Monthly Archives: May 2019

Little Miss BBQ – Sunnyslope – Phoenix AZ – Worth a Fork! with slight update at the end

Leave a reply

Little Miss BBQ is well known as the best BBQ in Arizona. They do central Texas Style BBQ and only the highest quality prime brisket is used. Little Miss BBQ has two locations in Phoenix. The original is close to the Phoenix Airport and the other is in the Sunnyslope area of Phoenix (considered to be North Phoenix). The original location is very busy and it’s normal to wait in line one-two hours to order. I thought I’d try the Sunnyslope location today that has expanded hours, more tables, alcohol and a few more menu items.

We pull up and there isn’t a long line outside…. (wow that’s unexpected)

We walk in.

There is a sort of lobby and we see a big smoker and a menu on the wall.

Now we’re in like Flynn….WHOOOO Hoo! It smells all BBQ-ee here!

Not bad.

Someone hands out samples of sausage while we’re waiting.

We move up in line and see some house made sauces, beverages and T shirts for sale.

It was only 15-20 minutes wait till we got to order.

I order and they weigh out the meat.

Sides get added next.

My husband gets his plate, we pay and pick up plasticware, napkins and drinks and then we are off for a table.

Do I want to sit inside?

Or Outside?

The weather is nice today so we went with outside.

WOW! Where to begin?

I got the Lean Prime Brisket, Turkey Breast, Macaroni and Cheese and the Cole Slaw.

I start with the turkey.

WOW! This turkey is even FORKING BETTER than from the Original Little Miss BBQ Location. It’s stunning with the perfect amount of smoked BBQ flavor and it’s very moist and basted with butter………………This is Forking Delicious Turkey…..It’s the best Turkey ever!

Now I go for the Lean Prime Brisket today because the fatty I tried from the original location was too fatty for me (but it did taste better than the lean). It’s really good but not close to what I remember……. I taste my husband’s Fatty Brisket….Now this is outstanding with the perfect seasons and perfect smoke….I can eat this………….It’s not too fatty for me. This Fatty Brisket at Sunnyslope (today) doesn’t seem as Fatty or succulent as the one I tried at the original location……but it is delicious! I think it’s perfection!

Fatty Brisket and Turkey from Little Miss BBQ Phoenix AZ – University (original location)


Let’s get back to Sunnyslope where I am today.

The Turkey is Forking incredible! The Prime Lean Brisket is very good…… The coleslaw is fresh, tasty and not over sauced. I was really surprised that the macaroni and cheese was pretty good….It was creamy and cheesy…

My husband got the Fatty Brisket, Pulled Pork and Sausage with Meaty Beans and Jalapeño Cheese Grits.

Everything is a WINNER HERE! My husband said, “when can we go back?”

Little Miss BBQ – Sunnyslope is Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

www.LittleMissBBQ.com

Everything is subject to change and your experience may or may not differ.

The Forking Truth

Went back on a Thursday to try the Thursday special pastrami.

You have your choice of lean or fatty with the pastrami. I picked half and half. The fatty piece on the bottom did taste the best. The lean tasted stronger with salt. One of my pieces came from a different package……really I had three flavors of pastrami today. One peice had far more of an allspice kind of taste than the other pieces….(but it is normal for pastrami to be inconsistent because of the nature of the meat………This is also is a big portion…I ate a third of the meat and made two lunch sandwiches with the rest. The coleslaw tasted about the same but the macaroni and cheese did taste different today….This did taste less like cheese and had something added that wasn’t as delicious to me…..but everyone likes something different. My husband was happy to jump in and clear out the macaroni and cheese for me.


Forking EZ South West Style One Pan Chicken Recipe

Leave a reply
Forking EZ South West One Pan Chicken

Lately I’m on a roll browning up chicken quarters, cooking up vegetables adding a starch and about an hour or so later we get a delicious meal with flavorful moist tender delicious chicken that’s a complete meal. Actually these EZ one pan recipes make about 6 meals. This one is a bit spicy …….like a 3.5 out of five…….but super Forking Delicious! You can add any rice you like but they all come out different. Here I used green rice and it came out like South West Risotto…….but that is because it’s a short rice. If you use long grain rice it will come out more traditional. This came out Forking amazing…..It actually surprised me. In these dishes I do note the chicken skin won’t be crispy enough for most people to eat but the chicken will be moist and delicious! The other thing I need to note is that ovens do differ and the timing can differ. You really need to use a thermometer and make sure your chicken has reached at least 165 degrees F. (but I prefer my dark meat chicken more cooked to at least 180 F so all the stuff melts out)

