Tag Archives: #Scottsdale

Hotel Valley Ho Scottsdale AZ- Chefs and Farmers Market Series Saturdays 9am-1pm June 22 – July 13 2019 FREE Admission

At the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale Arizona there is a Chefs and Farmers Market Series on Saturdays June 22 – July 13 2019 from 9am-1pm. This is a FREE event but you do need to R.S.V.P. on the Hotel Valley Ho Website. Each week is a different theme. The first week was South of the Border.

There were several delicious things to try today.

Chef Rene Andrade and his team from Ghost Ranch prepared Pork Chiaquiles.

Chef Samantha Sanz of Talavera prepared Ajo Blanco, Basil Honey Sorbeto with Marcona Almond Gremolata.

Chef Greg Otero prepared Citrus Marinated Carne Asada Tacos with Roast Poblano Crema, Pickled Red Onions, Cabbage and Cotija Cheese.

There also was a milkshake competition. You could try all three and vote for your favorite.

It was very crowded. There was a complimentary champagne taste that I passed by.

Edibles for sale. (all this and more)

A little bit of produce too!

Next week June 29th the theme is Bada Boom, July 6th will be Grilling and Chilling and July 13th will be Sweet Treats.

Parking may be challenging. The lot is very small and street parking was mostly filled.

Good Luck!

www.HotelValleyHo.com for all the details.

The Forking Truth

The HOT Chick Restaurant of Scottsdale AZ – Poultry in Motion – Worth a Fork!***Was CLOSED and now OPEN AGAIN!

********UPDATE was CLOSED FOR BUSINESS during pandemic and is NOW OPEN AGAIN*****The HOT Chick Restaurant recently opened in Scottsdale by Old Town. This is a FUN casual chicken restaurant that offers a bar, games, videos to watch and of course food with a retro 70s vibe.

The bar

They also offer all kinds of seating. You can be by the video games.

One of the patios

You get full service only if you sit at the bar.

For all other seating you order yourself at the trailer that is located behind the bar.

The trailer is the counter where you order and pay if you are not sitting at the bar.

Here’s the menu. All the chicken is organic, free range, antibiotic and hormone free.

They offer Fried Chicken in half or whole in original or Hot Chick, 2 kinds of wings, chicken nubs, snacks and sides, salads, seven varieties of chicken sandwiches but ONLY ONE is HOT Chick. They also offer a brunch menu limited to the weekend and two desserts.

We walked up to the trailer and ordered and paid. Took a pager with us and sat at a booth. We checked out the cocktail menu while waiting. In reasonable time our pager was blinking and buzzing.

I got the HOT Chick sandwich.

It’s a crispy hot chicken breast with house slaw and house pickle on a rich eggy bun. (they also had a condiment area and we picked up deviled egg sauce and some sort of Thai sauce)

First I taste a small amount of chicken by it’s self……WOW is THAT FORKING CRISPY and MIGHTY Flavorful……it’s also moist! It is HOT but VERY Flavorful. I think around a number 4 Thai Hot out of 5. I can taste a lot of flavors like cayenne, but there is something in there that makes the cayenne taste very delicious, there’s something very sweet but it’s balanced, not too sweet…..not sure but I think a taste some secret crushed potato chips…? Well whatever all this is …….This is Forking AWESOME with well made slaw and well crafted pickles. It’s getting very messy with sauce or and juices squirting out everywhere…….It’s a DELICIOUS HOT MESS! It’s also a Forking hum YUM Dinger! (only $9.00…..WHAT THE CLUCK!…..is that a misprint?………..only $9.00…… ((price is subject to change..))

Mu husband ordered the 1/2 hot chicken…..but it was cut into 6 pieces. It came with house made biscuit and house made pickles. I think it was suppose to come with maple butter?

