Category Archives: Forking Thoughts

Random Forking Items of Interest

Kettle Brand Korean Barbeque Potato Chips are Worth a Fork

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When I see a fun flavor of Potato Chips sometimes I feel I have to try them to see if they meet my expectations. I saw these Korean Barbecue (spelled Barbeque) Chips. It seemed like a flavor I had to try.

I start by opening the bag and I get a whiff of soy sauce.

The chips are on the small side but have more texture than most other chips with bubbles fried in the surface of the chips and seasoning is visible.

I taste one.

I get lots of flavors.

I get sweet, soy sauce, garlic, onion, maybe sesame? something a little spicy…but not too spicy, some sort of Asian Vinegar kind of taste and a ginger finish.

These chips are very addictive and it’s hard to stop eating them.

These Kettle Brand Korean Barbeque Chips are delicious and are Worth a Fork! (Unless it’s preferable to purchase chips that don’t taste good so you eat less)

Worth a Fork!

The Forking Truth

Most Memorable Food out in Metro Phoenix AZ so far this Year from January – April 2017

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Memorable food stays in your mind. It’s either something you want to revisit or something you wish you’ve never tried. The foods I tried listed are in no particular order. Here is the Fofo Vegetarian Sandwich I had at Lamp Cafe in Scottsdale AZ. It was especially delicious. It was an explosion of flavors between spicy pickled vegetables, provolone cheese, arugula and zucchini cakes you’d never imagine such a satisfying  and delicious sandwich.

6in Plain Stuffed Deep Dish from Giordano’s in Peoria AZ

The Giordano’s Plain 6in. Deep Dish Pizza was memorable. It was massive amounts of molten cheese in a very hard dried out burnt crust.

I must note that the owner of Giordano’s contacted me and said I would not have the same experience if I came back and ordered a larger size pizza…………

There was this hot smoked salmon from the Salty Sow in Phoenix AZ that was life changing. It was so silky and scrumptious. It melted in the mouth. It’s worthy of some kind of award.

Everything I tried at tried at Mora Italian in Scottsdale were amazing but the Boneless Sea Bream and the amazing Cheese Gnudi were over the top! The fish reminded me of the best fish I had at a pricy restaurant in Las Vegas and the Gnudi was dressed with concentrated tomatoes and were so delicate. You just have to try them to know. This was really high end and quality.

I’m usually not a fan of chicken wings but the chicken wings I tried from Great Wall in Phoenix were especially crispy and delicious.

Large Bowl in the middle is Spicy Chicken on Bone with Vine Peppers

Mius Bistro in Mesa AZ served me the spiciest most mouth numbing thing I tried in a long time. It had a unique good developed flavor but was very difficult to enjoy with fragments of chicken bones and skin all threw the dish. I do note that this is a method of Asian Cookery and other people are accustomed to enjoy this style of dish.

I got this from the Spotted Donkey Cantina in Scottsdale. I’m done talking about it but I’ll tell you that it was memorable.

The Saffron Chicken Bowl with Stone Bread from Saffron Jak in Phoenix was extremely delicious! I’ve had a similar plate from other restaurants but the tahini surprise under the chicken made it extra tasty and where else are you going to find stone bread….

Trofie with Pesto from Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante in Glendale was stunning. Really REALLY perfect pasta.

Doughbird a Pizza and Rotisserie Chicken Restaurant recently opened in Phoenix. The chicken was good, all the food was good but it is that Buffalo Sauce I used on the chicken that makes me want to return. Lip smacking and drool worthy. Like crack for the mouth.

It’s a little too soon to know for sure but I think I’m going to remember the Corned Beef and Cabbage Pierogi from the Twisted Italian in Peoria for a while. They were a yummy delight!

That’s what was most memorable to me this year so far.

