I should have watched hit reality television show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives before I went to Park City. That way, I would have been up to speed on the wild ways and adventurous tastes of the mile-high US state of Utah. "Roadkill" mountain fare? Dirty sodas? The mind boggles.
Beyond the world-class skiing that put it on the map, upscale Park City has become the de facto stage for those glossy TV Mormon wives, the Sundance Film Festival crowd and their camera-ready contemporaries. From luxury digs at Pendry Park City to trendy tables along Main Street, it's a sophisticated destination that has truly evolved from its silver-mining heritage.
Let's start with the culinary scene. Dining at Riverhorse on Main, Park City's top-rated restaurant, I was faced with tough menu choices: would it be the Alaskan halibut, the bone-in filet steak or the mountain trout with pistachio crust? I asked the waiter to choose. "The roadkill plate is my favourite," he said.
The trio of wild game was his choice: buffalo medallion, venison chop and elk striploin, served with herb butter and huckleberry. It was delicious, and almost certainly not really roadkill (fingers crossed).
The next day, I slurped a dirty soda and instantly regretted it. Popular with teetotaller Mormons, it's a soft drink mixed with flavoured syrups, fruit juice, cream and fruit, served over ice. Next time, I'll take a regular Diet Coke.
Contrary to popular belief, Utah is not a "dry" state: the sale of alcohol is legal, albeit with some of the strictest regulations in the country.
A leisurely stroll along Park City's main drag, past boutiques and art galleries, delivered me to Alpine Distilling, Utah's only locally owned and operated craft distillery.
There, dynamo co-founder Sara Sergent helped me create my very own bespoke bottle of gin, a "ginius" souvenir if ever there was one. visitparkcity.com