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Ideal spot for Provisions in Kamas | |
| By Nancy Hobbs Special to The Tribune |
8/29/2003 | |
| KAMAS -- Somehow, between coaching South Summit High School's swim and water polo teams and teaching local kids how to swim, Leigh Anderson finds time to bake scones and muffins, make soup and set up for the day at Provisions, a comfortable little coffee shop and deli on Main Street in Kamas. It's a lot of work and long days, "but I really like both jobs," she says. For summer visitors on either end of a trip up the Mirror Lake Highway, Provisions is a welcome sight -- hard to miss due to the whimsical mural that runs the length of the cafe's exterior wall. (It was done by Roger Laws, who generally works a block south, as a chef at Pasillas Restaurant.) Step through Provisions' screened wooden door -- a relic that fits the café's homey, small-town feel -- and find more of Laws' creative work on the blackboard menus, offering various sandwiches and wraps on one and myriad coffee delights on another. Most morning customers, including local regulars, are roused by Provisions' coffee bar, a relatively new emphasis since Anderson and her husband, Matt, bought the shop nearly a year ago. No more run-of-the-mill coffee, Anderson says; she has switched to Salt Lake Roasting Co. brews, and sells a lot of lattes, espressos and chai tea drinks. The caffeine continues to attract business all day, but "iced" requests pick up as temperatures rise in the afternoon. Coffee ice cubes are a nice touch in large iced coffees; even as the cubes melt, the brew stays flavorful, rather than being diluted. Provisions' scones are a good coffee companion, particularly the lemon-blueberry variety, which are crumbly and not too sweet with big, juicy blueberries that taste fresh (although they are really frozen, Anderson admits). Those, along with frosted lemon scones and delicious cranberry and/or blueberry muffins, sell well -- not surprising at only $1.25 each -- and often are gone by midday. If that is your bad luck, there is plenty more to choose from, including a terrific club sandwich with roast beef, turkey and ham dressed up with lettuce, onions, tomato and a creamy horseradish sauce ($5.25); or a more healthy chicken caesar wrap, with lots of fresh greens, grilled chicken and feta cheese ($4.50). Veggie sandwiches and wraps, also $4.50 each, are filled with cucumbers, sprouts, tomatoes, lettuce and avocado. More finicky eaters can customize sandwiches or wraps by choosing from five types of bread, a half-dozen meats, cheeses and garnishes for $4.50, or $2.75 for a half. Kids also like that option, as they can fill out the sandwich card on their own, whether for a grilled cheese with ketchup or a plain tuna fish on white bread. Provisions is not a big place, with only a handful of tables and a couch inside and a few tables outside. That doesn't seem to be a problem, however, as many customers take out their orders. In fact, the deli is a perfect place to stop and order a picnic lunch to be enjoyed up the canyon, either at the visually stunning Provo River Falls or the picturesque Mirror Lake (or any of the several smaller lakes en route to Mirror Lake). As winter gets closer and traffic through the "Gateway to the Uintas" tapers off, Anderson said business hours will be adjusted, with the deli probably closing a couple of hours earlier every day. But skiers and snowmobilers can still stop by for coffee or lunch, which on cooler days includes two homemade soups daily. ----- Nancy Hobbs is The Tribune's restaurant reviewer. The newspaper covers the cost of meals at restaurants reviewed and there is no connection between reviews and restaurant advertising. Hobbs welcomes food and wine news, comments and suggestions at nhobbs@xmission.com
Provisions Deli and Coffee Shop
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