Tag Archives: #foodie

A Taste of Tratto Restaurant Phoenix AZ

Tratto Restaurant is a full service Italian restaurant located in Phoenix Arizona. It is by James Beard Award Winning Chef Chris Bianco. The chef is famous for his pizzas and is well received by celebrities, Food Network TV, magazines, and food critics. Tratto recently made the New York Times list of 50 favorite restaurants in America. The food served is high quality.

Tratto is a small old building with a bar and a patio that is currently not in use. There is exposed brick to see, antiqued furniture and a roof that looks like from a time gone by..

Tables are set with linen.

Tratto has an open shiny kitchen.

bar area and kitchen in the middle of the restaurant
dining area

The menu is seasonal and does change around a bit. Today they offered a few salads, a seafood crudo, and a chicken liver toast. They also offered three hand made pastas, Three entrees and two vegetable side courses.

Tonight they started us off with a complimentary plate of cured olives, some cheese, and a couple pickled green beans.

Our first course tonight was the seared two wash ranch chicken livers on grilled sourdough bread with quince jam and crispy sage leaves.

We didn’t have it tonight but they also had a farinata as a special – a tasty chick pea crepe made with tomatoes and onions.

farinata

We also previously enjoyed a roasted beets in fig leaf with gorgonzola dolce.

Beets in fig leaves with gorgonzola dolce

Our pasta course was coming next so they gave us the famous Bianco Bread and olive oil.

Bianco Bread and olive oil.

I do have to note that this bread and this olive oil are either the best or close to the best in all the land.

Tonight we shared the orecchiette pasta with walnut, Pecorino Romano, black pepper, and chiltepin (an expensive but VERY delicious spicy Mexican pepper).

The dish lacks textures but the pasta and flavors are exceptional.

On a past visit we enjoyed the scarpinocc (cheese ravioli with fava beans and crisp sage).

scarpinocc

Tonight we shared the snapper special.

snapper special

It was very fresh and cooked to perfection. It was good but had less meat in it than I thought it would have. It might be too small for two people to share.

We didn’t have it tonight but the grilled two wash ranch piccolo chicken with lemon sage was offered on the menu tonight.

Tonight we had room for dessert so we tried the dark chocolate board.

dark chocolate board

We had thin slices of the freshest sweetest crisp apple that I have tasted in decades. yummy midnight moon gouda, short bread, and callebaut dark chocolate.

That was a taste of Tratto.

www.TrattoPHX.com

Everything is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Chorizo and Beet Stuffed Peppers. with Cantaloupe Ketchup and Black Garlic Emulsion Recipe

I made some Mexican Style turkey chorizo (recipe not published as of yet) I read that someone else (chef Paul Welburn) combined chorizo with beets (honestly I don’t think that I would have ever thought about combining chorizo with beets) and fried them up into egg rolls. He served the egg rolls with raspberry ketchup and black garlic emulsion. I didn’t follow any of his recipes even though they are probably delicious. I also wanted to put a healthier spin on them. I didn’t follow his recipes but I was inspired by them. My recipe only makes around 4 small servings that are an appetizer or small side. I was very surprised on how delicious that it turned out. My husband also had his doubts and was also very surprised.

Ingredients for around 4 small servings

9 smaller peppers to stuff (I used baby bell peppers…..you might need more or use less peppers depending on their size) – (You slit pepper in a “T” shape across the top of the core and down the middle. Remove core)

8oz peeled beet – cut in half or quarters depending on size.

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

3oz chorizo – crumbled

1 egg – lightly beaten

8 oz cantaloupe – cut into chunks

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

pinch sea salt

pinch ground white pepper

2 oz black garlic (already peeled)

1 Tablespoon dijon mustard (I used Amora Brand)

1 1/2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 Tablespoon canola oil

1 Tablespoon or more water to thin down…(I used one tablespoon but think I can thin down a little more)

Directions

Set your oven to 400 degrees F.

Put your beets in a covered dish with the sugar, water, apple cider vinegar and salt. The beets need to cook till tender. (usually around an hour plus fifteen minutes could be more or less) Then the beets need to cool and when you can handle them you shred them.

While the beets are cooking roast up the peppers. Leave them in the oven till they start to brown. (I forgot to time this…..think it was around 20-25 minutes)

Make the cantaloupe ketchup.

The sugar, apple cider vinegar, melon, salt, white pepper all get blended together. You need to reduce this mixture in a pan on medium high heat. Reduce mixture around by half. Then take off heat and set to the side.

Black garlic emulsion is really easy and quick to make. It will be easier with a stick blender. Just blend together the black garlic, dijon, balsamic, oil, and at least one tablespoon of water. Thin down to taste.

By now the beets are cool and should be shredded and the peppers should be cool enough to stuff.

Turn your oven on to 350 degrees F.

In a small bowl mix up the shredded beets with the egg and crumbled chorizo. Squeeze the mixture into a tight ball and stuff the peppers as best as you can.

These only need 15 minutes on your middle rack.

Serve with the cantaloupe ketchup and the black garlic emulsion.

Chorizo and Beet stuffed Peppers with Cantaloupe Ketchup and Black Garlic Emulsion

THESE are FORKING AMAZING! Beets go so darn well with the flavors of chorizo. I especially like the cantaloupe ketchup on them and the black garlic goes well here too.

