Deseo is Modern Upscale Latin Cuisine located in the beautiful Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale AZ. They offer a comfortable traditional looking dining room with large windows to view the beautiful desert plantings that surround the resort. They have an open kitchen and you might be able to get a seat at “The Rail” (seats that loop around the open kitchen) to see the kitchen action and make conversation with the Chefs.

We were seated at “The Rail” and got to see the action.

The started us off with hot steamy out of the oven yucca rolls and soft creamy butter that melted right into the roll.

We started with what was called “Rainbow” on the menu.

It was a mix of fresh tasting fish, salmon, tuna and another mild fish that was in white soy citrus and pickled jalapeños. It was refreshing and light. At the time it seemed like the best ceviche I ever had.

We also shared a Wagyu Beef Empanada that was very detailed.

The Empanada sat in spiced tomato sofrito and was garnished with green apple slaw. The purple dots are some sort of huitlacoche sauce. This was the most high end empanada I ever had anywhere for sure.

For dinner I had the Big Eye Tuna Encebollado.

Now this dinner was different than I expected. I was expecting a cumin crust. But got a Black Cumin Crust that doesn’t taste the least bit like cumin. Black cumin looks and taste very similar to caraway seeds. Actually I enjoyed the light sprinkle of Black Cumin over the sweet tomatoes. That’s a new taste for me that I will remember.

The fish tasted good in the light refreshing fruity tomato consommé and the accents of pickled shallots, and mini yucca dumplings added more interest to the dish.

My husband had the Duroc Pork Chop.

The pork chop was covered with a reddish mole that wasn’t bitter with lots of flavors. All kinds of interesting garnishes surrounded the plate such as spiced pepita brittle, a corn tamale, shaved baby carrots and apple.

Sadly I was too full for dessert 🙁

Yes Deseo is Worth a Fork and YES You would drive across town to dine here.

Dishes I had at Deseo on my last visit were-

Kapalhi

Pan seared Halibut with Fideo.

Worth a Fork! You would drive across town to dine here.

For more information on Deseo at Westin Kierland please visit www.KierlandResort.com

The Forking Truth

7-1-17*****UPDATE Now Closed for Business

Sun Valley Bakery in Phoenix AZ is a small Vietnamese Eatery in Phoenix AZ. This place really seems like Vietnamese Food for Vietnamese People. This restaurant is located in an older strip mall that is surrounded by several other Vietnamese and Asian businesses and a couple Mexican Businesses. On my visit all I saw was lots of take out by Asian people.They were all taking out multiple bags of food in large boxes. It looked like all the boxes contained soups. This place is called a Bakery but I didn’t see any baked goods for sale. I don’t know if they sell baked goods. The interior of the restaurant is NOT Fancy and is older and dated looking. I also note that the air conditioning doesn’t work well. It appears that it hasn’t worked in years and a portable air conditioner sits on the floor that brings the temperature down a little.

This is another place where you are not here for the atmosphere and only are here for the food. They have one full size menu that stays on a table by the cash register. They offer many appetizers some that I never heard of before like Tapioca Cakes with meat. I didn’t get to page threw the whole menu but some of the food offered is food has ingredients in it that aren’t offered at most Vietnamese Restaurants like Pork Blood Porridge, Steamed Rice cake with Skin, Lemon grass soup with legs. They also offer over twenty kinds of noodle soup, many rice plates, rice soups and the most inexpensive Banh Mi Menu I have ever seen.

The Banh Mi Sandwiches are priced $3.50 and $4.00 each.

The Food Critic from our Newspaper said that this restaurant makes the BEST Banh Mi in the area so I wanted to try the Banh Mi here because I don’t get to eat Banh Mi too often or at too many places.

My husband went for the steamed pork Bahn Mi and I went for the Sardine, tomato and Onion Banh Mi.

I was going to get a drink from the refrigerator.

The first drink I came across was White Gourd Drink? WTFork is that? Maybe it was cucumber juice? Maybe that would be alright. I like cucumbers. I saw Pepsi and a few other American sodas I don’t drink and another can of something with soy. It just feels like you entered a foreign land here. I went with a glass of water.

Soon my Sardine Banh Mi arrives.

The bread was studier than other Banh Mi Breads I had before but it also was very crisp on the outside and softer on the inside. The bread was just heated in the oven. This sandwich was very unique but delicious. It was almost like eating a very good but different tuna hoagie. I liked the texture of the meaty sardines in this sandwich and the bright cilantro and crisp cucumber just brightened it all up. The tomato and sardine oil soaked into the bread and added another layer and moist flavorful texture to the sandwich. I would get this sandwich again.

My husband went for the Steamed Pork Banh Mi.

This Pork differed from other Pork Banh Mi Sandwiches he had before. He thought the pork had multiple textures and thought it was might contain various parts of the pig. He ate it and said it wasn’t bad at all but he has a preference to just pork without the parts. (I do note they offer other pork banh mi sandwiches like the BBQ pork that the cashier recommended to us)

I have no idea how they can sell these banh mi sandwiches at only $3.50 and $4.00 each. They are  cheaper than fast food. Gosh a Jack in the Box Burger cost something like a forking $5.00 and is awful. These Banh Mi Sandwiches are so much better!

The cashier/cook was helpful and friendly. She acted like she really enjoyed having us here.

The Banh Mi Sandwiches are a PHO-Nominal Value and are Worth a FORK!

If your around Central Phoenix and are in the mood for Vietnamese you might want to give this place a try.

This restaurant doesn’t have a website and isn’t on FaceBook. For more information on Sun Valley Bakery in Phoenix AZ you’re going to have to give them a call. 602-354-6600

7-1-17 now closed for business

The Forking Truth