Author Archives: The Forking Truth

Brera Osteria Las Vegas NV – Ask for the $28.00 3 Course Chefs Tasting Lunch GREAT FIND! Worth a Fork!

Leave a reply

Brera Osteria is a multi-regional Italian restaurant that is an inspiration of the artsy-cool Brera neighborhood in Milan Italy. This restaurant is located in St Mark’s Square in the Grand Canal Shoppes in The Venetian on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada. Besides many Italian favorites they also offer authentic Neapolitan pizza. All the seating is on the indoor patio.

They don’t post this menu so it is a secret. You have to ask for the 3 course chef’s tasting lunch menu. There is an additional charge for four of the items on the menu.

We both went for the 3 course lunch menu and everything we tried was at least good.

They start you off with complimentary bread with a little oil and balsamic.

First course was the salad called insalata (wild arugula, fennel, orange, olives, grana, chili vinaigrette).

The other first course was meatballs (beef & pork, San Marzano, mozzarella, and grilled bread).

For my main I got the salmon (Umbrian lentils, fennel puree, leeks, beet aioli). and this alone was worth the $28.00 to me. It was prepared just so and also cooked to my request.

My husband got the beef tenderloin ($18. extra charge) (with grilled romaine hearts, roasted potatoes, chimichurri).

My husband asked me to taste the beef but I was busy with my plate and declined…..Then he said that I must try the potatoes so I tried one. It was sort of garlic-ee but tasted like a special potato. Not a regular potato that you get at the supermarket…A special variety.

For dessert we both went with the bread pudding imbedded with fruit, nuts, chocolate, and was enhanced with gelato, caramel, whipped cream, and berries.

If you want this then you have to ASK for the three course chef’s tasting menu from Brera Osteria at the Venetian at St Mark’s Square. I think that it is a great find! Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

3355 S Las Vegas Blvd Las Vegas NV

702-414-1227

www.BreraOsteria.com

www.VenetianLasVegas.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Miznon – Seasonal Israeli Street Food Las Vegas NV – Worth a Fork! RUN!!! DON’T WALK

Leave a reply

Miznon is a seasonal high quality chain of Israeli Street Food Restaurants by chef Eyal Shani. According to www.Miznon.com they have locations in Israel, United States, France, Austria, Australia, Singapore, Canada, and United Kingdom. We went to the newly opened Las Vegas location. (***I’ve also read that a location just opened recently in Canada) The Las Vegas location is located near the Palazzo casino floor that is in the Venetian on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada.

This is a very casual food market stall with bar seating. You order and pay at the counter and seat yourself. They call your name as things from your order are ready. At the current time a few tables are scattered across from the stall. This is the spot where Fine Dining Israeli Hasalon Restaurant will be also by chef Eyal Shani.

The signature dish is The Original World Famous Baby Cauliflower. (you can see the Atlantic flake Sea Salt on it)

The cauliflower comes out like this with tahini sauce and a green chili sauce that is called shrug or zhug sauce (many different spellings).

It’s very surprising how great that this very simple cauliflower can taste…..It really is very good and special! It so special that the recipe of this cauliflower is posted at the restaurant.

I couldn’t try everything………so I snapped this picture of the bag of green beans when I saw them come up at the counter (with olive oil, lemon, garlic, salt).

I had to try the plate called “The Best Hummus Plate That You Will Ever Eat with Melting Chickpeas.”

I can sure tell you that it was a very great plate of hummus and also was the most detailed plate of hummus that I have ever tried anywhere. It’s enhanced with melting chickpeas, slices of hard egg, green chili sauce, olive oil, tomato seeds that are like caviar, and tahini. The pita is very fluffy and it’s all really great together.

We were both blown away with both the next two meat dishes. One was the sal de coq (rotisserie chicken, fresh herbs, radish, cucumber, pickles)

The flavors and moisture in the chicken is OFF THE CHARTS GREAT! It must be tasted to be believed. This really blew us away. You can’t really see it in my photo (because I wanted you to see the chicken) but they also gave us this incredibly delicious roasted pepper with it. (lower left corner)

LIGHTNING STRIKES AGAIN!

bag of golden meat

The pita-less entree called “Bag of Golden Meat” is far more incredible than I can ever describe. The depth of flavors and tenderness was so shocking in a great way.

