K Scoop is a fast casual Korean Restaurant located in the Promenade in Scottsdale Arizona. It’s set up like a buffet and you scoop all you want from the buffet.
Then they weigh your plastic tub of goodies, grab a beverage, pay, (tips are donated to charity) and seat yourself inside or on the patio.
This is what I took from today’s buffet.
Today I took vegan chewy noodles. They were really delicious….(I would have took more if I knew) The kimchi rice was tasty. The onion ring was shattering crisp. The vegetables (cauliflower, carrot, broccoli was very plain and almost still raw but ok. under them was a kimchi pancake that was tasty but hard to eat with just a plastic fork. (today they only had forks and spoons) I also took a tempura piece of broccoli that was tasty. The fried thing next to the onion ring was very unusual…….It was marked mashed potato but it taste like potato salad in a fried crust……Up top are the meats I took. Beef Bulgogi, and spicy beef with a little kimchi. Both are very tasty and tender with different flavors. The spicy beef is tasty but isn’t spicy today. I also took a chunk of maui maui fish, battered fish with sauces, and chicken teriyaki. The tastiest of that group was the battered fish with sauces but nothing was bad.
My husband took some things that I didn’t take.
He took a different pancake, shrimp, and a few dumplings. He liked everything for the most part. Today the dumplings were. marked beef but he thought that they were something else?
Lunch was inexpensive today. We had a combined total of 39 ounces so lunch out at K Scoop was only around $26 today for the two of us.
The FANTABULOUS Dish means……..Top of the line, marvelously good, peachy keen and DYNAMITE!
There is no need to hop the Marrakesh Express since we have Alzohour Market Bakery & Restaurant here in Phoenix Arizona. It’s around the south/east corner of 27TH and Northern. Allzohour is a casual Moroccan-Middle Eastern restaurant, small market, bakery, Islamic Clothing store, and a little more.
The stuffed grape leaves are filled with rice, parsley, lemon, and spices but these are far different than any other that I have tried before. They are far MORE DELICIOUS! They are not the usual……These are lighter, more. tender, and FAR MORE flavorful and far FORKING MORE delicious!!!!! These grape leaves just melt in your mouth. I can taste that the lemon is preserved lemon…but either it’s the spices or maybe it almost seems like the grape leaves might have been braised in something really delicious….They were an unexpected really great surprise!
The Stuffed Grape leaves from Alzohour in Phoenix are one FABTABULOUS Dish!
I must mention to those who do not know that Alzohour offers several FANTABULOUS dishes. I have tried many of Alzohour’s dishes but I haven’t tried every dish that Alzohour offers…..However I can recommend these FANTABULOUS dishes.
B’stilla
B’stilla- Is made in house phylio dough with chicken, cinnamon, sugar and almonds. It’s like dessert and lunch. at the same time. It’s also big so you need to share.
Fish Tagine
The fish (cod). tagine is our favorite dinner from Alzohour. It’s just so delicious!
Hot Tea
It sounds crazy to list hot tea as a fantabulous dish but seriously this tea served here is the best tea that I have tasted anywhere. You MUST get the tea here.
Kashke Bademjan
Another FANTABULOUS dish is the kashke Bademjan. It’s roasted eggplant with herbs, fresh mint, garlic, onions, and bread. You eat it like fajitas and it. is just another great surprise because it doesn’t look exciting but it taste exciting in your mouth. You eat it like a fajita. (this dish doesn’t take out well so order it when you dine here)
Kunafa
It’s this delicious house made noodle pastry stuffed with cheese and topped with sweet syrup and pistachios and it fresh made to order. It’s really scrumptious…….among the best desserts around in Phoenix.
Alcohol is not served and service is very limited and might see slow to some.. Zhor herself does mostly everything herself. She cooks and waits on people at the same time. Not always but sometimes she serves the appetizers with the dinners. She also runs late sometimes with the opening hours.
Santorini’s BBQ Grill is a casual budget type restaurant that offers a mixed menu of Greek Food, some Barbecue, and Fried Fish. They are located in Glendale Arizona only a few. miles from Old Town Glendale. Did you know that Santorini is the name of a large Greek Island where one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history happened……….Anyways- I was in the area and this place sounded interesting so we gave it a try. It’s not a fancy place but seems clean inside. It looks like hit might have been some sort of fast food place at one time.