The Forking Truth

Bugs in Food that You PAY for and Bean Pie…..Who Knew

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Part of El Panzon Y Frida Restaurant Menu located in Old Town Scottsdale AZ

When I hear about a new restaurant or a restaurant that is new to me the first thing I do is look at the menu to see if the menu appeals to me. I found out about this new restaurant that recently opened in Old Town Scottsdale AZ called El Panzon Y Frida. I saw Fish Cakes on the menu and thought I haven’t had a Fish Cake in ten years since I left the east coast. I could sure go for a fish cake………. but not the one on El Panzon Y Frida’s Menu……… as it’s Buffalo Worm Crusted……… I do admit I have some food hang ups and don’t partake in eating worms or bugs. I am aware that in many countries it’s a part of normal life to include insects in one’s diet but I have to be honest and admit it’s not something I’ll ever relish.

Usually if you find a bug or a worm in your food the restaurant takes it the Fork off your bill and apologies. On this menu you pay for worms in your food…who knew?

www.elpanzonyfrida.com

I also looked at a Fish and Chip Restaurant called Mandy’s Fish in Chips with three locations in Phoenix AZ. I saw……

Mandy’s Fish and Chip Restaurant in Phoenix AZ

Bean Pie….. I never heard of Bean Pie. WTFork is Bean Pie?

I read on Wikipedia that Bean Pie was created in the 1930s and is of African American Muslim Cuisine. The Pie is made of mashed beans that are usually navy beans but can also be great northern or pinto beans in a custard based pie similar to pumpkin pie.

www.mandysfishandchips.com

Bugs in food that you pay for and Bean Pie…..Who The Fork Knew?

The Forking Truth

Sadly Two People Died This Week from Competitive Eating

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Sadly Two People Died This Week from Competition Eating.

According to International Business Times via Yahoo.com and NYDailyTimes.com 20 year old Caitlin Nelson college student died 4-2-17. It was three days after participating in a charity pancake eating contest. It was reported by The NY Times that Caitlin did have allergies and went into convulsions after consuming a few flap jacks. People did come to her aid but they couldn’t clear her throat.

Tragically her father was one of the many victims that perished in the 2001 9-11 attacks.

Also on 4-2-17 42 year old Travis Malouff dies at a competitive eating challenge at Voodoo Donuts white trying to eat a 8 oz. or 7 in. doughnut in 80 seconds for only a free meal and a button. (.www.TorantoSun.com reports the doughnut was the equivalent of 6 doughnuts and was 1/2 a pound). Unfortunately nobody in attendance knew how to do the Heimlich correctly and help wasn’t there in time according to www.Newser.com and www.TorantoSun.com

Sadly Two People Died This Week From Competitive Eating.

The Forking Truth

My Forking Thoughts on Lay’s Garden Tomato and Asiago Potato Chips

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I saw the new Lay’s Kettle Cooked Garden Tomato and Asiago Flavored Chips and thought the flavor seems appealing so I thought I’d give these a try.

I do note that these new edition potato chips run much more expensive than a regular large bag of Lay’s Potato Chips. This is a smaller bag and it cost $4.29 (8 1/2 oz) and a regular bag of Lay’s cost around $3.50 for 14 3/4  ounces.

I open the bag and it does smell like Italian Cheese possibly of an Asiago Variety.

I notice the chips seem to be on the smaller side and not all but most of them are folded and the chips are flecked with what looks like seasoning.

I taste one chip. It has a very sharp crisp crunch and does have some potato flavor. The dominate flavor I taste is sort of buttery asiago cheese followed by a little Italian Seasoning. It sort of taste like a frozen pizza.

I eat more and I sort of forget about the Italian Seasoning and I get more sort of buttery asiago kind of taste.

I hardly get any fresh tomato taste…it sort of blurs with the Italian seasoning.

My rating due to my taste….

1/2 a Fork….OK at best…and not the worst.

I have to give Lay’s credit for improving the taste of a Kettle Chip. Other Kettle Chips I’ve taste usually lack potato flavor and these Kettle Chips actually contain potato flavor. For me the asiago taste is believable but I’m not sure why they made it buttery.

I would be more excited about the chips if the Garden Tomato taste was more part of the equation to this flavor formula.

You taste and opinion may differ from mine.