This is some sort of overnight brisket, grilled onions, and a garlic-ee aioli. Honestly this didn’t even seem like brisket because it was so amazing. I really thought it tasted more like the finest shaved prime rib from a very upscale steakhouse.

Oh and I forgot to mention that the meat portions were extra large so it also is a really great value dining here.

RUN !!!!!! Don’t walk. GO to Miznon as soon as you can because it really was that good and Worth a Fork! (and a Great value too!)

Worth a Fork!

Miznon

3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd Las Vegas NV (Venetian located near to the Palazzo Casino Floor)

www.VenetianLasVegas.com

www.Miznon.com (at the time of my visit the Las Vegas location was not yet listed on this site but is listed on the Venetian site)

But every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Matt’s Big Breakfast Glendale AZ – Worth a Fork!

Leave a reply

Matt’s Big Breakfast is an all day high quality breakfast restaurant with around a half a dozen locations in Metro Phoenix Arizona. One location of Matt’s Big Breakfast has been featured on Diners Drive ins and Dives on Food Network TV. I went to the Glendale-Arrowhead location.

This restaurant serves higher quality foods than your average breakfast restaurant. They use local Hickman’s eggs. You will also see things like line caught tuna, Red Bird Farms chicken, Niman Ranch ground chuck, locally roasted coffee, craft soda, fresh squeezed juices. They do also have a cocktail menu.

It’s casual. You seat yourself at any table that is covered with menus. They offer patio dining for when the weather is nice. You can sit at the counter or at traditional tables.

I’m not a breakfast person and tried the classic reuben.

To my surprise this is a really GREAT Reuben. The corned beef was roasted in house , nicely spiced, and is very good. The rye bread is nicely toasted and also is very good rye bread. It even comes with a very good dill pickle spear. This sandwich comes with potato chips but you can add on either macaroni salad or cole slaw. I added on cole slaw and it was fresh made, crispy, and not drippy at all. I thought that it was very above average for cole slaw.

My husband went with the Big Butter Burger and upped the side to the hash browns.

This came with an enormous slice of tomato with lots of lettuce and a really good deli-type pickle. The hand pressed Niman Ranch ground chuck burger was prepared to request of medium-rare. It was grilled in butter. and was topped with American cheese. I heard that the hash browns were great too.

Service was friendly and efficient.

Matt’s Big Breakfast is Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

Matt’s Big Breakfast 7507 W Rose Garden Ln Glendale AZ 623-259-9836

www.MattsBigBreakfast.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

My Trip to Ms Martha’s Caribbean Restaurant Phoenix AZ

Leave a reply

Ms Martha’s Caribbean Restaurant is located in Phoenix Arizona. This is a very casual Caribbean restaurant where you order at the counter yourself on a big computer screen. This is mostly a take out restaurant but they do have a few tables inside and a few outside tables for when the weather is nice.

inside
inside

They offer appetizers like meat hand pies and a variety of wings. You can order your entree as a bowl or a regular entree that includes two sides or your entree as just a side. They also offer family meals and might also offer a special of the day. The menu might be shorter than from some of the otherCaribbean restaurants in Phoenix because they don’t offer the Caribbean fish dishes here.

We started out by trying a chicken curry Jamaican patty. I was very surprised that there was an option to add cheese.

It was different. Less saucy than what I think of for Jamaican chicken curry but the chicken inside was tender.

We shared the brown stew chicken, the jerk chicken, and the special of the day that was a side order of macaroni and cheese.

brown stew chicken
jerk chicken
special of the day – macaroni and cheese

Both entrees were VERY LARGE and BOTH included very tender falling off the bone chicken that was mildly infused with flavors. The jerk chicken came with a small container of sauce that it needed.

The macaroni and cheese contained soft pasta but was very cheesy and better than a lot of similar dishes out there.

On the night of my visit Ms Martha herself was behind the cooking line and also was helpful serving. She also had a helper that also was helpful and friendly.

That was my trip to Ms Martha’s Caribbean Restaurant.

1820 W Northern Ave PHX AZ 602-675-2212

The website seems to be down but you can find Ms Martha’s on Facebook

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

FORKING DELICIOUS Turkey Stuffed Cabbage Recipe

2 Replies

I was inspired by reading about different meatloafs and came up with this. It’s not really a meatloaf inside of the cabbage but it was the inspiration for the flavorings. I boiled the cabbage leaves with apple cider vinegar, sea salt and smoked paprika to give them a nice flavor. Well these came out FORKING DELICIOUS!

