Tag Archives: #PhoenixEats

Grocery Shopping During The CoronaVirus Pandemic in Metro Phoenix AZ – Week 4

The numbers of the infected and dead are rapidly rising and going out to grocery shop does seem more deadly. Today 4/9/2020 there are just over 3,000 people in Arizona reported with coronavirus. It’s much worst in New Jersey where there are more than 47,000 reported cases and far worst in New York where I didn’t even look. They say on the news to wear a mask or scarf when you are out so I did. I also heard to shield your eyes and to make sure that you distance yourself at least six feet from other people. It’s also important to wash your hands whenever you touch anything outside of your house and never to touch your face. I felt reasonably safe last week shopping at Costco so I went back this week hoping to load up on some stuff. Just like last week you now stand in line before they let you in and only let in so many people at a time.

This week Costco ran out of sanitizing wipes for you to use while shopping but they did disinfect your cart for you before they gave it to you.

This week they did have a selection of raw chicken at a very good price….(only 99cents a pound for chicken thighs) However they were still were out of most paper products like toilet paper (so lucky I don’t need for a while!!!!) and paper towels. I happen to be out of paper towels so I purchased a giant box of tri folded paper towels. You know the kind that you might find in rest room dispensers. They aren’t so great but they are better than no paper towels.

A few days latter my husband stopped into Fry’s Super Market. He said it looked mostly stocked except for the paper products.

I wanted to shop at more stores for more things I need but am slightly frightened to come in contact with someone with the virus. They said on the news as long as you are at a safe distance and don’t touch your face and wash up correctly that you should be fine. They also said on the news that you won’t catch coronavirus from food that you eat. They said on channel 3 news on April 3rd that even if a person has coronavirus and makes your food that you won’t catch the virus that way. …(***that is great news but I can’t say for sure that it is factual) They said on the news that you catch the virus from someone breathing, taking, coughing or sneezing….???????

I’m expecting to be doing some sort of grocery pick up or delivery next week.

Everything is subject to change and we hope it does for the better.

That was grocery shopping during the coronavirus pandemic in Metro Phoenix – Week Four

The Forking Truth

Take Out During The CoronaVirus Pandemic in Metro Phoenix AZ – Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery, Skewers Mediterranean Grill, Alzohour Market, Doda’s Pizza, Cafe Chenar

We are trying to support as many local restaurants as we can during the pandemic. I don’t know if the news is factual? They said that you won’t catch coronavirus from food. They said even if someone with coronavirus makes your food you won’t catch it that way. The virus passes from someone breathing, talking, coughing or sneezing 6 feet or less from you. During the pandemic you should shield your eyes, nose and mouth. You need to wash your hands every time you touch anything outside of your house. As far as we know Take Out Food should be safe.

First stop this week was our Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery. This restaurant is located in North Phoenix and serves all your Vietnamese favorites except for pho.

Today I had the noodle salad with grilled chicken and a tasty vegetarian egg roll.

My husband had the grilled pork rice plate.

The food is always fresh and tasty. Portions are always LARGE and prices are always LOW!

We always enjoy Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery.

A few days latter we packed up the dogs and did pick up from Skewers Mediterranean Grill.

We tried a very delicious eggplant salad and their creamy hummus.

For my main I had the chicken kabob salad bowl again.

My husband tried the chicken shawarma salad bowl.

Everything was fresh and tasty. Portions on take out were much larger than dine in.

Next stop was Alzohour Market in Glendale for Moroccan/Middle Eastern Cuisine.

I’ve tried much of the menu but never had the chicken kabob until today.

WOW! It’s delicious and very moist!

My husband got the lamb couscous.

I think the couscous dishes are one of her masterpiece dishes. There’s a lot going on here.

Both entrees came with side salads that had this insanely delicious lemony dressing.

Portions were extra large but we had some help with that.

Next we packed up the dogs and did take out from Doda’s Pizza in Glendale.