The Forking Truth

Forking Delicious Potato Chips – Terra Brand Adirondack Reds

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I never come across the Adirondack Red Potato. The Adirondack Red Potato is Ruby Red inside and out. I read that they are usually only found at Farmer’s Markets or sold by purveyors of specialty produce. These Potato Chips were only sold at Whole Foods Market for around $4.00 a bag……..well…..until I found them at the .99cent store for 99 cents a bag. They don’t even expire for 6 months!

I open the bag and it smells very much just like potatoes.

I do notice that the chips are on the small side. Perhaps Adirondack Red Potatoes are small?

They taste earthier and more potato like than any other potato chip I ever tasted. They also have a nice light texture.

They don’t leave grease on my hand or in my mouth like most chips and the sea salt on them is just right….Not too much and not too little.

They are Forking Delicious Good. One of the best (or best) potato chips I have ever eaten.

Manufactured and Distributed by Hain Celestial Group Inc.

www.TerraChips.com

Worth a Fork!

Of Course your Forking Opinion may differ.

The Forking Truth

 

A Glendale AZ PHENOMENON Popo’s Fiesta Del Sol Mexican Restaurant

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Popo’s in Glendale AZ at 4:30pm…already packed.

My husband is a fan of Popo’s Fiesta Del Sol Mexican Restaurant. This family friendly restaurant serves Sonoran Style Mexican Food. I like that this restaurant is close to home and we don’t “Paso Much” here. It seems that all of Glendale AZ LOVES Popo’s because a Phenomenon has been going on here for the past several weeks. We also have a lot of tourist here this time of year since it was spring training time so it may be that some of the crowd are tourist. Anyway Popo’s is always the busiest restaurant that I know of in the immediate area. This is the only restaurant that I know of in these parts of Glendale (North Glendale) that goes on an hour wait before 4:30pm. Over the past few weeks we’ve been trying to get in around 5:00pm and they were on an hour wait so we left and went some place else so this week we tried to get in extra early at 4:30 and they were already packed and on an hour wait.

Also Packed at Bar at 4:30

One of the best things that Popo’s offers are the complimentary Hot Basket of Chips and delicious…and usually very spicy salsa.

The salsa is the best that I know of in these parts of town.

The $3.75 margaritas are incredibly strong. You might not be able to finish more than one. If you finish two of these margaritas I do warn you that you might see Forking Pink Elephants. Believe me…It’s truly impossible to drink more than two….

Over the years I tried several things on the menu and I concluded the only thing I enjoy is the Chicken Fajita Salad. Don’t get the wrong impression about the food. I am not a big fan of Sonoran Style Food and there is nothing wrong about enjoying Sonoran Style Food. I’m just keeping it real because after all it’s The Forking Truth…….  I do note that I do usually find this salad tasty and satisfying. It doesn’t contain all the grease, rice, beans and sauces I don’t care for in Sonoran Style Food.

The Fajita Salad is a simply a tasty hefty salad. It’s a bowl of romaine topped with olives avocado tomato and sautéed onions, (sometimes peppers) Cheese, and nicely seasoned chicken.

My husband enjoys several dishes on the Popo’s Menu.

For this dinner he got the Carnitas’s Fajitas. Sorry for the blurred picture.

Lots of tender meat on a sizzling hot skillet with a side plate of refried beans, Mexican Style sour cream (it’s thicker than regular sour cream), pico, guacamole and tortillas. (corn or flour)

“Popo’s is a Glendale AZ Phenomenon.” ” Most times of the year they are usually on an hour wait by 5:pm.”

www.PoposMexicanFood.com

The Forking Truth

 

Devoured Culinary Classic Day 2 March 5TH 2017 #DevouredPhoenix

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Devoured Culinary Classic is the Premier Annual two day always sold out event that took place at the Phoenix Art Museum March 4th and 5th 2017. This is Arizona’s Biggest Food Festival. Over a hundred Food Artisans, Wine and Beer Merchants and more!

Sunday was the day to be at Devoured for me this year.

Walking into the Art Museum was a fun Vibe that wasn’t here yesterday.

A fun Food Truck with a band giving out Bourbon Filled Doughnuts.

Yesterday the Great Hall where you wait before the Devoured Gates open up sort of seemed like a library. Today it was a banging with music filled and treats that might have been prize winning just yesterday.

