Golden Plates
A Restaurant Concept
I was raised to be such a good Mormon girl. And I was…until I was 34. That’s a story for another time. For now, let’s talk about food.
But that doesn’t negate my love for the culture I came from, was raised in, and continue to experience. Especially the FOOD culture.
From the resource-dependent meals Mormon Pioneers cooked while crossing the country to settle in Utah, to the canned-goods and ‘last days’ food prep of the 1970’s onward, and now to the bulk-friendly Costco-enhanced options of the latter days…there’s something in every era of Mormonism that speaks to the opportunity of culinary delights.
Over the last year, I’ve been on a health journey. I’ve had so many blood tests it’s laughable. Real change began for me when working with a Functional Medicine doctor, whose prescription included an “ALCAT” diet…which basically uses your blood to test for inflammatory markers and the foods that provoke them.
This means for most of 2026, I’ve been on a VERY strict nutrition plan. One that has omitted almost every food I grew up with - from Sunday roasts to green Jell-O. That’s probably why I was longing to create something to connect with the sugar-fueled worship of my past.
I’ve been enjoying fine dining for years and have had the privilege to enjoy some of the finest restaurants from coast to coast. I’ve watched every episode of Chef’s Table.
But I always wondered - what would a fine dining version of Mormon fare look like?
With a little bit of research and a lot of vibe coding, Claude and I came up with this restaurant concept. The vast majority of the ideas are mine (including the name…of which I’m particularly proud), and Claude helped enhance and format them into a webpage.
If you’re a chef and want to use my concept for “Golden Plates”, contact me and let’s come up with a licensing agreement.
Est. 2026
GOLDENPLATES
A Tasting Menu
Ten courses honoring the foodways
of the American West
Salt Lake City · $185 per guest · Dirty Soda Pairings +$55
"By study and also by faith"
Our Philosophy
This menu tells the story of a people who turned scarcity into ritual, community into cuisine, and modesty into a way of life.
From the sourdough starters kept alive across a thousand miles of prairie to the funeral potatoes that have comforted five generations of grieving families — these are foods that were never meant to be beautiful.
They were meant to be enough.
Tonight, we honor that tradition by elevating each dish to its highest expression — while never forgetting where it came from. Every course is rooted in the actual ingredients and techniques of pioneer wagons, church storehouses, and Relief Society kitchens.
We don't serve alcohol. We never have. Instead, we offer a curated Dirty Soda pairing program that proves the most interesting drink on any table doesn't need to be the most intoxicating.
THE DIRTY SODA
PROGRAM
In lieu of a wine program, we offer artisanal soda pairings. Each drink is crafted to complement its course — because the best pairing is the one that brings people to the same table.
À La Carte
The Pioneer
Cream soda, fresh lime, coconut cream, vanilla bean
The Bishop
Dr Pepper, blackberry, ginger, lime zest
The Missionary
Coke, coconut cream, raspberry, fresh lime
The Relief Society
Diet Coke, vanilla, peach, lavender foam
The Patriarch
Root beer, salted caramel, smoked cream, bitters
The Homecoming
Mountain Dew, fresh mango, chamoy, Tajín rim
The Temple Square
Sprite, elderflower, cucumber, basil, lime
The Beehive
Ginger ale, local honey, lemon, turmeric, cayenne
Also Available
Fresh-pressed juice flights · $18
House-made Postum latte (hot or iced) · $8
Herbal tea service · $10
Sparkling water, still water · complimentary
"We don't serve alcohol. We never have. We never will."