Category Archives: Special Events

A Little TASTE of USA Today Wine & Food – Las Vegas NV

The USA Today Wine & Food Festival was held Saturday October 28TH in Trivoli Village in the Summerlin part of Las Vegas Nevada. The tickets were general admission and VIP. The VIP tickets got you in one hour early (12:00), a few more tables to sit at and entitled you to more wines to pick from, and two additional tastings.

One tasting was

prosciutto wrapped grapes

and the other was

black Angus filet with squid ink risotto topped with shrimp from Harlo Steakhouse.

Everyone could try the following.

I thought among the best tastes today TWO came from Ichiza……One was an Asian beef dish with rice that was delicious and tender. The other was some sort of layered cracker with two kinds of fish (I think both were tuna) One layer was a fish with a curry sauce. The other was seasoned with rice.

To me the very best bite of the festival came from Anima By Edo.

It was all high quality and unusually delicious together. Wagyu pastrami, torrija, caciocavalla cheese, port balsamic glaze.

One thing was not edible…to me ….and also my husband………

This Angus beef from Kuta Nori almost made me sick from too much salt…….It seemed saltier than straight salt.

There were a few more things that were good or ok.

My husband ate something shrimp from The Crab Corner.

This swai from California Fish Grill wasn’t so good over uninspired rice.

Hussong’s Mexican Cantina made pretty good Margaritas. I didn’t try the Duck appetizers but I heard that they were pretty good.

Goufrais Southern Californian Chocolate taste like thick chocolate frosting to me.

My husband tried a tiny pulled pork slider. He said it was ok. I didn’t catch where it came from but I think it was from Project BBQ.

In The Black Cookie Company made a variety of cookies….With nuts, nut free, and gluten free varieties…….Tried a few that were ok.

Crossroads Kitchen offered plant based meat-like cigars that were tasty and a pastry with onion, almond, and a vegetarian egg.

If you are here at the right time you might catch some demos.

Crazy Pita arrived late. I tried part of a pita with hummus spread on it. They told me that they were preparing meat dishes that will be ready later.

Evel Pizza offered BBQ beef pizza

Soul Foo Young was a no show.

Refrigerator chilled pork sandwiches from Sr Frog. And something crab in the other cups.

Lots of sliced meats, cheeses, fruit, crackers and more at Boar’s Head.

And some of the cheese comes with rind.

That was a little Taste of USA Today Wine & Food 2023 Las Vegas

www.WineandFood.USAToday.com

A Taste of Unstripped Food Festival Las Vegas NV

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Vegas Unstripped is about 30 of Las Vegas’s most acclaimed and creative chefs. This is an “OFF THE STRIP EVENT” downtown in the Arts District on California Street Between Ester’s Kitchen and Garagiste Saturday October 14 2023 7pm – 10. Tickets were $150., They include unlimited tastes and also include cocktails, and are non profit.

www.VegasUnstripped.com listed the chefs that are expected.

Nearly all the foods that we’ve tried was next level FORKING AMAZING!!!!!!!!!! There was more food and drink than I could do but all but one thing I tried was over the top amazing! Also not all of my photos came out but here are most.

frogs legs

Asian style chicken

Tuna pasta adorned with burnt kimchi aioli

guacamole and salsa macha tostada – YUM!

tuna tostada – YUM!!!

Really complex flavors from this chicken wrap

vegetarian African food – delicious

That Korean fried chicken really just melted in your mouth. The hamachi was also delicious.

I didn’t try this one but my husband said that this was very VERY VERY Good!

I have to say that this was the very best barbacoa I’ve ever tried.

Amazing flavors here.

LOOK at the way they melt that incredible cheese on their amazing bread.

I was looking forward to this..because this is from a Bravo Top Chef….but passed because the short rib was rabbit. My husband did try it and said the flavors were very interesting.

Very good food from another Bravo Top Chef.

