Category Archives: Forking Thoughts

Restaurants in Metro Phoenix for Black History Month that I can personally recommend

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Today I am mentioning the black owned restaurants that I can personally recommend. I do note that I haven’t been everywhere in metro Phoenix so other great black owned restaurants are out there that you should want to visit too. The restaurants mentioned are not in any particular order.

I had dishes that were to die for from The Larder + The Delta in Downtown Phoenix.

It’s a cute little casual restaurant in Phoenix that offers high quality Southern American Inspired Modern Cuisine.

This Hoppin John is like no other. It’s FORKING SCRUMPTIOUS! It’s earthy, spicy, deeply flavorful with interesting textures. It’s a Hum-YUM-Dinger!

A LONG While back I had the very best of the hot chicken sandwiches that I have tried anywhere. It was like a religious experience.

I had many delicious hot chicken sandwiches before but this one had the best and most delicious flavors of any hot chicken sandwich that I’ve ever had. One thing that really stood out was that the chicken was the only one that still tasted like it was on the bone. Then this one also had many layers to it that were the most delicious. It was so amazing that I wonder why this sandwich isn’t often found on the menu.

During the pandemic The Larder + The Delta did hot chicken take out.

They did re-opened for dine in service but these are uncertain times so you must contact them for up to date details.

I only got to eat at Mingo’s Louisiana Kitchen once (because this place is pretty far for me) but everything we tried was delicious. My husband said that the red beans and rice were really great. He usually only eats this dish in New Orleans…because usually it is usually only good in New Orleans.

He also enjoyed the Shrimp Po Boy.

Hot Chicken Sandwich

I had some sort of hot chicken sandwich that was different but delicious. If I remember correctly I think it was made with his own hot sauce and specialty remoulade sauce. The fries were seasoned with Old Bay.

Currently Mingo’s Louisiana Kitchen operates out of a food truck so you have to look up their schedule.

At a food festival in Peoria (Devour The World) I enjoyed the food from Abyssinia Restaurant and Cafe very much.

I decided that I should try the Ethiopian Restaurant Abyssinia Restaurant and Cafe myself. (PHX)

We got a couple dishes on one large platter lined with injera bread and served with rolls of it. Everything was DELICIOUS! There were three kinds of lentil dishes, vegetable dishes…..a couple meat dishes and in the middle was this insanely delicious dish called Doro Wat. It was a great experience.

We enjoyed many dishes from Carribbean Cuisine in Glendale. I do note that this is a very small place that is mainly open for take out. (possibly only take out during the pandemic)

Red Snapper

Jerk chicken

Curry chicken

Oxtail (not always ready because this takes hours to prepare)

Escoviitch

Everything was delicious from Caribbean Cuisine.

We enjoy Desert Island Eatery and Cafe very much. This is a Caribbean Restaurant that also serves Vegan foods. Inside is only three tables but they recently added a patio. Currently during the pandemic they are Take Out only and the patio is not in use.

Our mutual favorite dish here is the Curry/Jerk Chicken combo that comes with cabbage and your choice of rice and peas or yellow rice.

Combo with Jerk Chicken and Curry Chicken

We are both crazy about this curry and jerk chicken. Many other people in town love it too and this restaurant has been expanding the menu and their hours.

D’s Jerk Hut recently opened in Phoenix. They offer Caribbean and some vegan foods sort of cafeteria style. It’s sort of like a buffet behind the cashier and your order is kept warm in a warming oven.

We tried a number of things there.

Above is small sized jerk chicken and curry chicken. The jerk chicken his less spiced and less hot than all the other jerk chickens that I’ve tried. I really liked the curry chicken here. It was very flavorful and falling off the bone.

Here’s medium sized brown strew chicken. It’s very flavorful and really good but this one gets the developed flavor from the bones and there are lots of bone fragments in it.

D’s Jerk Hut is the only place that I have found Jamaica’s national dish Ackee (a fruit) and Salt Fish. It’s VERY Unique….You have to go to D’s Jerk Hut to try it.

The Breadfruit and Rum Bar is another place for Jerk Chicken and other Caribbean foods.

Friday night jerk chicken for two special from The Breadfruit & Rum Bar in Phoenix

We’ve enjoyed numerous dishes from the Breadfruit and Rum Bar from Festivals that we’ve been to. Often The Breadfruit and Rum Bar served us our favorite bite from various food festivals. Each Jerk Chicken that I tried taste different and the jerk chicken here is also very unique. Ours that we took out was more breast meat with all kinds of flavors that danced on the exterior of the chicken. There also was this WICKED mighty nuclear HOT sauce to pour onto it (If you dare). Ours came with nicely prepared farm fresh vegetables.

