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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 …

 

 

Ori di Langa Truffle Chips – Worth a Fork – Most Truffle Flavor

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I’m a sucker for Truffle and when I came across this bag of Italian Made Potato Chips at my local Home Goods Store I picked the bag up and toke a look at the ingredients.

The Ingredients read-

potatoes, sunflower seed oil, olive oil, freeze dried summer truffle (tuber aestivum vitt) ) 0.33%, (like 1.50% fresh truffle) salt and flavor (possibly it might mean that “flavor” might be chemicals…..not sure but that’s what I think) I open the bag and see I have very few chips to try in the 3.53 ounce bag. But hey this bag only coast me $2.99 so I thought it was worth it.

I take a whiff……it’s intoxicating……it smells very much like truffles……and I brace myself because most bags that smell like truffles don’t taste like truffles.

I take some chips out.

Some of the chips are very large and very thick for potato chips and are sort of  plank like. If you look close you can see some black specks on the potato chips that might be truffle. The chips  are sort of tender crisp….like a compressed kind of crisp….. and do have a slight taste like truffle. I don’t get that lovely lasting kind of real truffle taste but I do get a mild truffle taste however the potato chips also have very little potato flavor….I think sunflower oil and salt are the other flavors of the chips.

A few days latter when I finished the chips I noticed that the bag still smells very much like truffle….I can’t help but wonder if the bag was sprayed with something..? Don’t know.

These Ori di Langa Truffle Potato Chips have the most Truffle Flavor I’ve ever tasted in a potato chip. (so far)

The Forking Truth

My Forking Thoughts on Vanilla Cupcake M&M’s

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Vanilla Cupcake M&M’s recently came out and are sold exclusively at Target Stores with the Easter Candy.

They have the usual candy shell and the center is white chocolate. They are in nursery colors of yellow, pink, pale purple and turquoise. Size-wise the candies are on the bigger plump side for M&M’s.

I open the bag and take a whiff. It smells sort of like candy corn and sort of buttery and sort of like stale frosting. I know nobody can relate with old frosting but I once was a professional cake decorator and I still remember what old frosting smells like.

I eat my first Vanilla Cupcake M&M. I think it’s very similar in taste to an actual Vanilla Cupcake. It taste just like vanilla cake mix and frosting. I do like it at first. It’s sweet like frosting and taste like buttery cake. I also like that it isn’t waxy like some of the white M&M’s have been in the past.

I eat a few more and things start to change.

I get some sort of flavor build up or chemical after taste that isn’t right.

It’s not licorice but something like licorice and rum after taste. More faint licorice than rum. It doesn’t taste like Vanilla Cupcake after a several candies.

I don’t like them anymore.

For me………The rating is…….

1/2 a Fork….OK at best…good for up to 3 pieces then pass the bag over to someone else.

The Forking Truth is that your opinion may or may not differ…..

The Forking Truth

 

 

Who the Fork Knew that FOOD Jewelry is a Thing!

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Picture from www.yahoo.com

This past Valentine’s Day some lucky (?) gal received a free Domino’s Pizza Engagement Ring.

This might seem “Cheesy”

www.esty.com

to some but food jewelry is popular thing.

Here are some other Pizza Rings I found.

Dleesnow www.esty.com

I actually really like this one! It looks like it’s sitting on a pan. The one slice floating and drippy cheese makes it.

AndisaCharmShop www.esty.com

This one is kinda adorable too!

BluPantherDesign www.esty.com

Umm…This one looks yummy!

NerdyCactus www.esty.com

This is a Pizza Hut set I think.

I also found other Food Jewelry….besides pizza.

CreativeLatinos www.esty.com

Here’s a bowl of Macaroni and Cheese with a spoon!

ShopBiteSize www.esty.com

A very detailed bowl of Ramen that looks like it’s being eating in action by something invisible.

Dleesnow www.esty.com

Mama mia spaghetti and meatballs too!

NeatEats www.esty.com

A  detailed Thanksgiving Turkey platter ring even with cranberry sauce.

Who the Fork knew that food jewelry was a thing?

The Forking Truth

 

 

 

 

Recipe Idea – Eggs in Spicy Eggplant Sauce

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Eggs in Spicy Eggplant Sauce

This is just a recipe idea. I didn’t write down exactly how I threw it together but I had some eggplants and fried them up really well and put them away. Then I cooked up onion, sweet red pepper, sweet green pepper and some spicy and sweet jarred cherry peppers. I added frozen-then thawed reduced tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, white wine, water, sea salt, pepper, oregano, basil and at the added the eggplant and fresh basil. I came out with a rich thick flavorful sauce that tasted like eggplant parmesan. Ate it with pasta and a day later eat it with eggs added to the sauce for breakfast similar to Eggs in Purgatory. Something you might want to try.

There are many similar but different versions of this kind of dish.

My Eggs in Forking Hell – eggs in spicy tomato sauce with jalapeño Cheddar and Jack Cheese

Eggs in Forking Hell

Shakshuka – Eggs in spicy tomato sauce with cumin, paprika, parsley and Feta Cheese

Eggs in Purgatory – Eggs in spicy tomato sauce with basil and Parmesan Cheese

Huevos Rancheros – (there are many variations that are different and also with different sauces) Eggs on fried corn tortillas with tomato chili sauce, refried beans, sometimes rice and either avocado or guacamole.

Makes for a nice breakfast or a light dinner.