They do what I call east coast flavored neighborhood pizza…..not artisan….not Neapolitan but superior to chain take out pizza. They make a flavorful dough, a good tasting rich sauce and better cheese than from other similar restaurants in the area.

We took out two slices of their regular cheese pizza.

We also tried a Margherita.

Last stop this week was take out from Cafe Chenar in North Phoenix for Bukharian Cuisine.

You might be wondering WTFork is Bukharian Cuisine? It’s a kosher offshoot of Pan Asian with influences from Russian, Muslim, Uzbek and Korean. We had tasty chicken and beef lulyas (ground seasoned meat cooked on a skewer), chuchuara (stuffed pasta), achichuk (salad) and a salmon skewer. Everything was delicious and there was precautionary distancing there and a bottle of hand sanitizer.

“Don’t worry we are in this thing together”

We were able to support 5 local small businesses this week.

Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery

Skewers Mediterranean Grill

Alzohour Market

Doda’s Pizza

Cafe Chenar

Everything is subject to change and we hope it does for the better.

The Forking Truth

Grocery Shopping during the CoronaVirus Pandemic in Metro Phoenix AZ – Week Three – Still no paper products but I’ve found eggs

This week we’ve been to Fry’s. Safeway, Walmart Grocery and Bashas supermarkets. Fry’s was reasonably well stocked except for paper products. Walmart Grocery was also reasonably stocked and out of paper products but I was lucky to find eggs this week. They were almost out of eggs but had around 6 flats in the refrigerator and I was lucky to get one with a limit on one. Last week Walmart Grocery was the only supermarket near me that had fresh raw chicken. Safeway was the least stocked of all the supermarkets with very little produce and no paper products. They didn’t have their usual brands of chicken and offered frozen raw whole chickens of a brand I never heard of. I bought one and it made Walmart Chicken seem like the best chicken in the whole wide world. This Sun something brand of Safeway Chicken had an abnormally large breast and tiny legs that were like white meat wings. It was one of the worst chickens I’ve ever tried with a weird texture and not the best taste. I don’t normally shop at Bashas because there isn’t one near me. I stopped into a Bashas because I was in the area of one and needed fresh herbs I couldn’t find near me this week. They had the herbs but this was the only supermarket that didn’t offer hand sanitizer and also didn’t offer sanitizing wipes. They still used the moving belt by the cashier without sanitizing it. I felt unsafe shopping there during this pandemic.

I don’t know if my experience is typical from other similar super markets.

That was Week 3 of Grocery Shopping during the CoronaVirus Pandemic in Metro Phoenix AZ.

Everything is subject to change and I hope it does for the better.

The Forking Truth

Take Out During The CoronaVirus Pandemic in Metro Phoenix AZ – Taco Fusion , Pita Kitchen , Confluence, Sala Thai & Popo’s Fiesta Del Sol

We are supporting local restaurants as much as we can during the pandemic.

We did take out from a newly opened casual Taco Fusion. I’ve been there a couple weeks ago and was blown away with how great the food was….(particularly the mild habanero chicken taco with pineapple salsa…)…. I also was so happy that it wasn’t too far from where I lived so I thought it was extra important to stop here and give them some business. When we made our take out order we were told that they were offering 4 of their 8 salsas today and didn’t have pineapple salsa today.

All the tacos and quesadilla was delicious. The tortillas are hand made. The flour tortilla is thinner and bigger with less flavor than the hand made corn tortilla. The asada is more flavorful and more tender than from another popular taco place in the area. The fish taco is different and is topped with sweet carrots. They are all very good tacos but I still like the mild habanero chicken taco best. It’s full of really good flavors. It’s the one taco that is even better than a chicken taco from Mexico. (I’ve actually tasted many tacos on the streets of Mexico a few times) The sauces are good..we got one I’ve never tried before anywhere. It’s a dark ultra spicy sauce that is borderline too hot for me but if I only use a drop or two is wildly delicious. Very GOOD Tacos from Taco Fusion in Glendale.

