Author Archives: The Forking Truth

My Trip to China Hot Wok Las Vegas NV

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China Hot Wok is a small casual Chinese/American take out or dine restaurant located in North/West Las Vegas. It’s not a fancy place. You order and pay at the counter. Your order comes out as it’s prepared.

My dinner, Spicy Garlic Szechuan Chicken with fortune cookies and rice were the first plates that came out.

This is a generous serving. There are lots of fresh vegetables and a good amount of tender white meat chicken with the normal amount of take out heat. But the sauce is pretty one note and sweet. I think this is what Nevada Style is because most Chinese/American restaurants in the area make these dishes this way.

About five minutes latter my husband’s dinner of Hunan Beef arrives.

I think they tried to make this with dry crispy beef but the beef is chewy and leaves a floury aftertaste in the mouth. The sauce runs sweet in the dish with less heat than the chicken dish.

About five minutes latter that appetizer arrives it’s the paper wrapped chicken (that is actually foil wrapped).

I had this dish before and I thought it was delicious…But here the chicken is slightly dry and seasoned in a strange way. Neither of us can stomach it.

That was my trip to China Wok. Your experience and taste may indeed differ.

China Hot Wok

7121 W Craig Road Las Vegas NV

702-515-1443

www.ChinaHotWokLasVegas.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

California Fish Grill was better than I expected it to be Las Vegas NV – Worth a Try!

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The California Fish Grill is a chain of seafood restaurants that are located in the greater Las Angeles area, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Arizona, and Nevada. They say that they only serve responsibly sourced seafood.

On the menu are grilled plates, bowls, salads, tacos, sandwiches, kids meals, and more.

The Las Vegas Centennial (North/West) location has a dog friendly outside patio.

But inside is a mix of tables and a few booths.

The Las Vegas Centennial location has two self ordering stations and one traditional ordering counter.

You seat yourself and they text you when your order is ready.

Almost everything was very good and delicious and they serve the food on real plates.

Battered fish (swai that seemed as good as cod) and shrimp (the battered white fish is actually quite good)

Shrimp taco

Cajun Salmon Taco

Side – tomatoes and feta cheese

Side – Parmesan green beans (this was REALLY tasty)

Side – beans

Mediterranean Branzino Grill Plate

Grilled sockeye salmon salad with added avocado. This was the only plate that wasn’t perfect. The salad is delicious. They gave a generous portion of salmon but it is slightly over cooked. The other issues are that they didn’t remove the bloodline and the the salmon skin on the bottom isn’t crispy. They told me that they can cook less if I ask them too….So I’m not sure if the salmon will be better next time or not?

The California Fish Grill was Better than I expected it to be.

Worth a Try!

California Fish Grill

6440 Centennial Center Blvd Las Vegas NV

725-231-7444

www.CAFishGrill.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

The Notable Dinner of The Week – Rang’s Cocina Moderne Las Vegas NV – Worth a Fork!

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Rang’s Cocina Moderne is a full service Restaurant that serves a combination of Spanish, Italian, Asian Foods. Rang herself does most of the cooking and her husband Benedict does most of the serving. I’ve been here a bunch of times and on every visit any dish we’ve tried has been prepared to perfection. This restaurant has been featured in the July 3rd 2024 issue of Las Vegas Weekly and the Chef is also currently nominated for an award by the N.R.A. (Nevada Restaurant Association).

Tonight we had the Dulong.

This is embellished whitebait fish on grilled baguette slices.

My husband enjoyed the Chorizo Potato Croquettes.

Tonight I had the Chilean Sea Bass in a lemon coconut soy sauce.

And my husband enjoyed the real style Carbonara.

EVERYTHING Here at Rang’s Cocina Moderne is always delicious and prepared perfect.

Rang’s Cocina Moderne is Worth a Fork!

WORTH A FORK!

