Sometimes the best food finds happen when you least expect them. I was cruising down State Street in South Salt Lake when hunger struck and I spotted a modest storefront with a bright sign promising Cajun seafood.
In landlocked Utah, that seemed like a long shot, but the aroma of garlic and spice pulled me into the parking lot like a tractor beam. By the time I walked through the door, I half expected a jazz band to start playing zydeco and a Mardi Gras parade to erupt right in the dining room.
Pulling Off State Street
State Street can blur into a stream of strip malls and traffic lights if you’re not paying attention. But when I rolled past this tidy little spot, something made me hit the brakes. The neon sign glowed warm against the afternoon sky, and the parking lot was dotted with cars angled every which way.
Before I even opened my door, the smell hit me like a wave of buttery, garlicky, peppery goodness. It drifted across the asphalt and practically dragged me toward the entrance. A couple walked out juggling paper bags and wearing the satisfied grins of people who’d just eaten something unforgettable…