These were the Black Owned restaurants that I can recommend personally recommend.

The Larder + The Delta (PHX)

Mingo’s Louisiana Kitchen (Food Truck)

Abyssinia Restaurant and Cafe (PHX)

Caribbean Cuisine (Glendale)

Desert Island Eatery (N.PHX)

D’s Jerk Hut (PHX)

The Breadfruit and Rum Bar (PHX)

Again I haven’t been everywhere and I know that there are other great ones out there.

Everything is subject to change and we hope it does for the better.

The Forking Truth

My Forking Thoughts on Universal Yums – Netherlands – January 2021 #UniversalYums

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Universal Yums is an International snacks site ( www.UniversalYums.com ). You have many options and can subscribe to a once a month box if you like. The International snack boxes come in three different sizes. The basic Yum Box comes with 6 international snacks and a twelve page booklet of games, trivia and a recipe and runs around $16. a month.

The next size up is the Yum Yum Box of twelve snacks and more and is around $25. a month and the largest box is called the Super Yum Box of 20 snacks and cost around $40. a month.

I’m not a fan of gummy candy so I let my husband try the gummy candies for me.

These licorice and fruit dummies came from Amsterdam. My husband didn’t like them but said the next bag was even worst.

Oh they look cute….gummy Dutch candy cars in cherry, strawberry and black current. These had a rubbery texture and weren’t good to my husband.

I try the Yum Bag…

I try a ball first.

Dutch Sour Violet Balls…..Oh no wonder why it didn’t taste like food….(ick)

I kind of knew I wouldn’t like the Dutch sour watermelon candies but I did try….

GOD they are gross……….kinda like bubble gum mixed with watermelon and something painfully sour.

I’m beginning to think that this is the worst box ever.

We try again anyway.

Here are Dutch Aged Gouda Cheese Crispies.

Now these taste really rich and good. They have a really great buttery cheese flavor. Unfortunately they have a gross waxy finish in the mouth.

Here are thick cut bio-organic hand cooked cheese onion potato chips……Mine seem very thin and not thick cut but they are nice and crisp. I don’t get much cheese or onion taste to them…..they are just crisp little chips. Not bad…chips…they are ok.

I tried this and latter found out that I didn’t eat it correctly….WHO KNEW! that you could eat a cookie incorrectly?

Anywho-

Me and my husband tried them…(incorrectly) We took bites out of them and they weren’t good to us. I thought it was like a sweet gummy cooked into a thin waffle shaped cookie.

You are suppose to eat these cookies over a mug of a hot liquid. The hot liquid I guess makes them gooier …(ick!)

Here are multi-chocolate covered mini spice cookies. I’m not a big fan of spice cookies but I guess this might be the best of the bunch.

Netherlands wasn’t my favorite Yum Box.

Those were my Forking Thoughts on Universal Yums – Netherlands

www.UniversialYums.com

Your opinion and experience with the same may indeed differ.

The Forking Truth

Over 60 Metro Phoenix AZ Restaurants with Patio Seating Phoenix Scottsdale Glendale Peoria Tempe Carefree Buckeye Cave Creek

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Spring Time comes early in the Valley of the Sun. Here are some of the restaurants with patios that I have dined from in no particular order.

Up above is Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante in Glendale/Arrowhead/#UpperWestSide. They have a stunning patio. They have misters for cooling and heaters for chilly days. Part of the patio has shades with an indoor-outdoor bar. They also have a beautiful park-like setting and the patio is dog friendly.

Geordie’s at the Wriggly Mansion in Phoenix has out door seating that was expanded after this photo was taken.

Tacos Chiwas in Phoenix has a patio.

Singh Medows in Tempe offers multiple choices for outdoor seating. They offer a patio and outside tables. They also offer blankets to use so you can seat yourself by a pond or in the meadow.

But you do need to call Singh Meadows to check on when they are open. They are a farmers market with limited weekend hours only.

Virtu Honest Craft – Scottsdale

Fellow Osteria – Scottsdale

Pane Bianco in Phoenix

The Sicilian Butcher in Phoenix

The Rec (Detroit Style) Pizzeria and Wings in Peoria offers a few tables outside.

The Larry – Phoenix

Bryan’s Black Mountain Barbecue in Cave Creek also offers patio dining.

The Vic Bar and Kitchen in Buckeye AZ

The Vic Bar and Kitchen in Buckeye

The Copper Mule in North Scottsdale has a patio with heaters that is also dog friendly.

The Perfect Pear Bistro in Tempe offers outdoor seating.