Ingredients for about 6 servings

4 lbs chicken leg quarters (3 big quarters) ((really anywhere between 3 something – 4lbs)

salt to taste for chicken (the way you normally salt your chicken)

ground pepper to taste for chicken (the way you normally pepper your chicken)

granulated garlic for the chicken (about double the amount of salt you used)

1 cup celery – chopped

1 cup green pepper – any green pepper you like! they all have different flavors (I used shishito)

1 large onion – chopped

4 jalapeños – chopped (or adjust to your liking)

4 carrots – peeled – chopped

15 garlic cloves – fine chopped

1 Tablespoon soup base (instead of added salt) (vegetable or chicken)

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon dried oregano

2 cups water

1 cup rice either long grain or green rice (these kind I’ve tested out)

.o7 oz fresh cilantro (leaves and tender stems…looked like about 1/2 cup) – chopped

2 Tablespoons fresh parsley (for finishing)

2 Tablespoons scallions – chopped (for finishing)

Directions

Set oven to 350 degrees F.

Chicken quarters get sprinkled with salt, pepper and garlic to taste on both sides. You have a choice and can brown in a pan, or broil in a pan because you need the drippings. After you brown up the chicken put it to the side and use some of drippings to cook up your vegetables. (you need this to infuse flavors)

In a sauce pot on medium high heat with drippings add the celery, green pepper, onions, jalapeños, carrots, garlic, soup base, black pepper, cumin, chili powder and oregano. Stir and loosely cover with foil. Stir a few minutes later and loosely cover again. Repeat. Add two cups water and bring to a boil. Then shut off heat. Add the rice and cilantro. Mix. Pour into baking dish or pan and add the chicken and cover tight with foil. Put in your preheated 350 degree oven. This will be done in about an hour or so… (oven timing may indeed differ….rice needs to be cooked and please check chicken with thermometer and it needs to be at least 165 degrees F. to be safe to eat. (I like my dark meat chicken to at least be at 180 F)

When done finish with fresh chopped parsley and scallions.

Serve and enjoy!

Forking EZ South West Style One Pan Chicken

Enjoy! Sorry this photo isn’t the best but the dish really does taste Forking Great!

The Forking Truth

Dijon Vu – Dijon Mustard Tasting – Grey Poupon VS Amora

Leave a reply

Dijon Mustard was originally made in the town of Dijon located in Burgundy France since the Middle Ages. Since then people have enjoyed Dijon Mustard and it’s a part of food history.

For years and years the only Dijon Mustard I used in recipes was Grey Poupon. I don’t spread mustard on things because I find that most mustards are very overpowering. If I spread mustard on something I can’t taste the food…..I read about how smooth and wonderful Amora Dijon was so I had to give it a try.

In the middle is Grey Poupon.

On the left is Amora Intense

On the right is Amora 1/2 strength

First I go and give each mustard a sniff.

Amora 1/2 strength smells mustardy.

Amora Intense smells a stronger mustardy smell.

Grey Poupon doesn’t seem to have any aroma…..?

Now I go for the taste.

Amora 1/2 strength – is super smooth, mildly mustardy. It’s almost like eating a loose deviled egg that’s heavy with mustard.

Amora Intense – is a little more interesting but is also very smooth and a little bit stronger…this one taste sort of has an almost Chinese-like Mustard taste with Horseradish…….but smoother……This one is slightly more acidic or it taste sharper but is still delicious…This one you can feel it in the back of your mouth. This is the only one out of the three that leaves a mild mustard finish in the mouth.

Grey Poupon – Seems harsh and vinegary after the other two. I also can taste something a little sour in this one..

Those were my Forking Thoughts on Dijon Vu – Dijon Mustard Tasting – Grey Poupon VS Amora.

Your opinion may indeed differ.

The Forking Truth

Asian Inspired Cucumber Salad Recipe

Leave a reply
Asian Inspired Cucumber Salad

Here’s a cucumber salad that’s different. the cucumbers were spiral cut and then salt and sugar was added so the liquid would release. It taste like refreshing Thai flavored and the salad gets finished with roasted peanuts, sweetened shredded coconut and a few Thai Basil leaves. You only make this salad if you are really loaded up with cucumber because 5 pounds of cucumber shrunk down to only 6 servings.

