This Christmas become a card-carrying bearer of glad tidings
MARIO RUIZ/Daily Herald The pulled pork sandwich with corn, cornbread and salad (front) and the cheese steak sandwich with sweet potato fries at the Smoking Apple BBQ in Lindon.
A turtle brownie from The Chocolate on Monday, August 15, 2011 on State Street in Orem. ASHLEY FRANSCELL/Daily Herald
The Bleu Fire Shrimp from Black Sheep Cafe in Provo. Photographed on Tuesday, July 17, 2012. JAMES ROH/Daily Herald
Thanksgiving is here, which can mean only one thing: There are 32 shopping days left until Christmas. Why not simplify things by giving a restaurant gift card to some of the people on your Nice List? It’s a present sure to be used and loved. As the advertisements for Chik-fil-A gift cards say, “Nobody regifts chikin.” Here, then, are a few suggestions:
For the long-suffering elementary school teacher: Thanks to low budgets and large class sizes, she spends her time telling 32 wiggle-worms to quiet down, already. If anyone needs a dessert at the end of the day, it’s probably your child’s elementary school teacher. Reward her with a gift card to The Chocolate, a dessert café located in a charming renovated house on State Street in Orem. The Chocolate serves goodies such as chocolate cake, macaroons, turtle brownies and red velvet cupcakes. And although there are a number of fruit-filled delicacies on the menu, one needn’t sit criss-cross applesauce to enjoy them.
— 212 S. State St., Orem, (801) 224-7334, www.thechocolatedc.com
For the sassy hairdresser: She talked you into chunky highlights before they were all the rage — and then talked you back out of them when they were so five minutes ago. She’s listened to you complain about your unsympathetic boss, your whiny kids and your insufferable spouse (all of whom you adore, of course). Reward her with a gift card to Bombay House. This unpretentious Indian eatery has been a mainstay in the Provo dining scene for some 20 years. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the spicy food may be just the ticket for a sassy personality.
— 463 N. University Ave., Provo, and other Utah locations, (801) 373-6677, www.bombayhouse.com
For the ever-supportive younger brother: He’ll watch your dogs while you are on vacation, drive you to the airport at 4 a.m., and is always one of the three people in the audience at your open mic poetry night. Tell him a gift card to the Black Sheep Café is not a reflection on his refusal to find a nice Utah girl and settle down, but rather a tribute to his good taste. The Provo café serves dishes inspired by Southwestern American Indian cuisine, with menu items such as Navajo Tacos, Shrimp on Blue Corn Polenta, and Grilled Pork Chops with Roasted Poblano Chiles.
— 19 N. University Ave., Provo, (801) 607-2485, www.facebook.com/blacksheepcafe
For the devoted newspaper carrier: He’s up in the early hours to get local news to your doorstep, sends you a yearly Christmas card, and has never, ever broken a window or thrown a paper on the roof. Reward him with a gift card to J Dawgs, a simple hot dog shop with a well-deserved, cultlike following. There, he can order a Polish or beef hot dog, and smother it with toppings such as onions, sauerkraut and banana peppers.
— 287 E. University Pkwy., Orem, and other Utah locations, (801) 226-3294, www.jdawgs.com
For the best neighbors on Earth: She watches your kids weekly and never complains when they teach her’s colorful new language. He’s always cleaning up your failed home improvement projects and is ready to move a piece of furniture at a moment’s notice. Reward them with a gift card to the Smoking Apple, a small, locally owned barbecue joint that’s a north Utah County favorite. There, your neighbors can enjoy ultimate comfort food such as mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, pulled pork and beef brisket.
— 70 N. State St., Lindon, (801) 406-9928