The Forking Truth

Chicago Pizza Battle in Metro Phoenix AZ Lou Malnatis vs Giordano’s with update at the end

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Lou Malnatis Phoenix AZ

Giordano’s located in P83 in Peoria AZ

This is a well paired battle. Both Restaurants are Chicago based Companies and are Famous for Chicago Style Pizza.

In one corner is Lou Malnatis.

Dining room

This Pizza is named “The Lou”

Cheese is flavorful.

The canned tomatoes are delicious.

The crust is unlike any pizza crust I had before. It’s thin and easy to eat. It seems almost like it was fried. It’s not like tasting traditional pizza dough…..and sort of reminds me of a crostata…It’s more like crust than bread……The edges are very crisp. The bottom is slightly more doughy….kinda like thin bread-y crust.

Pro- My favorite thing about this pizza was the canned tomatoes that are rich with flavor and seem like natural sweetness.

Con- While it’s not a bad pizza in anyway…It’s just not my favorite….something different.

Suggestion…It might be a good idea to order a salad to share if your having an individual pizza here…Maybe add on some fresh basil……

In the other corner is Giordano’s

The dining Room

6in Plain Stuffed Deep Dish

Cheese is flavorful and very ABUNDANT “Holy Cheezus” I think this 6 inch pizza holds a pound of Cheese.

The Sauce has a rich tomato taste and taste laced with oregano.

The crust on my pizza (and also my husband’s pizza) is dense and thick with a bitter burnt taste on the top of the crust.

Pro- The massive amount of cheese is kind of fun and the tomato sauce has flavor.

Con- The crust.

Suggestion- Maybe to add vegetables to the pizza so it will have less cheese…Come very hungry…Even a 6 in pizza is a gut buster here……

Conclusion –

Default due to Giordano’s Crust and the massive cheese ratio…..Lou Malnatis Pizza Wins the Chicago Pizza Battle for me.

However YOUR Taste may differ!

My husband thought Giordano’s Pizza was better because Giordano’s uses full fat sausage (L.M. uses Lean sausage) and Giordano’s pizza filled him up unlike the lighter Lou Malnatis Pizza that left him still hungry.

UPDATE 1-17-17

The owner contacted me and told me the pizzas I received are not typical of what Giordano’s serves. They recommended ordering a small, medium or large pizza because they come out the best.

For More Information please visit www.LouMalnatis.com

For more information please visit www.Giordanos.com

The Forking Truth is that EVERYTHING is subject to change and your experience may or may not differ.

The Forking Truth

 

 

My review on White Cheesecake M&M’s – Worth a Fork!

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A new flavor of M&M’s is out there now at your local Walmart Store called White Cheesecake. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like them because when I opened the bag and took a sniff I got an aroma of sweet puppy feet. Yes, just like dog feet in frosting.

I took a look at the candies. I notice that the candies are irregular in shape and size. The colors are a pink similar to bubble gum, white and porcelain flesh like of a fancy doll.

I ate them one at a time normal. then I let one dissolve in my mouth, and then I ate three at a time normal so I got to taste them three different ways.

These White Cheesecake M&M’s are best one at a time dissolving them in your mouth and then you taste the flavors best. First the candy shell melts in your mouth and then you actually do taste cheesecake. For me the cheesecake flavor does fade fast and I am left with a vanilla custard ice cream taste that I do like because it taste like ice-cream…… But we aren’t finished yet……A fun graham cracker crust taste happens at the end.

The White Cheesecake M&M’s faired least well when I ate them three at a time. They seemed less layered in taste but it was the finish of graham cracker that didn’t taste as well with three candies in my mouth leaving a slightly bitter or chemical finish that I didn’t notice with one candy in my mouth.

Well any who…these White Cheesecake M&M’s seem to be Worth a Fork to Me!

Worth a Fork!

Your opinion may or may not differ…..

The Forking Truth

There are Musical Comedy Cooking Shows Out there!

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Who knew that there are Musical Comedy Cooking Shows Out There?    I like comedies and I like cooking shows so i thought it would be fun to see Cooking with the Calamari Sister’s at the Herberger Theater. This show was unlike any show I’ve ever seen before. Delphine and Carmela are suppose to be sisters (played by men) that have a fictional public cooking show. They joke, sing and dance their way through light attempts of preparing food and are naughty with improvisational audience participation. Delphine plays herself as a nun-like church goer and shuns several audience members for not attending church enough though out the show. Delphine is not feminine and talks with the male voice he has.  Carmela plays herself as a tramp similar to the way cartoon Bugs Bunny does when he plays himself as a female. Carmela can pass as a female and does until he pops out a startling deep male voice once in a while. Then the illusion of female disappears and you remember he is a man.

They told stories a bit about Italian life with stereotypical Brooklyn Italian family members in the show. The sisters sing many Italian songs such as a racy version of Volare, Botcha Me, Mambo Italiano….and a “Cheesy” Pasta Tarantella Song that really was amazing. It was very fast paced and all rhymed naming maybe a hundred shapes of pasta while they were wildly dancing.

They didn’t actually cook. They prepared an Antipasto Salad with an audience member that they ridiculed. (but it was funny) The antipasto platter and a basket of rolls did get pasted around the audience.

Then they filled cannoli shells with another audience victim. The poor guy got to ware an apron that made him look naked.

They had a short quiz show on their show for three audience members.

Then the Pasta Song got belted out and it was great. I thought it was the highlight of the show. They then sung it again but even faster.

The actors-comedians- singers really were very talented. Hilarious fun and also kind of WEIRD.

For more information please visit www.CalamariSisters.com

Your Forking Opinion may or may not differ.

Sorry about the lack of pictures but photography was not permitted in the Theater.

The Forking Truth