Ingredients for around 6 servings

5 lbs of cucumber – preferably English – spiral cut and chopped like once in half or sliced very thin on mandolin

1 Tablespoon course sea salt

1 Tablespoon sugar

1 medium white onion – sliced very thin on mandolin

2 stalks lemongrass – peel hard layer off and microplane… you really only use the white end about three inches

1 jalapeño – microplane or fine chop

2 garlic cloves – microplane or ground to paste

1 Tablespoon fresh ginger – grated

4 Tablespoons coconut milk

2 Tablespoons rice wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon sesame oil

1 Tablespoon soy sauce

1/2 cup Thai Basil – torn or chopped

12 Tablespoons roasted peanuts (2 Tablespoons for each serving)

12 Tablespoons shredded coconut (toasted and sweetened) (2 Tablespoons for each serving)

Directions

The spiral cut or thinly sliced cucumber go in a very large bowl with the salt and sugar and mix well. It needs to sit on a counter for a 1/2 hour. Lots of water needs to be drained after a half hour.

Add the sliced onion and mix well. Set to the side.

In a small bowl mix together the lemongrass, jalapeño, garlic, ginger, coconut milk, vinegar, oil and soy sauce and mix well.

By now the cucumbers will need to be drained again so drain them again. Now mix in small bowl mixture to cucumbers.

To serve top with roasted peanuts, toasted coconut and fresh Thai Basil leaves.

Asian Inspired Cucumber Salad
The Forking Truth

Airport Food I ate in Phoenix Sky Harbor in April/May 2019

Leave a reply

Sometimes when you travel you find yourself eating airport food. I heard about many local Metro Phoenix restaurants opening branches of their restaurants in Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. I had to leave extra early for a flight and decided to give one restaurant a try. In general I’m not a big of breakfast foods so I was pretty thrilled to find Los Taquitos offering their full menu as the other two restaurants (Humble Pie and Nocawich) were I was were only offering breakfast.

I thought oh cool I’ll try a chicken torta…….I haven’t had a chicken torta since my last trip to Mexico. A torta is basically a sandwich on a French inspired Mexican roll.

They have a good amount of variety seating here.

They have a long table with traditional seats, a few tables with stools and a high top seating with outlets for computer use.

It’s walk up to the counter and ordering goes sort of Chipotle Style……(they ask you what you want as you walk down the line). My husband orders the food as I grab a table and guard the suitcases. He tries to order me a chicken torta. He tells the girl behind the counter that he wants to order a chicken torta. She says what do you want on the chicken torta? He says whatever a chicken torta comes with. ***********She says I don’t know what goes on a chicken torta.*********WOWEE who knew that whoever works behind the counter doesn’t know what goes on a chicken torta?

I wind up with this.

I guess it doesn’t look bad but the bread is very heavy and thick. The chicken is a generous amount of very dry flavorless chicken breast with some amounts of inedible grizzle. I also received wilted lettuce, unripe tomato slices and a smear of liquid avocado. On the side was dry seasoned rice and plain black beans.

My husband received.

Carnitas Torta with the same rice and drippy refried beans.

www.LTGrill.com

Coming back to the airport we were brave and decided to try airport food again because we were really hungry, short on time and had to be somewhere. We landed at terminal 4 this time and were walking by Zinc Brasserie.

We’ve enjoyed many dinners from the Zinc Bistro Location in Scottsdale and have enjoyed the take out at the Le Petit Zinc window here before. We waited a little while to get seated but once we were our order was taken quickly.

I got the grilled chicken salad.

It’s basically a Caesar salad. It’s a lot of romaine leaves, thinly sliced (what taste like marinated) moist chicken breast with black pepper, shaved toasted bread and shaved parmesan dressed with an emulsified slightly creamy dressing. It’s not the most exciting salad in the world but everything is fresh and good. It seems healthy and is satisfying.

My husband got the Short Rib Banquette.

Wow look how big and nice this is! This sandwich is actually bigger, better and more detailed than the last sandwich my husband got from Zinc Bistro in Scottsdale. The sandwich was delicious. The Zinc Ketchup was nicely spiced. The fries were fresh and hot and lightly dusted with smoked paprika.

Zinc Bistro Pastrami Brisket Sandwich Platter from Scottsdale

www.ZincBistroAZ.com

Airport food is rated at 1/2 a Fork because it could go either way.

1/2 a Fork…Could be good! Also could suck.

Everything is subject to change and your experience may or may not differ.

The Forking Truth

Black & White Cafe in Glendale AZ – Worth a Fork!

Leave a reply

The Black and White Cafe is located in North Glendale in the area that is considered to be the upper west side of metro Phoenix. They are hidden in a shopping center with a Home Depot on west Behrend Dr just off of 59th avenue. This is an adorable small cafe that only has 6 tables inside and a few outdoor tables. They offer an interesting breakfast menu, nicely made salads, sandwiches, fresh pastries, soups, cappuccino, latte, espresso, juices and more.

Look how cute it is inside.

On one side are big tall mirrors reflect lots of light and there are bright colored paintings for sale on the wall.

In general I’m not a fan of most breakfast food but the banana kahlua French toast and the Florentine Benedict with avocado and fruit got me interested.

Today I ordered the California Chicken Salad ($13.00)

WOW! What a nice salad! The chicken was fresh grilled to order and is nicely seasoned. There’s mixed greens, candied walnuts, sliced grapes, fresh sliced mandarin oranges, avocado and balsamic vinaigrette.

My husband got the BBQ Chicken Salad.

This salad also had fresh grilled to order chicken, romaine lettuce, corn, black beans, cheese, tortilla strips with ranch and bbq sauce. ($13.00) That’s a nice salad too!

We also shared a croissant for dessert.

It was so fresh and seemed so light it just melted in the mouth. ($2.00)

I didn’t even know this place was here until a few weeks back when we went to the Home Depot. What a great surprise!

Black & White Cafe in Glendale is Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

www.BlackandWhite.cafe

Every thing is subject to change and your experience may or may not differ.

The Forking Truth

My Visit to Torc Restaurant in Napa California

Leave a reply

Torc is a contemporary American Restaurant that offers a seasonal daily changing menu located in downtown Napa California. The Atmosphere is classic with an open kitchen and with an impressive wine list. I noticed that they have a busy bar.

Rock and roll fills the air but it’s not too loud and is at a comfortable level.

What drew me into Troc were not all the many recommendations from the locals but it was the truffle offerings I read about.

We tried the $39.00 peigord truffle grilled cheese sandwich to start out with.

The bread is grilled nicely to perfection and the plate is embellished with truffle scented aioli that’s dusted with fine French crushed red pepper.

This sandwich is light with cheese and stuffed with a generous layer of truffles. I’m very excited to try my first bite because I’ve enjoyed peigord truffles many times from the original Binkley’s Restaurant that was once located in Cave Creek Arizona. This kind of truffle can have such a great flavor that it makes your mouth try to suck up all the flavor just like a vacuum cleaner to suck in all that flavor even after you eat it. I bite into this sandwich and although its a nicely prepared sandwich for whatever reason the truffles are mostly tasteless. Every few bites I got a little of the truffle taste…….. I know that fresh truffles do lose their flavor quickly….I also know that truffles come dried , canned, bottled and frozen….I should have asked questions about the truffles before I ordered. It also is common for restaurants to show you your truffle before it’s served to you but that didn’t happen here.

For dinner I went with the house made spring green ravioli gigante.

The ravioli look amazing and are covered with black trumpet mushrooms, wild arugula pesto, pistachios and flowers.

The plate is stunning to look at…….but is best to eat with your eyes. The pesto is very busy tasting with bitter arugula, mint, basil, pistachios, raw flowers and several other flavors. Inside is just as busy…..

My husband had the house made rigatoni with Winkler Farm boar sausage sugo, spring onions and pecorino Romano.

This one was much better received.

Service was friendly and food arrived in a timely order. This restaurant was highly recommended to us by almost every local we met.

That was my trip to Torc in Napa California.

www.TorcNapa.com

Everything is subject to change and your experience may or may not differ.

The Forking Truth

My 1st Taste of Detroit Style Pizza at the REC in Peoria AZ – Worth a Fork! ******with updates The Rec Pizza & Dogs

Leave a reply

The REC is a TINY Detroit Style Pizzeria located in Peoria Arizona. They offer two outside tables. (*****Update name change to The Rec Pizza & Dogs)

One indoor table.

Four hightop community stools. (****Update they added on a dining room)

You order at the counter and seat yourself.

The pizzas come in three sizes personal, medium and large and are cut in squares. They take about 25 minutes to prepare. Many varieties of Faygo Brand sodas are offered. They offer the usual variety of pizzas and also the unusual such as hatch chili with pulled pork and spicy pickle with bacon……… As you wait you look at all the Detroit Music Memorabilia all around and a few novelty collectibles.

Then you look out the window.

I just went for a plain personal size pizza.

It’s very hot just out of the oven…I spread out the little squares of pizza.

It’s a little bit Trenton Style……..(little fact…I actually worked in a Trenton NJ Pizza Shop for a while long long ago) The sauce is on top of the cheese……that is done so you don’t get over cooked cheese……But this Detroit Style pizza is very different than Trenton Style pizza. It’s mainly the crust that is unique and different. (****Update the crust is different see down below)

It’s a bubbly thick crust that isn’t very doughy. On the edges it’s almost like eating a cheese crisp….those crackers that are only made of cheese.