We both thought that the potato was super amazing!

oxtail with interesting embellishments.

That was just a taste of Vegas Unstripped.

www.VegasUnstripped.com

A Little Taste of a Yelp Event

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Yelp is a review site that many people use to find out about or write about local businesses. I’ve been invited to many Yelp events. I usually don’t go because they usually are at a time that isn’t convenient for me or sometimes that are on the other side of town. This one wasn’t too far and was at a time that I could do. This one benefited Miracle Flights. They asked for an optional $20. donation and around 40 local businesses offered treats, drinks, entertainment, and photo opps.

This particular Yelp Event has a Space Cowboy Theme.

There was all kinds of foods to try and acrobats were swinging from the ceilings.

Here are just a few of the food tables.

What it’s really all about is supporting and reviewing local businesses.

That was a little taste of a Yelp Event.

My Trip to Seafood City – North Las Vegas NV

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Seafood City is a Filipino Supermarket Chain with locations in California, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, and Washington.They also have Canadian locations in Ontario, Alberta, and Manitoba.

The North Las Vegas Location has a bakery inside called Red Ribbon Bakeshop.

They also have a Filipino BBQ called Grill City.

We decided to try Grill City.

There is a lot to see. Some of the pans are marked but with no explanation so some people have to use cell phone for google. Saw Balut here…….(undeveloped bird eggs).

They don’t sell skewers by the each and you have to buy five. My husband got a mix of pork and chicken skewers. He also got a longanisa sausage skewer.

He said that the meat on the skewers was tender but wasn’t a fan of the sweet sauce on them. He did like the sausage!

I saw 4 different fish dishes and picked the fish that I thought looked best and an ear of corn. We also shared a side order of rice.

This fish turned out to be grilled bangus. It’s also known as vinegar marinated milkfish served with spicy vinegar on the side.

This one is stuffed with onions, tomatoes, and peppers…..At first I didn’t like it but for some reason it did taste better when I added the spicy vinegar. The meat is a little dry but not hard and chewy like from the last Filipino restaurant I went to.

The corn is on the dried out side too.

We are done with lunch and are looking around some. There are lots of dry goods, baked goods, produce, and fish here. I saw prepared foods, live plants, and liquor too!

LOTS of fish here.

Surprisingly it doesn’t smell like fish here.

I’m going to buy halibut collars next time.

There is lots of milkfish here and lots of frozen milkfish here.

milkfish in citrus pepper

smoked milkfish

milkfish belly

Not all but some of the potato chips are very expensive.

$20.89 for an 8 oz bag of potato chips…My husband said he read duck eggs were an ingredient.

They also sell pig heads here.

We bought salmon here that seemed very fresh and my husband smoked it on aider wood and it came out really great! We also bought bok choy that was very good.

That was my first trip to Seafood City.

6435 N Decatur Blvd Las Vegas NV – 702-425-6973

www.SeafoodCity.com

Every THING is subject to change.

My Trip to Ai Pono Pop Up at Red Rock Casino Las Vegas NV

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Bravo’s Top Chef contestant Chef Gene Villatora has a well known popular Hawaiian Street Food Restaurant in California called Ai Pono. Late this year (2023) a Nevada opening is expected at the Durango Casino and Resort that is soon to open. I heard about the pop up and wanted to give this a try. There might be over a thousand people here.

It really is a big deal. Channel 3 was filming.

Saw Chef Villatora was actually working the line.

By the time we made it to order they ran out of the platter that I was the most excited to try.

So we tried a bunch of other things and even the secret menu item. We only tried Da Side Chick and the guava chili pepper fried chicken for lunch.

Da Side Chick—-Tasty and delicious and priced not much higher than fast food from a Bravo Top Chef ($10.)

Guava chili pepper fried chicken – large portion tasty and the rice and slaw is especially notable. Also priced like regular Hawaiian plate lunches but much better than most.

Later for dinner we got to try some more.