He got a wing (cut in two), thigh, breast (cut in two) and a leg. I took a small bite out of the thigh. NO FOWL PLAY HERE! The Thigh is Forking awesome……Crunchy succulent flavorful…….really Really Great…..Not sure but seemed hotter than the HOT Chick sandwich…maybe because it didn’t have the slaw, bun and pickles to cool things down…? . (only $12.00) subject to change

We shared two of the sides The pimento macaroni and cheese and the green goddess green beans. ($5.00 each and subject to change)

pimento macaroni and cheese and the green goddess green beans

The pimento macaroni and cheese was topped with crunchy chicken skin. I taste the macaroni……..This is smoky……to me it doesn’t taste like pimento because the smoke taste over powers everything else. My husband taste it and agrees that it is smoky. The green goddess green beans are more of a cold salad with a lot of arugula and smoked almonds.

I’ll say find that HOT Chick and buy a sandwich and all the day you will have good Cluck!

Hot Chick is Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

www.TheHotChick.com

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

The Forking Truth

Tap and Bowl Restaurant of Scottsdale – Worth a Fork! DELICIOUS Variety Bowls, Handcrafted Beverages and MORE!

Tap and Bowl is a unique little restaurant located in Old Town Scottsdale on the end by the waterfront. They offer about a dozen different varieties of fresh made to order artisan bowls that are seasonal and some that are globally inspired. They also offer craft beers, cider, hand crafted artisan sodas, appetizers and more!

They offer lush patio seating.

Seating at the bar, traditional tables, a sofa and high tops.

We were given water and at the time it seemed like the best water I’ve had in a long time. The waitress said that it was filtered with their Italian soda machine. So we tried a hand crafted cucumber/watermelon soda made with real cane sugar.

WOW! It was so light and refreshing! I never had a soda like this before. It was delicious and not too sweet either. It was perfect.

I went with the Atlantic Salmon and Cali Rice Bowl.

My bowl was packed full of delicious vegetables and perfectly prepared salmon that was enhanced with a delicious slightly Asian sauce. The salmon had crisp tasty edges and was towards medium rare in the center…it was really great! The bowl included cauliflower rice, edamame, carrots, avocado, onions, peppers, mushrooms, snap peas, cilantro, sesame and ponzu sauce. I’d love to eat this every week! It had so many great textures and flavors!

My husband tried the Fried Chicken Mac and Cheese Bowl.

The Chicken seemed free of oil and had a very crispy tasty exterior and was juicy inside. The pasta was prepared well and was in a tasty cheddar sauce. The bowl also included broccoli, corn, tomatoes, cotija cheese, scallions and pickled onions added some interest.

We both enjoyed our meals very much at Tap and Bowl in Scottsdale.

I have to say Tap and Bowl is Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

www.TapandBowl.com

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

The Forking Truth

Veneto Trattoria of Scottsdale AZ – Italian Food that might make you Fish for compliments – Worth a Fork!

Veneto Trattoria is an Italian Restaurant located in Scottsdale Arizona. They are a full service restaurant that specializes in serving Northern Italian Regional Foods and also several fresh seafood dishes.

The decor is very homey and classic. The tables are linen topped neat with polished silverware and wine glasses. All kinds of Italian souvenirs are decorations for the walls. It’s like you are in an Italian Grandma’s house. They offer some bar seating, patio seating.

There is also seating in the main dining room and the room off the main dining room.

They start you off with a basket of crusty breads, butter and oil and balsamic in adorable Italian made pottery.

One specialty of the house is the Venetian Style Cod that is very popular in Italy but seldom found in Italian Restaurants in Metro Phoenix.

Baccala Mantecato (Venetian Style Cod)

The Dried Cod (baccala) is rinsed in water for two days (or more) and then gets blended with olive oil, maybe some dairy till it turns into a mousse-like consistency and is served over grilled polenta.

But tonight we started with salads…They were fresh made and large enough to share. I started to eat mine and Forking forgot to photo it. I thought the Venetian Style Cod I just showed you from a previous visit was by far more interesting anyway.

I was pleasantly surprised with all the seafood specials they offered this evening. They offer six seafood items on the menu and tonight they offered an additional THREE More seafood dinners and one was a special branzino that was roasted in a salt crust and prepared table side.

