Laurel Bartmess
AN INSIDER’S INSIGHTS
A “deep love of food, of eating, and sharing with others” is why Laurel Bartmess, the founder of Woodland Biscuit Company, opened her café in rural Woodland, Utah. Located a short drive from Park City in the old Woodland Cash Store, Bartmess and her staff serve up a variety of brunch items. Everything from your traditional biscuit and gravy plate with bacon, eggs, and potatoes to more eccentric items like the Thai Scrambled Eggs with local-grown carrots folded into soft scrambled eggs and topped with ginger, chili, garlic, peanuts, and served with a biscuit and jam, of course. Bartmess’ passion for baking is apparent in her flaky, made-from-scratch biscuits and folks come from all over to enjoy them at the Woodland Biscuit Company. “Good food in a good space can brighten one’s day,” says Bartmess.
Bartmess dabbled a bit in the restaurant industry prior to opening Woodland Biscuit Company in 2015. She declined a position with University of Utah to follow a dream – starting her own restaurant. After making biscuits every Saturday morning for her two daughters, it was a natural transition to make them for the community as well. “Food is the thread that connects everybody,” she says. Woodland Biscuit Company—good food, connection, and community.
Favorite Taste Adventures From the Dedicated Baker:
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A favorite breakfast dish this summer was the French omelette with local-ish mushrooms, Brie, and lemon zest. I took a deep dive into mushrooms this summer. Finding Adam Wong and his expansive variety of mushrooms at the Park City Farmer’s Market really rocked my world. Also, Kat one of my all-stars in the kitchen makes a beautifully rolled French omelette and will sometimes garnish it with flowers she’s foraged which completes it in such a gorgeous way. It’s just a lovely balanced breakfast.
The Chimichurri Breakfast Sandwich would come in second place. I fell in love with curly-leaf parsley in 2021, and chimichurri appeared soon after. How can you not love chimichurri? It’s simple and ridiculously inexpensive to make and hits all the right notes. When I eat this sandwich, I imagine traveling in South America, yet the biscuit draws me back home, which is super comfy in a disjointed sort of way for me. Drizzle this liquid green gold on top of an egg sandwich that includes bacon, lettuce, and tomato, and sandwiched with a biscuit - very solid.
Some other favorites would include Biscuits and Gravy, Shirred Eggs with Gruyère and Rosemary, and Salmon and Goat Cheese scramble with chives and a side of house potatoes, biscuit, and jam. Then there is the beloved Cinnamon Roll Biscuit which is a hot commodity as we only make a certain number of these gems before we transition to biscuits!
As to a strong patronage and longevity - it’s entirely my staff and my patrons! My staff is small, but their grit and talent are gigantic, and no surprise here; they care about what they are doing which translates to the food and the experience of our guests. Our patrons are amazing humans who also care, which is where the magic lies- in that caring. Generally speaking, we have similar mindsets, values, and respect for food, hard work, and community which has kept us doing what we love which is creating a space to enjoy food with people. Yes, that longevity lies in the quality of people who work and dine at Woodland Biscuit Company and live in the surrounding communities.
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If it’s summer, I suggest hiking in different areas of the county as much as possible and ending it with some great food. If you have a kitchen where you are staying, make a trip to the Park City Farmer’s Market in August and September, pick up bread from Red Bicycle Breadworks at The Market and fish at The Fish Market Park City, and then go home and cook one night. Another summer thought- Rodeos! Oakley Rodeo, Kamas Valley Fiesta Days, Francis Frontier Days, Summit County Fair & Rodeo in Coalville! Rodeo food, cowboys, Americana heaven.
If it’s winter, ski, and if you haven’t tried skate skiing and/or classic skiing, maybe take a cross country ski lesson at White Pine Touring and give it a go. The Egyptian Theatre, Park City Film, The Kimball Arts Center, High West Distillery at Blue Sky are all great. Definitely do a walking tour with the Park City Museum and visit the Utah Olympic Park if you are into the Olympics.