We walk in and I see the lunch specials.
Then I see the full menu on the wall.
We order, pay, and seat ourselves.
We start by sharing the hummus.
The hummus is extra creamy and glistens from olive oil. The pita bread was warmed up for us.
I had the chicken kabob Greek Salad that came with more warmed up flat bread and tzatziki sauce.
The salad. is a generous size and was fresh made with crisp romaine, tomato. wedges, olives, pickled spicy peppers, feta cheese, and marinated chicken breast. It’s reasonably. good.
My husband got the gyro. Greek salad with a sides of hot links and macaroni and cheese.
It’s kinda average and A-OK!
It cost slightly more than fast food and is better than. fast food.
That was my trip to. Santorini’s BBQ Grill in Glendale.
*****UPDATE NOW CLOSED FOR BUSINESS*******Little CAY Latin-Caribbean Kitchen is a casual full service Latin-Caribbean Restaurant located in Scottsdale Arizona. They have patio seating, traditional seating, booths, and seating at the bar.
Patioinside
You can order appetizers like various empanadas, shrimp in tostones (plantain) cups, plantain latkes, conch fritters and more.
Jerk Chicken Empanada & Plantain Latkes with ketchup and curry saucesmaduros (plantains)
You can get pressed sandwiches such as the famous Cuban sandwich, some of the other pressed sandwiches are the Sloppy Jose (picadillo ground beef), and a jerk chicken and Swiss sandwich. Other sandwiches offered are breadless and use Tostones (plantains) instead of bread.One is called Jibarito of churrasco and red chimichurri. The other two are grilled eggplant and grilled chicken. A few salads are offered but the main dig might be the Chop Bowls or the Classic Dinners.
Many different varieties of Chop Bowls and Classic Dinners are offered. I usually get the Kokomo bowl because it’s a FORKING YUM-Dinger!
From Little Cay in Phoenix I got the Kokomo Chop Bowl the flavors are great but you must add the special sauce o the table to it to get the whole experience.
It’s made of salad, grilled marinated chicken, yellow rice, black beans, curry mayo, rum soaked cranberries….and this is all great but then it gets even better when you add the Pique hot sauce. (or the. xtra hot pique that was offered to me on my last visit)
Seasoned Puerto Rican Hot Sauce called Pique
My husband usually gets the Dos Cays (Classic Dinner).
Dos Cays
The Dos Cays is a plate of Ropa Vieja (slow cooked beef), Lechen pork (slow cooked), yellow rice, pink beans, tostones, ajillimojilo sauce.
Tried the Pink Sands Grilled Maui Maui with added avocado as my server suggested.
The flavors of everything are wild and delicious. The flavors pop even more when you add the pique sauce. This also is a very large portion of food and might be two meals for some people.
Same story as most of the dishes…..Everything taste delicious and gets even better when you add the pique sauce…….The only thing different here is that the steak is slightly over cooked but it taste really good.
A few times we had dessert here.
Once we tried the guava empanada special.
guava empanada special
We also tried the Maduros Foster.
Another time we had the Key Lime Tartlet. So far this one was our favorite but we haven’t tried everything yet.
Key Lime Tartlet
That was a Bigger Taste of Little CAY Latin-Caribbean Kitchen in Scottsdale Arizona.
Bacanora Is a small but very well received Sonoran Mexican Restaurant and Bar located in Phoenix Arizona. They have been named by Esquire one of the best new restaurant of 2021 in America. Our local food critic said in her latest review said the Bacanora is an instant classic.
The restaurant really is very small with less that 10 tables inside, a few bar seats, and a few tables outside.
Most of the insidebar areaa few outside tables
All the cooking is done on one wood fired grill that. is very close to the bar.
the kitchen
Did you know that Bacanora is the same name as a Mexican clear alcohol from agave plants from the town of Bacanora? Speaking of alcohol Bacanora (the restaurant) offers an interesting cocktail menu. Some of the cocktails that they offer are margaritas, an Oaxacan old fashioned, something called chicken milk with mezcal and all kinds of things, micheladas, and an over the top option called Con Fuego of adding hot coals and smoking aromatics.