I went with the Sea Bream Special because I don’t come across that one very often. It just so happens that one of the finest and most expensive fish dishes I ever had in my life was the Sea Bream from Bartolotta in Las Vegas. With the memory I had of that dish I had to go with the sea bream.

It’s very fresh…I don’t think it’s more or much more than a day old. It’s extremely mild and moist with unusually delicious grill marks served with some simple mixed vegetables and chunks of potatoes that taste like they were simmered in something tasty …..maybe a broth and lightly fried. The fish head is split for slurping if you care to suck out all you can….This is a really fine plate of fish for 28.95.

Someone else at our table had the Birodetto di Pesce Alla Veneta (Cioppino – fish stew)

In a fish infused tomato broth are shrimp, clams, mussels, calamari, scallops and sea bass…..To be finished off with garlic toast.

My husband got the Scaloppini di Vitello Pizzaiola. Sautéed veal with marinara and mozzarella cheese and a side of house made spaghetti.

I was told all was good!

Two of us shared the Pistachio Semi Freddo.

It’s a slice of semi frozen delicate pistachio flavored ice cream that’s lighter. It’s almost like frozen mousse.

I’d say a visit to Veneto Trattoria might make you “Fish” for compliments!

Veneto Trattoria – Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

www.VenetoTrattoria.com

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

The Forking Truth

FnB Restaurant of Scottsdale AZ – Worth a Fork – Forking Amazing!

FnB Restaurant is a contemporary restaurant located in the arts district of Scottsdale Arizona. They serve an ever changing innovative menu of farm focused, globally inspired cuisine that also showcases the most amazing vegetable dishes. FnB is not a vegetarian restaurant as meat dishes are offered. The atmosphere is formal but also casual. They offer a small patio and have linen topped tables and bar seating.

You might find things on the menu that you are not familiar with such as Farcous….(French Chard Fritters) or Caltuce…….(Obscure vegetable also called stem lettuce), Babna Cauda (warm hot Italian dip) and many more. No fear the menu will be explained to you.

It’s always difficult to decide on what to order because there are so many interesting plates that you would want to try. The menu is usually broken down to cold sharing plates, warm sharing plates and entrees. It’s best to share as much as you can. They start you off with locally made Noble bread and high quality olive that is so delicious it’s impossible to pass up.

We started out with the salad of crunchy radishes, dates, pumpkin seeds with caper anchovy dressing.

It’s looks beautiful and taste light and delicious. The radishes are not strong tasting like the ones from the store. Instead the radishes have more of a sweet flavor. What a great starter!

The next sharing plate is Salmon Gefilte Fish with Pickled Beets, Beet Horse Radish, Pickled Eggs and Buttered Matzo.

WOW! If all Gefilte Fish did taste like this everyone would like them. These are mild with a light texture and enhanced with fresh herbs, eggs are great, beet horseradish is delicious….the pickled betts are also really special…..They have a predominant flavor that I’m not familiar with that goes so well with beets……I think the flavor is a sort of liquor and question my waiter on what it is…..He doesn’t tell me so it’s secret. Love the beets.

Dinners arrives with our additional sharing plate of Corona Beans with Grilled Radicchio, Salsa Verde, Provolone.

Dang I just got full but I must at least try a little of both. The Beans are not like any beans I had before…..Think of Gigante Beans….they are like anorexic beans compared to the sweet extra plump Corona Beans….Each bean is almost delicious meal. They are in a broth with all kinds of fresh flavors with provolone….They are just amazing. The Mexican Grouper Fish is Stunning…..It taste as fresh as can be and is prepared to perfect it really does melt in the mouth with these delicious flavors brushed on. Really one of the best fish dishes I’ve ever tasted. The plate is also served with heirloom cauliflower, snap peas, and sunflower seeds. Really an incredible beautiful and better than amazing plates.

We didn’t share a dinner because my husband wanted the Lamb Loin with Arizona Grains, Tepary Beans, Green Beans, Chermoula and Mint.

