Summer's abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables is giving rise to prix fixe events at restaurants around Salt Lake.

Why it matters: Tasting menus typically bring diners together in small groups for chef-curated gourmet social experiences that make outstanding date night splurges — especially as anniversary season gets underway.

• Presentation is central, often featuring personal service from the chef and discussions of their culinary choices.

Driving the news: We paid a visit to Mar | Mutanya's Chef's Garden Table last week, where chef Tyson Peterson gave us a preview of an eight-course menu, featuring charcoal-fired crab, Wagyu beef and a variety of roasted veggies that can stand on their own.

• The meals launch tomorrow and continue throughout the summer.

Catch up quick: We recently told you about some of Salt Lake's omakase options.

Here are some other prix fixe experiences to try:

🧆 Monte: Prix fixe is the main event at this South Salt Lake eatery, with chef Martín Babío serving seasonal fare in short and long menus Wednesdays-Saturdays.

🍲Table X: Another modern American restaurant designed for tasting menu diners, with five- and seven-course options prepared by chef Mike Blocher.

🍝 Veneto: Chef Marco Stevanoni prepares a seasonal "menú degustazione" of four or seven courses, with wine pairings for an extra charge, Tuesdays-Sundays at the Central 9th restaurant.

🇪🇸 Rouser: Sample from Spain's charcoal cooking tradition at the intimate Josper Counter four-course dinners Tuesdays-Saturdays.

• The Asher Adams restaurant also offers special wine dinners via its Uncorked membership program.

🥘 Franck's: The Tuesday Tasting Menu changes each week, from a kitchen known for its experimental flavors.

🍷 BTG Wine Bar: Follow on Instagram or Facebook to keep up with their special tasting dinners, like the four-course "winemaker dinner" June 8, paired with Italian wines by Tenuta Sant'Antonio.

🇮🇹 Antica Sicilia: The Millcreek Italian restaurant offers a Chef's Table Experience by inquiry only.

🥩 Fleming's: Wine and cocktail dinners are scheduled regularly, with a Napa-themed event May 29.

Tell a foodie

Salt Lake County prosecutors yesterday charged a Taylorsville police officer with one count of second degree felony manslaughter over a 2024 shooting.

The big picture: It's the first time since 2014 that Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill has filed manslaughter charges against an officer.

Zoom in: Officer Jimmy Haas, 36, is accused of fatally shooting 28-year old Henry Chavez Jr., an unarmed man who fled law enforcement authorities in October 2024.

• Chavez had rammed his truck into Haas' police cruiser multiple times when another officer blocked the truck with another car, charging documents state.
• Body camera footage showed Haas then aimed a flashlight through the truck's rear window and fired his gun at Chavez, prosecutors wrote.
• Chavez fled the vehicle but died minutes later.

What they're saying: Eric Daigle, a law enforcement consultant and expert who reviewed the case, called Haas' actions "not reasonable and consistent with general industry standards for the use of deadly force and officer-involved shootings," per charging documents.

What's next: Haas faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

• An attorney for Haas did not immediately comment to Axios.

Share this story

🪧 Hundreds of protesters rallied at the Utah Capitol yesterday to decry a proposed data center in Box Elder County. (FOX 13)

🩺 Utah's reached 663 measles cases, with 37 people reporting they contracted the disease in the last three weeks. (Utah News Dispatch)

📈 Census data show Eagle Mountain was Utah's fastest-growing city and ranked ninth nationally after adding about 5,000 residents between July 2024 and July 2025. (KSL)

We're more than two years away from the 2028 governor's election, but that hasn't stopped potential candidates from publicly weighing runs for the rare open seat.

Driving the news: Fox News contributor and former U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz recently told Deseret News he's thinking about jumping in the race, setting up what's expected to be a highly competitive GOP primary.

The intrigue: The move comes after Politico reported Monday that U.S. Sen. John Curtis was also mulling a run for the state's chief executive post.

Catch up quick: Chaffetz was elected to Congress in 2008 to represent Utah's 3rd Congressional District after defeating six-term incumbent Rep. Chris Cannon in the Republican primary.

• He left his post in 2017 before the end of his fifth term and joined Fox News. Curtis took over Chaffetz' seat after winning in a special election that year.
• Before running for Congress, Chaffetz served as the chief of staff to then- Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.

Catch up quick: Gov. Cox has said he doesn't plan to run for a third term, leaving the door wide open for another conservative in the deep red state.

• Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, U.S. Rep. Blake Moore and House Speaker Mike Schultz have also been floated as potential contenders, per Deseret News.

💭 My thought bubble: Can we get through the midterms first?

Pass it on