Table talk

The Utah State Fair's Living Arts Handbooks are now available. These books contain entry deadlines, rules and forms for entering State Fair food competitions, including cooking contests sponsored by various food companies. Call 538-8400 for a handbook, or download rules and entry forms at www.utahstatefair.com.

Scoopology, a new dessert boutique, opens Thursday at 7710 S. Union Park Ave. The store lets customers create their own treats using ice cream, cookie dough, cereal, Pop Tarts, Jell-O and toppings such as candy bars, gummy worms and sprinkles. Several ice cream flavors and one sorbet are available daily. Customers can also custom-mix take-and-bake cookie dough from base doughs and mix-ins, such as chocolate chips and nuts (562-8937).

The Grand America is hosting "Farmers Market in the Garden," at 6:30 p.m. Friday. The menu, created by chef Jeffrey Russell, features produce grown by Utah farmers. Dinner is $35; optional wine pairing is $35 (258-6708).

Harmons Grocery Stores celebrated the company's 74th birthday by unveiling a new delicatessen and Internet Cafe at the Brickyard Store, 3270 S. 1300 East. Onsite chefs provide take-away entrees, such as sushi, cedar-plank salmon, baby back ribs and lasagna. The salad bar has 25 fresh-cut vegetables and fruit, a potato bar and soup. The bakery now sports an artisan bread hearth imported from Germany and an onsite cheese monger will offer information about the 75 different cheeses available. Customers can order meats and cheeses at a kiosk with a touch screen computer and then come back and pick up their order later.

Restaurants & Institutions magazine last week named ts 2006 Consumers' Choice in Chains winners. In a national survey, 3,100 restaurant customers rated 120 chain restaurants on food quality, menu variety, value, service, atmosphere, cleanliness, reputation and convenience.

Top winners were: In-N-Out Burger, Sweet Tomatoes, The Cheesecake Factory, Chick-fil-A, Starbucks Coffee, Cracker Barrel, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Don Pablo's, Papa Murphy's, Panera Bread, Red Lobster, Outback Steakhouse and Jamba Juice.

The Bridge (formerly Coffee Under the Bridge) is celebrating its third year in business at 511 W. 200 South. It offers vegan and organic baked goods and $6 daily lunch specials. Hours are 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. New owner Vic Back is a tattoo artist at Good Times Tatoo next door to The Bridge.