Oaxacan Old Fashioned (LOOK at the ice cube) and Special of the day Margarita with Tamarind
Just lke the vestibul sized restaurant the menu also isn’t the largest. They offer elote (charred corn with seasoned spiced creama and cotija cheese) as an appetizer and special of the day appetizers. The special of the day appetizers today were cucumber salad, a butternut squash appetizer and halibut aguachili.
Halibut Aguachili Special Appetizer
The main digs that they offer are a carne asada burrito, A Sonoran style (fried in fat) carne asada tostada, pollo asada and daily specials.
Pollo Asado
Today’s specials were a. shrimp and chorizo entree and a tomahawk steak.
Shrimp and Chorizo Special
I’ve been wanting to come here for a long time but read about waiting around ninety minutes for a table. I recently found out that Bacanora now takes reservations. When I made my reservation they were already booked up for a month on the days I wanted.
Everything we tried was delicious with unique flavors that you won’t find anywhere else. The food wasn’t upscale but was homestyle….meaning that you had to peel the shrimp yourself. You also had to peel the chicken skin off because it wasn’t edible. The proteins today were prepared reasonably well (slightly over (shrimp & chicken breast) and slightly under (chicken thigh & leg))) but had very good flavors. My hands smelled delicious all night long.
That was my trip to Bacanora Restaurant in Phoenix AZ.
Rags Real Chicken and Waffles is a small casual restaurant located in Youngtown Arizona. Incase you didn’t know…….Youngtown is a small-town of around six thousand in Arizona. It’s located between El Mirage and Sun City. Rags Real Chicken and Waffles offers a limited of menu chicken and waffles, fried chicken dinner, rib dinner, fried (catfish) fish dinner, fried shrimp dinner, kids meal, and a few more choices. Soft beverages are included with dinners. They do have a B.Y.O.B. sign on the wall so you can bring in your own booze. It’s not a fancy place. They have a mix of homey mix matched furniture. It’s also small and they have only three community tables and four seats at the counter. In the corner of the restaurant is a band area and dance floor.
The open kitchen is also very small. They don’t have room for a steam table so they use chafing pans on the counter to keep the sides hot. The chicken and the waffles are prepared to order so expect to wait at least fifteen minutes.
We try a dark meat chicken dinner and a white meat chicken and waffle. The White meat breast is Dolly Parton sized.
White meat chicken and waffle
The chicken in both platters is fried to perfection and both dishes the has a light crisp coating of corn meal. They are minimally seasoned so that you mostly only taste chicken. You can add salt and pepper to spice it a little more or used some hot sauce for a little zip……They also have BBQ sauce but I think it was too overpowering for the chicken…maybe it really goes with the ribs. Somehow the waffle didn’t get crushed as you would expect under that heavy breast. The waffle stayed light and fluffy. The chicken breast is really good and a very large portion. It certainly can be two meals for many people.
dark meat chicken dinner
The dark meat does have even more chicken juice and chicken flavor. It’s fried so expertly well that it doesn’t even seem fried. It’s also a large portion. The sides are like a neighbor or relative might have made them…..home style.
That was a little taste of Rags Real Chicken & Waffles in Youngtown AZ…You should be licking your fingers now!
Clever Ramen is a fast/casual Ramen Style restaurant located in the ASU part of Scottsdale Arizona. Clever Ramen is a sister restaurant of Clever Koi, Fellow Osteria, and Across The Pond. These restaurants are by Born and raised Hospitality. Clever Ramen offers Pre-Built ramen bowls, build your own ramen bowls (confit chicken thigh, lemongrass chicken breast, karaage chicken, bulgogi steak, pork belly, tofu, and soy egg), a variety of fries, extra vegetables like Korean spinach, and grilled bok choy. Extras like crispy shallots and nori. They also offer steamed buns of pork belly, Korean hot chicken, and kimchi cauliflower. They also offer soft beverages and sake cups, and canned beer and wine. We ordered and paid at the counter.
We got our drinks and sat ourselves.
It’s modern and sleek inside.
It was a nice day so we walked threw to the patio. Within only a few minutes someone runs our food to us.
We started out by trying a couple of steamed buns.
Crispy (not crispy) pork belly & Korean Hot (but not hot) chicken steamed buns
They are small so you can eat one and fit in some ramen. The better one today was the Korean hot chicken. The chicken was developed with flavors and was tasty fresh and juicy. It was good with the tasty house made pickles. It wasn’t hot it was just tasty. They put only a scant amount of sauce on mine today….it was almost dry so I hardly got any taste of Gochujang.