I won’t eat lamb but my husband says that I wouldn’t know the difference between this lamb and beef. He says it’s very good and also loves all the grains, beans and vegetables with this plate.

I want to do dessert but I can’t because the food was so FORKING AMAZING I couldn’t stop eating the sharing plates. I have a large box and a small box to bring home.

Here is what I could have tried if I paced myself better.

Every Thing was FnB was Forking Amazing!

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

www.FnBRestaurant.com

Below are only a few of the past plates we enjoyed at FnB.

Langos Hungarian Fried (potato) Bread Salad
Butterkin Squash
This is 1/2 of the Pink Grouper
Apple Sharlotka
House Cured Salmon
Melon Salad
Halabut
Duck
Berry Shortcake
Broccoli with Tangerine aioli and pistachios
Trout Riliette
Soft Shell Crab

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

The Forking Truth

My first taste of Grandma Pizza at Crisp in Scottsdale AZ

Grandma Style Pizza from Crisp in Scottsdale AZ

Grandma pizza is very rarely found outside of New York and is suppose to be similar to the kind of pizza that Italian Grandmothers make in their home ovens.

We happen to have a little pizza parlor called Crisp in Scottsdale AZ.

See it really is little.

The owner is friendly and says he will bring out our pizza in about four minutes. I pick a seat on the patio.

The Pizza looks like a toasted sandwich and is a five inch square that’s cut on a diagonal. I can see it’s topped with a rich thick tomato sauce, some melted cheese, a fine grated hard cheese and it’s generous with fresh basil leaves.

I take a bite.

Wow….it’s not really like any pizza I ever had before…….it is different.

The crust is so crisp….no wonder why this pizza place is named crisp. The crust is completely crisp and reminds me of toast. It’s light but a very sturdy crisp like an airy crouton. The sauce is very similar to most east coast pizzas that I have enjoyed. From what I remember east coast pizzas always are made with a delicious sauce. This sauce on this pizza is similar to east coast tomato pies……..The sauce is thick, rich, sweet …..but not sugary….sweet as in sweet tomato…. with a really good rich DELICIOUS tomato flavor. There’s a little melty cheese, fine grated hard cheese and a good amount of fresh basil.

This pizza is almost like a cousin of the Roman Style Pizza…..They are both are generously topped, both have sturdy crisp crusts but the texture and taste of the crusts differ. The grandma has a fine network of bubbles in the crust. The Roman has bigger bubbles in the crust. Both the grandma style and the Roman style are not doughy …….both have a sturdy but light airy crust with generous high quality toppings. Both the grandma and Roman style pizzas seem lighter and not as heavy as doughier pizzas because they both have lots of air in the crust.

That was my first taste of grandma style pizza at Crisp in Scottsdale AZ.

www.Crisp-Pizza.com

Try Crisp Pizza and see what you think! Give the grandma style pizza a try!

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

The Forking Truth

My Trip to The 2019 Persian New Year Festival in Scottsdale AZ

The 2019 Persian New Year Festival took place on the Scottsdale Waterfront in Scottsdale Arizona March 9th. Around forty venders participated. What you could find here was food, music, dancing, Persian Tea, jewelry, crafts, Persian Rugs, clothing, fortune telling and more. This was a free event with proceeds that benefit brain tumor research.

ZK Grill
ZK Grill Combo Plate
White Orchid Persian Pastry
1001 Nights
1001 Nights Chicken Kabab Plate
Live Music
Readings and Custom Spells
Persian Tea
Saffron Jak and Killer BurgersFood Food Trucks

A few food trucks participated.

Mobile Asian Fusion Food Truck

Parking was free and close.

www.PersianNewYearFestival.com

The Forking Truth

My Trip to Veneto Trattoria Italiana in Scottsdale AZ – Venetian Style Italian

 

Veneto Trattoria Italiana Restaurant serves Northern Italian Style Foods and specializes in Venetian Style. Veneto Trattoria Italiana is located in Scottsdale Arizona. I noticed the Venetian  Italian Cod Dish on the menu that is hard to come by so I thought we’d give Veneto Trattoria Italiana a try.