Pomo Cucina and Pizzeria in Scottsdale has a patio and so does their Gelato Restaurant Luna next door.

Elements at the Sanctuary in Paradise Valley Scottsdale offers Patio Seating.

Mrs Chicken in Phoenix does have a patio.

Oscar’s Pier 83 in Glendale/Arrowhead/#UpperWestSide offers patio dining. They are also dog friendly.

Tonto Bar & Grill in Cave Creek

Pizzeria Bianco at Town and Country in Phoenix offers Patio Dining. They have portable heaters.

Bandolero Cocina de Mexico in Scottsdale offers two patios with heaters. The back patio is also dog friendly.

Desi Fusion offers a shaded small patio.

Prado at the Omni Resort in Paradise Valley Scottsdale.

Ocotillo in Phoenix offers multiple patios with portable heaters with a beautiful park-like setting.

The Twisted Italian in Peoria offers a two table patio in front of the restaurant and is dog friendly.

Lon’s at the Hermosa in Paradise Valley Scottsdale.

Ofrenda in Cave Creek offers a two story wrap around patio.

Fabio On Fire in Peoria/#UpperWestSide offers TWO patios with portable heaters.

Parma Italian Roots in North Scottsdale offers patio dining with portable heaters and an indoor-outdoor bar.

The Bourbon Cellar in North Scottsdale offers dog friendly patio seating.

Veneto Trattoria in Scottsdale

Lure Fish House in Scottsdale offers two heated patios

FnB in the arts district of Scottsdale (during pandemic) is patio seating only with portable heaters.

Phila-Deli in Glendale/Arrowhead/#UpperWestSide offers dog friendly Patio Seating.

Confluence in Carefree offers stunning mountain views and patio dining with heaters and a fireplace.

Tacos Calafia in Peoria offers a few patio tables.

The Craftsman in North Scottsdale offers a wrap around dog friendly patio with large door wall of windows that sort of extend the patio space.

Cucina Tagliani in Glendale/Arrowhead/#UpperWestSide offers old fashioned Italian music, misters and heaters on an officially licensed dog friendly patio.

Jalapeno Inferno in Peoria offers patio dining with misters. The North Scottsdale location also has some patio dining. The North Scottsdale location also has patio seating.

Twist Bistro and Gallery in North Scottsdale offers patio tables with umbrellas.

Stratta Kitchen in Scottsdale offers a patio.

Starlight BBQ in Scottsdale offers some patio seating on long benches.

Wally’s American Gastropub in Scottsdale offers a patio.

La Piazza Al Forno in Old Town Glendale does have a small patio.

The Collins in Phoenix has a small patio.

Angelina’s Pho & Grill in Glendale does have a patio that was useable on my last visit. (It has been closed for a long time)

Doda’s Pizza in Glendale does have a few patio tables.

Sel in Old Town Scottsdale offers patio seating.

Las 15 Salsas in Phoenix has a small patio.

Greek Palace in Peoria does have two patios. They have at least one open patio.

True Food Kitchen – Biltmore Fusion Park in Phoenix

Chauncey Social – Scottsdale

Zinque at the Scottsdale Fusion Square in Scottsdale.

The Farish House in Phoenix.

Proof in North Scottsdale.

Mowry and Cotton at the Phoenician in Phoenix.

Pizziacatta in Cave Creek

Persepshen in Phoenix.

The Farm in Phoenix.

Little Cay in Phoenix.

JB Steakhouse at the Phoenician in Phoenix.

Popo’s Fiesta Del Sol in Glendale/Arrowhead/#UpperWestSide

English Rose Tea Room – Cave Creek

Vincent Market Bistro in Phoenix has a few outdoor tables but you better get them before 5pm…(It’s an extra early crowd here).

Tarbell’s The Tavern (I did hear the patio got extended since this photo was taken)

Cafe Monarch has an outdoor patio (out back).

Little Miss BBQ – Sunny Slope Phoenix.

That was over 60 patios in Metro Phoenix.

These days every FORKING thing is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

My Forking Thoughts on Lay’s Magic Masala Potato Chips

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I found these Lay’s Magic Masala Potato Chips at Asiana Market in Deer Valley in Phoenix. They are a medium size bag that weighs around 3 1/2 ounces. These chips are from India.

The ingredients don’t look bad. Not too many chemicals. I’m so glad that they used edible vegetable oil instead of the inedible vegetable oil.

I take a whiff before I try them. It really does remind me of Indian food. They do smell fragrant.

I spill some out.

The chips are on the small side. They have ridges and feel sort of powdery.

I taste one slowly.