Our next take out was from Pita Kitchen in Glendale. This is small Greek Casual Mediterranean restaurant.

We packed up our dogs and did a pick up.

I got my usual chicken kabob salad. I have to say that this chicken is abundant, moist, developed with flavors, delicious with a really tasty char on it. I really think their chicken kabob is the best in town.

My husband got the gyro Greek salad with added pickles.

We also got delicious fresh pita bread that they make there.

Our friends also helped us enjoy the food on our patio.

We did get take out from the AMAZING Confluence Restaurant in Carefree.

We picked up a fresh baked fontina roll that is to die for.

Tried some delicious vegetable soup that was so light and different. It was made with the fancy cauliflower and lots of parsnips.

For dinner had that incredible FORKING DELICIOUS Fried Chicken with broccolini and buttery cooked potato.

The sweet ending was a dark chocolate brownie for dessert.

We enjoyed delicious Thai Food from Sala Thai in Peoria.

I had the spicy pumpkin basil with chicken and brown rice.

They gave us a CRAZY amount of brown rice. After we took what we wanted there was THREE EXTRA whole cups of rice that I portioned out and froze.

My husband had the spicy egg bomb with chicken and brown rice.

Then we went to Popo’s Fiesta Del Sol in Glendale.

I got my usual chicken fajita salad.

My husband got some sort of Mexican Beef Plate with rice, beans and tortillas.

We got margaritas to go. They were packed nicely and were very strong.

This week we were able to support five restaurants.

Taco Fusion in Glendale

Pita Kitchen in Glendale

Confluence in Carefree

Sala Thai in Peoria

Popo’s Fiesta Del Soll in Glendale

We are doing our best to help support small business restaurants. If you care about a small business you should give your support.

The Forking Truth

The CoronaVirus Apocalypse in Metro Phoenix AZ – Week Two – Annoying but no Famine this week

Last week was brutal. My local Safeway super market was only filled with 20%-30% groceries. There was very little that could be purchased.

This week I went to Walmart Grocery.

I almost cried when I saw all the produce. It’s so much closer to normal.

They were also out of a lot of things like onions, potatoes, hot dogs, eggs, all paper products. A lot of things were very low or missing but at least they had fresh looking chicken so I was happy.

packaged cheeses

No eggs today.

Since I’m down to my last paper towel I stopped at CVS. They had a few paper towels left with a sign that says limit one. I grabbed a two pack of bounty paper towels. I don’t know if they priced gouged me because with tax the two rolls cost over TEN DOLlARS…dang I normally pay a little over a dollar a roll in a big multi roll pack from Costco….

A few days latter I went back to Walmart Grocery. I also had trouble buying my dog’s Blue Buffalo Food. The Dog Food Stores were out of the big bags and I was almost out but got lucky and found a couple small bags at Walmart. They still lacked paper products but there was maybe a half dozen containers of eggs with a limit of one per customer. I was lucky to get eggs this time. They only had 6 cartons and one was an extra large box of eggs so I snagged it up.

I also went to Costco. They now make you wait in a line and so many people are allowed in at a time. Many were waring masks. I’m not a fan of Costco raw chicken since they switched to Foster Farms Brand but they were still out of raw chicken and most paper products. I did notice that the empty shelves from last week now are filled with water bottles. They also had eggs this week. Now they block off the aisles and funnel you to one area with six foot spaces to check out. All cart contents stay in the cart and sneeze guards have been installed by the cashiers.

That’s how things were this week.

The CoronaVirus Apocalypse in Metro Phoenix Week Two – Annoying but no Famine this week.

Everything is subject to change and I hope it does for the better.