Ahi Katsu with miso hot mustard breading and sweet soy reduction……Not bad but not my favorite…maybe it’s just better when you get this one fresh and right away?

This is the crackhead chicken that was marinated for 24 hours with a secret batter and a garlic-coconut-miso glaze…….The chicken is very tender and developed with flavor. The glaze does sound amazing but maybe didn’t travel well?

This one only my husband tried……..it was the surprise meal. We were told it was something fish.

We think it’s more guava chili chicken and it’s over some sort of meat chili with beans. The chicken is good. My husband said that the chili flavoring is very unusual.

The strong favorite was the da side chick sandwich.

You can visit Ai Pono in California or wait for the Durango Opening.

That was my trip to the Ai Pono Pop Up at Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas NV.

For more information.

www.Durango Resort.com

Every THING is subject to change.

Food Stock 2023 – P83 Peoria AZ Sports Complex

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Food Stock is a Food Truck Gathering Event. This year 2023 over 50 food trucks were expected. Some are participating to offer $3.00 samples. This event took place 4-10pm Saturday April 15th at the Peoria Sports Complex in P83 in Peoria Arizona. Besides food trucks they also offer a full bar, bounce houses, a splash pad, play ground, and face painting. Admission for adults was $5.00 and children 12 and under was free. They also are suppose to have live music and FREE parking too!

According to www.AllEvents.in these are the food trucks that are expected to show up.

I planned to make Red Ginger my #1 destination but the Red Ginger Food Truck was no where to be found…..Bah that was my real reason for attending. …….Anyways…….. I’m familiar with a bunch of the food trucks and I had really great experiences at some of them.

It’s nice and sunny today. I think it’s close to 90 degrees F. There are a few areas for shaded seating. They also have a few bars set up.

Bottles of purified water cost $6.00 today.

The tacos from Good Eats Only Mexican Kitchen were downright amazing the first time we had them so we gave them a try here.

Today we tried a chicken taco and a carne asada taco.

Still good……but a little dry today. The hand made tortillas are very good.

We enjoyed the most amazing sandwich from Bro Bro’s BBQ so today we gave them a try.

My husband tried a $3. sausage sample.

And we shared a brisket plate with jalapeño Cole slaw and potato salad.

Still good but not incredible like last time…..From my experiences none of the BBQ places are ever perfectly consistent. The slaw is very crisp and fresh but a little on the bland side and lacks jalapeño. On the other hand the potato salad taste like the type Costco sells but is topped with lots of seasoning and heat.

I thought I remembered hearing positive things about the next food truck. Our last food truck to try was Lili’s Tacos.

We tried a chicken and a beef taco.

These tacos were topped with lots of fresh herbs and came with lemon and HOT pickled carrots. Both taco meats have a texture that is between chopped and ground. I think the chicken meat is a little flat. Green salsa is on the flat side. Really don’t like the red sauce at all…..It’s very HOT and taste like you’re licking the spice out of a spice jar. (taste like cayenne & paprika…LOTS of paprika)

That was Foodstock 2023.

www.AllEvents.com

Food Stock – 16101 N 83rd Avenue Peoria AZ

www.AllEvents.in

www.GetLocalArizonaEvents.com

A Little Taste of Phoenix Magazine’s 2023 Dish Fest at The Clayton House Scottsdale AZ

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Phoenix Magazine’s 2023 Dish Fest was held at The Clayton House in Scottsdale Arizona Sunday March 5th from 12-4pm. VIP ticket holders got in one hour earlier. This is an all you can eat type of festival of best dishes in the valley that Phoenix Magazine featured. Dish Fest also includes a beer garden, wine, spirit tasting and food trucks. Chef Jennifer Caraway also is expected to do a food demonstration. Also a portion of the proceeds benefit The Joy Bus Charity.

Buck and Rider – Oysters

Tia Carmen – ember roasted purple yam, queso sauce, aged tepary bean mole (this was one of the top dishes)

Texas Grill – chicken fried steak

Carcara – shrimp and grits

Sugar Jam – cobblers and pies

Sugar Jam – sweet potato pie

Sugar Jam – Creole shrimp and grits shooters (one of the better shrimp dishes)

Sugar Jam – BBQ maple chicken and waffles

Sugar Jam

Weft and Warp – blackberry haze

Weft and Warp – shrimp

Casa Corazon – chile nogada, Oaxaca mole, shrimp culichi

Feringhee Modern Indian Cuisine

Feringhee – puchka snack with passionfruit (This was one of the best bites****tidal-wave of. flavors)

Feringhee – puchka snacks

Aimee’s Swine House

Aimee’s Swine House – soft egg and ham toast (didn’t try but was told very good)

Tapa Papa Frita – sausage, potato, bread

Citizen Public House

North – meatballs with polenta

North – burrata di stagione

Pitch – smoked cheddar mac & cheese with fennel sausage or chorizo to add on if desired

Bro’s Seafood Food Truck

Bro’s Seafood – breaded shrimp taco with elote (I didn’t try but heard was very good)

AZ Lemonade

Momo’s – vegetarian momo dumpling (they also served chicken and ham momos) I liked the vegetarian momo the best.

Salsa Bites Food Truck

Salsa Bites – tamale

Salsa Bites – barbacola taco, chips, salsa

Caldwell Country BBQ – beef brisket and pork

Huss Brewing – local sausage, pretzels, 2 mustards, sour kraut, pickle

That was a little taste of Phoenix Magazine’s Dish Fest at The Clayton House

3719 N 75TH St Scottsdale AZ

www.PhoenixMag.com

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

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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

WTFORK Happened to the Christmas Candy Cane?

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A long time ago in a land far away someone invented candy sticks to make noisy children shut the FORK up for when they are in church. It was also written that some German dude got the idea to put a little religion into the candy sticks by adding a Shepard’s hook.

Some time has passed and someone else got the idea to add hyssop flavor to the candy canes because hyssop was used in the Old Testament for purification and sacrifice. Maybe nobody wanted child sacrifice on their hands so they stopped adding hyssop to the candy canes. But maybe they changed to peppermint flavor because peppermint was cheaper?

Then they added the White Stripes.

Or was it the red stripes? Symbolizing the blood of Christ?

Maybe you noticed that candy canes often anything that’s NOT peppermint flavored?

Brisket flavored candy canes

Butter flavored candy canes

Sour cream and onion flavored candy canes

Kale flavored candy canes

Pickle flavor candy canes

Mac & cheese flavored candy canes

Sardine flavored candy canes

Hotdog flavored candy canes

It doesn’t really matter WTFORK flavor that the candy cane is……If it’s in the mouth the kid with SHUT THE FORK UP!

This was a little bit of what happened to the Christmas Candy Cane.

That’s All Folks!

Merry Everything and have a Happy New Year!

References

www.Wikkipedia.com

www.WhyChristmas.com

www.NoelNoel.com

www.FoodNetwork.com

2022 Wine & Food Experience Phoenix AZ

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The 2022 Wine & Food Experience was presented by Talking Stick Resort at Salt River Fields in Salt River Pima – Maricopa Indian Community near to Scottsdale Arizona. The event was held November Saturday November 5th 2022 1-4pm with VIPS starting at 12:00.

There were culinary demonstrations, sommelier and mixology seminars, SAMPLES of FOOD, WINE, and CRAFT BEERS…

We skipped the alcohol and went to try the light bites that awaited us. First stop was Tia Carmen with chef Angelo Sosa himself serving and greeting people.

He actually made small talk with us. He told me that he is changing up his menu. He also thanked up for our visits and told me that he liked my necklace. I told him that we really enjoyed our visits to his restaurant. He served his FORKING FANTABULOUS tuna crudo today.