It’s very spicy. The flavors I taste are heavy with onion, garlic and chili pepper flavors. There are other flavors…One is something sort of vinegary. I’m getting the tomato and maybe cumin. There are other flavors that fill in but the onion, garlic and heat over power those flavors. Ginger might be there. …It taste like maybe asafoetida is there. I think that is the mystery flavor that makes this Indian Masala.

My husband tries some. He thought he was eating smoky BBQ chips…(lol)

These chips sure are better than many of the Lay’s flavors. I would like more ethnic kind of flavor here but they still are good tasting chips. However these chips are only for people who can take spicy.

Not bad…They don’t suck!

Your opinion may indeed differ.

The Forking Truth

Metro Phoenix AZ Restaurants Can Inspire YOUR Cooking

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There are many great dishes to try from many metro Phoenix Restaurants. Some might inspire you to try to do a copy cat version. Here are some that inspired me. They are listed in no particular order.

Miso eggplant with bonito flakes and crisp enoki mushrooms

This miso eggplant with bonito flakes and crisp enoki mushrooms and peanuts was inspired from one of my visits to Confluence in Carefree AZ.

Reathrey Sekong is a Cambodian Restaurant that I have been to a few times in Phoenix. They make a Cambodian flavor paste to flavor some of the dishes and did it on video for our local newspaper. I watched and took notes. A combination of turmeric, lime leaves, lemon grass, galangal, shallots and garlic makes Cha Kreung Paste and that is what I used to flavor the above vegetables.

Ethiopian Style Chicken Stew

I went to Abyssinia Restaurant and Cafe in Phoenix. The Doro Wat Chicken was so delicious I had to find out on how to make it.

Flat Bread with Blue Cheese Butter and Pistou Inspired from Eddie’s house of Scottsdale AZ

Eddie’s House in Scottsdale is no longer in business but part of the complimentary bread basket inspired me to make a flat bread with blue cheese butter and pistou.

Smoked beets, goat cheese mousse, oranges, pea sprouts, almonds, mint, orange champagne vinaigrette

At Angel’s Trumpet Ale House in Phoenix I had this amazing salad that inspired me to do the above plate with the majority of ingredients that were in the salad. Up above are smoked beets, goat cheese mousse, oranges, pea sprouts, almonds, mint and orange champagne vinaigrette.

Spaghetti Squash with Harissa Vinaigrette

We enjoyed spaghetti squash with harissa from FnB in Scottsdale so I made something similar.

No Pasta Squash Manicotti

We often dine at Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante and one special they had was a squash wrapped manicotti. I thought that was a good idea and made up my own ricotta cheese and did the same.

Melon with Preserved Lemon, Lavender and Cream Cheese

The most memorable plate I tried from The Vic Bar & Grill in Buckeye was a melon salad with preserved lemon and lavender.

Reduced Fat Potato Green Pepper & Eggplant

Miu’s Cuisine was one of the best Chinese Restaurants. They had this dish with potatoes, green peppers, eggplant and black garlic that was so delicious. I attempted a reduced fat version.

Roasted then Fried Rutabaga topped with oven fried Lotus Chip

We enjoyed the Gilfeather Rutabaga from FnB in Scottsdale. I purchased the same rutabagas from the Scottsdale Farmers Market and did something similar. (should have used more chives)

Spicy Vegetarian Cauliflower Meatballs in Spicy Butternut Squash Indian Spiced Sauce

I really enjoyed the spicy cauliflower meatballs from Meat The Ball in Scottsdale. Sadly Meat The Ball is no longer in business but I still remember several of the meatballs I tried.

Indian Inspired Green Beans and Chickpeas

Even food from a buffet can inspire. There used to be an Indian buffet and restaurant called Mayuri Palace in Phoenix. I tried an okra dish that was marked kauai bhindi masala and gosh it was amazing. At the. time I was unable to find a similar recipe. Somehow I came up with this Indian inspired green beans with chick peas. I know it came out pretty good because this recipe has been featured in an Indian on-line publication and rates 5 stars on a certain recipe site.

Pickled Beet Israeli Couscous and Harissa Vinagrete

This pickled beet, Israeli couscous with harissa vinaigrette was inspired by a plate I enjoyed from Atlas Bistro in Scottsdale.

Focaccia di Recco

I tasted this AMAZING Focaccia di Recco at Pomo Pizzeria. This I didn’t know how to make so I followed Mary Ann Esposito’s recipe. Mine didn’t come out quite as amazing as Pomo’s but still was very tasty.