This restaurant offers seating and inside and out with patio seating. The atmosphere inside is very homey.  There are many nick knacks scattered around for that grandma kind of atmosphere. The dining is sort of “L” shaped and here is the other end that looks a little more formal with tablecloths.

They start us off with Focaccia and Crusty Bread. The oil and  balsamic vinegar come in cute round pitchers that look Italian made.

We started off by sharing Baccala Mantecato……also called Venetian Style Cod.

We received a Grilled Planks of Polenta that were topped with Cod Mousse and a side of dressed salad. It was interesting………Thinking maybe the Italian version of WhiteFish Salad on a Bagel….But this was an appetizer. This Mousse was very light and lump free. It did taste like fish but it wasn’t too fishy. The polenta had a good char taste on it.

For my main I had the Insalata Mediterranea. It was a salad of organic greens with sautéed salmon and sea bass, tomatoes and crostini with balsamic.

They prepared all the fish nicely and the salmon was extra tasty with a little sear and a little more seasoning than the sea bass. The crostini add some body to the meal.

My husband had the Orecchiette Salsiccia E Broccolini – Thats pasta with sausages and Rapini with pepperoncino with oil and garlic. I was told that this dish ran a bit mild. I latter read that Venetian Style Italian does does run more delicately seasoned.

I think it’s great that this restaurant is unique and offers some Venetian Style Cuisine that you just don’t come by at most Italian Restaurants.

www.VenetoTrattoria.com

That was my Trip to Veneto Trattoria Italiana in Scottsdale AZ.

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

The Forking Truth

 

My Trip to Fat Ox Truffle Weekend in Scottsdale AZ

 

Fat Ox is a Modern Upscale but casual Italian Restaurant in Scottsdale Arizona. From October 8th till October 11th 2018 The Fat Ox was offering a special Truffle Menu of a few dishes inspired by the Chef’s recent trip to Italy. Diners had a choice of ordering off the Special Truffle Dinner Menu or to add Black ($20.00) or White Truffles ($50.00) to regular menu items.

The Fat Ox Restaurant menu offers a Modern take on various Italian dishes using world techniques. Pastas are made in-house and prime steaks are also offered….thus the name Fat Ox.

The spacious restaurant is rich with many interesting light fixtures, lots of wood, intricate tiny old fashioned tile work and pops of ocean blue seating. This restaurant is visually beautiful inside and out and also offers some patio dining.

They start us off with complimentary Focaccia Bread, Calabrian Chili Butter and House Whipped Ricotta.

The Focaccia is very flavorful and one can taste a very pungent olive oil was used. The Ricotta is very milky, smooth and laced with lemon. It surprised me that the Calabrian Chili Butter was so mild that it could have been any pepper…but perhaps is extra mild to please the masses that can’t take the heat.

We start off with the Carbonara Tajarin with White Truffles and Parmesan. $60.00

The thin delicate Piedmont style pasta was tightly rolled and ever so lightly dressed and stuck together some. This pasta  was elevated by fresh shaved White Alba Truffles that are considered the best in world of Truffles. The Truffles  had a delicate but pleasing aroma. I’ll be Forking honest….This plate was good but not the most truffle forward plate I’ve ever had…..Everything here was ultra delicate.

My main was the Wild Salmon with Black Truffle, Salsify, Meyer Lemon and Mushroom Crumble ($54.00).

Salmon is prepared medium well here. The skin should have been crispy but wasn’t so I removed it and carefully saved the truffles that rained down on the skin. Under the skin was a thick bloodline  so I removed it.  (dark flesh that is edible but sometimes taste strong). Now to try the salmon with black truffles. It’s a combination that I never would have thought of that’s delicious!…..The salmon’s rich buttery texture just goes really well with black truffles.   The vegetables are interesting. I really like the salsify. It’s sort of like a fried parsnip. The other vegetables are dressed with what they call a mushroom bread crumble that is on the sweet side.