It wasn’t the best day for anything pork…Instead of crispy pork belly today it was mushy and chewy. Maybe it’s usually better?
I thought the Pre-Built Bowl of spicy kimchi ramen with confit chicken thigh was pretty good!
The broth is well made and taste developed with flavors. The chicken is tender and delicious. I taste kimchi but it’s not over-powering. Chili crisp is there to heat things up. The soy egg is ok but is missing that ramen taste that only mirin can give……..The only thing that can really improve are the noodles. The noodles are slightly over cooked and don’t have the chew that ramen noodles are known for. The noodles here are more like collage noodles.
My husband tried the pork ramen. Today wasn’t the best day for pork.
The crispy pork wasn’t crispy today and was mushy and chewy. The broth was weak today and the mushrooms were soggy. Maybe tomorrow this dish might be better?
That was my trip to Clever Ramen in Scottsdale AZ.
The Dish Fest is a food and drink festival based on the January/February Phoenix Magazine article naming the one hundred and one best dishes picked by Phoenix Magazine editors. This festival was held February 27/2022 at the Clayton House in Scottsdale Arizona. Ticket holders were entitled to unlimited bites and sips (hard and soft) from participants. This was an indoor and outdoor event with food trucks. Some of the proceeds benefited the Joy Bus Diner.
Here is most of what I came across in no particular order, I did skip most of the libations because the point of being here was tasting today. I couldn’t taste everything but I did sure taste a lot.
Chef Christopherfrom Christopher’sPitchBlack SheepPostinoinsideWeft and WarpWeft and WarpWeft and WarpChula SeafoodValentineObonObonOakCitizen Public HouseCitizen Public HouseCaldwell County BBQCasa De FalafelAimees Swine HouseFlavors Of LouisianaSuperstition MeaderyPA’LACasa CorazonIsland Boys Jerk HutSalsa BitesAioli BurgersRandom AFTempura takeover
That was a little taste of the 2022 Dish Fest at The Clayton House in Scottsdale AZ.
Dining out with Dogs in Metro Phoenix AZ is just a “Fluff” story about taking my dogs out to eat. It all sort of started with my dog Louie. He was elderly and diagnosed with aggressive cancer. We were told to only expect him to live 3 months more or maybe up to six. Louie couldn’t do a lot but he always enjoyed. eating and also enjoyed going out to eat so I took him out to eat as often as I could. Instead of the 3-6 month diagnosis Louie made it another 17 months. Today I take my current dogs out to eat when I can.
There are many things to know about dining out with dogs. One thing is that not all patios are dog friendly. You usually see a “Dog Friendly Patio” sign. If you don’t see a sign you must call the restaurant to find out if it is ok to bring your furry friend. It is also best to dine at off times and avoid as many people and other dogs as possible. It’s best to avoid people because some people out there really hate dogs and other people might be allergic to dogs. It’s best to avoid other dogs because dogs like to bark at each other and this can be a disturbance and you might be asked to leave.
When dining out with dogs here in Phoenix you have to consider the temperature because your dog is not as heat tolerant as you. Dogs wear fur coats, they can’t sweat and dogs also absorb heat up their paws. All people and dogs have different heat tolerances. In general 90 degrees F and higher is. too hot to dine out with dogs. When there is any doubt it is always better to keep your furry friend heathy and leave them safe at home.
Do you know that most food and drink that you consume can be harmful or even TOXIC to your dog? You need to get a list of safe foods and foods to avoid from your veterinarian. Usually a small lean piece of un-sauced meat is a safe bet. You should also bring a doggie water bowl with you so your dog can have some water.
Now that you have made to the restaurant patio with your dog you need to know that there are rules to dining out with dogs. Dogs must be close and by your side at all times. Dogs are NOT permitted to sit on restaurant furniture or eat off of restaurant plates.
Wraps ‘N’ Curry is an Indian fast food but made from fresh casual located in North Phoenix. They offer wraps on fresh made to order wraps, fresh baked other breads, and Indian dishes. They recently got a community patio at the strip mall near the restaurant so we took the dogs there.
Today I got the goa fish curry.