Brazilian Inspired Potato Salad

The Brazilian potato salad was really delicious from Carvalho’s in North Scottsdale. It’s different…Looks very creamy but the creaminess is made by over cooking the potatoes. Can’t get it there anymore because they are closed for business.

Indian Inspired Beets

I really enjoyed the beets poriyal from Vaigai that used to be open in Glendale. I looked up a recipe for them and they came out close.

Baked Asian Seasoned Broccoli and Cauliflower Bites

The bang bang broccoli from The Larry in Phoenix was SUPER tasty. I had to make something similar and I did!

Forking EPIC Guacamole

Thanks to my visits to The Barrio Grand Reserva (no longer in business) I was inspired to make this AMAZING guacamole. I learned some secrets there that I never would have came up with unless I tasted The Barrio Grand Reserva’s amazing food. This isn’t a copy of their guacamole but does copy some of the superb things I tried there. Some secret ingredients are Asain pears, chitepin peppers, home made pickled caccabella peppers and SEAWEED.

Matbucha

We used to have a very above average Mediterranean Israeli Style restaurant called Zabari Mediterranean Grill in Phoenix. One ultra memorable food item from that restaurant was a cold tomato sort of salsa called Matbucha. OMG it was so delicious I had to learn how to make it. I did a lot of research and I was able to figure a recipe that taste similar. This stuff is really great and I have no idea why this food isn’t main stream. I bet I could make a living just selling this.

Latin Inspired Red Lentils, Rainbow Chard, Dates and Almonds

From a visit to Deseo Nation Restaurant in Scottsdale we enjoyed this side order that was delicious. My version of it was made of red lentils, rainbow chard, dates and almonds.

Eggplant Caponata

Tasted an amazing eggplant caponata from Stratta Kitchen in Scottsdale. Always thought that I didn’t like eggplant caponata till I tasted the one that Stratta Kitchen serves. Made my own and it is awesome……(Thinking that most people don’t correctly cook the eggplant or study on how to make it right)

Burmese Style turkey soup

At FiGaMi Asian Fresh Restaurant in Phoenix I got an amazing Burmese Style Fish Soup. I had home made turkey stock at home and did something similar after I looked up on how to make Burmese Style Soup. (P.S. I went back to FiGaMi Asian Fresh for the same soup and it was different second time around)

Crisp radishes and capers in an anchovy caper dressing

We enjoyed a radish, caper and anchovy caper dressing salad from FnB in Scottsdale. My radishes were not as special but I did a pretty good job copy catting.

Those were some of my inspirations from Metro Phoenix Restaurants. I wonder what restaurant will inspire me next?

The Forking Truth

My Forking Thoughts on Lay’s Flamin’ Hot Dill Pickle Potato Chips

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Lay’s Flamin’ Hot Dill Pickle Potato Chips have been out for a while now but I finally got up the nerve to try them. About a year ago I tried several different flavors of Lay’s potato chips that just didn’t do it for me so I gave up trying new flavors until recently.

These Lay’s Flamin’ Hot Dill Pickle Potato Chips smell just like a jar of dill pickle!

I got to look at the ingredients.

They have a few ingredients that are unexpected like whey and sour cream…..???? Why whey and sour cream? They don’t go into spicy dill pickles!

Here are the chips up close.

The chips are smaller in size and are a little powdery.

I taste one. It’s almost too hot and *****IS*****too vinegary for me.

My husband loves them and is woofing them down.

The chips for me are painful to eat slow.

If I eat them faster they don’t hurt my mouth and they really do taste like spicy dill pickles.

Pretty good and worth a try! …Just don’t eat them slow.

Your experience and taste may indeed differ.

The Forking Truth

Some of the Stunning Desserts from Confluence in Carefree AZ – Always Worth a Fork!

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How many times do you go out and you might have had a great meal but the dessert just isn’t up there with the meal? I think that happens often. Confluence in Carefree is a small upscale restaurant that serves an ever changing menu of elevated modern American food. This is one of the very few restaurants that I have been to that serves desserts that are just as amazing as the food.

Some say that you can eat with your eyes….So here we go! Get ready to enjoy!

Up above is chocolate mousse. It’s not ordinary. It’s the highest quality and detailed.

It goes a little further here. – caramelized white chocolate pudding, pine nuts, dark chocolate mousse, pistachio, gianduja chocolate semifreddo and hazelnut brittle.

caramelized white chocolate mousse, chocolate mousse, macadamia nuts, bananas and banana bread

vanilla creme brûlée

roasted peach with cheese cream and cocoa (this one was listed as an appetizer)

mixed fruit granite

peanut butter, peanuts, brittle, semi freddo, strawberries and port

caramel apple, cinnamon, walnut crisp

peach granite

caramel risotto, blueberries, hazelnuts, chocolate crisp wild rice

white wine poached pear, white chocolate, mint, cocoa nib, port

macerated strawberries, angel food cake, macadamia nuts, vanilla creme fraiche

aged gouda

brownie

maserated strawberries, sauces, angel food cake

sake poached pears, angel food cake almonds, yuzu curd

sake poached pears, angel food cake, candied pecans and yuzu curd

These were some of the stunning desserts from Confluence in Carefree.

Confluence is ALWAYS Worth a Fork!

Worth A Fork!

www.RestaurantConfluence.com

Everything is subject to change these days.

The Forking Truth

The Better DISHES I tried at Metro Phoenix AZ Restaurants in 2020

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I tried many great dishes in 2020 in Metro Phoenix Arizona this year. I haven’t been everywhere but I’ve gone to lots of places. Most of the food I did this year was take outs because that is how we rolled most of the year. Here are the best that I’ve tried in no particular order. I do warn you that I live around the upper west side of the valley so it’s not logical to bring back food from too far away. I also might have forgotten a few great ones. It’s hard to remember a whole year. I note that I do happen to fancy fish when I go out because it is hard to get fresh fish to cook or eat near my home. Chula Seafood and Nelson’s are 40-45 minutes of mostly highway driving for me.

Combo with Jerk Chicken and Curry Chicken from Desert Island Eatery in North Phoenix

The Combo with Curry & Jerk Chicken is so good from Desert Island Eatery that I can’t move on to try something else. I must note that this food is always good. The take out version is slightly drier because all the sauces soak in…..but it is always very good. During the pandemic Desert Island Eatery installed a patio but are converted to take out only. Maybe that will change in a few months????

From Confluence is Carefree I got an amazing dinner. Everything is perfection and delicious but that special bit of magic is the way that way that everything is so flavorful and the way goes together. It’s like here’s a green bean…WOW I never tasted a green bean like this before…………but then the magic really happens when Parsnips, sweet potatoes, sweet peas, red quinoa and pomegranate go together so amazingly well. It’s just magical.

Flaming cheese from Greek Palace in Peoria

The Flaming Cheese from Greek Palace is Peoria is Awesome! I’ve had flaming cheese before but this one is the next level…YUM!

I have to give another to Confluence for their Lunch Fried Chicken with Chilitepin Honey sauce……I’ve had this one a few times and the sides do get changed up now and then but that fried chicken is among the Yummiest Tastiest Best. YUM!

Tacos are not part of my heritage but I’ve tasted many tacos. I tasted many tacos on several trips to Mexico. I’ve also tasted many tacos from many of the taco festivals in metro Phoenix and then some. The mild chicken habanero taco from Taco Fusion in Glendale is one of the BEST chicken tacos that I have ever tasted. It’s served on a hand made flour or corn tortilla (your choice). You do have to ask for the salsas….I think the chicken taco is best with the pineapple salsa.

OMG These sandwiches are a THOUSAND Times better tasting than they look. The smoked corned beef special from Naked BBQ is a wonder of the world. It’s a crime that this isn’t on the menu. It’s so great that I would tell a vegetarian to eat it.

🙁 🙁 🙁 Sadly we lost the really great fast but unusually delicious food from CHZBURGR in Glendale. This sandwich was a million times more delicious than it looks. Crispy well seasoned delicious juicy super flavorful breaded chicken THIGH, a special bun from Philadelphia, crafted pickles, mayo, honey mustard (I added Calabrian peppers) Was just awesome. My husband used to enjoy the flat style CHZBURGR. (It was greasy in a good way type of cheeseburger.

The Bianco Pizza (middle) is among the best pizzas in Metro Phoenix from La Piazza Al Forno in Old Town Glendale. It is made with hand pulled in house mozzarella, creamy rich ricotta, Sicilian oregano, garlic, fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil (I add on Calabrian peppers). It’s just a taste sensation!

All the food from Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery always makes us happy. Here are those tasty pot stickers and the lotus root salad. This great lunch was also only $9.

The salmon from Twist Bistro & Gallery in North Scottsdale was unusually great! It’s pretty rare to get salmon cooked to such perfection. I enjoyed this a few times and several other dishes from Twist Bistro and Gallery.

The Halibut special from Fabio On Fire in Peoria was amazing. It might be the very best fish that you can get on the west side of metro Phoenix. The gelato…especially the strawberry is also the best…maybe in the whole darn country. That little ear pasta is also pretty darn special.