Had to complete a Truffle Dinner with the Fior De Latte Gelato with White Truffle ($20.00).

The White Truffles this time seemed like they had 20 times more aroma and taste than the White Truffles that were on the Tajarin Pasta. I wanted to just sit there and inhale them. Soon I inhaled them in a different way (my stomach). The Milky gelato was really great with the White Truffle. I got much more BANG here than I did with the pasta….Were these Truffles more potent  ……….or was  the pairing  better…?

That was my trip to Fat Ox Truffle Weekend 2018 in Scottsdale AZ.

www.ILoveFatOx.com

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

The Forking Truth

AZCENTRAL Wine & Food Experience Day Two November 4th in Scottsdale AZ

 

The AZCentral Wine & Food Experience is a two day food festival that in 2018 took place at Monterra at Westworld in Scottsdale AZ. Around thirty mostly local restaurants participated. Wine, Beer, Water and some Liquor & Cocktails were also offered. At the festival were a few cooking demonstrations. Sunday’s headliner was Celebrity Chef Aaron Sanchez. He was suppose to be on stage at 1:15….just fifteen minutes after the general admission was allowed in. Just like yesterday all the seats were taken and it was standing room only. I waited for a little while for the Chef Sanchez but not long enough to see him come out….

Phoenix Marriott Resort in Tempe Top of the Rock Restaurant at the Buttes made something called Foie Stuffed Dango and Smoked Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies.

Frasher’s Steakhouse offered Pulled Pork Sandwiches and Butter Cake.

One of the best things I tried on Sunday was the detailed Chocoflan from Talavera at The Four Seasons.

From Proof was a Thanksgiving Hand Pie.

Clam Chowder French Fries from Chula Seafood

Assorted Pastas and Tomato Salad from AJ’s Fine Foods.

 

Beef and Chorizo Meatloaf from Frank and Alberts.

I tried a Habanero Peach Hand Pie from The Pie Hole.

Beef Barbacola from Taco Chelo.

From Cartwright’s was Smoked Sockeye and Wild Game Chili……

Bella Gusto Urban Pizzeria offered Salted Carmel Pannacotta and Saffron Shrimp Rice Balls.

The Dabba offered Aloo Mattar and Chicken Tikka Masala.

Quiessence offered Pumpkin Parmesan Soup, Beef Carpaccio in Parmesan Tacos and Foie Gras Mousse on Macaroons. That’s one fancy spread!

I didn’t write down any notes so………I think it was Bison from Different Point of View.

From J&G Steakhouse was Beef Tenderloin and Wild Shrimp Ceviche. The Beef I tried here was the best beef I tried of the two days.

John & Yoko Dessert from Super Chunk.

……A Lamb Dish from The Boulders.

Spinato’s Pizza…I was waiting for the Broccoli Crust but got a plain……You can find these local pizzas in your grocer’s freezer!

Modern Market made Blueberry and Cheese Sandwiches…………………………..

The Handlebar Diner did Lamb barbacola Chili Colorada over Queso Fundito Macaroni and Cheese. I didn’t try this but my husband said it was one of his favorites.

Hickman’s offered their version of Deviled Eggs……1/2 hard boiled egg topped with aioli and bacon.

Beef Taco on fresh made corn tortilla from Tacos Tijuana.

It was a Sweet Ending from Sweet Republic…..The Cucumber Mojito Sherbet was refreshing, On the left was a Baked Alaska.

Day two was all this and even more! Several participants from yesterday were here again and most of them were serving the same food again.

Again like yesterday the participants were mostly a surprise.

Most of what was printed in the paper differed from who was here.

All in all the festival was a success except for one thing that I forgot to photo. The wine glasses we used were stemless and were difficult to carry around. Usually at food festivals we use wine yolks to carry around the wine glasses so our hands are free to eat and get food.

www.wineandfood.azcentral.com

That was day two of the Azcentral Wine & Food Experience 2018.

The Forking Truth