Ingredients for around 8 servings

1 medium cabbage – core removed

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1 Tablespoon sea salt

1 Tablespoon smoked paprika

1 lb 93% lean ground turkey

1 small onion – fine chopped

1 small carrot – either fine chopped or shredded

3 garlic cloves – ground to paste

1/2 cup scallions – sliced thin

1 teaspoon – dried thyme

2 eggs – slightly beaten

1 Tablespoon dijon mustard (I used Amora Brand)

1 Tablespoon ketchup

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire

1 Tablespoon (or to taste) bomba Calabrese or a dash of hot sauce or hot paste of your choice (I used Coluccio Bomba Calabrese)

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

pinch ground allspice

1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil – chopped

1/2 cup whole wheat panko bread crumbs

1 Tablespoon seasoned vegetable base (I used Better Than Bouillon Seasoned Vegetable Soup Base) ((This is more flavorful than salt and adds less sodium))

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

neutral non-stick spray

Directions

Your cabbage with the core removed goes in a pot of boiling water with the apple cider vinegar, sea salt, and smoked paprika added. After a minute or so the leaves sort of come off by themselves. You pull them off one at a time with tongs and place on a dish or tray. Set to the side.

Set oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl mix the onion, carrot, garlic, scallions, thyme, eggs, dijon, ketchup, Worcestershire, bomba, nutmeg, cayenne, allspice, sun-dried tomatoes, panko, soup base, and black pepper. Mix well. Then mix in ground turkey till incorporated. Score the bowl of meat mixture into quarters. Each quarter can be two portions.

Grab a smaller cabbage leaf and stuff with 1/8 of meat mixture. (excuse my bad photo…It’s hard to photo when you are using your hands)

This goes on a larger cabbage leaf that you wrap around the ball.

Wrap this so it is neat and together looking and place on non-stick sprayed sheet pan. Repeat till out of meat. You might have a few extra cabbage leaves that you need to use with your side vegetable.

Pour a small amount of the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes over the cabbage leaves and rub it all around the cabbage leaf.

These go on the middle rack of a preheated 350 degree F oven till done. 15-20 minutes.

ENJOY!!!!

Turkey Stuffed Cabbage

ENJOY!!!!!

The Forking Truth

A Few Things I Saw at my local Asiana Market – Glendale AZ

Leave a reply

There always is a lot of different foods to find at Asiana Market. The Asiana Market is an Asian and International Market with two locations in Metro Phoenix Arizona. I go to the location that is in the Deer Valley part of Glendale. You never know what you will come across when shopping there. Up above is canned cod liver…who knew!

I found what looks like ground garlic but they are marked fried dumplings?

Frozen Sardines

Frozen Indian Mackerel

Frozen Octopus

Wagyu Beef

Veal Bologna

Anchovy Powder…..Now that one I’ve never seen before!

Shiitake Mushroom Powder – That is a very good ingredient. I buy local mushroom powder and it adds a lot of good flavor to certain things.

They always have junk food that is different……

BBQ Marshmallows….what a great idea for when you are too lazy to bbq them yourself!

Lay’s Potato Chips in American Style Cream & Onion Flavor….????

Lay’s Potato Chips in Wafer Style ???????? salt and pepper flavor……different

Lay’s Potato Chips in India Magic Masala flavor….Yum!……maybe??????????

Medjool dates stuffed with pistachios and covered with fine Belgian chocolate….That one gets a YUM!

Those were a few of the things I noticed at Asiana Market.

4410 W Union Hills Dr Glendale AZ 623-780-1234

www.AsianaMarket2.com

The Forking Truth

Marinated Roasted White Sweet Potatoes

Leave a reply

I had potatoes still hanging around and some lemons that were getting old so I made my version of Greek Potatoes……….but…..I had some white sweet potatoes that used up too so I cooked them the same together. Both potatoes came out good. But those white sweet potatoes tasted not just good……but really great so this recipe should be Marinated Roasted White Sweet Potatoes. Serving size is always difficult to determine. All potatoes are different sizes and all people are different sizes and like to eat different size portions. I used 5 smaller potatoes and they shrink from cooking so I’d say that mine made 5 smaller servings so that means 4 servings for most people.

