The sold out event was a gathering of  about 30 Independent owned restaurants featured on the popular Check Please Arizona TV Show. You were able to sample whatever treats they prepared along with water, wine and or beer. Chef demonstrations were also a feature. The tickets varied in price and ran between $25-$60. for the SAME TICKET depending if you purchased early or waited for an online deal.

In my Forking opinion it sort of went like this.

There were a few restaurants that really went out of their way to leave you feeling good about their restaurant.

The Citizen Public House/Gladly put out a three piece spread of their famous Chopped Salad. Kimchi on Tuna and this really Great Cashew Curry Brownie.

Flavors of Louisiana also put out a delicious 3 piece spread Gumbo something with Shrimp and really good Peach Cobbler.

Iron Chef Winner Place (You Know Who!)  generously put out Really  fresh really good Oysters and also made Sloppy Joes. Honestly I thought I was eating something from Costco when I tasted the sloppy joe. The beef was very salty and could have passed for a mix. But what was even worst was the what seemed like cheese whiz on top of the beef. The FORKING TRUTH is that I couldn’t tell if it was Cheese Whiz or a sauce he made to taste like Cheese Whiz. WTFork. I don’t think the Iron Chef Guy made this, Maybe he let his dishwasher have a spin at cooking.

It was nice that some people cooked vegetarian but the sandwich pictured above didn’t taste good. FORKING TRUTH!

I thought it was strange for a Steakhouse to serve Pulled Pork. WTFork.

Durants made NY Strip Steak Sliders with Crispy onions But the sandwich was cold and seemed strange and kind of disgusting all that cold hard fat and stuff from the meat. I enjoyed Durant’s Tomato Salad and the Chocolate Dessert was OK.

Cucina Tagliani’s  Chocolate Cake was much better than Durant’s and their Meatballs were better than another I tried from someone else.

I don’t recall what restaurant put out wine braised beef. It was flavorful tender and good but it came with almost raw rock hard Brussels Sprouts that became projectiles in the massive crowd of people because the fork couldn’t penetrate. Flying Brussels Sprouts doubt many made it to be eaten.

Hob Nobs made a really good Roast Beef Sandwich.

The Vig also made a really good Roast Beef Dip Sandwich.

Both the Hob Nobs and The Vig Roast Beef Sandwiches were better than from the really good Iron Chef competitor place. FORKING TRUTH! (That doesn’t seem right…there’s an order you know)

 

They were pouring many wines. I tried the Franciscan Wine I didn’t like it but I thought it was drinkable. I tried to drink two other wines and they sickened me so I had to toss them out. I was afraid to try other wines I was afraid that they were from Walgreens. I looked up the one brand on the web something called Living Tree and I couldn’t find it on the web.

It’s hard to feed masses of people away from a working kitchen.  Not the most impressive food festival but it was a hell of a lot better than  That Other One on the far West Side.