Table talk: Food news and events in Utah

Taste of the Town, an outdoors dining event featuring 16 participating Layton restaurants, takes place July 24 at the Layton Commons Park, 437 N. Wasatch Drive. From 4-7 p.m., guests can sample food from the restaurants and listen to free live music by Red Shot Pony.

There is no entry fee, but tickets are required for food booths. Tickets are $1 per ticket or 12 tickets for $10. Most food items cost less than four tickets. Many restaurants also offer a 15 percent discount July 24-Aug. 31 for patrons who come to the restaurant and show their Taste of the Town tickets.

Participating restaurants include Boston's, Corbin's Grille, Cutler's Cookies and Sandwiches, Daily Rise, Davis Hospital, Holy Smoke BBQ, MacCool's Public House, Roosters Brewing Co., Taste of India, Zeppes Italian Water Ice, NYPD Pizzeria, Sugar Daisy Bakery, Bandidos Border Grill, TCBY, Moxi Bistro and Cutsie Cakes.

After 7 p.m., Layton City will sponsor a free concert from "Riders in the Sky" at the Ed Kenley Amphitheatre.

The Savory Palate, a student-run restaurant at The Art Institute of Salt Lake City (AiSLC), reopened last week. It offers organic, locally grown seasonal ingredients that dictate the restaurant's weekly menu. The fixed-price, three-course lunch is $12.95.

The restaurant is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., until Sept. 8. Reservations are required (801-601-4769). The restaurant is located on the second floor of the AiSLC's Draper campus at 121 W. Election Road.

Nancy Beykirch, founder and owner of Love to Cook at Kitchen Kneads in Logan, is retiring after 12 years of operating her cookware store and teaching cooking classes. The store is celebrating her retirement July 31 with vendor demonstrations, product giveaways, free knife sharpening and in-store specials.

"We wanted to send Nancy out with a bang," says Chris Beykirch, Nancy's son and new owner of the business. "She has helped literally thousands of people from all over the state."

Nancy will offer one last cooking class, called "Nancy's Favorites," July 29 at 6:30 p.m., for $15. Registration is required (435-752-9220 or www.luvtocook.com).

T.G.I. Friday's restaurants will treat guests to a free $10 gift card at participating restaurants when they buy two entrées from Friday's new Caribbean-inspired summer menu. The new menu has 14 new dishes starting at $8.99. The chain restaurant also has a Give Me More Stripes frequent dining rewards program at www.givememorestripes.com.