Category Archives: Forking Restaurant Reviews

Honest unbiased reviews based on actual experiences

My Trip to Rancho Pinot in Scottsdale AZ- Worth a Fork!

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Rancho Pinot is a dinner only restaurant that’s located in a shopping center right on Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale Arizona. This restaurant has been in business for twenty five years now. You might be wondering what kind of restaurant is this…..The answer might be a mix of global American that slants Italian. On the menu the night I was there they offered Kabocha Squash with Tahini Sauce and Dukka, to Gnocchi with Lamb Bolognese. The menu changes often from what I was told but some menu items stay the same like the long time specialty of the house The Nonni’s Chicken that has been on the menu for twenty five years.

The atmosphere is mostly Western and sort of Kitsch.

From my seat I wasn’t able to photo all I wanted but I did get in the saguaro skeleton that’s in the middle of the dining room. The chairs are very rustic and somewhat uncomfortable. On the walls are cow head skeletons and a few stuffed animals such as jack-o-lopes. Lots of cowboy related pictures grace the walls and there is a curio cabinet with all kinds of strange things.

We were greeted by several workers that were very friendly. One worker told us that they work as a team so anyone could help or serve us. Our main server took our order and seemed very knowledgeable about the menu and the food served. We order and soon very fresh soft bread arrives.

We started out by sharing the Asian Pear, Fennel and Pomegranate Salad.

Everything was very fresh and everything did taste great together. The salad contains crunchy Asian Pears, shaved fennel, sharp greens, hazelnuts, pomegranate and creamy feta cheese.

For my main I went with the specialty…The Nonni’s Chicken.

Two generously sized braised chicken thighs with mushrooms, herbs and stock-ee white wine sauce served with crispy polenta and topped with a sprinkling of Italian Cheese.

WOW! I have to say that this is the moistest chicken I’ve ever had! You Forking don’t need teeth to eat this chicken! This is even more moist than from a Sous Vide! The polenta is prepared perfect. It’s nice and creamy inside. If I had a bigger appetite I would have dunked my bread in the sauce….On this dish the meat portion is about double of what I usually eat. It worked out well because the dish my husband ordered was smaller so he finished my dish.

He ordered a brand new dish to the menu and had the Fettuccine with Duck Confit, Winter Squash, and Braised Greens.

This was a more flavorful dish that was also prepared to perfection.

We were told that it was a big deal that they were offering Pecan Bars tonight because they haven’t had them on the menu for a year and a half so we ordered one.

The Pecan bar was very chewy….sensibly sized and wasn’t too sweet. We both liked the house made vanilla ice cream on top.

That was my trip to Rancho Pinot in Scottsdale AZ.

Worth a Fork!

www.RanchoPinot.com

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

The Forking Truth

My Trip to The Bourbon Cellar in Scottsdale AZ

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The Bourbon Cellar is located in a strip mall in North Scottsdale Arizona. They specialize in serving a variety of craft bourbons, craft sandwiches and craft burgers of Prime in-house ground Filet, Bison, Elk, Venison, Cajun Turkey and Veggie.

At the time of this review they are newly opened and are going with the lunch menu as an all day menu and offer three course dinner specials at night. (subject to change at any time)

Inside the atmosphere is clean and neat. It’s woody with brick walls.  Gracing the walls are slices of Barrels and stacked wine bottles.

Seating is available at the bar, dining room and front and side patios.

 

The side patio is lush with plantings and also has a water feature.

I’ve been to the original location before and enjoyed the Prime Filet Ground in House Burger. It was a very detailed burger and might have been the only burger I’ve ever tried that was so delicious and flavorful it didn’t need a sauce.

Pime Filet Ground in House Burger

The generously sized burger is served on an apple cider egg bun. It’s packed with lots of lettuce and a tomato slice and is topped with a wasabi deviled egg….(what a treat!) I didn’t have this burger this time but my husband had to have it again. He was somewhat upset that again they didn’t prepare it medium-rare like he asked for and got it sort of medium on one side and medium-well on the other side……But he said just like last time it was a juicy flavorful burger that was delicious……but he would have loved if they prepared it medium/rare. Next time he is going to ask for a rare burger. (I note that we do go to many restaurants and very few…actually almost none of the restaurants have a cook that can prepare a medium/rare burger…The only restaurant I can remember where my husband got a medium/rare burger was Amuse Bouche in Surprise AZ under the original owner)

What impressed me last time about this burger was that this was maybe the only time I had a super flavorful juicy burger that didn’t need any sauce or dressing to be delicious.