Ingredients for around 4 servings

5 white sweet potatoes (yams have darker skin. White sweet potatoes have light tan skin) – remove skin and cut into wedges

6 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

4 garlic cloves – ground to paste

1 Tablespoon dried oregano

2 Tablespoons dijon mustard (I used Amora Brand)

2 lemons (just the fresh squeezed juice)

1 Tablespoon vegetable soup base paste (I used vegetable Better Than Bullion Brand because this is more flavorful than salt and less sodium)

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Neutral non stick spray

optional- a little bit if fresh parsley for finishing

Directions

Either boil your potato wedges 5 minutes or put them into a microwaveable bowl or container. Fill halfway with water, cover, and microwave 6 minutes. Let sit on counter.

In a small bowl mix together the oil, garlic, lemon juice, soup base paste, oregano, mustard, and black pepper till it emulsifies.

Drain potatoes. Let cool till just warm. Add them to a gallon zip lock bag. Add the small bowl of marinade you just made and massage it around the potato wedges. Squeeze out all the air you can from the bag. Let this marinate over night in the refrigerator.

The next day.

Set oven to 400 degrees F

Spray a sheet pan with non stock spray. Set out the potato wedges with a little space around them. They go on the middle rack till done. Timing will differ….Wedges may differ in size and age of potato can be a factor. Mine took 50 minutes.

These potatoes are delicious as they are but are also delicious with whipped feta cheese. (Just crumble a good quality feta cheese and blend with Greek yogurt)

Add a little pinch of fresh parsley if desired.

Marinated Roasted White Sweet Potatoes

Enjoy!

The Forking Truth

Barrio Cafe Phoenix AZ – A Jewel for Mexican Cuisine in Arizona – Worth a Fork!

Leave a reply

The Barrio Cafe is not just any Mexican Restaurant in Phoenix Arizona. It’s by James Beard Nominated Chef Silvana Esparza. This restaurant is considered by many to be the crown Jewel for Mexican cuisine in Arizona. The famous dishes here are the award wining twelve hour achiote and sour orange smoked pork called cochinita pibil, the chilies en nogada, and the table-side chunky guacamole that is topped with pomegranate.

Inside is bright, lively and colorful. I wasn’t able to photo walking in on my last visit. Most of my older photos look very different than how it looks now. It’s far more colorful and all painted up now. It’s mostly decorated like this all over the inside.

On my most recent visit the weather was nice and we sat on the back patio behind the restaurant.

back patio
back patio

When dining on the back patio you might get a visit from Felix.

Felix

They start you off with complimentary spiced nuts with chips.

The las tlayudas are Oaxacon style corn tacos but also can served in slices like pizza. They come in several varieties.

It’s a large hand made corn tortilla that was topped with huitacoche (known as Mexico’s truffle), corn, onion, pico de gallo, and avocado. It also was served with verde sauce, fingerling potatoes and house made spicy ketchup.

For my main I had the pollo en pipian mole.

It was an extra generous serving of chicken breast topped with pumpkin seed based mole sauce. The entree also came with slightly sweet baby carrots, smokey mashed sweet potatoes, and hand made grilled tortillas.

My husband had the famous award wining cochinita pibil.

It’s 12 hour achiote and sour orange smoked pork. It was topped with pickled onions and came with hand made grilled tortillas, fingerling potatoes, house made spicy ketchup, and squash on the side.

The service and food exceeded our expectations.

Previously we’ve done mostly take out from the Barrio Cafe but I have also dined in a few times. My last dine in visits were to the chef’s other restaurant Barrio Cafe Gran Reserva that could not survive the pandemic due to it’s vestibule sized space.

inside the Barrio Cafe Grand Reseva

Above was most of the dining area of the Barrio Cafe Grand Reserva.

Below are take out photos from The Barrio Cafe. (lower right corner below is the famous chiles en nogada)

Barrio Cafe is Worth a Fork! and is considered to be a Jewel for Mexican Cuisine in Arizona.

Worth a Fork!

Barrio Cafe 2814 N 16TH ST PHX AZ 602-636-0240

www.BarrioCafe.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Food Trucks – Good Eats Only Mexican Kitchen, Que Chevere, Detroit Coney Cruiser, Wow Que Rico at Food Truck Friday West Glendale AZ

Leave a reply

A changing variety of food trucks from all over the valley gather at Food Truck Friday West in Glendale Arizona. (5pm-9pm 18551 83rd Ave Glendale AZ ((between the Sam’s Club and Walmart)) check www.GetLocalArizonaEvents.com for current food truck line up) Besides food truck they also offer a bounce house for children, and a children’s train ride.

train ride

On my most recent visit I notice that they offered some farm animals to pet.

