Business Spotlight: Element Park City

Old Town Cellars, OTC, wine dinner, Element Park City
Photo : Dan Campbell Photography
Instagram: @dancampbellphoto
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Where’s all the healthy, gluten-free, organic food in Park City? That’s the question Lucy Block asked herself when she moved to Utah from California eight years ago. In her former home of Encinitas, she says there were at least five gluten-free and organic restaurants she could frequent, plus a highly selective grocery store. “I could close my eyes and know that nothing had Red 40, Yellow 20, or hydrogenated oils,” Block recalls. “There were no GMOs in the entire grocery store.” While she found what she liked at Fair Weather Natural Foods, she felt the concept was limited by its space.

Then, through a mutual friend, she met Sebastian Silbereis, who had been operating a private chef service for about a year. Sebastian had a globetrotting resume and a preference for local, sustainably produced food, like Lucy. They soon formed a business partnership and expanded to become what Lucy describes as a “culinary concierge.” Meaning, “you need it, we can make it happen,” as she puts it.

Pan-Roasted Sirloin Bavette with Cauliflower Rice and Brussels Sprouts (Photo by Element)

Just over a year ago, Sebastian and Lucy opened up a brick-and-mortar shop in Snow Creek Plaza. Element Kitchen & Bakery serves gourmet dishes in a relaxed café setting, from baked goods to soups. Customers can enjoy food at one of the dozen tables onsite, or take their food home to-go. Yet Element also serves as the hub for chef services wherein the sky (or perhaps something like a wedding cake) is just about the limit. Element Park City can throw together gluten-free baked goods for a baby shower, cater a large event, or deliver an organic and gluten-free holiday meal.

The backbone of Element is, of course, the discerning criteria that all menu items must meet—after all, this is the raison d’être for the business. Everything is gluten-free, but, Lucy jokes, “If it tastes gluten-free, we can’t sell it!” Chef Sebastian also avoids GMOs and never uses refined sugars, hydrogenated oils, artificial colors or flavorings, preservatives, and several other taboo ingredients. Element also caters to other dietary preferences such as vegan, dairy-free, paleo, and keto. The menu items are all marked with the diet they adhere to, and Chef Sebastian is always willing to work with customers on their needs.

Mallard Duck Confit with Roasted Broccolini and Sweet Potatoes (Photo by Element)

A dream service? Stock your fridge, wherein Element fills up your kitchen with a variety of take-and-bake items, from barbecue ribs to soup and baked goods. This is perfect for tourists staying for a week and busy families who don’t want to resort to pizza delivery every night.

Right now, Lucy’s favorite item is the keto-friendly lasagna with local grass-finished beef and eggplant. She’s also digging the coconut almond gooey butter cake, with caramelized coconut on the bottom. My not-to-be-missed? Their brussel sprouts with bacon or pumpkin donut with spiced maple cream cheese frosting. Get one (or two) of the latter to share. As the season of holiday eating winds down, Element is an excellent place to turn to reset healthy eating habits this winter.

If you subscribe to my newsletter, you can take advantage of a special promo that I partnered with Element to offer this December. Not a subscriber? Contact me and I’ll be happy to send you the promo code.