Rang’s Cocina Moderne

5900 W Charleston Blvd Las Vegas NV

725-214-1188

www.RangsCocina.com

The Forking Truth

FORKING CRAZY GREAT Corn Cookies Recipe – Different but based on KingArthurBaking.com Recipe

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I was searching for a corn cookie recipe because I made that really great Vivian Howard’s Corn Pudding Recipe and it is great but I thought some sort of corn crust might be good with it? I came across a King Arthur Baking recipe for corn cookies that is also based on another recipe…..A recipe by Christine Tosi for Momofuku’s Milk Bar so I thought it had to be delicious. I only made two small changes to the ingredients and one change to the method. When I read the comments for the King Arthur Recipe many people did say that the cookies were delicious but they spread like crazy when being baked. I thought that recipe had too much butter in it so I cut it by two tablespoons. I also cut the amount of cookie dough for each cookie and so they couldn’t spread I baked them in a muffin pan. FIXED THAT! The other small change is that I substituted some dark brown sugar for a small amount of the white sugar because a little bit of brown sugar adds great flavor. I do need to mention that cookies not always but usually do come out better if you make the dough the day before and chill it in the refrigerator so that is what I did……The dough the next day was EXTRA HARD but the cookies worked out well so that is how it goes. This will make at least 24 cookies.

Ingredients for 24 cookies

1 1/3 cup flour

1/4 cup masa harina

1/4 cup cornmeal

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

10 Tablespoons unsalted butter – melted

1 cup sugar

2 Tablespoons dark brown sugar

1 egg

non stick cooking spray

Directions

Ina large mixing bowl mix together the flour, masa harina, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, salt, butter, sugars, and egg. Mix well cover and chill over night.

This dough is going to be very hard the next day.

The Next Day

Set oven to 350 F convection Bake (If you don’t have convection bake I’d suggest 350F) and spray a muffin pan with non stick spray and set it to the side.

Use a small meatball scoop and PACK the dough into it and put one in each of the muffin cups.

This goes on near bottom rack of your preheated set at 350 F convection Bake (that is actually 325 F)

In my oven they were perfect in 21 minutes.

They don’t look special BUT THEY TASTE SPECIAL!

They have a crispy crunchy exterior and the first day have a moist chewy delicious interior with a great corn taste. The 2nd day they still taste FORKING AMAZING but the one I tried was very crispy…..The rest other people ate.

A Special THANKS!!! To www.KingArthurBaking.com so I could do what I got here.

The Forking Truth

My Trip to Junior’s – Las Vegas NV

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Junior’s Famous New York Delicatessen Has a location on the Las Vegas Strip in the Resorts World Hotel-Casino. Junior’s is well known for their cheesecakes.

Besides cheesecakes you can get all day breakfast, piled high sandwiches, 10 ounce steak burgers, salads, soups, and entrees.

Here’s some of the inside. (Bar area isn’t pictured)

It’s busy and energetic inside.

We shared a corned beef and pastrami combo on onion rolls (well that is what menu reads….) and a Nova lox Bagel.

They ask if you want pickles. We said yes.

WOW! they are extra sour…..OUCH!…..Too sour for me.

Corned beef on the left and Pastrami in the middle. (Onion Rolls?) and unseasoned potato salad. The corned beef is that extra mild type that is sliced so thin that it is almost shaved. The Pastrami is very unusual………It taste exactly like a hot dog……..

They came with slaw (Health Salad) and pickled beets (that are strong with acid).

Nova Lox and Bagel

Kind of below average….The bagel is like a frozen Lenders Bagel. The tomato slice is unripe and the lox is like old supermarket packaged lox.

I decided I’d try a slice of cheesecake since Junior’s is famous for that.

I was going to get the Key Lime Cheesecake but my server was very honest and told me that she is disappointed with the Key Lime Cheesecake because it lacks that refreshing lime flavor…..She thought the best one was the Raspberry cheesecake so I went with that.

In general I’m not the biggest fan of cheesecakes or anything raspberry so this is a leap for me……..Gets an A-OK from me so it’s not bad.

I did notice the majority of people dining here were enjoying traditional breakfast so that might be the other sweet spot here.

That was my trip to Junior’s at Resorts World on the Las Vegas Strip.