The bottom has a thin layer that taste almost like a grilled cheese sandwich……It seems almost buttered but is very crisp like a really good grilled sandwich.

On top of the bubbly bread is a gooey blend of cheeses……..you can taste grated Italian Cheese………

On top of the melty flavorful cheese is rich tasting chunky tomato sauce….with the perfect amount of oregano in it. It’s delicious!

I have to say my first taste of Detroit Style Pizza at the REC Pizzeria in Peoria is Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

www.theRECPizzaria.com

Everything is subject to change and your experience may or may not differ.

The Forking Truth

Did a 2nd taste on the patio.

Tried a plain again.

This one had slightly less sauce but was pretty much just as delicious.

Tried a white pizza.

This one has too much thyme for my taste…..but I wouldn’t avoid it either…..maybe you should request light on the thyme.

My husband likes meaty pizzas and enjoyed the pepperoni with added sausage.

My dogs got to enjoy some crunchy cheesy ends.

Been back a few times and more changes have been made.

main entrance

The name has changed to The Rec Pizza & Dogs (Coney Island style hot dogs)

They have added on a dining room.

They have changed the recipe for the dough. Today we tried three different pizzas. One was a seasonal pizza with pumpkin and ricotta cheese.

The dough is different.

It’s fluffy with a soft bread bottom.

The dough seemed fermented.

The crust used to have a delicious crispy bottom.

What I got today was very different.

The Forking Truth

My Trip to Protea in Yountville CA

Leave a reply

Protea is a very small casual Caribbean/Global Restaurant located in Yountville California. Protea offers a daily changing menu. You might find things like empanadas, Philly cheese steaks, tacos, bison burgers and shishito peppers on the menu. You order at the counter, grab a number and seat yourself.

After you order and pay pick a table inside or outside.

In reasonable time our order arrives to us. We got swordfish tacos and roasted pork tacos and tried their specialty home made macaroon.

We both thought the proteins in both orders of tacos were absolutely stunning. They both were so fresh and tender. They couldn’t be more perfect. The sauces and slaws were more simple than both of us were expecting….as my mango pineapple slaw was simply cabbage and mostly just pineapple adorned with some cilantro leaves……..These are the type of tacos were the protein shines.

The macaroon was quite notable and was the best macaroon I ever did try. It was cinnamon scented, chewy and coconut tasty and also drizzled with high quality chocolate. It was just divine.

www.ProteaYV.com

Everything is subject to change and your experience may or may not differ.

The Forking Truth

Bottega in Yountville CA – Worth a Fork!

Leave a reply

Bottega is an Italian Restaurant by celebrity chef Micheal Chiarello in Yountville California. The first thing you see is the hostess desk with lighted stones when you walk in…

Behind the hostess desk is one of the dining rooms and to the left is a bar area.

Dining rooms have a patio feel to them.

Tables are formal with linen, heavy silverware, polished glasses and copper hammered cups for water.

Beware of the little container that reads “sale.”

It looks just like grated cheese but it’s salt.

They now charge for bread but it’s only something like a dollar a person. The bread is so good that I woke up the next day tasting it in my mouth.

It’s so crusty and developed with flavors……They also serve the bread with a tasty garlic cheese spread…

We started out by sharing the Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad.

It was made with Marcona Almonds, egg, pecorino and Meyer Lemon Dressing…It was just delicious.

I had the Calabrian Marinated Chicken under a brick.

It’s one of the best chickens I ever tasted. So moist like butter but with a delicious not too spicy Calabrian Chili flavor developed in it and above……Insanely scrumptious………This is really masterful high quality chicken…..Ummm………There is plenty of chicken to eat…actually too much for one person…but nothing else. I think this plate would be best as a sharing plate so you could eat something else with it…..but the bread soaks it up well.

My husband got the Acorn fed Pork Shoulder that came with a Potato Croquette, Pancetta wrapped fruit and Broccoli Rabe.

What a nice combination protein, vegetable, meat wrapped fruit and potato……He loved it!

I saved room for dessert because they are usually great here.

Today we tried the Semi Freddo di Lemon.

It’s good but I don’t taste much lemon. It taste more like kumquat with ice cream topped with meringue and a thin burnt cookie.

The last dessert I had here was really great and I still remember it.

Clafoutis Type of Dessert From Bottega in Yountville CA

Below is another dish I enjoyed from a past visit.

Potato Dough Raviolo with spinach and Egg in Brown Butter Sage Sauce from Bottega

That was my 2019 visit to Bottega in Yountville CA. – Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

www.BottegaNapaValley.com

Everything is subject to change and your experience may or may NOT differ.

The Forking Truth