I think it’s tasty. I lick the sauce off of the fish for the dogs because some of the spices might not agree with them.
My husband had a spicy chicken wrap………sort of……He asked them not to put the sauce on…….but they did anyway.
It was dressed with mint mayo (and my husband won’t eat mayo) so he only picked at it and left the fresh made bread because of the mayo. (he ate something when we got home)
www.WrapsNCurry.business.site
4221 W Bell Rd PHX AZ
602-866-1907
Another restaurant that we went to was The Craftsman Cocktails and Kitchen in North Scottsdale. They are a craft American kitchen. They have a very nice dog friendly patio and the food is very good there. They also are a distillery too! One of their dishes that my husband LOVES there is the muffuletta and had it several times already. It’s served on house made herbed focaccia and he got it with their tasty house made potato chips.
I had the fish and chips….but without the chips and substituted a salad.
The Craftsman vodka crust on the fish is shattering crisp and fresh cod is the flakiest cod that I have ever had. The dogs enjoyed the cod ass well as some parts of the muffuletta.
www.TheCraftsmanAZ.com
20469 N Hayden Rd Scottsdale AZ
480-401-1102
We also went to Cucina Tagliani in North Glendale. They are an. American Italian Restaurant. They offer sandwiches, salads, build your own pasta dishes and offer more vegetable sides than most places that are similar. They also offer pizzas, pork ribs, a few steaks, some other entrees, and more.
I got a strawberry chicken salad.
The chicken was a little dry today but my dogs didn’t mind.
“Wining!!!!” “We get MORE chicken when it’s dry!” “WHOOHOO!”
My husband got the Stromboli today.
“Stromboli is always a good choice.”
“We are ready for some more chicken!”
www.CuucinaTagliani.ccom
17045 N 59th Ave Glendale AZ
602-547-2782
We also took the dogs to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery in North Phoenix. They specialize in serving the Banh Mi Baguette sandwiches and offer around a dozen different varieties. They also offer other Vietnamese favorites except for pho.
Today I got the curry chicken with rice.
My husband got the beef banh mi (the beef really is very good here…….It’s tender like filet mignon but it is really ribeye)
Portions are very large (and prices are low) so we have plenty to share.
We always enjoy going to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery.
www.BanhMiBistroAZ.com
2340 W Bell Rd PHX AZ
602-843-3637
Well that was Dinning Out With DOGS inn Metro Phoenix for February 2022. We hope that you’ve enjoyed and we hope to see you next month!
The Forking TruthIn Memory of Louie 5-5-2001 – 3-3-2017
Harumi Sushi & Sake iis a small casual sushi restaurant that recently opened in North Peoria Arizona. They also have their first and original location in downtown Phoenix. Their sushi is a bit unique and differs some from most other sushi restaurants. It’s made with healthier purple forbidden rice that does have a slightly different taste. The big deal here is that the fish they select to use is from fresh and was never frozen. This kind of fish gives you that melt in your mouth texture…… They use shipped overnight Scottish salmon and Nova Scotian tuna. They top most fish with fresh wasabi that is not from concentrate. Sushi is a treat here!
Inside is small and tight.
We were packed in like sardines.
The tables were so close that we couldn’t get out until the table behind us got up.
Depending on where you are sitting plates might be flying over your head.
We started with a specialty roll called The Hot Havana.
It is hot but is made with the kind of fish that melts in your mouth. I like that they make the rolls with a thin layer of rice so you don’t get too stuffed. This Hot Havana Roll was made with yellowtail, cucumber, avocado, jalapeños and mango habanero sauce.
The yellowtail collar (hamachi kama) was fried and served in ponzu sauce with lemon.
Today this was overcooked and dry….Usually this is the best part of the fish because the collar is the most flavorful and succulent part……We weren’t checked on.
Our last plate was the blue fin tuna nigiri and seared salmon nigiri. (my husband said that he checked Toro and un-seared salmon……???)
Both nigiri were were melt in your mouth fresh.
Service today wasn’t the best. In addition to not asking how the collar was and possibly serving fish different than what we ordered…….the Forking Truth is that nobody even considered clearing out our three rounds of plates.
Service can use improvement but the sushi is what you come for here and really was melt in your mouth fresh.
They were still constructing a patio on our visit that might be ready by now?