3000 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas NV

702-676-6963

www.RWLasVegas.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Mama Surang’s Thai Kitchen Las Vegas NV – Good Food but Not The Best Service

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Mama Surang’s Thai Kitchen is a small family owned and ran Thai Restaurant. They are located in the Spring Valley part of Las Vegas that is also west of the strip near The Gramercy. Their specialty dish is the Wagyu & Holy Crab Curry. Their other specialty is anything made with red curry. Mostly soft beverages are served here but I did notice bottles of beer in their refrigerator.

The Restaurant is “L” Shaped.

I asked about the Crispy Spinach Salad that I saw on their website.

The woman looked at me like I was crazy and didn’t say anything.

A waiter serves us next.

Then I ask what kind of fish is used for the Crispy Fish Dish?

Instead of finding out the waiter just says, I don’t know.

We order.

In reasonable time our appetizer the chicken potstickers come out.

They prepare them crispy all over.

Within one minute my husband’s dinner the Drunken Noodles with beef come out before we even ate any potstickers.

Next we eat the potstickers. They are OK.

He wants to wait for my meal to come out……..

We wait.

I see the owner at a table having a meal. His kids are on computers at some of the tables.

We wait.

Nobody says a word to us and we are the only customers at the time.

Over TWENTY MINUTES PASS. We are upset. My husband gets up and asks to pay for the potstickers and my iced tea. At that point the owner comes over. I told the owner that if they are having a problem in the kitchen that I should have been told. My husband says his meal is old and cold now and he wanted to eat dinner with me. The owner offers to make him a new meal but my husband declines. Then the owner offers us dessert but we decline. My meal finally comes out.

It was the Choo Chee Salmon (red curry based with coconut milk, green beans, bell pepper, ginger, & basil. It was very good.

Mama Surang’s Thai Kitchen – Good Food but not the best service.

5455 S Fort Apache Rd Las Vegas NV

702-385-0021

www.MamaSurangsThaiKitchen.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Mezzo Bistro and Wine Las Vegas NV – Worth a Try!

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Mezzo Bistro and Wine is an Italian Restaurant and Wine Bar located in the NorthWest part of Las Vegas Nevada.

For when the weather is right they offer patio dining.

The patio if you haven’t noticed is dog friendly.

And of course there is indoor dining.

Whatever you order they start you off with a bread basket with olive oil that is embellished with balsamic and lemon.

You might like to try a healthy appetizer like the grilled vegetable plate.

Or try another appetizer that sound healthy called portabella mushroom.

It’s full of lots of cheesy sauce and spinach.

They also offer salads like the beet salad that is drizzled with balsamic and topped with blue cheese and candied walnuts. You can add shrimp, chicken or salmon to the salad. I added chicken. It was slightly dry but tasty.

Some of the dinners offered are –

Sausage (hot or mild) Cacciatore

Below is- Sesame Ahi Tuna with Spinach Risotto and Asparagus

They also offer Veal Parmesan with pasta

Below is chicken riggies

They offer grilled salmon with asparagus and mashed potatoes

For dessert a sweet ending could be a cannoli

Mezzo Bistro and Wine is Worth a Try!

Mezzo Bistro and Wine

4275 N Rancho Dr Las Vegas NV

702-944-8880

www.MezzoBistro.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Ottolenghi Style Sesame, Date, & Banana Cupcakes Recipe

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This recipe is delicious and really different. It is based on Yotam Ottolenghi’s Recipe for Sesame Date Banana Cake. One of the biggest things I changed was that I used my already frozen bananas because I freeze bananas when they are ripe and on sale and they are more delicious and much sweeter that way. Often I take frozen sweet banana and just whip them up for a sweet no added sugar frozen treat. I changed the recipe only slightly and made it easier to prepare. This will make around 23 cupcakes but I recommend to double the frosting recipe if you want frosting on all the cupcakes. I just froze my leftover unfrosted cupcakes for another time.

