Monthly Archives: January 2020

Perfect Pear Bistro in Tempe AZ – Worth a Fork – Casual Eatery that’s a little different

The Perfect Pear Bistro has two locations in Tempe Arizona. This is a very casual eatery that serves casual foods and many may contain a pear surprise. Some of the pear surprises are spicy pear pico, a pear quesadilla and a grilled pear bread grilled cheese sandwich. Some of the food is very unique like the cauliflower nachos. They are made of crispy cauliflower that is tossed in green chili sauce and made with cheddar cheese, avocado and PEAR pico. Perfect Pear Bistro serves a changing menu of regular and tapas sized appetizers, tacos, salads, wraps, quinoa bowls, sandwiches and pasta. They source as much local as possible.

They offer patio seating.

Seating at the bar.

Dining room seating

We thought the tapas appetizers so so interesting and different. Most of them were only priced at $3.33 each so we tried TWO of them.

On the left are Buffalo Falafels and on the right are Ginger Sriracha Brussel Sprouts topped with pumpkin seeds. Both are very tasty and really different. I’ve never seen these on any other menu this way. Besides tasting great I LOVE the portion size (like tea cup saucer sized) and the LOW $3.33 price. WOW this is GREAT!

For my main I had a salad called Perfect Pear Classic ($10.29) with added chicken ($3.00).

This is a very large salad……(I don’t know if it’s always this big…or maybe they accidentally gave me extra?) Here is house blend mixed greens (spinach, baby kale, arugula), PEARS, dried cranberries, mint, red onions, gorgonzola, hazelnuts and cider vinaigrette with added chicken. It’s different…a little bolder tasting than not all but most salads you get out. The chicken is chilled but it taste like it was prepared recent and it is moist.

My husband got a sandwich called French pantry served with a side (French Fries) ($10.59).

It’s a toasted French Roll stuffed with PEARS, brie cheese, four cheese blend, chicken, red onion arugula, grain mustard and balsamic glaze and fries were picked as the side. I was told that the flavors were great. My husband said that this is a really good tasting sandwich but it came out steaming hot like possibly from a microwave. The bread was so hot that some of the bread turned hard….and the brie almost turned to liquid. It would have been a perfect sandwich if it didn’t seem like it was finished in the microwave…but was still mostly good. I did taste two fries. I usually don’t like the skinny style fries but these came out piping hot and very fresh tasting with a really good potato flavor.

The Perfect Pear Bistro is a little different and Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

www.PerfectPearBistro.com

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

The Forking Truth

Century Grand Phoenix AZ – Dim Sum, Trains, The 1920s Oh My – Worth a Fork!*****UPDATE***Bar Only at this time

*****UPDATE BAR ONLY AT THIS TIME****Century Grand is a 1920’s themed restaurant with a prohibition train themed with special effects cocktail bar and a high end whiskey bar and store in the Arcadia Section of Phoenix Arizona.

You can only make one reservation a day for 90 minutes in the train themed bar called platform 18 or make your reservation for dinner in the restaurant Century Grand. Dinner is only served three times a night at 5pm, 7pm and 9pm. I came in early for my dinner reservation and hoped I could start with a cocktail in Platform 18 but I was told that no seats were available but I could make a reservation for the bar after dinner I declined but took two pictures of the restaurant before opening.

Came back for dinner and only a what seemed like a few minutes the same room looked like this. The tables are somewhat close together and the tables are very small.

Once they open up the atmosphere is loud but not too loud with 1920’s music. Dinner starts with a drink. There is a menu with lots of detailed exotic cocktails and wines. There also is a passing wine cart with a sever that describes the wines. I picked a drink called Iowa ($13.)

It was made with Old Forester 100 proof Rye Whiskey, Peychavo’s Apertivo, calamansi juice, a big handful of fresh mint and sparkling water. It was strong and not too sweet and was served with a metal straw.

We ordered a couple things off the menu and mostly picked from the passing dim sum carts.

We started with a spaghetti squash spring roll with spicy peanut sauce ($3.) from the dim sum cart.

It’s super tasty delicious and spicy! YUM!

Then another dim sum cart rolls by.

We try a cold spicy Szechuan Noodle Salad and house made hand pulled mozzarella and vegetable salad with herbs and a slightly spicy oil. We both really enjoyed the cold spicy Szechuan Noodle salad. It really was spicy and delicious! The mozzarella salad was very good too but was a much milder dish. (I forgot the prices of the rest of the dim sum dishes but they were priced between ($7-$11.)

My husband ordered a fried oyster Rockefeller that was made with fennel, spinach and bacon ($5.).