This time I tried the Ground Cajun Turkey Burger with Bourbon Pickles as a topping. Burgers come with hand cut fries or slaw…

This Turkey Burger was juicy with really good super flavorful grill marks on it. It was flavorful but in a very different way than the filet burger…..It was good but I think I needed different toppings than what I picked to make it special like the Filet Burger. Maybe instead of bourbon pickles I should have went with something like raw onions and avocado????

That was my trip to The Bourbon Cellar in Scottsdale AZ.

www.TheBourbonCellar.com

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

The Forking Truth

 

After 4 Visits Haru Sushi & Grill in Glendale AZ is still Forking Awesome! Stunning Sushi!***update different ownership

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*****update******different ownership since I wrote review*******Haru Sushi & Grill recently opened in a strip mall in the Arrowhead section of North Glendale. You might think that this is an average sushi restaurant because it’s in a strip mall but you would be wrong. Once you step inside you see that the decor is modern, sleek and very clean. My pictures here don’t do justice. Natural light comes in from the large windows on one side but the bright light makes the room look darker than it truly is….

I didn’t try everything or everything I want to try yet but in four visits I tried many things.

This special order of Asian Style Poppers were incredibly delicious! They were filled with cream cheese and had a light crunchy coating….But it was the sauce that made it….The sauce was especially delicious with the cream cheese and everything. I don’t know what it was but it tasted like Gochujang (fermented Korean Spicy Chili Paste), Rice Wine, Soy Sauce, garlic and Ginger….It was just SCRUMPTIOUS!

We also tried Korean Style Wings….another winner….Really yummy with delicious flavors. It seemed a little BBQ-y, Gochujang-ee, a little sweet but not too sweet and other flavors. Also that  tender yummy moist scrumptious chicken…..

Here’s Tuna Tataki! This is so clean tasting and melts in the mouth. It lightly seared and seasoned.

I’m not big on most sushi rolls…..I usually just go for something like a basic spicy tuna….But I have to admit this one….The Spicy Awesome Blossom Roll was one of the most delicious Sushi Rolls I ever tried anywhere. It was spicy tuna, cucumber, spicy seared albacore, a mountain of the tastiest crisp fried onions you ever tried and yummy sauces to jazz it up more. You keep going back and forth between the tasty roll and the crisp tasty onion puffs..The puffed up onion crisps are tastier than popcorn…..This Spicy Awesome Blossom Roll is really like attending an event…..It has so much going on.

Tried a lunch Bento Box with Beef Bulgogi, a Spicy Tuna Roll, Tempura Vegetables and Rice. The beef was tender like butter and delicious. Spicy tuna roll was very good and most important to me…I learned from Masaharu Morimoto that the rolls shouldn’t have too much rice…(I’m kicking myself for not photographing  actual Morimoto sushi (YES MADE BY IRON CHEF MORIMOTO HIMSELF)….they were very unique and looked like thick small coins….like dime sized but really beautiful and filled with sushi that had a design.  Morimoto’s sushi rolls had just enough rice like the way the rolls are made here. Masaharu Moromoto used to be an actual working chef at his namesake restaurant in Philadelphia in China Town. I went there often enough that he would wave to me when I came in. Back then the only sushi I ate were the beautiful small rolls and I liked all the Japanese small plates. Getting back to the bento box I should add that the Tempura vegetables were delicious and seemed free of oil.

But Sushi is Forking Amazing Here at Haru Sushi and Grill!

On this visit we had Nigiri in Ocean Trout (on left that looks similar to salmon) Toro and Blue Fin….Behind the Nigiri Plate is the Spicy Forbidden Roll. All the sushi was the freshest tasting I ever had and just melted in my mouth….It doesn’t feel or taste like sushi from the surrounding sushi places. This sushi has a certain smoothest to it and clean tasting like no other…….After eating this sushi I don’t need to go to any other sushi restaurant. I can’t settle for less now.

******UPDATE*****A change in ownership since this was written

Haru Sushi and Grill is Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

I haven’t found a website for Haru Sushi & Grill but they are on Facebook.

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

The Forking Truth

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

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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

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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

Angelina’s Pho & Grill in Glendale AZ – Modern Vietnamese – Worth a Fork!

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Angelina’s Pho & Grill & Sushi is a Modern Vietnamese Restaurant that is unlike any other Vietnamese Restaurant I know of………

It’s next to impossible to do a review on this restaurant because the menu as well as the decor of the restaurant  is always changing.