This makes about 23 servings

2 oz tahini

3 oz orange juice

10 dates chopped (pits removed)

1 cup sliced bananas (mine were from frozen)

2 tablespoons sesame seeds

4 oz sweet butter cut into small chunks

2/3 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 + 1/3 cup flour

2 + 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 big pinch sea salt

non stick spray

Tahini Cream Cheese Frosting (double if you want enough for all the cupcakes)

4 oz cream cheese

4 oz ricotta cheese

1/4 cup dark brown sugar

2 Tablespoons tahini

12-22 sweetened banana chips

Date syrup for finishing

Directions

Preheat oven to 320F or 320 Convention.

Spray cupcake pan(s) with non stick spray

In a large mixing bowl add the 2oz tahini, orange juice, dates, frozen bananas, sesame seeds, butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix well with a fork.

Fill sprayed cupcake tin half way.

Place in preheated oven until done. In my oven this took 20 minutes but your oven may differ some.

Make the frosting. I used a potato masher and mashed together the cream cheese, ricotta, brown sugar, and tahini till smooth and set to the side. Don’t top the cupcakes until they are cool.

Top the cupcakes when cool.

Drizzle with date syrup.

Finish with a banana chip.

Sesame Date Banana Cupcakes

A Special THANKS!!!!! To Yotam Ottolenghi for yet another FORKING AMAZING RECIPE so I could get what I got here.

The Forking Truth

My local Supermarkets Usually Don’t Stock Sale Items

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Most times when something is on sale at my local supermarket it isn’t stocked on the shelf. One of the two main supermarkets also usually doesn’t have a person at the customer service desk so there is also nobody to complain to (at my closer supermarket Smiths). Even if you call to ask for a manager usually nobody answers the phone (Smiths).

Up above potatoes were on sale …….but not for me.

They have a nice BIG SIGN for Brussels Sprouts but there are no Brussels Sprouts.

I also wanted the 4 lb bag of Navel Oranges but none today.

Another pretend potato sale.

Again no potatoes……

Also no carts…..The two pictured are stuck together like they are glued.

Oh and my slighter further other local supermarket Albertsons plays the same games.

They sent me a coupon for a free doughnut. Not a doughnut to be found.

Here are some sale items I didn’t get.

No cucumbers

No Corn

My Local Supermarkets Usually doesn’t Stock Sale Items.

And Smiths is usually a mess.

The Forking Truth

My Trip to Taj Palace Indian Kitchen & Bar Las Vegas NV

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Taj Palace is an Indian Restaurant and Bar located on the West Side of Las Vegas Nevada. They are open daily for lunch (11am-3) and daily for dinner (5pm-10:30). They offer a menu selections of vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and Halal. For lunch they also offer a buffet.

Inside is a mix of traditional tables, booths, and bar seating.

We decided to try the buffet for lunch.

There are four different chicken dishes (Tandori, Tikki Masala, Chile, Curry) Many vegetarian pans, and goat.

We also received hot butter garlic naan bread that is tasty.

Here is my first plate.

I Tried Tandori Chicken, Curry Chicken, Chile Chicken, Tikka Masala Chicken, Chana Masala (chick pea curry), a Spicy Okra vegetable dish, a potato dish, and a vegetable samosa pastry. Just like at any restaurant I liked some things more than other things. I do have to give them credit because all the food seemed fresh (unlike at most buffets) and all the chicken dishes did have moist tender chicken. As far as flavors go the food seemed less Indian seasoned than what I have been served at other Indian restaurants. My favorite bite was the vegetable samosa. Maybe because I used chutneys on it and I should have used more chutney on the other dishes. My least favorite bite were the potatoes….but not because of taste. The texture of the potatoes was very strange and almost powdery inside.

I did take a second plate.

I did take another vegetable samosa and a little more Chile chicken. I thought the vegetable tikka masala tasted better than the chicken tikka masala. Didn’t care for the Medu Vada (lentil vegetable doughnut)

Just like any other restaurant out there you will like some things better than other things.

That was my trip to Taj Palace.

7175 N Lake Mead Blvd Las Vegas NV

725-205-9753

www.TajPalaceLVN.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth