Category Archives: Forking Thoughts

Take Out During The CoronaVirus Pandemic in Metro Phoenix AZ – Taco Fusion , Pita Kitchen , Confluence, Sala Thai & Popo’s Fiesta Del Sol

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We are supporting local restaurants as much as we can during the pandemic.

We did take out from a newly opened casual Taco Fusion. I’ve been there a couple weeks ago and was blown away with how great the food was….(particularly the mild habanero chicken taco with pineapple salsa…)…. I also was so happy that it wasn’t too far from where I lived so I thought it was extra important to stop here and give them some business. When we made our take out order we were told that they were offering 4 of their 8 salsas today and didn’t have pineapple salsa today.

All the tacos and quesadilla was delicious. The tortillas are hand made. The flour tortilla is thinner and bigger with less flavor than the hand made corn tortilla. The asada is more flavorful and more tender than from another popular taco place in the area. The fish taco is different and is topped with sweet carrots. They are all very good tacos but I still like the mild habanero chicken taco best. It’s full of really good flavors. It’s the one taco that is even better than a chicken taco from Mexico. (I’ve actually tasted many tacos on the streets of Mexico a few times) The sauces are good..we got one I’ve never tried before anywhere. It’s a dark ultra spicy sauce that is borderline too hot for me but if I only use a drop or two is wildly delicious. Very GOOD Tacos from Taco Fusion in Glendale.

Our next take out was from Pita Kitchen in Glendale. This is small Greek Casual Mediterranean restaurant.

We packed up our dogs and did a pick up.

I got my usual chicken kabob salad. I have to say that this chicken is abundant, moist, developed with flavors, delicious with a really tasty char on it. I really think their chicken kabob is the best in town.

My husband got the gyro Greek salad with added pickles.

We also got delicious fresh pita bread that they make there.

Our friends also helped us enjoy the food on our patio.

We did get take out from the AMAZING Confluence Restaurant in Carefree.

We picked up a fresh baked fontina roll that is to die for.

Tried some delicious vegetable soup that was so light and different. It was made with the fancy cauliflower and lots of parsnips.

For dinner had that incredible FORKING DELICIOUS Fried Chicken with broccolini and buttery cooked potato.

The sweet ending was a dark chocolate brownie for dessert.

We enjoyed delicious Thai Food from Sala Thai in Peoria.

I had the spicy pumpkin basil with chicken and brown rice.

They gave us a CRAZY amount of brown rice. After we took what we wanted there was THREE EXTRA whole cups of rice that I portioned out and froze.

My husband had the spicy egg bomb with chicken and brown rice.

Then we went to Popo’s Fiesta Del Sol in Glendale.

I got my usual chicken fajita salad.

My husband got some sort of Mexican Beef Plate with rice, beans and tortillas.

We got margaritas to go. They were packed nicely and were very strong.

This week we were able to support five restaurants.

Taco Fusion in Glendale

Pita Kitchen in Glendale

Confluence in Carefree

Sala Thai in Peoria

Popo’s Fiesta Del Soll in Glendale

We are doing our best to help support small business restaurants. If you care about a small business you should give your support.

The Forking Truth

The CoronaVirus Apocalypse in Metro Phoenix AZ – Week Two – Annoying but no Famine this week

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Last week was brutal. My local Safeway super market was only filled with 20%-30% groceries. There was very little that could be purchased.

This week I went to Walmart Grocery.

I almost cried when I saw all the produce. It’s so much closer to normal.

They were also out of a lot of things like onions, potatoes, hot dogs, eggs, all paper products. A lot of things were very low or missing but at least they had fresh looking chicken so I was happy.

packaged cheeses

No eggs today.

Since I’m down to my last paper towel I stopped at CVS. They had a few paper towels left with a sign that says limit one. I grabbed a two pack of bounty paper towels. I don’t know if they priced gouged me because with tax the two rolls cost over TEN DOLlARS…dang I normally pay a little over a dollar a roll in a big multi roll pack from Costco….

A few days latter I went back to Walmart Grocery. I also had trouble buying my dog’s Blue Buffalo Food. The Dog Food Stores were out of the big bags and I was almost out but got lucky and found a couple small bags at Walmart. They still lacked paper products but there was maybe a half dozen containers of eggs with a limit of one per customer. I was lucky to get eggs this time. They only had 6 cartons and one was an extra large box of eggs so I snagged it up.

I also went to Costco. They now make you wait in a line and so many people are allowed in at a time. Many were waring masks. I’m not a fan of Costco raw chicken since they switched to Foster Farms Brand but they were still out of raw chicken and most paper products. I did notice that the empty shelves from last week now are filled with water bottles. They also had eggs this week. Now they block off the aisles and funnel you to one area with six foot spaces to check out. All cart contents stay in the cart and sneeze guards have been installed by the cashiers.

That’s how things were this week.

The CoronaVirus Apocalypse in Metro Phoenix Week Two – Annoying but no Famine this week.

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

The Forking Truth

Take Out During The Coronavirus in Metro Phoenix AZ – Fabio On Fire, Banh Mi Bistro & Cucina Tagliani

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We are supporting local restaurants during the coronavirus crisis. We did Fabio On Fire in Peoria and took out two pizzas.

They converted the restaurant to “CURB SIDE ONLY” and ordering and payment is online. They communicate with you by text messaging. Then you order is placed on an outside table. After you pick up your order the table is sanitized.

My husband enjoyed a sacciccia e funghi pizza $14.95. (sausage and mushrooms)

“Good Stuff!”

I enjoyed a bufalina pizza $15.95. (arugula, imported buffalo mozzarella, balsamic and extra virgin olive oil.

Another take out was Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery in North Phoenix.

Everyone was doing take out from here because they ran out of rice, noodles and pork.

They are a PHO-FREE Vietnamese Eatery…Most of your usual Vietnamese favorites but no pho.

Eat a banh mi instead!

Today I took out a chicken banh mi ($7.00. I ate half today and will eat the other half tomorrow.

half the sandwich is pictured

I had some help from my furry friends.

My husband had a shaken beef banh mi ($8.00).

This is half

We always enjoy everything from Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery.

We also did take out from Cucina Tagliani in Glendale.

The dinners came with lots of garlic toast.

I had grilled salmon with asparagus and spaghetti squash in a lemon caper sauce ($23.99). My husband had shrimp diabolo ($21.99).

My husband surprised me with an added on mascarpone chocolate cake.

It’s a very big slice and feeds at least four people but it really is delicious!

That was my take out in Metro Phoenix during the coronavirus.

Fabio On Fire

Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery

Cucina Tagliani

It’s important during these times to support your local eateries!

The Forking Truth

CoronaVirus Apocalypse and It seems like Famine in Metro Phoenix AZ – Week One

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I didn’t noticed much of a change shopping for food until this past weekend. I was at Costco a warehouse shopping type of store. I didn’t really need too many things so I didn’t look for too many things either. It seemed like they offered most of the foods they normally offer but they were out of paper products, eggs and bread. It’s possible that they were out of more things but I didn’t notice. To me it didn’t seem like a crisis but it sure did seem annoying.

First time I’ve seen empty shelve at Costco
Lots of empty shelving at Costco

Latter in the week I thought I’d go to Safeway for chicken because Costco sells a brand of chicken that I don’t like. I had no idea that Safeway’s shelves would be like this.

Not much here.

Tomatoes are usually here.

They have a few things. They have Japanese eggplants and it looks like yellow beans and green beans. On the other side is Savoy cabbage.

Here’s most of the rest of the produce.

No potatoes or onions.

The meat counter is out of meat. It’s not like I came in at an off time. I came Tuesday just after lunch.

They are out of all raw chicken and raw turkey today.

They have some meat but it’s vegetarian, some beef and some pork.

Not much here.

Not much here.

Not much here.

Not much here either.

This is a crisis. Nobody can live forever like this.

This is the FORKING CoronaVirus Apocalypses and this is what it’s Forking Like To Buy Food. It seems like Famine in Phoenix Week One. I can only hope that next week is better.

Everything is subject to change and I FORKING HOPE THAT IT DOES!

The Forking Truth

My Forking Thoughts on Lay’s Wavy Fried Green Tomato Potato Chips – Worth a Fork!