Maybe all the changing is to keep things fresh and new… or to keep a creative Chef creative! Angelina’s always offers something interesting that nobody else offers that’s delicious and very reasonably priced. Angelina’s Pho & Grill & Sushi just might be the most interesting restaurant in North Glendale.

On my most recent visit we shared an ahi tuna pizza. Have you ever seen a pizza at any other Vietnamese Restaurant?

This was tasty, delicious and really different! The Tuna was sushi grade, with a creamy spicy sauce and a unagi sauce….This was described as being served on a tortilla but it was unlike any tortilla I ever had….It had the texture of a crunchy cheese curl but had a really delicious flavor….I don’t know what it was but it seemed light, tasted very clean and it was delicious.

Most recent dining room photo

For my main I had the Fresh Salmon with Dill under Pho on the Menu.

My bowl was filled with lots of buttery soft melt in your mouth fresh tasting salmon, dill, onions, zucchini, potatoes, mushrooms in low sodium chicken broth with a serving of jasmine rice. It was all delicious and the serving was extra large….maybe it was two or three servings?

My husband had some sort of Pho.

I don’t know if the Ahi Pizza or the Salmon with Dill will be on the menu if you go to visit. Nothing but the basic Pho Soups seem to stick around on the ever changing menu for long.

Some discontinued DELICIOUS dishes That I enjoyed at Angelina’s Pho & Grill & Sushi were-

Crispy Edamame and Vegetable Pot Stickers

Bird’s Nest

Salmon Cakes

Saigon Cinnamon, Winter Vegetables, Green Tea Noodles and Chicken Thigh – This one was really Pho-nominal 

Wild Tuna and Garlic Soba Noodle with Asparagus

Tofu Stack – Eggplant Tempura, Shaved Beet, Cucumber, Gochojang, Garlic Aioli and Basil

Yellowtail Sashimi

The Chicken and Asparagus Salad from Angelina’s Pho & Grill Glendale AZ

They also offer an outdoor patio that is being updated now.

In the past I used to bring my dogs with me to dine here but always at off times so we wouldn’t bother anyone. Then for a long time it seemed like they didn’t use the patio so I stopped bring the dogs here.

I’m looking forward to the remodeled patio. I’ll be dining with dogs again here soon! I was told recently my dogs are welcome.

Here are a few other dishes we had here.

Chicken Pho

Rare Beef and Brisket Pho

Yellow Curry Chicken – super packed with mixed vegetables

Hot and Spicy

Yumi Signature Roll

Luc Lac Beef

I don’t have a good picture of the Cha Ca Thang Long also called Cha Ca La Vong or Hanoi Turmeric Fish with Dill. It’s the most popular dish of Hanoi. It surprises me that this dish is rarely found on Vietnamese Menus…..but it was here for a short time.

You can see that the food at Angelina’s Pho & Grill & Sushi is always delicious, It’s always Creative and It’s always changing.

I hate being honest but to tell The Forking Truth ……Service can be very hit or miss……but who cares……..the food is some of the better and more interesting food in this part of town.

I also note they they offer some lovely changing desserts in a dessert case but I have not tried dessert from here as of this post.

I have to say Angelina’s Pho & Grill & Sushi Modern Vietnamese is Worth a Fork and just might be one of the most interesting restaurants in North Glendale!

Worth a Fork!

I haven’t found a website for Angelina’s Pho & Grill & Sushi but they are on Facebook.

The Forking Truth is that EVERYTHING is Subject to CHANGE (and will for certain here) Your experience may or may not differ.

The Forking Truth

 

 

 

First Taste at Parma Italian Roots in Scottsdale AZ – Worth a Fork!

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Parma Italian Roots is a West Coast Style Italian Restaurant located in North Scottsdale Arizona. They use quality ingredients and the kitchen is equipped with a wood burning oven. The chef is highly decorated and worked in impressive restaurants such as the French Laundry and also worked in a Michelin Starred Restaurant, a Resort and also under well known chef Brian Malarky…..It’s hard to believe he crammed in so much of an impressive work history since he has yet to turn thirty years old.

The restaurant has a rich look to it inside and out…….

Also a collection of pillows across the bench…….

The tables are set with fancy cut glass water glasses and very heavy rich modern silverware. For seating there is a mix of modern blue velvet chairs, metal chairs, benches, booths, bar and outdoor patio seating that I was told was dog friendly.