He said is was brine-ee (like it should be), the oyster was soft and tender and very good.

Another dim sum cart rolls by and we pick up a house smoked salmon with yuzu cream cheese and our heirloom cauliflower dish arrives from off the menu ($13.).

Both dishes are absolutely delicious.

I’m almost full now.

Here comes another dim sum cart.

My husband talks me into the tuna stuffed pepper with romesco sauce. I didn’t need it but it’s tasty.

I saw that this cart also had panko fish on it but by the time it got to us all the fish was sold out.

Maybe two more carts roll by and offer about four more things that I would have enjoyed but had to turn down because I am full by now.

Then our dinner that we ordered arrives.

It’s a Snake River Farms Prime Wagyu with Jerusalem artichoke puree and a warm potato arugula salad with some crisp chips that I think are fried Jerusalem artichokes. I have to tell THE FORKING TRUTH (that’s my thing…that’s what I do) The steak is not the most tender. My husband eats a good amount of it and I bring the rest home for my dogs….My dogs had no complaints.

The desserts offered tonight sound amazing and that baked Alaska flambe has my name on it but I can’t do dessert tonight.

Most of the food was amazing! Service was terrific everyone worked as a team to serve us.

I take a little stroll around the restaurant to take a few pictures.

Behind the room that I’m in is another dining area that is in-between Platform 18 and the Grey Hen Whiskey Bar and Store.

I peek into Platform 18.

The windows look like they are passing by snow in the desert.

*****UPDATE During the pandemic this became a bar only.

I’d say Century Grand is Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

www.CenturyGrandPHX.com

Every FORKING THING is subject to change and your experience may or may NOT differ.

The Forking Truth

Sichuan Inspired Chili Cauliflower and Green Beans Recipe

I got inspired to make this recipe because I was thinking about making Sichuan Chili Chicken but needed a vegetable instead of chicken for dinner…So I thought I could make cauliflower taste like Sichuan Chili Chicken and I DID! I made a batter for the cauliflower and just cooked it off in the oven. The green beans got sort of fried on a pan. You can’t make substitutes here or it won’t taste right. The peanut oil and Szechuan peppercorns are essential.

Ingredients for around 4 portions

1 medium cauliflower – break down in florets

4 Tablespoons peanut oil

1 Tablespoon soy sauce

1 Tablespoon sugar

2 Tablespoons Szechuan peppercorns – crushed

3 garlic cloves -ground to paste or microplane

4 Tablespoons corn starch

1 egg white

6 oz green beans – trimmed

1 jalapeno – chopped

2 Tablespoons peanut oil

1 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce

1 1/2 teaspoon sugar

1 Tablespoon Szechuan peppercorns – crushed

2 garlic cloves – ground to paste or microplane

3 Tablespoons chili sauce like sambal – (or to taste)

non stick spray

2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro – chopped

Directions

Set oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a sheet pan with non stick spray and set to the side.

Ina large bowl mix together 4 Tablespoon peanut oil, 1 Tablespoon soy sauce, 1 Tablespoon sugar, 2 Tablespoons Szechuan peppercorns, 3 garlic, egg white and corn starch. Mix well. add the cauliflower and mix till coated. Lay the cauliflower on the sheet tray in a single layer leaving a little room around each floret. They go in the pre heated 375 degree F oven until cooked though and brown and slightly crispy. (in my oven on the middle rack this took 45 minutes but timing can differ)

While the cauliflower is cooking in a small mixing bowl mix together the remaining peanut oil, soy sauce, sugar, Szechuan peppercorns together and heat it up in a small fry pan on medium high heat. When the oil is hot add the green beans and jalapeño. Cover with some foil so it can steam the green beans tender. This willl only take a few minutes. Add the garlic and take off heat.

Stir the cauliflower and green beans with chili sauce and finish with cilantro. Serve immediately.

Sichuan Inspired Chili Cauliflower and Green Beans

Delicious, spicy and tasty!

The Forking Truth

The Forking Best thing I ate out this week was the Fried Chicken from Confluence Restaurant Carefree AZ

Confluence is a small but upscale restaurant located in Carefree Arizona. They serve painstakingly detailed farm to table elevated modern cuisine. Everything is masterfully prepared. Most plates are very detailed and complex. The atmosphere is classic and cozy with modern touches and mountain views. Seating is available in the dining room, the bar and on the patio.

Here’s the Fried Chicken (lunch menu $23.00).

