February Feasts: From Venezuelan Cachapas to Cinnamon Rolls
- Kathryn Simpson
- Mar 22
- 6 min read
February was a whirlwind of culinary experiences, from catching up with friends over lunch to family outings and indulgent treats. Here’s a roundup of the restaurants we visited, packed with all the tasty details!
Arempas
I met up with a work friend in an area I don’t often visit, and after catching up, we decided to grab lunch at a new Venezuelan restaurant called Arempas. I wasn’t sure what to order, so I asked for a recommendation and was told to try the Cachapas—a traditional Venezuelan dish made with ground corn. It tasted like a cornbread pancake filled with cheese, and it was absolutely amazing! I opted to add carne asada, which was a fantastic addition. Before I knew it, I had eaten the entire thing. It was the perfect lunch, paired with great conversation.
Pizzeria Limone
I had to go near downtown for a work audit, and since the location was large, a co-worker and I split the workload. We finished around lunchtime and decided to eat at Pizzeria Limone. I ordered the Pera pizza, which came with their special five-cheese blend, sliced pears, prosciutto, red onions, pistachios, and basil. The dough was incredibly fresh, and while the pizza wasn’t huge, I ended up eating the whole thing—it was that good! I especially loved the unexpected sweetness of the pears on the pizza, which made every bite delightful.
Eight Settlers Restaurant and Distillery
A friend and I planned a get-together and decided to meet at Eight Settlers. We started with drinks and an appetizer to share: the cool ranch elote dip, made with corn, beans, and queso, served with tortilla chips. For drinks, I first tried the Spiced Chai Old Fashioned, which I was excited about, but it had more of an orange taste than chai, which was a bit disappointing. My second drink, the Ensign, was also whiskey-based but featured pear and blackberry—a perfect balance of sweetness without being overpowering. The Ensign definitely made up for the earlier miss and left me impressed with their creativity.
Domino’s
My family can never resist a good deal on pizza, especially after the transformation challenge ended. Domino’s had a sale on their handmade pan pizzas for just $9.99 each, and we couldn’t resist. We ordered two: one with pepperoni and sausage for the girls, and another with garlic parmesan sauce, Philly cheesesteak, sausage, and loaded with veggies. The dough on these pizzas is so good, making this chain a frequent go-to for us. Both pizzas hit the spot, and we all left satisfied.
3Cup
I met a co-worker at 3Cup to catch up, and the coffee shop was decently busy, so we sat at a middle table. It has a fun vibe, perfect for a casual get-together or to get some work done. This time, I kept it simple with a black drip coffee while we chatted—it had been a while since we last got together. Although I didn’t order food, I’ve enjoyed their options in the past, like acai bowls, avocado toast, and pastries, which are always a treat.
Oak Wood Fire Kitchen
Madi had a morning date with friends at the aquarium, and afterward, we headed to Oak Wood Fire Kitchen for lunch. The last time we tried to go, the wait was too long for the kids, but this time we arrived at the perfect moment and secured a large table for all of us. The kids were occupied with their menus and crayons while we ordered. I got the Papa Juan pizza, which was spicy and delicious, featuring carne asada, chipotle crema, radish, pickled onions, and Fresno chiles—likely the source of the heat. For the girls, I ordered a pepperoni pizza for Madi and a kids’ traditional brunch for Jules, which included an egg, sausage, potatoes, and a biscuit. Since my pizza was too spicy for them, I enjoyed it all to myself and took about half home for later. Madi loved the potatoes the most, while Jules favored the sausage and pizza. We’ve enjoyed every visit to Oak, and this was no exception!
Drunken Kitchen
A friend and I met for a work-related lunch at Drunken Kitchen, and their noodle soups caught my eye. I originally ordered the Taiwanese beef noodle soup, but the waitress returned to say they were out of it. Instead, she offered their more expensive bone-in beef short rib noodle soup at the same price, and I happily accepted. The soup featured handmade noodles in a tomato broth with tender beef that fell off the bone, plus veggies that added a nice touch. I loved it, though it was quite salty—I drank a lot of water during and after the meal! The portion was massive, and while I thought I could finish it when I was hungry, I barely ate half. The leftovers were decent, but it was definitely best fresh.
Wasatch Brewery, Wick Lab, and Bow Tie Creamery
A few co-workers were in town, and I always make it a point to see visitors. They planned dinner at Wasatch Brewery, followed by an activity at the Wick Lab. At Wasatch Brewery, I ordered the steak sandwich with top sirloin tips, mushroom gravy, and Swiss cheese. It was delicious but very messy—definitely not a first-date option, though perfect for a casual night with friends! I paired it with a glass of Gen 5 Cabernet Sauvignon, which complemented the meal beautifully. I brought some leftovers home and enjoyed them the next day.
After dinner, we headed to the Wick Lab to make candles, which was a fun experience. I mixed an unusual combination of garden mint, bread, and snickerdoodle scents for my candle—it smelled very different from a traditional candle, but I loved it! With 20 minutes before closing, we noticed Bow Tie Creamery next door and stopped in for ice cream. I sampled a few flavors and settled on speculoos s’mores and horchata—a perfect way to end the night with friends.
Dough Lady
I’ve recently become obsessed with the Dough Lady, especially their cinnamon rolls. After Madi’s swim class one day, while Erik was hiking with friends, I took the girls to Dough Lady. We enjoyed some fresh cinnamon rolls on-site and bought a few frozen ones to take home. We got a mix of fresh rolls: Traditional, Blueberry Lemon, Fruity Pebbles, and Strawberry and Cream. For the frozen rolls, we picked Pizza and another Strawberry and Cream. I’m glad the transformation challenge at my gym was mostly during the time Strawberry and Cream was the special roll of the month because I would have overeaten them—they were amazing and are now my new favorite flavor! I can’t wait for Strawberry and Cream to return.
Break
After Erik’s hike, he and his friends came over to our house so we could all visit. Erik had taken our dog Maple on the hike, as it would have been too challenging with the girls, but Maple loved the outing. We decided to order takeout from Break. Erik got the Boneyard Burnt End Burger, while the rest of the family shared the Break Sampler, which included crispy chicken tenders, garlic cheese curds, onion rings, and was supposed to have potato skins but came with pretzel bites instead—a bit of a disappointment. After indulging in cinnamon rolls earlier, I didn’t feel like eating anything too greasy, so I had a healthier meal-prepped chicken dish at home, with just a few nibbles from the sampler to taste. The girls loved the sampler, and Erik enjoyed his burger. It was another successful dinner with friends to cap off our February adventures.
February was truly a month of culinary delights, filled with new discoveries and cherished moments with family and friends. From the cheesy, carne asada-filled Cachapas at Arempas to the spicy Papa Juan pizza at Oak Wood Fire Kitchen, and the indulgent Strawberry and Cream cinnamon rolls at Dough Lady, each visit brought its own unique flavors and memories. Whether I was catching up with co-workers over noodle soup at Drunken Kitchen or enjoying a creative candle-making night capped with ice cream at Bow Tie Creamery, this month reminded me how food can bring people together in the best ways. I’m already looking forward to March’s adventures—let me know in the comments which of these spots you’d try or if you have any local favorites to share that we must try!
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