Our server was friendly and welcoming. We ordered and our meals were served in a timely manner.

I got the 1/2 Salmon Sandwich with the Truffled Panzanella Salad. The salad was a treat because it was made with these really ripe sweet heirloom tomatoes, basil, mizzuna, buffalo mozzarella, zucchini and toasted bread. Who wouldn’t enjoy a salad like this……everything in it was delicious. It was like a bowl full of prizes. The sandwich was just the right size I think for most people……Not too big and not too small. It was quality charred bread that might have been hollowed out…It wasn’t as thick as it looks. It was filled with quality buttery Ora King Salmon, vegetables and this tasty Salsa Verde. I think this platter was a bargain at $13.00 (***of course price is subject to change)

My husband had the Half Veal Meatball Sandwich with the HALF house made PASTA OPTION….YES I said half pasta option……How different and interesting!!!!!

WOW! Here was House Made Campanelle with Truffled Pesto, Toasted Pistachios and House Made Ricotta that was very good and that alone I think was worth the $13.00 it cost but he also got the Veal Meatball Sandwich Too. (****I wouldn’t be surprised if the pricing for the 1/2 sandwich platter goes up) The Veal Meatball Sandwich was prepared on quality charred bread. Meatballs seemed like they were simmered in Pomodoro Sauce and came with a blanket of Provolone and Parmesan Cheese. The meatballs were very tender and were flavored well.

We decided to share a Limoncello Dessert.

It was frosty…It seemed light and kind of refreshing. It was like gelato…..but with this kick of Limoncello sauce. This one isn’t for kids……..

We enjoyed our first taste at Parma Italian Roots in North Scottsdale.

I’d say it was Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

www.ParmaItalianAZ.com

The Forking Truth is that EVERY THING is subject to change and your experience may or may NOT differ.

The Forking Truth

WOO HOO! Filet Mignon & Fries for $10.00 at Steak 44 in Phoenix AZ (bar 4-6pm)

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Steak 44 is an upscale American Steakhouse I went too in the Arcadia section of Phoenix Arizona. From the very start of things the help was so nice to us. Someone quickly ran to the door to open it for us. The atmosphere is rich and dark. If you strain your eyes and look in the center of the next photo you might be able to see a large cleaver collection and countless bottles of wine that fills the walls.

Bar area

Bar area with window of kitchen

Cocktail tables behind bar

I heard about the 4-6pm Early Menu Bar Specials so I wanted to check out Steak 44 and give it a try.  We started with large pours of Happy Hour Priced Cabernet ($8.00@). For Appetizers we split the BLT Wedge Salad and the smaller order of Panko Crusted Deviled Eggs. Within minutes someone runs over a HOT Skillet of SIX fresh baked STEAMING HOT Parmesan Herbed Dinner Rolls. (wow! I didn’t know that this was coming!)

Gee that’s a lot of bread for only two people. It’s hot and tasty…you have to eat at least one…

Then the appetizers get ran to us…..They take our silverware and make sure we have chilled silverware for the salad. Now that is upscale service!!!!

1/2 of the BLT Salad ($12.00) and Panko Crusted Deviled Eggs are in corner.

The salad was chilled till the leaves were crisp. It is actually nicer to eat with chilled silverware. It feels special….and it taste great with all that delicious blue cheese and blue cheese dressing.

After the salad I go for a Panko Crusted Devilled Egg.

These are smaller sized eggs but they are filled with lots of rich creamy filling. They taste very traditional. Sriracha Aioli is there on the side for dipping. To me it seems strange to dip a creamy egg in creamy aioli but I gave it a try anyway……You know it does taste good! It adds a nice kick and more flavors.

Between the salad, deviled eggs and hot roll I could stop eating now.

They cleared our plates and gave us new silverware again and then our $10.00 Filet Mignons arrive.

It’s a perfect size portion for me…..It looks like 4oz of meat…who knows maybe it’s 5. I have enough for me and some for my dogs. (I always bring them some food back from dining out) The meat is cooked less than the medium I asked for but I accept it anyway. The meat is flavorful and juicy. It’s tender like butter. I usually HATE crinkle cut fries but the Steak 44 Crinkle Cut Fries are very good. They have fluffy moist centers and a thin crispy exterior and arrived piping hot. They are seasoned well and taste delicious.

Service was very professional. Atmosphere was very good. Food was very good and a GREAT VALUE!!!!!!