My photo doesn’t show you how big this really is. I would say that this is TWO and one half portions of food. Three shattering crisp moist juicy flavorful chicken in this magical delicious chili tepin honey mustard sauce. It’s so incredibly delicious and scrumptious. It’s perfect union of this spicy sweet flavorful sauce, crazy tasty crunch, juicy moist tender chicken. It’s just perfection. It’s FORKING CRAZY yummy and so delicious that it puts a spell on your mouth and then your mouth just craves this taste. The plate also contains a butter poached smashed potato and broccolini. Maybe the best part is that I ate the biggest of the three pieces of chicken and took home the top two smaller pieces and half the potato to enjoy again! Leftover food from Confluence is like a great gift.

My husband had the roasted chicken sandwich ($14.00). This one is made with pancetta, caramelized onions, fontina cheese, (mayo but not for my husband) on a house made fontina roll that comes with either a salad or house made chips.

Desserts are always worth the calories here. Here’s the macerated strawberries with angel food cake, macadamia nuts and vanilia creme fraiche ($7.00) The flavors go together so well! I had no idea macadamia would taste so great with strawberries, the cream and cake. Just divine!

Here are not all but some of the previous dishes that we’ve enjoyed from Confluence.

Snapper
Duck
prime rib sandwich with chips
peach with fancy cheese
Monk Fish
Guinea Hen
Fruit Granite (all the desserts were great but this one was my favorite)
This Chicken Sandwich was to DIE FOR!!!!!

Now this was among my favorites….This was BBQ chicken sandwich , celery root, spicy pickle, smoked onion mayo, on that house made fontina roll. So great!………beyond words……… To die for………

beef tips
Scorpion fish
fish

After you try a fish dish from Confluence and taste the expertly seasoned crisp skin and the perfect flesh you will be hooked. Then all the flavors around the plate go together in layers of different flavors you never tasted before.

Fish with tamale and Huitlacoche

The best huitlacoche I’ve ever had. The whole plate was amazing.

arctic char

The Forking BEST thing I ate this week was the Fried Chicken from Confluence in Carefree.

www.RestaurantConfluence.com

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

The Forking Truth

Turkish Inspired One Pot Red Lentil Chicken Recipe

I read a recipe for Turkish Red Lentil soup from a Magazine and I thought those flavors would be really great with chicken. Then I read about a dozen different recipes for Turkish Lentil Soup to get different ideas but honestly the majority of the recipes were almost the same and all of them were vegetarian. I jotted down the spices used and adjusted to what a one pot recipe would need with a 4 pound tray of chicken thighs would need and it came out FORKING DELICIOUS! Flavors are nailed perfect and the chicken is falling. apart tender and is very flavorful. The sauce even reheats well and doesn’t turn thick or get loose either. It’s slightly spicy from Aleppo pepper and turns almost creamy without dairy or cream after you blend. Everyone will love this! This recipe makes 6 smaller dinner portions. That measured out to be 4 ounces a serving with plenty of delicious sauce. I’d suggest a salad, rice and or vegetables to serve with. I do need to note that the skin from the chicken will not be edible…but it is the secret that gives amazing flavor to the dish.

Ingredients for 6 portions

4 lbs chicken thighs with skin and bone (a typical tray of chicken thighs from Safeway is usually around 4 lbs of 8 thighs and usually ((but not always)) cost only 99 cents a lb)

1 large sweet onion – diced

13 garlic – chopped fine

2 Tablespoons tomato paste

2 Tablespoons paprika

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 cup red lentils (inspected and rinsed)

1 Tablespoon white rice

1 cup water

20 grape tomatoes – cut in half

1 Tablespoon kosher salt

1 Tablespoon granulated garlic

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 teaspoons olive oil – finishing

2 teaspoons Aleppo pepper – finishing mixed with oil

1 teaspoon paprika – finishing mixed with oil

1/4 cup mint leaves (loose) – torn – finishing

1 lemon cut in 6 wedges for serving

Directions

Set oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl mix together the tomato paste, paprika, cumin, water and 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper, lentils, rice, onions and fresh garlic. Add this mixture to a large baking dish or half buffet pan. Place the chicken thighs over the mixture in an even layer. Sprinkle the salt, granulated garlic, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper and half a teaspoon black pepper over the chicken somewhat evenly. Cover the pan tight with foil (or a lid). This stays in the oven till the lentils are broken down and the chicken is at least 165 degrees but I don’t like dark meat chicken till it’s at least 180 degrees F. I make these dishes all the time and on a middle rack in my oven I find these dishes are usually perfect in two and a half hours.

You remove the chicken from the pan. and let it cool so you can remove the skin and meat from the bone. Blend the lentil mixture till smooth. Top with torn mint leaves and serve with a lemon wedge.

Turkish Inspired One Pot Red Lentil Chicken

Everyone will love this!

The Forking Truth