I saw the Que Chevere Venezuelan Cuisine Food Truck.

They offer empanadas, arepas, plates, and more. I really enjoyed the arepa reina pepiada (chicken salad with avocado stuffed white corn arepa) that we shared last time and had one again. It also comes with plantain chips, a salsa, and a creamy ranch style dip.

I think it’s a really great chicken salad! The white corn arepa adds such a great taste here.

We did try a chicken and a beef empanada.

One was seasoned moist shredded beef the other moist shredded chicken with a salsa and a creamy ranch style sauce. They are both good with the added salsa. These aren’t dainty. They are very bread-ee to fill you up.

Next I thought I’d try the Columbian version of an arepa from Wow Que Rico Columbian Food Truck.

It taste so completely different that it is impossible to compare. The arepa taste like a corn tortilla and is crunchy but also soft. The chicken is shredded but slightly tough and covered with creamy sauces.
They do offer other foods like Columbian sausage, fried yucca, fried pork skin with potatoes, empanadas, and other combos.

Wow Que Rico – 602-513-6041 and can be found on Facebook

My husband liked the thought of sliders and went to Detroit Coney Cruiser.

They offer Detroit Coney Dogs, sliders, stuffed pitas, and fries. After he ordered his sliders they were ready in FOUR minutes.

They came on steamed buns with grilled onions, American cheese, pickles and mustard.

My husband gave them an A-OK.

Detroit Coney Cruiser 480- 692-8754

www.DetroitConeyCruiser.com

I didn’t eat everything you saw here so I had room to try one more thing.

We tried one chicken taco from Good Eats Only Mexican Food Truck.

Tonight they offered a limited menu of a few tacos, burritos, quesadillas, a chimichanga, and fries.

WOW! It might not look like much but this really is one of the best chicken tacos that I have tasted in Metro Phoenix. It’s unusually GREAT! The chicken is moist, a bit charred tasting, developed with flavors, and is delicious! It’s topped with a good chunky guacamole. The tortilla is also hand made and also is a much better tasting tortilla that what you usually get. It’s also enhanced with the lemon and hot sauce (looks house made?)

Good Eats Only Mexican Kitchen 623-521-8473 can be found on Facebook

That was Food Truck Friday West in Glendale AZ

Most Fridays 5-9pm 18551 83rd Ave Glendale AZ

See www.GetLocalArizonaEvents.com for current food truck line up.

The Forking Truth

Thai Style Green Curry Guacamole Recipe

Leave a reply

I felt creative today and thought up another flavor for guacamole and it was THAI STYLE GREEN CURRY!!!! So if you are a fan of Thai Green Curry then you should be a fan of this Thai Style Green Curry Guacamole. It’s very easy to prepare but you do need some of the ingredients that you would use to make Thai Green Curry…….I used two large ripe avocados. I’m figuring 1/2 an avocado a person so that should be around 4 portions but it could run significantly less because you will probably want to eat half…..

Ingredients for around 3 portions.

2 large avocados

2 Tablespoons green curry paste

4 bigger pieces crystallized ginger – chopped fine

2 garlic cloves – ground to paste

1 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract

1/8 cup lime juice

1 Tablespoon rice vinegar

1 Thai chili – fine copped

1/3 cup scallions – sliced thin

1 shallot – sliced thin and chopped

1/3 red bell pepper – sliced thin and chopped

1/4 cup basil – chopped or torn (you should use Thai Basil but regular basil is better than no basil)

1 1/2 teaspoons Golden Mountain Seasoning sauce Tuong Gia Vi – It’s sold in most Asian Grocery Stores.

2 teaspoons lemongrass powder

3 Tablespoon unsweetened shredded coconut (to finish)

Directions

In a medium sized bowl add everything except the avocado and shredded coconut (green curry paste, crystalised ginger, garlic, coconut extract, lime juice, rice vinegar, Thai chili, scallions, shallot, red pepper, basil, lemongrass powder, Golden Mountain sauce). Mix well. Now add the avocado in chunks. Mix till incorporated. Try to leave it a little chunky. Top with shredded coconut.

I think it would be delicious dip with crispy chicken dumplings. It’s also great with regular chips.

ENJOY!!!!

Thai Style Green Curry Guacamole
The Forking Truth