The Forking Truth

Tributes Music Venue Restaurant & Bar – Newly Opened Glendale AZ – #UpperWestSide – Something FUN and Different****UPDATE NOW CLOSED For Business

*******UPDATE NOW CLOSED FOR BUSINESS Tributes Music Venue Restaurant and Bar Newly opened in North Glendale Arizona. This area is also known as The Upper West Side of Metro Phoenix. Tributes offers appetizers, burgers (beef and Impossible) New York Style pastas, a small Sunday brunch omelet buffet, taco Tuesdays and dinner specials. I don’t know next weeks band schedule but they’ve had a no cover Beatles Tribute band playing on Sundays for brunch. They’ve had Friday Night disco/funk rhythm and blues nights and for the past few Saturday nights an Elton John Tribute Band ( a ticket event). For upcoming events you have to look up their Facebook page.

When I walked in it looked like this.

Then I saw the Beatles Tribute band playing.

It’s loud but not too loud. They sound very good!

I notice behind me is a small bar area and a small brunch buffet with an omelet station.

Eventually someone waits on us and we order.

In reasonable time our burgers arrive.

I got an Impossible (meatless) Burger called the Naterater with fries. The burger came with provolone cheese, pickled and fried jalapeños, red onion tomato jam and field greens. I’m not sure what kind of bread it’s on but it’s very soft and fluffy flat bread. I have to say that this Impossible Burger is the first one I’ve tried that came out Medium Rare (on one side past the middle). The Impossible patty got nicely caramelized, it was juicy and very meat’ like.

I thought the tomato jam with the pickled jalapeños tasted similar to salsa.

The fries were hot and fresh. They were fluffy inside and seemed free of oil and were nicely seasoned. They also gave me a very large portion. $9.95 + $2.95(Impossible un-charge) + $2.00 fries.

My husband tried the Freebird burger with Chef Adam’s Italian tots $9.95 + $8.95.

This was a beef burger with provolone cheese, pickled and fried jalapeños, red onions, Dr Pepper BBQ sauce and bacon on a brioche bun. They serve the burgers either pink or done. My husband asked for medium rare but he got done….

Here are the tots. They are very large and are made with house pulled mozzarella. They were made with lots of oregano.

I had a very good Impossible Burger and enjoyed the company and the music! Something fun and different on the UpperWestSide!

That was my trip to Tributes.

******UPDATE NOW CLOSED FOR BUSINESS

www.TributesLLive.net (I saw more information on their Facebook page)

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

The Forking Truth

Taco Fusion – Glendale AZ – Newly Opened and Forking Awesome Tacos – Worth a Fork!***NOW CLOSED For BUSINESS*****

******UPDATE NOW CLOSED FOR BUSINESS*******Taco Fusion is a small taco shop located in-between north and middle Glendale Arizona. They serve a limited menu of mesquite style tacos on handmade tortillas and quesadillas.

It’s very casual. you order at the counter, pay, grab a number and seat yourself.

DO NOT MISS THE SALSA BAR!

There are 8 salsas cucumbers and something else…..I didn’t try everything but I tried 4 of the salsas and they were at least excellent. The PINEAPPLE WAS FORKING BOMB!!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s marked mild but is on the spicy but insanely delicious side.

Food comes rolling out.

Here’s the veggies quesadilla (mushrooms, corn, bell peppers and zucchini $6.15. Delicious tasty even better with salsas and pico. Bigger than expected too!

He is Jaas taco. It’s asada (beef) green chili and cheese ($2.95). I taste one small piece. I usually don’t like asada but this is tender…not chewy and developed with good flavors.

Here are two more tacos my husband had. (al pastor $2.45 and a barbacoa $2.50) He also tried the refried beans $3.49.

Here’s my plate.

On the left is habanero chicken that is moist and delicious but oddly mild. In the middle is barbacoa (shredded beef) it’s very flavorful and tender. On the right is a fish taco…It’s good but different with a sweet carrot topping on it.

Now you have to guess what salsa to add to each taco.

But then I add some pineapple salsa to the chicken taco…..FORKING WOW! that taco is delicious as It is but then it POPS and EXPLODES! It’s one of the best things I’ve tasted this year! That could be a winning taco at a taco festival.THIS CHICKEN HABANERO TACO WITH PINEAPPLE SALSA IS OF LEGEND STATUS! OMG YUM! FORKING DELICIOUS!

When we left the owner did tell us his favorite sauce was the pineapple too. He said that the pineapple salsa is just as delicious on the pork taco as it is on the chicken taco.

*******UPDATE NOW CLOSED FOR BUSINESS**********

Taco Fusion is Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

www.TacoFusion.com

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

The Forking Truth

Skewers Mediterranean Grill – Newly Opened – Glendale AZ – #UpperWestSide – Worth a Fork if you are in the area

Skewers Mediterranean Grill recently opened in North Glendale in the area that is considered the upper west side of metro Phoenix Arizona. This is a fast casual Mediterranean restaurant. You order at the counter, pay and seat yourself.

They offer gyros and shawarmas cooked on vertical rotisseries. They also offer beef, chicken and kefta (seasoned ground beef) kabobs and falafels. You can have these items served to you in a pita, fry bowl, tortilla wrap or a salad. They also offer extra toppings, sauces and various salads.

Natural light comes in threw the glass front windows and door.

Hand painted figures of folklore and mythology accent the wall.

Today I went with the chicken kabob salad bowl with pomegranate vinaigrette ($7.50).

The chicken is moist developed with flavors and is nicely seasoned. It rest over a bed of fresh salad with feta cheese. it also came with pickled turnips, pickles and garlic sauce. No complaints here! It’s good!

My husband ordered the gyro salad with added garbanzo beans and lemon vinaigrette ($7.50).

The gyro meat (beef & lamb) was moist and nicely seasoned. This platter comes with tzatziki sauce.

We ordered a few extras that were good!

Four falafels that come with tahini sauce ($3.00).

The falafels were herby and seemed like they were free of oil.

Beet salad ($3.00).

It’s mixed with cucumber, garbanzo beans and fresh herbs. It’s light and refreshing.

Worth a Fork if you are in the area.

I haven’t found a website for Skewers Mediterranean Grill but you can find them on Facebook.

Phone# 602-607-5286

18589 N 59th Ave Glendale AZ 85308 and hours are Monday-Saturday 11am-8pm

The Forking Truth

Las 15 Salsas Mexican Restaurant Phoenix AZ – Outstanding Mole – Oaxaca Food – Worth a Fork!

Las 15 Salsas is a small Mexican Restaurant that specializes in serving Oaxaca Foods. They are located in the Sunny Slope area of Phoenix Arizona. English is the second language here so if you don’t know your memelnitas from your enmoladas then ordering might be challenging but not impossible. There is some English on the menu and the people working there speak some English. A few years back they’ve moved across the street to a slightly larger location and have expanded the menu. Some of the things they serve are Oaxcoa appetizers such as los peques (II haven’t found a translation for this) mini memelnitas (stuffed fried masa cakes) and chapulines (grasshoppers). They also offer sharing platters, tamales in banana leaves, tlayudas (large Oaxaca tortillas with lard and pork, plate sized hand made empanadas, combination plates, seafood, stews, several mole sauces and more. I didn’t notice a bar here but my husband said he noticed that they sell tequila shots. This isn’t a fancy place but looks very authentic.

Inside is very bright and colorful. There are Mexican relics on the walls with Mexican TV and music filling the air.

They also offer patio dining.

We asked a few questions about items on the menu. Our server today didn’t seem to understand and asked us if we wanted to order more food.

Anywho-

They started us off with three kinds of salsas and a basket of chips.

Today we have a creamy green sauce, a smoky salsa and a creamy very delicious but extremely hot scorching sauce.

We started out by sharing an appetizer off the Empanada Section made with quesillo (an Oaxaca cheese) and huitlacoche (Mexican Corn Truffle). ($10.)

