At The Counter, a new gourmet burger joint located at The Gateway in Salt Lake City, it’s all about CHOICE:

Step into The Counter and you’re greeted with a clipboard and an extensive list of fresh mouth-watering ingredients that allow you to build your own gourmet burger. Our 312,120+ different burger combinations make every burger as unique as each customer. Rarely is the same burger made twice in one day.

I had no idea they had over 300k combinations but I totally believe it! As much as I love having choices when I order, The Counter is one of those situations where decision-making is difficult because there are no “bad” choices. Perhaps if I were a picky eater my ordering process would take half the time, but alas, I like just about everything when it comes to burgers. And I like just about everything when it comes to The Counter Gourmet Burgers.

But I digress, as this is supposed to only be the “preview” of one of the newest, hottest burger places in the state. So here are a few more stats for you:

• Opened in October 2008
• Decked out in industrial decor–including the coolest garage-door style windows–and some of the best music
• Limited only by your imagination (I’m talking about your burger, of course)

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The location at The Gateway is one of a handful from this southern California restaurant chain and is bustin’ some serious burger moves. Along with beef burgers the menu also offers turkey, veggie and chicken burgers with toppings from feta cheese and dried cranberries to grilled pineapple and apricot sauce. You also have sides like sweet potato fries, onion strings and fried dill pickles. My favorite Counter Burger features? Their “of the month” menu items like the Ahi burger and Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie shake. (Yes, Jyl, we know how desperately they need a cheese of the month too. We’ll work on that!) The average meal ranges from about $12 to $15 but believe me, it’s totally worth it!

The Counter has been featured in GQ as “one of the 20 hamburgers to eat before you die” and “Best Burger” on OPRAH magazine. Hello, GQ and OPRAH…what other recommendations do you need? Oh, that’s right! You still need the review from the sassies and their husbands who visited The Counter a couple weeks back. We’ll have that for you on Wednesday, and if it’s anything like the answers our hubbies gave for the Yanni Voices concert last week you won’t want to miss it!

As a designer, I’m not crazy about the logo. As an editor, I’m not crazy about the extra Z. But as a Canadian, I’m crazy about the Crazzy Canuck. This Canadian import store used to be located on University Avenue where a trip required you to go out of your way. Now they’ve relocated to the Provo Towne Center, right across from Cinemark movie theater. Sure they boast a variety of hockey and lacrosse equipment, but that’s not why I go. I go there for the Canadian foods that I miss from my home and native land. And to tell you the truth, I was going to be sneaky and suggest that you might want to perhaps consider sneaking a Canadian treat into the movies next time you go, but when I showed up, I was greeted by a huge sign advertising the movie special.

If you check out the Crazzy Canuck sometime soon, here are my top recommendations:

• Wonderbar candy bar. Chocolate and caramel wrapped around peanut butter crunch. So good, and statistically everyone’s favorite.
• Crunchie candy bar. Sponge toffee covered in chocolate. My favorite.
• Smarties. I’ll tell you why they’re better than M&M’s—because the candy shell has its own taste. Suck them before chewing!
• Caramilk. Caramel-filled chocolate. Pure deliciousness.
• Fuzzy peaches. Okay, I’m not totally sure that they carry this Canadian sour candy, but they should!
• Red River hot cereal. Not something you’ll be sneaking into the movies, but take this home for a nutritious breakfast!
• Ketchup chips. If you’ve never eaten Ketchup chips, you don’t know what you’re missing. And I don’t even like potato chips!

Whether or not you’re Canadian, this store has something great to offer you. Stop by and try out any of my recommendations!