I got an amazing Forking Delicious feast from The Barrio Cafe in Phoenix. Everything was Forking Great! I sure wish her fabulous smoked salmon was still on the menu. I loved it so much!!!! Everything was FORKING delicious even down to the spicy ketchup condiment.

The Fried Chicken Take Out Special from FnB in Scottsdale was incredible. Even all the sides were EXTRA SPECIAL….I never had such GREAT sides with great fried chicken before.

This dessert from Confluence in Carefree was incredible. It’s yuzu curd with angel food cake, nuts and sake poached pears. It was incredible. It was just as spectacular as the food from Confluence.

The other BEST dessert (and Fabio’s gelato) was this noodle cheese pastry from Alzohour Market in Glendale. Actually most of the food from Alzohour Market is incredible.

My first take out from Stratta Kitchen in Scottsdale was completely amazing. The salmon was one of the best that I had in Metro Phoenix….The bread was Noble Bread and is great, The Caponata was the best I’ve had and that chocolate fudge cake was a really awesome treat. Since my first visit prices were cut and some things are not the same. You get smaller amounts of bread and appetizer. The fish is now smaller pieces cooked to well on a skewer. It’s still really REALLY good but not Phenomenal like it was.

The salmon from Tarbell’s Tavern is maybe the best salmon that you can get in metro Phoenix. Everything here was delicious. There is this Indian spiced cake that came with it that also was memorable.

The sand dabs from Lure Fish House were crazy fresh and delicious.

The beets with Smoked Salmon from FnB in Scottsdale was well crafted, detailed and delicious. You can almost taste it just by looking at it. Actually everything we had from FnB was incredible. It was had to pick one plate from that visit because EVERY FORKING PLATE is deserving for here.

Lemon sole in a basil white wine broth with fennel salad and house made noodles from Twist Bistro and Gallery in North Scottsdale. It was all prepared to perfection and was also interesting and a little different.

The salt crusted whole striped bass from Bandolero Cocina de Mexico is as good as fish can get. The fresh flavor and texture was incredible. The mojo sauce was also really extra great!

My husband said that this pork shank he got from Ocotillo needs to be on this list. He really enjoyed it. I enjoyed a salmon meal that was pretty darn good too.

Desi Fusion

I just started going to Desi Fusion in Peoria. I forgot to photo the South Indian Fish Curry. That was really great! Really everything I tried so far was great from Desi Fusion. Sometime next year I will know what dishes I like the most.

My take out from Seoul BBQ and Sushi in Phoenix also blew me away. Everything was delicious and they might have made a mistake and accidentally gave us too much food. They gave us a complimentary vegetable pancake and 16 side dishes. Our mains were a chicken bulgogi and a bibimbap. Everything was delicious!

The market salad from Pizzeria Bianco at Town and Country was amazing. This was the BEST bitter greens salad that I have ever tried. It was the only one that tasted balanced to me. The gorgonzola and the sweet Asian pears help to tame the bitterness of the radicchio leaves. Bravo!

From Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante on Glendale/Arrowhead/#UpperWestSide I got this incredibly delicious tender falling off the bone Chicken Cacciatore that was laced with DELICIOUS Calabrian Chili Peppers. Underneath it all was creamy cheese polenta.

My take out from Mrs. Chicken in Phoenix is deserving of a SPECIAL MENTION. They are a Nashville Style Chicken Restaurant. They do deserve a special mention because Mrs Chicken is a 40 minute drive for me and the chicken had a shattering crisp exterior and a juicy perfectly cooked interior when I got it home. (I brought home a lot of chicken this year…even from some closer places the chicken came home dry.

We both got the two piece dark meat on the bone.

The Better Dishes I tried from Metro Phoenix Restaurants 2020

And That’s The Forking Truth

The Forking Truth

My Forking Thoughts on Universal Yums – December Special Edition Greetings From Everywhere

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Universal Yums ( www.UniversalYums.com ) is a subscription service for a box of international snacks. You can subscribe for yourself or gift in number of ways and different size ways. The basic Yum Box is 6 snacks with a 12 page booklet of games, trivial and a recipe and runs around $15.00 a month.

The next size up is called the Yum Yum Box. It’s the above Yum Box but contains twice as many snacks (12) the booklet and they say more! The Yum Yum Box runs around $25.00 a month.

The largest box is called the Super Yum Box that contains 20 snacks the booklet and more and runs around $40.00 a month.

At this time I’m just doing the basic Yum Box.

The first Yum we try is the Sugar & Anise Polvoron from Spain.

It’s a powdered shortbread cookie. It’s laced with anise and has a little more powdered sugar on it than the typical shortbread cookie.

Our next Yum is the Roast Turkey & Stuffing Potato Crisps from Scotland.