WOO HOO! Filet Mignon and Fries for only $10.00 at Steak 44 in Phoenix AZ!

4-6pm Early Bar Menu at Steak 44 in Phoenix AZ – Was Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

www.Steak44.com

Every Forking Thing is subject to change and YOUR experience may or may NOT differ.

The Forking Truth

 

Ocotillo Restaurant in Phoenix AZ – One of My Favorites! – Worth a Fork!

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Ocotillo is a (what seems like) one mile square compound in down town Phoenix that is a modern farm to table global style restaurant with a wonderfully enormous menu of astonishing variety. Ocotillo offers a modern atmosphere, multiple patios, an outdoor coffee bar and an outdoor cocktail bar.

 

As you enter from parking lot.

Park like setting.

Outdoor seating.

Patio by the front of restaurant.

Coffee Bar.

More outdoor seating.

Patio and Cocktail bar.

Dining Areas

It’s fun to share plates here since they offer so many interesting detailed plates.

Thirty -one detailed plates on the menu today with great variety. How could you not be happy with a menu like this?

We started with one of the Small Plates.

It’s not so small.

But it was Delicious!

Here was the House Smoked Salmon with Capers, Tea Egg, Pickled Shallot (it looks like a rose) Pickled Shallot, Dill Creme Fraiche Salad and Seeded Bread. The Salmon was carefully smoked and was buttery. The flavors of everything went really well together. This small plate is very large and can feed three people pretty well or a small bite for four people.

Then we wanted to share one of the vegetable plates and went with the Charred Sweet Potato with Avocado, Lime, Pickled Shallots, Pasilla Pumpkin Salsa.

OMG this is one of the most delicious things I tasted this year! The Char adds something delicious here against the potato and they sprinkled the sweet potato with what I think was Aleppo Pepper. There was a fresh herb salad with mint and cilantro too. When you ate everything on this plate together it became magical……Incredibly delicious……I wasn’t expecting this vegetable plate to be so large so I got to bring home a second take out box…..

Lastly we shared a House Made Pastrami Sandwich with Oil-Vinegar Coleslaw, Grain Mustard and Seeded Bread. The Sandwich came with lemon broccolini salad.

The Sandwich was just delicious! The Pastrami was tender and on the lean side. It had a nice smoke to it but not too much. It wasn’t crusted but had lots of flavors in it that included cloves. Slaw was good and crisp, grain mustard not to strong. This is really good. The Broccolini salad is better than I expected. I was expecting the broccolini to be a little chewy but it was unusually light and easy to eat.

Wow! that was really great! And I get to enjoy most of it again at home! That’s a win!

Here are not all but some of the previous dishes I enjoyed from Ocotillo. The menu changes regularly. Everything was wonderful and delicious. Portions so far have always ran very large.

I have to say Ocotillo is one of my favorites in Phoenix and is Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

www.OcotilloPhx.com

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

The Forking Truth

My Trip to Cooper’s Hawk’s Winery and Restaurant in Orlando Florida

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Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant has multiple locations in the Eastern Half of the continental United States.  Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant is part Wine Bar, part gift shop, part candy shop and also a restaurant.

A benefit of dining here is that they took all the guessing out of wine pairing. Everyone who dines here can be a sommelier. Each item on the menu has the suggested wine bin number so you can pair wine like a pro. Many varieties of wine are offered and many wines are award wining. Carafes of wine come in a decanter and bottles are decanted very elaborately with a contraption I’ve never seen before.

The dining room is sort of traditional in style with dark wood traditional tables and chairs.

The menu is mostly American but is laced with global inspirations. For the mains they offer a variety of proteins. They offer several steak dishes, some fish dishes, pasta dishes and more.

We started with Brussel Sprouts with Cashews, Mint, Sweet Chili, Sesame and Sriracha.

This dish had good flavors going on.  I liked the play of spicy sweet and bright mint. But this dish was on the oily side and the Brussel Sprout were raw inside.

For my main I had the Soy Ginger Salmon with Wasabi Mashed Potatoes and Slaw.

My fish was slightly over done and the soy ginger sauce was cloyingly sweet. The potatoes hardly had any wasabi taste that I was looking forward too.

On the Bright Side!

My husband enjoyed his Shrimp and Grits!

My sister’s fiancé enjoyed the Rib Eye Special!

I did indeed enjoy the wine I tried! I thought it was a great value for restaurant priced wine.

That was my trip to Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant in Orlando Florida.

wwwCHwinery.com

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

The Forking Truth