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I haven’t seen new Lay’s Potato Chip flavors in a while and today I noticed three new flavors. One was taco, another was cheddar jalapeño and I also noticed Wavy Fried Green Tomato. The Wavy Fried Green Tomato sounded the most interesting so I picked it up. As soon as I got home with the bag my husband bust it open and started munching them down. He said they weren’t bad. I go and take a sniff.

To me they oddly smell like potato salad.

I eat one.

It has a true tomato taste……It taste like a slice of tomato that is topped with mayonnaise.

I eat a few more..they still seem good to me but I don’t know WTFork I like this? I’d never sit around eating tomatoes with mayonnaise on them. Maybe it’s because they are crunchy and salty and seem pretty true tasting?

Then I try to eat one chip more slowly.

It’s not as good this way because this way I get a mouth of powder and the chip seems greasier this way.

I take a look at the ingredients.

Ingredients don’t seem too unnatural.

These aren’t bad.

For a flavored Lay’s Potato Chip the Wavy Fried Green Tomato Chips are pretty good!

I guess…

Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

Everything is subject to change and your experience may indeed differ.

The Forking Truth

Memories from past Devour Culinary Classics Phoenix AZ

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The Devour Culinary Classic is considered to be the most grand food festival that Arizona has to offer. It is hosted by Local First Arizona and the Devour Phoenix Restaurant coalition. This is where chefs and restaurants do their best to razzle and dazzle you.

I started attending DCC in 2012. Back in 2012 you could get a great deal on tickets. If you purchased your tickets in advance general admission was only $45 a day. They used to offer the general admission a very nice reception before the actual culinary event. here are some pictures of a few of the past general admission receptions. My photos show mostly sweets but I do remember enjoying many savory items too.

They also used to have some other things like a live band and some other things like foodie T shirts and a photo opportunity.

As the years went by the general admission price climbed from $45 in 2012 to $105 a day without any discounts in 2018.

In 2018 the food part of the general admission reception was discontinued and replaced with a one man band.

Prior to 2018 one of the wines I enjoyed with my general admission ticket was Merry Edwards (actually 3 varieties) and the others were more expensive).

In 2018 the wine choices differed greatly and I drank this instead.

In 2018 was the first year that a section of food tents was reserved for VIPS only. These were many of the restaurants that I was expecting to try like Kai. I was ok with the discontinued food reception and the lower end wines. But the selective restaurants were the reason why I would attendant this event every year since 2012. VIP tickets were the only way to be entitled to everything. (today in 2020 VIP tickets are $205) One day would cost over $400 for me and my husband. That is not a bad price for such an event……but it is a lot to me. I don’t get invited to attend and have to pay my own way. I would love to attend as I always did but for $400 I will enjoy two really nice dinners out instead. For me the general admission 2018 was so disappointing…….. Lower end wines, discontinued reception, less food offerings (first year that I didn’t get stuffed). I saw all the restaurant line ups but had no idea at the time that some of the restaurants listed were only for VIPS. Felt deflated…..sort of bamboozled.

2018 was the last Devour Culinary Classic that I attended. I don’t expect to return to the Devoured Culinary Classic.

I enjoyed Devour The World this year (2020) in Peoria. That festival is a new favorite for me.

Those were some of my memories from Devour Culinary Classic.

www.DevourPhoenix.com

Everything is subject to change and your experience may indeed differ.

The Forking Truth

DIFFERENT and maybe WEIRD 2020 Valentine Foods

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There is always something NEW, DIFFERENT or WEIRD out there in the wonderful world of food. Even for Valentine’s Day food can get a little Different and WEIRD!

Up above are Utz Cheese Balls for your Valentine if you want to be cheesy.

If Utz aren’t cheesy enough then you can add on Cheez-it crackers in FUN packs…just for fun.

Here are LIMITED EDITION and Target Exclusive…..Lindt Lindor dark chocolate strawberry chocolates…(they sound delicious…don’t know if they are?)

Hershey Chocolates in Heart Shapes….because regular Hershey’s bars won’t do for. Valentine’s Day.

Disney’s Frozen II chocolates in a box and chocolate roses……(for people with COLD Frozen HEARTS….kidding)

WOW! Break Up Valentine’s Chocolates from Russell Stover….”You’re just not my speed…opps! I added the word not) New meaning if you read it correctly…We are both slow…..

Marvel gummy valentine bands……..Weird and not very sanitary….ICK!