These chips are cut thick and taste like a combination of poultry seasoning mixed with powdered onion.

Next Yum was very unusual.

Salted egg yolk popcorn from Taiwan. My husband screamed when he tasted them. They are very odd and not like any popcorn I’ve tasted before. They don’t have that crunchy kernel thing that sticks in your teeth. These seem fluffier…… But oddly they almost seem seem wet or liquid in them but they aren’t………..They are sweet but are more salty than sweet. I don’t think that they taste like egg but taste sort of buttery in an artificial but not bad way. I don’t really know why but I like them…….They seem light and are odd but pleasingly sweet and salty but not too salty.

Next we tried the Mocktail Bon Bons from the United Kingdom.

They are small powdered chewy and tangy treats. I think people with false teeth might have trouble with them. (LOL) They sort of remind me of what I think were those Now and Later Candies (haven’t eaten then in decades…might be remembering wrong candy?) but tiny. For me they are too tangy but I am sensitive to tangy and sour.

Alpine Nut Cake from The Swiss Alps were next.

It’s a little crunchy cake…almost like a cookie filled with walnuts and hazelnuts….Not bad….I could eat it again.

Ever try cookies from the Netherlands?

Little spice cookies…..Not bad…pretty good…..I never really ate spice cookies. I think they’d be great in ice cream or in a crust for other desserts.

Last and not least.

Cocoa Dusted Chocolate Truffles from France.

YUM! These are smooth and chocolatey, not too sweet and just right. Wouldn’t mind a bigger bag of them!

Can’t wait to find out what I will be trying next month!

www.UniversalYums.com

The Forking Truth

My Forking Thoughts on Universal Yums – Italy

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I’ve subscribed to Universal Yums at www.UniversalYums.com . It’s a subscription service where you can subscribe or gift international boxes of snacks in a number of ways. Some of the basic offerings are a Yum Box. The Yum Box is six snacks, comes with a small booklet with, fun facts, trivia, a recipe and more and runs around $15.00 that includes shipping.

Fun facts and Recipe
Trivia

The larger offerings are the Yum Yum Box. All that above plus more and double the snacks for around $25.00.

The biggest offering is called The Super Yum Box. You get the above plus more and 20 snacks for around $40.00.

I let my husband pick out the first snack. He picked crisp almond cookies called Amarettini.

The cookies are very tiny and very crispy and are extremely almond forward. I think they are very good and the little bag is filled with more cookies than I imagined. This one is very good. I hope we didn’t eat the best one first again.

My husband picks the next one. It’s some sort of carrot/orange snack cake. Now this one I expected to hate because I’m not a big fan of carrot cake or most packaged snack cakes.

This is a first…….It’s surprisingly good and seems fresh. I don’t get the carrot. The cake is just moist. The cream is laced with orange and isn’t too sweet. I can eat this…It’s good.

Next we went to the Yum Bag and tried the Lemon Fizzy Soda Candy at the top of the picture.

OMG this isn’t sweet. It’s so tangy it is painful to my mouth. My husband just munched his down and said, not very fizzy or good. I painfully let mine dissolve thinking that it might get better. Mine didn’t get fizzy either and stayed painful till the last few moments. I would not try this one again.

Artificially ketchup potato chips….???????

I open the bag and they smell like ketchup….They do have the taste of ketchup but a little sweeter and also too tangy….my mouth is very sensitive and the chemicals in the chips burn my mouth…..Doesn’t bother my husband though.

I wanted to save this for last but we didn’t.

Novi chocolate hazelnut bar. This chocolate bar just melts in your mouth. It’s creamy milk chocolate that is full of flavor and even the hazelnuts are full of hazelnut flavor. I wish I had another one of these bars in my box. This one was really good.

Truffle potato chips.

I open the bag and get a slight truffle aroma. The chips are very small and are light and crisp. They do have a pleasant truffle kind of taste to them that lingers in the mouth a bit. Another very good.

Here are tarallini. They are little tasty lemon and black pepper laced micro mini bagel shaped crackers. These are very tasty. I could use another bag of these too.

Now I’m trying my last treat.

It’s a round chocolate ball that is called Tiramisu. I usually don’t like that dessert made with ladies fingers, espresso, cream and rum…..Well I will give this a try.

Ummm I get the espresso right away but it’s not too strong and quickly turns to a rich milk chocolate taste that explodes into my mouth. It’s seems very rich but also is very satisfying….Wow I like it!

Those were my Forking Thoughts on Universal Yums – Italy

www.UniversalYums.com

I note that your experience may indeed differ.

The Forking Truth