We met my Aunt Tillie at Zinn's Bistro in Salt Lake City today - and everyone should have an Aunt Tillie. She's the "salt of the Earth" as "they" say and has always been interested in our lives - and we got the full report on all of her kids so it was kind of like a family reunion of sorts! She had not been to Zinn's before - so she was in for a treat. If you haven't been to Zinn's then you must put it on your list of restaurants you MUST go to before you die...it's a family owned business and everything is made from scratch each day...including the basketfull of pastries that they bring to your table the minute you sit down - along with a little cup of hot cider to help wash them down. There are SO many pastries in the basket that you would never be able to eat them all - but it's okay - they'll bring you a "go" box at the end of your meal and there will be plenty of room in it for the pastries AND the homemade chocolate chip cookies they bring you when they hand you the bill AND the rest of the enormous sandwich or salad you couldn't finish because it was so huge and you were already stuffed from the pastries! I managed to snap this one shot of the pastries - after MOST of them had already been eaten ...almond and cream-cheese filled blintzes, popovers, mini-buns stuffed with cinnamon and apples, chocolate almond croissants, etc., etc., every bite of the food just melts in your mouth...and despite the Food Nazi's who run the place - the atmosphere is very pleasant and they leave you alone to enjoy your meal for as long as you want....but they have no customer/social skills whatsoever, can be blatantly rude and act like they are doing you a HUGE favor just to let you in their doors....If you go late you're likely to encounter a sign on the door that reads, "We're Out of Food"....and please don't ask for any substitutions.....but...all that aside - their food IS wonderful and it's probably the best restaurant in the city...next to the Blue Iguana. No baby yet.