Little Debbie enrobed cakes in cherry cordial and vanilla snack cake.

MORE WEIRD – Get MUDDY with your buddy with Chex Mix Muddy Buddies cookies and cream snack mix.

Quaker Chewy Valentine chocolate chip limited Edition minis. This just doesn’t say Valentine’s Day…….IDK WTFork they are doing here?

Here’s apple sauce in GoGo-Squeeze Valentine Family packs….why?

Annie’s organic bunny fruit snacks in strawberry with OTHER natural flavors…maybe the other is rabbit butt?

Here’s YUM Earth organic Valentine sour beans….for when you are feeling sour.

Valentine Tootsie Pops and Dum-Dums Lollipops….How many licks….Dum Dums……

Original Skittles, Wild Berry Skittles and Life Savers Valentine Candy with Valentine Teacher’s Card…Awwwww how sweet…

Jelly Belly Petite Sour Hearts….more candy for when you are feeling a little sour.

WTFork is this next one?

I wind up poop dispenser with poop candy that says Be my poop……I guess this is for your sh*ty Valentine.

If that one doesn’t doo it for you maybe the next one will?

LOLLI-POOPS

Friendship lollypop exchange kit

To my magical friend

“You’re one of a kind”

Stinkin Cute is pretty funny I must say.

Well those were the Different and maybe WEIRD Valentine’s Food I came across for Valentine’s Day 2020.

Have a Happy Valentines Day!

The Forking Truth

My Forking Thoughts on Lay’s Seaweed Potato Chips from Taiwan – Worth a Fork if you like Seaweed and Potato Chips

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I was ordering some hard to find pantry items from yummy bazaar and came across some small bags of unusual flavors of Lay’s Potato Chips. Here are the Seaweed Chips. It came in a one and a half ounce size bag. Here’s the back of the bag.

Here’s a closer look at the ingredients.

Not too many ingredients in these potato chips. Potato, vegetable oil, sugar, salt, monosodium glutamate, soy sauce powder, seaweed flakes, seafood seasoning and spices.

I open the bag and take a whiff.

Not much of an aroma….Just smells like potato chips.

Spill some out.

They are speckled and are extra thin and very delicate. They don’t feel very powdery like many of the flavored chips.

At first bite they have very little flavor but they grow with flavor. They taste just like seaweed…it’s like you are eating a thin sheet of nori that is firmer and crisper than usual. They are overly easy to eat because they are so thin and delicate. I think these are the thinnest chips that I have ever eaten.

You get far more flavor in your mouth when you let the chip dissolve in your mouth. You get some sweetness, the soy sauce flavor and other very subtle flavors in the background from the seaweed.

These chips are actually pretty good.

Worth a Fork if you like seaweed and potato chips.

Your opinion and experience may indeed differ.

The Forking Truth

BREAKING NEWS – Mr Peanut involved in Tragic Accident – He might be Peanut Butter Now ****UPDATE***SUSPENDED out of respect for Kobe Bryant

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******UPDATE ******SUSPENDED out of respect for Kobe Bryant.

The Planter’s Peanut Company just released that Mr Peanut was involved in a tragic accident. The 104 year old Mr Peanut lost control of the Nut mobile to avoid hitting an armadillo.

According to someone from Planter’s, Mr Peanut had Wesley Snipes and Matt Walsh as passengers in the nut mobile. It’s not confirmed but someone was heard screaming that Mr Peanut was driving like an “OLD NUT.”

The tragic accident has been filmed and leaked on the internet. It’s been written that Mr Peanut died in an explosion and the funeral will be shown at during the 3rd quarter of the Super Bowl.

The Planters Peanut Company was founded by Amedeo Obici. He was an Italian born American from Wilkes Burro PA.

The Planters Company some time back merged with Nabisco foods and is currently owned by Kraft Heinz.

Many decades back there was a Mr Peanut Store on the Atlantic City NJ boardwalk.

Photo from Pinterest

Planters Peanuts was once a fixture in Atlantic City.

Things like this were sold in this store along with peanuts that smelled delicious.

Photo found on Pinterest

Mr Peanut Born 1916 – 2020 ?????

The Forking Truth

www.Wikipedia.com

www.Planters.com

www.Yahoo.com