I didn’t know that an empanada could look like this……

It’s made with a handmade corn tortilia that is absolutely delicious. The cheese is melty and flavorful. I like the mushroomy huitlacoche. If you like mushrooms then you probably would like this.

We shared a chicken enchilada trio ($14.) and a filete empanizado ($13.) (a fish dish).

WOW! What a great sampling. You can get this plate with just cheese filling and you also have the option to add on Mexican Tasajo (dried beef) and or Cesina (cured meat like ham) for $3.50.

On the left is coloradito mole, in the middle is green sauce and on the right is black mole with rice and beans on the plate. Everything is delicious. My favorite is the black mole. It’s more flavorful to me.

I was all excited when I saw fish (filete and pescado) on the menu. I accidentally thought I knew what I was reading but was slightly off………I accidentally ordered plain breaded fish….But it was still good!

The fish is nice and moist. It seems free of oil. It’s a very large portion even for dinner. It’s like it comes with a lunch for the next day. I add some sauces to it for a little interest. It also comes with hot steamy tortillas.

Here are some of the previous dishes we enjoyed from Las 15 Y Salsas.

Chicken quarter with black mole and rice

white meat chicken stuffed tortilias with black mole

memelnitas with with anise leaf black sauce and house made beef jerky

chicken stuffed chile relleno

Mimi Quesadillas Fritas

La 15 Y Salsas – Phoenix AZ – Combo De Chile Relleno $9.00 (price might have changed)

Chicken Emmolladas

I’d have to say Las 15 Salsas is Outstanding Oaxaca Food and is Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

They used to have a website but it appears to have been taken down. but you can find them on Facebook in Spanish.

They are located at 722 W Hatcher Road in Phoenix 85021

602-870-2056 I believe their hours to be 9am-8pm every day but you should call incase the hours have changed.

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

The Forking Truth

Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante in Glendale AZ is Worth a Fork! Italian Food, Pizza and Different Seasonal Specials

Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante is located in Citadel Plaza in North Glendale Arizona. Over the past ten years this spot has always been occupied by an Italian restaurant. When I moved here this spot was known as Tutti Santi. It closed for renovations and then in Spring 2015 it reopened as Pomo Pizzeria and Toscana Osteria. Spring 2017 this spot became the Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante that it is today. They serve Neapolitan Pizzas, hand made pastas, Italian food, brunch, seasonal specials and more. They have seating indoors-

and at a inside outside bar

and also on the dog friendly patio with a nice view.

It’s certainly one of the nicest restaurants on the metro Phoenix upper west side.

“OH MY GOSH! WE LOVE THE FOOD WE EAT AT Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante”
fresh baked bread and focaccia served with butter and oils
$8.00 Happy Hour Vegetable Plate from Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante

They offer very good bread, pizzas and pastas. The menu offers a lot of variety and the seasonal specials are usually interesting.

Butternut squash pizza with fresh sage
farro salad with pesto mozzarella avocado and chicken
Spaghetti al Salmone
Chicken Pizzaiala
pizza Milano Special – extra thin with Calabrian Chile Oil
Salad with Sicilian Tuna

Here was pizza al taggio at only $5.00…..

Strawberry chicken salad
minestrone soup
1/2 Italian dried beef panino with pasta fagoli
Zucchini manicotti special

Here is speck and pistachio pizza special.

Piccante panino imported prosciutto crudo, soppressata, Florida di latte, house sauce, house made ciabatta

orecchiette special

The mushrooms stuffed mushroom special in polenta.

Brie and Speck pizza special
Tagliatelle Bolognese

Trofie pasta in pesto

Lemoncello Tiramisu
cannoli
semifreddo (old presentation)
Semifreddo
Flourless Chocolate Nutella Torte

Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante in Glendale is Worth a Fork!

www.BottegaRistorante.com

Worth a Fork!

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

The Forking Truth