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 GrillZK Grill Combo PlateWhite Orchid Persian Pastry1001 Nights1001 Nights Chicken Kabab PlateLive MusicReadings and Custom SpellsPersian TeaSaffron Jak and Killer BurgersFood Food Trucks
Three NEW Internationally natural and artificially flavored peanut M&M’s have just come out. Here are Thai Coconut, Mexican Jalapeño and English Toffee Peanut M&M’s. It reads on the bags that if you vote for your favorite that it is a possibility that you might win a trip around the world.
I opened them all up and tried them all. The one really weird thing about all of them is that after trying all the flavors I noticed all the peanuts break down the middle in your mouth….M&M’s are one of the few candies I’ve eaten all my life. It’s been decades since I was a child but I remember decades back the peanuts never separated…….This might sound gross but as a child when we had a dinner I didn’t like at home I’d eat M&M’s instead for dinner( as a child remember)……..I ate them very slowly and saved the peanuts for last sometimes…..so I do indeed REMEMBER!…………..it seems like they use peanuts that are more dry……..or maybe older these days?
I’ll start with my least favorite….It’s the most unattractive one the English Toffee in colors that I’ll be nice and not describe…..I open the bag and it sort of smells something like butterscotch. Then I go to taste one and I almost gaged. It taste like a spoonful of bitter instant coffee followed by other taste like maybe artificial butterscotch and maybe artificial caramel all there….This has the usual chocolate with a peanut center but this one leaves an unpleasant chemical aftertaste……..This one I don’t like at all
NOT WORTH A FORK!
For me it’s a bit of a toss up between the Thai Coconut Peanut and the Mexican Jalapeño. After my first taste of them I thought the Mexican Jalapeño had a slight edge because it tasted more like a Peanut M&M but with a burn…..When you open the bag it just smells like chocolatey M&M’s…….The Mexican Jalapeño M&M’s come in colors of yellow, red and green. They taste mostly like regular peanut M&M’s with a slight burn. Slightly disappointed because the burn doesn’t taste like jalapeño……….it just burns…….there is a very slight other flavor that might be something like cinnamon…..Not bad but not great.
1/2 a Fork…OK
The Thai Coconut package smells like coconut when you take a whiff. These Peanut M&M’s come in blue, lime green and yellow. The candy shells taste slightly different to me. Like the inside is coated with something that taste similar to saccharine mixed with coconut……but much more coconut to saccharine. It’s easy to taste the chocolate with this one. There is a slight other taste with the coconut but so slight and maybe too artificial for me to tell what it is suppose to be…….A few more Thai Coconut M&M’s later these M&M’s build up and remind me of coconut Easter Eggs. These Thai Coconut M&M’s are OK…not great..They differ from the Coconut M&M’s that were out years ago…..These are not as strong with coconut and also not as sweet. They don’t take me to anything Thai Food…….They are OK….like Easter eggs….kind of tasty……the peanut goes very well with these flavors…….not bad…not great.
1/2 a Fork…OK
Those were my thoughts on the International Flavor M&M’s of English Toffee, Mexican Jalapeño and Thai Coconut.
I do note your opinion and experience may indeed differ.
The FORKING Truth is that I am already disappointed with a new restaurant that I didn’t actually get to dine at yet. I was very excited about this new restaurants’ opening but dining there doesn’t seem like a possibility.
I live about 40 minutes away from this particular restaurant and don’t want to be turned away without a reservation so I attempted to a make a reservation. This is where all the Forking CRAZY unBELIEVABLE stuff happened……
I called the published phone number for the restaurant on Saturday 2/16/19 and requested a reservation for the next Saturday 2/23/19. It wasn’t until Thursday that I get a call back from the Chef/Owner of this particular restaurant that I called the wrong phone number and he gave another phone number to call. So my husband called that number during business hours and nobody answered the phone so he left a message that we still wanted a reservation for Saturday 2/23/19. Nobody calls us back…..So I wait until Friday 2/22/19 and I call the restaurant and ask if I have a reservation there and the person there at the restaurant says that I do not have a Forking (she didn’t say Forking… but I did) reservation. So I said good-bye and made a reservation someplace else.
We were very anxious to try out this new vegan restaurant somewhere in Metro Phoenix…..But it seems impossible to make a reservation with them and they don’t care either. We emailed the Chef Owner a similar copy of this story last Friday (2/22/19) and haven’t heard a thing back.
This is an Example of what NOT to DO When You Open a Restaurant.
When I came across this bag of White Chocolate Marshmallow M&M’s I thought this was a strange flavor. I also thought these M&M’s might be filled with marshmallow cream but they are not. These M&M’s are white chocolate that is marshmallow flavored.
I start by opening the bag and take a whiff……It smells like white chocolate mixed with a little yogurt……I’m thinking that these will suck…….
I spill some out.
The M&M’s are shiny and slightly larger than regular plain M&M’s. The candy shells are white, Robbin’s egg blue and like yellow ribbon color.
I taste one.