If you’re visiting Summit County, I would say explore as much of the county as possible. There are gems in every city. Just make sure to collect some information online about hours and days of operation before you head out. Also, not every local business, such as Woodland Biscuit Company, monitors their Google listing, so make sure to go to the website or call the establishment for accurate information.
I suggest exploring areas of interest that feel comfortable to you but also areas that are completely new and help you think about new things. Of course, the Sundance Film Festival would be a must if you are visiting in January but also check out Park City Song Summit in the late summer. Totally fresh and, you won’t regret it 20 years from now when you can say you went to one of the first Park City Song Summits. Think concerts, theatre, art, lectures, etc. and then check out www.visitparkcity.com and the Park Record just to make sure you haven’t missed something amazing.
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We are so fortunate to have very talented and caring farmers in and around our county. I love the Park City Farmers Market, especially in August, September, and October. They have great tomatoes and cantaloupe as well. Ranui Gardens, Mad Snacks Produce, Auntie Em’s, Intermountain Gourmet Mushroom, Smith Orchard (peaches, nectarines, apples, and more), Pyne Orchard (apples and apple cider), and First Frost Farm (load up on garlic in June). Oakley Farmer’s Market is also one that I totally want to check out. It’s new and growing and a good way to explore another part of the county.
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Here are three adventures that require a bit of time:
For Breakfast, I like to pick up a coffee at any of the coffee shops around town, then pastry hop to Ritual Chocolate, Five5eeds, Harvest Park City, Auntie Em’s in The Market, Hill’s Kitchen, Windy Ridge Café, or anything else that may be new on the scene. I have a bite or two of each and then snack on them for days.
For lunch, tacos in Kamas at Tacos El Guero #2, then I would head to Coalville via Rockport Reservoir to have a milkshake at the Polar King in Coalville. My daughter and I would drive there during early Covid when we needed to get out of the house. They would make us the best shake. Just enough of the mix-in, I think Butterfinger and blended just right. Not overly smooth. We need some chunks. They also have Mexican food, but then you miss the drive. Or, you could start there for tacos or a burger, head to Kamas for ice cream at HiMountain Drug and then head to The Notch Pub on Mirror Lake Highway for a nightcap. If you head up to the Uintas for a hike or a drive, stop by the Samak Smoke House for a sandwich and/or snacks. On your way back down the mountain, stop at The Notch Pub.
For dinner, if it’s summer, I suggest hiking or biking as much as possible and ending it with some great food and drink like charcuterie at the Chop Shop Park City and wine at Old Town Cellars on Main Street in Park City.
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We would start at Hearth and Hill with a glass of wine and fries, then we’d head to another one of the many great restaurants in our community, such as Silver Star Cafe, Tupelo, Yuki Yama Sushi, Handel, High West Distillery (well, not until they hit 21), Riverhorse on Main, Twisted Fern, and Blind Dog to name just a few.
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I believe art and culture to be the essential medium for living an enriching life. I also view art and culture as the fabric of humanity, providing us with the sensory experience that we inherently crave and need. There are many levels to engage with art, from listening to music to attending live music, from experiencing a restaurant to taking a cooking class, finding local bread, or deciding to learn to make your own bread. It’s all a form of creativity, of art, as in creating something that holds some sort of beauty to you, and you get to assign the meaning of the I believe art and culture to be the essential medium for living an enriching life. I also view art and culture as the fabric of humanity, providing us with the sensory experience that we inherently crave and need. There are many levels to engage with art, from listening to music to attending live music, from experiencing a restaurant to taking a cooking class, finding local bread, or deciding to learn to make your own bread. It’s all a form of creativity, of art, as in creating something that holds some sort of beauty to you, and you get to assign the meaning of the beauty. I think a strong art and culture scene strengthens a community. Art threads us together in inexplicable, magical ways. Summit County’s deep commitment to the art and culture scene is palpable, appreciated, remarkable and I love being a part of it.