This Corn CORN Corn and Sweet Corn Ice Cream from Tammy  Coe Cakes was Forking Amazing and is up there with the best of what I tried in the two days. Sometimes something is so good you can’t describe it and this is that. That mix of textures and all corn is incredible with a sliver of light as air blueberry cake to add interest.

The other prize winning worthy foods I tried in the Great Hall were from 25 Carrots.

There’s a Lavender frosted cake, A really exotically spiced soup and this most AMAZING 24 Carrot Shooker. A Papadum Shell filled with Carrot Avocado Soup and Spiced Pom Date Molasses that you eat in one bite….So good. I have to travel to this Vegetarian Restaurant sometime. The flavors were life changing.

I had more favorites on day two…I ate as much as I could but couldn’t try everything. My husband gets to eat much more at these festivals so I get his opinion of the stuff I can’t fit in.

Maybe my top pick of the two days came from Bitter and Twisted Cafe Tranquilo@ The Clarendon Hotel and Spa.

They called it Cabeza Dim Sum Pho. It was made of fresh made on the spot Chinese Rice Noodle Crepes, Tacos Chiwas Mexican Barbacoa Beef, Three Day Vietnamese Beef Broth, Thai Basil Puree, Citrus Hoisin and Panda Sriracha. It was complex in all kinds of directions and most importantly FORKING AMAZING DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!!

Day two offered many other delicious delights and an array of amazing desserts.

The Phoenix Public Market Cafe prepared not only eye-catching but a delicious Carrot Soup. The parsnip cake looks and sounds awesome but my piece is very cold and very hard so it was next to impossible to eat.

The soup contained local carrots, cumin oil, English Peas, Pea Shoots, and colorful Cauliflower.

Another tiny but pretty darn amazing dessert came from Shift Restaurant from Flagstaff.

White Chocolate Spring Pea with Pea Shoot Cannoli. Who knew something like this could be great?

My husband said that this Grilled Cheese with Foie Gras was really interesting and good from House of Tricks.

The Parlor prepared Black (maybe said ink) Cavatelli with White Bolognese, Radicchio, Spring Peas and Lemon Thyme. Was among my husbands favorites.

My husband also tried The Pork Taco from Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill and said, “This is REALLY Good!”

I liked this Sweet Corn Risotto with Squash Blossoms, Micro Purple Basil and Chive Oil from Federal Pizza.

Another one of my husband’s favorites was the Shrimp from Cafe Tranquilo@The Clarendon Hotel and Spa.

These little Floats from the District Kitchen were quite a treat. They were a joyride of textures in the mouth and were quite tasty.

Plenty of other things were good or great but these were the stand outs to us.

Here is some more of Devoured Day 2

Whimsical Cute Cauliflower Pops from St Francis

Duck Hotdog from Shift Flagstaff

The Sort Rib with Purple Polenta from Litchfield’s at the Wigwam was good too.

Lamb over Lentils from Different Point of View was very tender but sort of rare

My husband enjoyed these fries with pork belly and cheese curds from Frites Street

 

 

My husband said the shrimp from The Breadfruit were the spiciest thing ever served at any Devoured he also said they were among his favorites.

That was Day Two 3-5-2017 Devoured.

Hope to make it at least one day next year at the Desert Botanical Gardens!

The Forking Truth

Devoured Culinary Classic Day One Saturday March 4th 2017 #DevouredPhoenix

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From the Porch of the Phoenix Art Museum

Devoured Culinary Classic is the Premier Annual Two Day Event that took place at the Phoenix Art Museum this year. This is Arizona’s Biggest Food Festival that also offers a combination of over a hundred venders of Food Artisans, Wine and Beer Merchants and more!

This year (2017) the price of Devoured was has gone up to $109.00 a day for general admission. Last year the 2016 pricing deal for Museum Members was $150.00 for two days of general admission. ($75 each of two days) This year for Museum Members the price inflated to $99.00 a day for general admission.

