playdate.” General admission is free, though select events require tickets. I am going to stock up on books from 

 in the valley. Even if you and the kids have already been to a pumpkin patch this season, run them ragged here anyway and snap cute pictures while you’re at it. Plus, the swings, bean pool, and slides are free with $2 wagon rides, seven days a week. P.S. Check out the 

 for great home decor, local foodstuffs, and see if you can get some love from the shop cat!

 experience for older kids or wimpy adults (guilty). Go trick-or-treating through the haunted house: Same decor and lighting as the main attraction, but nothing is jumping out at you.

Debauchery for Students, Singles, and DINKs

 The Salt Lake Book Festival is for grown-ups, too. Browse independent vendors, catch an author conversation, or make Friday night’s 

Prologue at the Salt Lake City Public Library

 your literary pregame. The kickoff includes an adult spelling bee and a rooftop party with drinks, dancing, and authors.

 at Studio at Soundwell, featuring vintage horror movie decor, spooky cocktails, themed bites, DJs, tarot, and weekly scary-oke. Plus, check out the daytime 

Bring your sense of humor to Crone’s Hollow

 for BYOC Comedy: Bring Your Own Cauldron, featuring 

, and magical mischief. The show is free, but there’s a suggested donation for the performers.

Keep the kids busy with a no-scare haunted house and pumpkin patch, or treat yourself to scary-oke, witchy comedy, and a rooftop book festival party.

Salt Lake Fall Break Guide: Pumpkin Patches to Parties

Fall Break for the Pumpkin Patch Crowd and the Party Crowd

The Best Caprese Sandwich

Find the best that Salt Lake City has to offer.

Find the best of everything that Salt Lake City has to offer.

Salt Lake’s Best

Salt Lake's Best

Ivana Martinez

Now that cold weather has arrived, it’s the perfect time to relax in one of Utah’s hot springs. Here are five spots worth visiting.

Meadow Hot Springs is about two and a half hours south of Salt Lake City, in Meadow, Utah. The spring sits on private property, but the owner allows public use, so leave no trace. Expect a short walk to the pools. The spring is open year-round and is dog-friendly.​

Need an excuse to spend a day in Midway? About an hour from Salt Lake City, you can soak, swim, and snorkel in the mineral-rich waters of a 55-foot dome. Reserve your spot in advance.

Nestled in Diamond Fork Canyon, about one and a half hours from Salt Lake City, this geothermal spring features milky blue cascading pools in the cooler seasons. Fair warning: The round-trip hike takes about two hours, but the fall views are stunning. Plan on paying for parking at the trailhead, and bring a towel and water. Make sure to pack out. 

Around an hour from Salt Lake City, Crystal Hot Springs has both hot and cold pools and an Olympic-size swimming pool for laps. The best part: It offers discounts for college students, families, and large groups.

Located on BLM land about 40 miles north of Delta, down a 7-mile gravel road, you'll find three small concrete pools filled with adjustable thermal water. It makes for a nice road trip break.

Soak in one of five Utah hot springs, from easy day trips near Salt Lake City to remote desert pools.

Fall Hot Springs in Utah: 5 Soaks You’ll Love

5 Utah Hot Springs To Visit This Fall

Emily Means

The holidays can be … a lot. Luckily, there are so many ways to bring light, joy, and coziness into the season. Here are some of the best for November.

More butter is always better — but especially during holiday baking and party season. 

 called "ButterClub." Choose from gorgeous, locally churned options, like the ~swoon~ edible butter candle or flavored whipped butter.

November has loads of volunteer opportunities, with something for every interest and time commitment. 

 for local families with The Guadalupe School, 

clean up the Jordan River Peace Labyrinth

sort donations at the Women's Resource Center

Visit Salt Lake's community service directory

Ambitious gifters, assemble! Whether you're a crafting noob or a seasoned vet, 

 have the supplies stocked and expertise on staff to help you create something special for everyone on your nice list. If you're really starting from zero, 

 on woodworking, card making, or sewing. Even easier: Gift a class!

Friendsgiving is a great concept, until you're crying over a runny pecan pie. If you're a guest, consider 

preordering a pie from Forty-Three Bakery

 (sold at Harmon's!) for a cozy spiked or N/A beverage.You could also leave the cooking to the pros entirely and gather friends around the table at 

 Nov. 6, with vibrant aquatic displays lighting up the plaza through the holidays. Your festival ticket also includes entry to the aquarium, though if you go later in the evening, the animals might be sleeping. Pro tip: Make a whole night of it and have 

 before or after. It's in the neighborhood!

The holidays can be … a lot. Luckily, there are so many ways to bring light, joy, and coziness into the season. Here are some of the best for November 2026 in Salt Lake.

Your Guide to Salt Lake in November 2026

Terina Ria

Will you be leaning into the spooky or snuggly this month? The best thing is you don’t have to choose and you can do it all.

Your Guide to October 2026 in Salt Lake

Are you in a creative slump? Join a free, 

 working their way through Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way” at Make Well studio. The program kicks off Oct. 1 and meets every other Thursday. No artistic experience required.

 is a scary movie club with a twist: Every month, view a horror, thriller, or cult classic at Murray Theater, but you won’t know what you’re watching until you arrive. Memberships start at $15.

Remember, It’s Just a Bunch of Hocus Pocus

Celebrate everyone’s favorite Halloween movie, “Hocus Pocus,” by watching it all month long: 

This month was made for book nerds. Start things off with a 

 at The King’s English Bookshop on Oct. 4. Then fill the rest of your calendar with author talks, workshops, and other literary fun at the 

Visit Lake Effect’s “Nightmare Before Christmas” pop-up, which turns the downtown bar into a 

 every Monday through Oct. 26, featuring the Pumpkin King himself. Tickets are $25 per person.

Make the most of October in Salt Lake by creating, watching scary movies, and nonstop reading.

Your Guide to Salt Lake in October 2026

September is about as dog-friendly as it gets, with events all month long. Here are some places you should take your furry friend.

Who said Oktoberfest was just for the humans? Bring your pup to the festival Sept. 5-7 at Snowbasin Resort. Get there early: The first 50 dogs will get a free bandana. Dogs must be on leashes.

Take your dog out to the ballgame Sept. 9 to see the Salt Lake Bees play at The Ballpark at America First Square. Expect pet-friendly amenities and other dog lovers.

Here's where you should take your furry friend this September in Utah. 

Salt Lake's Best

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Salt Lake's Best

5 Utah Hot Springs To Visit This Fall

Your Guide to Salt Lake in November 2026

Your Guide to Salt Lake in October 2026

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Your Guide to Salt Lake in September 2026

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Add to Cart: November Edition

Outsource Your Thanksgiving

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Eat Your Way Through the Holy War

Craft Classes in Salt Lake City to Make Holiday Gifts

Test Your Energy-Saving Knowledge

Utah’s Craft Stores to the Rescue (Because Christmas Is Coming)

Fall Break for the Pumpkin Patch Crowd and the Party Crowd