It’s very sweet……maybe too sweet for some people…but to me it’s as sweet as vanilla cake frosting….To me it’s just right for this flavor. It’s almost like you really are eating a marshmallow mixed with white chocolate. I think I really do feel and taste cornstarch in my mouth like from a real marshmallow. I eat a few more….when you eat more you get the sweet more……..These melt better in the mouth than most white chocolate M&M’s…they aren’t waxy at all. Instead of an aftertaste like I was expecting I got some cornstarch building up in my mouth…….It’s kind of weird.
I totally was expecting to hate these White Chocolate Marshmallow M&M’s but they are surprisingly realistic tasting and OK!
Adventurous Tasters might want to give the White Chocolate Marshmallow M&M’s a try!
Not my favorite flavor of M&M’s but worthy of a try
I found this business by accident and it’s quite intriguing. Angkor Donuts and Daliz Ice Cream Y Mas are two businesses that are one. They serve Thrifty Brand ice cream, freshly made donuts, Asian foods and and also Mexican Foods.
It looks like this when you walk in.
Most of the tables are set up with Mexican Hot Sauces, Sambal and Fish Sauce.
We just stopped in and got a donut. I got an iced donut with rainbow sprinkles. I have to say it was a great donut…..So light and fluffy it seemed free of calories….but I know it wasn’t…….The icing was thin and didn’t seem too sweet…..It was a really great donut that just melted in my mouth.
During my short stay there I noticed many people doing take out. Tacos were popular….I think they cost around $1.50@.
Some of the Mexican Foods they offer are Tacos, Burritos, Quesadillas, tortas, agues frescas, Sonoran hot dogs and raspados.
Some of the Asian Foods I noticed were fried rice plates, Thai tea, boba and a variety of pho noodle soups. Some of the Pho Noodle Soups might be fusion style because some varieties were pollo and carnitas…?????
Angkor Donuts and Daliz Ice Cream Y Mas was a Forking Interesting Stop and The Donut I tasted was as good as it gets! I thought it was interesting. I never been to any other establishment that was like it. Who knew that there were restaurants out there like this.
Angkor Donuts Daliz Ice Cream Y Mas in Glendale – Ice Cream, Donuts, Mexican Food and Asian Food……Who knew!
I haven’t found a website or facebook page for them but I found Angkor Donuts Daliz Ice Cream Y Mas.
Everything is subject to change and your experience may or may not differ.
Tacolandia is an all-you-can-eat taco festival that took place Saturday January 26th from 1pm-5pm at Margaret T Hance Park in Down Town Phoenix. General Admission cost $20-$40. depending on where and when you purchased your tickets and VIP tickets cost between $40.-$55. also depending on where and when you purchased your tickets. The VIP this year seemed only slightly different than general admission. The VIPs got into the festival slightly sooner, got two free drinks and were able to vote for favorite taco.
WOO-HOO! this was an All-You-Can-Eat Taco event! Over 20 taco venders participated. There was some free entertainment and libations were available for sale.
This event was dog friendly and parking was free and also metered depending on how far you wanted to walk.
(Don’t tell my dogs that this was a dog friendly event)
The 2019 Tacolandia went similar to the 2018 Tacolandia. The event was held at the same place and the festival goers trickled in the same way. The first hour from 1pm-2pm it was easy breezy getting around anywhere you wanted to go. Either no lines or very short lines.
No lines a little after 1pm hereA little after 1pm here
Then about by 2pm lines ran about 25-30 minutes.
By 2:30 I got tired of standing and was very thirsty. The line for lemonade ran 45 minutes.
Just like last year some tacos were better than other tacos. Some were made with MADE TO ORDER FRESH tortillas that were mighty delicious! The Forking Truth is that only one vender used an awful tortilla.
This was all I ate from this taco. Filling was tender but bland and on a hard tortilla that needed to be grilled.
Here are what we tried. Just like last year my husband tried more tacos than what I tried. The majority of the tacos offered were beef, followed by pork, a few chicken and I only found one fish taco. There were two vegetable tacos offered that I noticed. I wasn’t able to hit every vender but between the two of us we hit much of the offerings. One vendor had trouble and didn’t have power so I don’t know if they got to serve. Another vendor started serving tacos about an hour or so after opening.
Beef Taco from Casa CorazonBulgogi Beef with Kimchi Bun from Bao Chow at the Yucca Tap Room (this one ran salty)Chico Malo – Pork Belly TacoJamburritos Cajun Grille Pork TacoGadzooks Chicken & Cornbread Stuffing Taco – One of the best tasting tacos that I tried. El Tlacoyo – two different kinds of pork tacosAjo Al’s Brisket Taco – Taco shell was fresh madeLa Olmeca – Beef Taco – before topping barMrs C’s Caterins – Chicken TacoTaste of New Mexico – Pork TacoSylvia’s La Canasta – Fish Taco – only fish taco I foundSylvia’s La Canasta – Vegetable Taco – VERY Cilantro forward and also spicyPhilly’s Sports Grill – Among the better tacos…a non-traditional Asian Fusion Beef TacoTortas Paquime – Among the better Tacos – Beef Tacos with House Made SPICY saucesVarsity Tavern – Beef TacoFrom The Lunch Box – Chicken Tostada and Beef Nando’s Mexican Cafe – Chicken TacoSome festival goers dressed for the occasion.Some festival goers dressed for the occasion
That was my Trip to Tacolandia 2019 – I’d say it was Worth a Fork!
Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery is located in North Phoenix. This is a casual Pho-Free Vietnamese Eatery. I know that most of the food they serve is FORKING SCRUMPTIOUS because between me and my husband were tried most of the menu items….Some of my personal favorites that I enjoy from Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery are the delicious Banh Mi Baguette Sandwiches, Chef’s Special Curry Chicken, Lotus Root Salad, Pot Stickers and of course The Rice Plate (Co’m Dia). Oh and did I mention that everything (as of January 2019…subject to change) is less that $10.00 each?
Pork Rice PlateChicken Rice Plate minus the egg roll
The Rice Plate (Co’m Dia) is what is known as a combination plate. That is made of a generous portion of white rice, pork egg roll, salad garnish with house vinaigrette and choice of protein. The protein choices are Grilled Pork, Grilled Pork Chop, Grilled Chicken, Grilled Shrimp, Shaken Beef or Tofu and Vegetable. There are condiments of fish sauce for dipping and a spicy chili paste for zipping some things up. I can vouch that the chicken, beef and grilled pork are tender like butter and developed with really delicious flavors. It’s like magically delicious. The chicken has a tasty char on it and is developed with yumminess. The chicken is slightly sweet and fragrant with Asian seasonings. The portion is really large and double of what I eat so this is two meals for me. I didn’t weigh the meat here but it seemed like about 8 ounces. I have no idea where you can get a better or tastier deal for only $9.00.
Other things we had at Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery are pictured below. I really enjoy the Banh Mi baguette more than a hoagie type roll. It made of a combination of wheat and rice flour that makes it seem much lighter than a hoagie roll. The roll here has a crispy exterior and a soft interior. The sandwiches are made with pickled carrot and radish, slices of jalapeño and fresh cilantro and house made aioli. Some varieties of the Banh Mi also include house made pate.
We love going to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery in North Phoenix. The Food is always fresh and delicious! Portions are very large and prices are very low.
The Rice Plate from Banh Mi Bistro is the BEST under $10.00 Plate that I tried in North Phoenix!
(P.S. Tables are no longer outside but there is a folding table inside for guest that request it.)
Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery is Worth a Fork!
Worth a Fork!
www.BanhMiBistroAZ.com
Everything is subject to change and your experience may or may not differ.
I’ve always had an interest in unusual produce. I recently came across this starter pack of White Carolina Strawberries I picked up from my local Home Depot. I don’t know if they will grow in Phoenix Arizona but I have to give them a try. Don’t know if any white strawberries will ever materialize but if they do I’ll include them here on The Forking Truth.
I was searching for some hard to find peppers so I searched on eBay for them and I happened to come across many strange plant seeds for sale. I believe the majority of them are fiction. You can decide for yourself.
Strawberries with Kiwi centers……..Sounds delicious and the photo looks real enough but I searched for this on the internet and none were to be found.
Yellow Strawberries are FACT! I’ve never come across them but there many photos and articles about yellow strawberries on the internet.
This unusual looking strawberry is a mix of fact and fiction. Yes this strawberry really grew like this but it only is a one hit wonder. I read about someone in the UK that grew this strawberry. But who knows if that story is true either?
This picture is also a mix of fact and fiction. They fail to mention that the watermelons don’t grow square unless they are grown in some kind of box.
I read that this one is one of the biggest hoax out there………??????? Is that information true?
This just doesn’t even look real…….My bet is fiction.
Here’s another one that looks very artificial…..Take a close look at the leaves..they look so fake. Looks like an artificial plant.
Here’s magical sexy pepper seeds….Maybe one pepper grew that way????………but I have to wonder why the picture just doesn’t look natural…….No one is holding the pepper…..it can’t just fly in the air………… it has to be a computer manipulation??????
This one is FACT! WOW what a great tomato they might be. Bet they are great for sauce!
Here’s the one that might be the most shocking.
Maybe the BIGGEST HOAX! This is the one for Suckers!
The Vietnam Milk Melon.
It doesn’t even look real.
WTFORK it doesn’t look like it’s growing from anything.
Here are some reviews.
Well you know what they say.
The Forking Truth – Different and FORKING STRANGE Produce – Fact and Also FICTION
A long time ago in a land far away it was said that children were given candy in church to shut the FORK up. It has been written that a person in Germany got the idea to put a little religion into the candy sticks so they made candy shaped like Shepherd’s Hooks like from the dude in the Noel Scene.
As time passed someone got the idea that they should add hyssop flavoring to the Candy Canes because hyssop was used in the old testament for purification and sacrifice. Perhaps nobody wanted child sacrifice on their hands? ……Or just maybe the real reason they stopped using hyssop was because mint flavoring was much cheaper and better tasting than hyssop so they switched over the Candy Cane recipe to be made with mint flavoring.
Some people believe the red strips were added to symbolize Christ’s Blood.
If you have been shopping for cane canes you might have noticed that Candy Canes aren’t actually flavored with mint all the time.