In 2012 was there was a Devoured Deal for only $90 for two days for paying in advance. This year (2017) five years latter the price inflated to $218.00 for two days of general admission. These days Devoured is a sell out event. They can only hold four Thousand people and the event next year will be moved to bigger grounds at the Desert Botanical Gardens.

I know I won’t be able to try everything. I only try what I think appeals to me.After all I did pay a pretty penny to attend and I really do want to enjoy myself. My husband eats more than I do and does try things I won’t try like goat some other foods.  ( BTW He did enjoy a goat taco…from Sierra Bonita Grill )  Between the two of us we did try a lot of of what was offered.

These were some of the dishes that were our favorites.

I did find that several of the vendors offered well thought out dishes that weren’t technically perfect prepared in the portable kitchen environment. For that reason many almost great dishes are not a favorite to us.

Some of are favorites were in no particular order……

The pork taco and guacamole from The Barrio Cafe. Several other vendors also served guacamole and after tasting from the Barrio Cafe the others seemed mediocre at best.

Some sort of raw fish crudo from Crudo. It was light, refreshing and had texture and had complexity. It made me smile when I tasted it and maybe was the one thing I should have went back for seconds on.

My husband really enjoyed these pork wings from Dust Cutter.

We both thought the food from Joe’s Midnight Run was tasty. I really enjoyed the quality bread with sheep’s milk cheese, developed flavorful mushrooms and truffles. It was just delicious!

Urban Beans 24 hour Bar and Cafe made an incredible vegan cheesecake. It’s the small square near the top of the plate on the right side. It shined with great flavors and mouth feel.

What won best tasting was a Bison Tacquito from Helio Basin Brewing Company.

I didn’t try this one….Oh well…My husband did and he said the one he tried was dry inside.

Another award winning presentation came from The Clever Koi.

They did some sort of snow cone scallop that neither of us tried but I have to say it did look interesting.

I thought another interesting looking dish came from Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn.

Shrimp were you squirt the juice on yourself….or at someone… 🙂

Here are some other photos I took.

It’s Raw!……. Oy Vey ………                     from Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn

Bad placement of photo – (this didn’t come from Red Thai it came from Clever Koi)

Included with Devoured was admission to the Art Museum and I saw the current featured exposition  Samurai exhibit.

That was Day 1 Saturday March 4th 2017 Devoured

The Forking Truth

In Memoriam LOUIE 5-5-2001 – 3-3-2017

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Here’s to me! I was the Forking Best Dog Ever!

If you are reading this you know that I am dearly departed. I’ve been fighting cancer as long as I could and I out lived by about a year all my doctor’s expectations.

I looked like this when my folks adopted me.

Then I looked like this.

Then I looked like this…..

I started to grow up at about seven months I looked like the photo below.

Here are just a few of my favorite dining out moments from Dining Out with Dogs.

AJ’s Fine Foods Glendale AZ

Ahhhhh Beef……

AJ’s Glendale AZ

Yummmmm Macaroni and cheese….

AJ’s Patio Arrowhead Glendale AZ

Umm Burger.

Angelina’s Pho and Grill

Phee Phy Pho me……tee..he

Leo’s Island BBQ

Lots to eat…not hungry here…

Humble Pie in Phoenix AZ

It’s always a great day for pizza…

Lamar’s Doughnuts

Ummmm Dougnuts!

“Natural Organic Chicken…Not too Shabby” from Salad and Go

Banh Mi Bistro

Love Banh Mi Bistro…

Carvalho’s Brazilian Kitchen

Yum! Carvalho’s Brazilian Kitchen!

“Ummmmmm”

Not all but many of the photos below were taken at Cucina Tagliani in Glendale AZ.

Take Care and Thanks for sharing all these memories!

Don’t worry about my folks….I know they FORKING MISS ME but I left them in the capable paws of my apprentice.

She doesn’t have my great taste for food as she has her own taste. She is very loyal, protective and a better watch dog than I ever was. But as you know…I was one of a kind.

I wish you all well and it was great to be a part of Dining with Dogs.

The Forking Truth

Here’s to me! I was the Forking Best Dog Ever! and I Forking ate like a champ even at the end when the doctors said I wouldn’t …