CLOSED: Lunch Ladies: Tamarack
The Lunch Ladies thoroughly enjoyed their first visit to Tamarack and plan to go back for many more!
The Lunch Ladies indulged in some sweet dessert this lunch hour. They shared Ice Cream with Berries and Peach Cobbler. CREDIT: Gabrielle Harris
Gabby went all out this lunch hour and ordered a tender and tasty Rib Eye. CREDIT: Gabrielle Harris
Jennette went for the Fish and Chips and was very pleased with the result. CREDIT: Jennette Esplin
Lyndsi tried Tamarack's Tomato Fettuccini and garlic cheese bread. CREDIT: Lyndsi Seltz
Sylvia enjoyed the Cobb Salad with loads of fresh ingredients. CREDIT: Sylvia Abbott
Do you remember that feeling as a kid when you have been playing in the sandbox on a hot summer day, and you decide to build a sand castle?
But this could not be just any old sand castle; it has to be one with a moat. So you start digging, but you only have your hands as tools, and then your brother starts to add the water, and the castle starts to collapse. So you decide to just make mud tunnels instead, and have the water rush through your maze of tunnels and waterways.
But the sun is blazing down, quickly cracking your dirt pathways, drying out your skin and crystallizing the mud back into sand particles underneath your fingernails, unintentionally exfoliating your knees, knuckles, and even your cheeks, that have been casually caught in the crossfire of your summer escapades.
And then right as you feel drained, baked and are starting to feel like your skin has quite a bit in common with that of a coarse alligator, the sprinklers come on. First it is just the soothing sound that instantly welcomes you, then it’s the relaxing scent of fresh water as it hits the grass, and then before you know it, you are hypnotized by the warm, soft pellets inviting you to relax, let go and escape from all the dirt and grime.
Within a matter of minutes you are drenched, basking in the rejuvenating delight of fresh water, the summer glare is nothing but a distant memory. With the refreshing cooldown, all else seems to melt away, and fall from your being within a matter of moments. This is what our recent visit to Tamarack did for the Lunch Ladies.
We are all busy women, with hectic professional and personal lives. Sometimes the lunch hour is the only part of our week where we really get to sit down, and just enjoy ourselves and our friendship, so finding an atmosphere that soothes, enchants and helps us escape the bombardment known as reality for even an hour is considered a gem in our trove. And Tamarack is exactly that!
Entering the newly opened restaurant for the first time, we couldn’t stop raving about the simplified rustic-chic décor, wonderful view of Aspen trees from our window-side table, and the great natural light cascading the dining hall.
We were then greeted by friendly staff, placed our orders, sat back, sipped our amazing specialty drinks and enjoyed the great music selection playing in the background. It wasn’t too loud and was the perfect accent to complete the ideal ambience for this lunch hour!
And then came the delicious meals, determined to not be outdone by their surroundings! Here is what each Lunch Lady enjoyed:
Lyndsi: Tomato Fettuccini $11, Peach Lemonade $3
My lunch today was very fitting for the current end of summer season that is upon us. I enjoyed a beautiful view of changing leaves on the mountain as I sipped on my fresh peach lemonade. This, along with wonderful conversation, helped pass the time as I waited for my tomato fettuccini to arrive at the table. Once it arrived I was so hungry and it looked so good I just jumped right in. The fettuccini noodles were coated in a delicious tomato, basil and cheese sauce, and topped with two pieces of garlic cheese bread. The flavor was delicious with the sweetness of the tomatoes and the sharpness of the cheese. The sauce was so good, but I wanted there to be a little more on the pasta plus some extra to dip my bread into. My meal was delicious, the atmosphere was beautiful, and the conversation was perfect.
Jennette: Fish and Chips $13, Blackberry Limeade $3
I am always hesitant to try fish and chips at restaurants for fear that the fish will have too strong of a fishy flavor or be too greasy. Neither was the case with my delicious order today. The fish was lightly battered and served with a raspberry dipping sauce, a side salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing, and some fresh-cut and fried potato chips. Everything was so scrumptious and the portion was big enough that I got to take some home. Tamarack serves Pepsi products, so I chose the Blackberry Limeade. This was a very good choice; it made me forget about my beloved Diet Coke for at least the hour we were there!
Gabby: Rib Eye Steak $19, Blackberry Lemonade $3
Well, apparently I decided to follow the saying, “Go big or go home” this lunch hour! Steak for lunch was quite the splurge, but it was so tempting I just couldn’t resist. And I am so unbelievably glad I didn’t! This Black Angus steak was ridiculously tender and served with a mild sauce that complemented the meat, but didn’t cover it up. My meal also came with chopped sweet potatoes that had a slight drizzle of sauce on them as well. Wow, they were delicious! Green beans and a fresh side salad with spinach, arugula, and other tasty ingredients also joined the party. And last, but not least, I enjoyed a large, oversized mug of Blackberry Lemonade. Perfectly sweet, strong blackberry combined with tangy lemonade; I could barely stop drinking long enough to take bites of that steak!
Sylvia: Cobb Salad $10, Blackberry Limeade $3
“Movin’ on up to the East Side” is a bit how I felt when we first walked into the Tamarack. It is lovely inside, and though it looks like it can seat loads of people, there are all these cool “areas” that lend to a nice, somewhat intimate environment. My salad was super tasty. It was served on a bed of Romaine lettuce, with tomatoes, diced chicken breast, black forest ham, cucumber, an avocado puree and loads of blue cheese crumbles which I topped with blue cheese dressing. Table cloths, cloth napkins and one of my favorite salads for $10 … very nice.
Since this lunch had all the makings of a perfect escape from reality we decided why not take even one more step toward the whimsical and throw in some desserts to share. We decided on the Ice Cream and Berries as well as the Peach Cobbler. Both were fantastically fresh, full of flavor, and absolutely marvelous!
The Lunch Ladies thoroughly enjoyed our lunch at Tamarack; a shedding of the hectic cares, and washing away the daily grime was just what we needed and just what Tamarack delivered!
Tamarack — 1600 N. Freedom Blvd., Provo. Open every day from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.