The Forking Truth

Dining Out With DOGS in Metro Phoenix – October 2021 – The Craftsman Kitchen and Cocktails, Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery

Dining out with dogs in Metro Phoenix is just a “Fluff” story about taking my dogs out to eat. It all sort of started with my dog Louie. He was elderly and had aggressive cancer. He couldn’t do a lot but he always enjoyed eating so I took him out as often as I could. Instead of his 3-6 month diagnoses he made it another 17 months. Today I take my current dogs out to eat as often as I can.

There are many things to know about dining out with dogs. Not all patios are dog friendly. Even if a patio is dog friendly it is always best to call first and ask if you can bring your dog today because the patio can be booked for a party. It is also always best to avoid as many people and other dogs as possible. Some people don’t share your love for dogs and other people can be allergic to dogs. It’s best to avoid other dogs because dogs enjoy barking at each other and that can be a disturbance and you will be asked to leave. Avoid potential problems and dine out with dogs at off times.

You also need to know that much of the food and drink that you enjoy can be harmful or toxic to your furry friend. It’s best to get the facts on that from your veterinarian. Usually a small amount of lean meat without sauce is usually best for your dog. Here in Phoenix the temperature is something to be cautious about. Your dog is NOT as heat tolerant as you. They wear fur coats, can’t sweat and absorb heat up from their paws. All dogs like people do have different heat tolerances. Hopefully you know your dog well enough to determine for dining out. For most healthy younger dogs 90 degrees F and over is too hot to dine out with dogs.

There are also rules to follow to dine out with dogs. Dogs are not to sit on restaurant furniture. Dogs are not to eat off restaurant plates.

My Lucky dogs got to eat at The Craftsman Cocktails and Kitchen in North Scottsdale. The Chef is from a fine dining Italian Restaurant Sassi that is no more so the food is pretty darn good. Just look how excited my dog is to be here.

Today I had the crunchy quinoa salad with chicken.

crunchy quinoa salad with chicken

My husband had the Craftsman muffuletta with fries.

Craftsman muffuletta with fries

We all enjoyed our meals at The Craftsman Cocktails and Kitchen in North Scottsdale.

www.TheCraftsmanAZ.com

We always enjoy Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery in North Phoenix. They are a pho-free Vietnamese restaurant that specializes in serving the Banh Mi Baguette sandwich.

My husband got a pork rice plate and I got a chicken noodle bowl today. Portions are double for some people, prices are very low and the food is always good. I didn’t get a good picture of my other dog today so you are only seeing the bigger dog.

www.BanhMiBistroAZ.com

That was dining out with dogs in Metro Phoenix AZ for October 2021. We hope to see you next month!

“Don’t worry we are in this thing together and are here to help you eat all this delicious food”
The Forking Truth
In Memory of Louie 5-5-2001 – 3-3-2017

No-Recipe Recipe Beef Osso Buco

Osso buco is usually a veal shank that is cross cut and braised in vegetables, white wine and stock. It is traditionally served with risotto or polenta and is topped with gremolata. This dish is usually expensive in restaurants.

This dish is pretty easy to make. It is hard to find shanks of any kind. Near where I live they sell beef shanks at my local Asiana Market. They sell mostly the smallest ones.

Anyways.

Just salt and pepper the shanks well.

Brown them on medium high heat on both sides (around 3 minutes a side). (It will come out tasting best if you saved beef fat from something you cooked……you can use oil.

Don’t clean the pan or pot.

Fry up a big onion, a few carrots, one hot pepper, a few celery till almost soft. Add a cup of white wine and let it cook down.

Add around half a can of tomato paste and try to fry it up at the bottom of the pan or pot.

Add around a 14 oz can of Italian tomatoes.

Add 2 bay leaves, Tablespoon thyme, Tablespoon oregano, 3 or 4 garlic cloves. I had seasoned beef jus from something else I made so I added that.

Then it all goes in a baking dish or pan….Or you can do this stove top if you prefer.

This gets covered tight.

It will take at least 3 hours at 375 F The last one I did was a little bigger and took 5 hours. You might need to check on it and add more liquid.

When it finally becomes tender remove the foil that covers the pan and let it go another half hour.

Suggested serving is risotto or polenta.

I had mashed potatoes and Brussel sprouts that I had to use up so that is what we had.

Top the meat with some of the contents of the pan…(some people blend this up Osso it’s smooth…but I didn’t)


beef osso buco

Top with gremolata. (parsley, orange & lemon zest, garlic (ground to paste), salt , pepper.

Enjoy!

The Forking Truth

Biryani Bowl – Newly Opened in Peoria AZ – MANY Specials

Biryani Bowl is a mostly North Indian and fusion casual restaurant that recently opened in North Peoria Arizona. Biryani Bowl isn’t a fancy place and is open for mostly take out but you can dine in and also dine on the small patio.

They offer a regular daily menu and MANY specials.

daily menu
Taco Tuesday menu
Pulav (vegetable rice) Wednesday specials
Thursday Roll Specials
Dussehra Weekend North Indian Specials

We tried three of the Dussehra Weekend (Dussehra is a major fall festival) Specials and the pulusu fish (fish curry).

We started out by sharing the mirapakaya chicken Dussehra special.

It’s marinated stir fried chicken chunks in a slightly spicy onion/ginger/garlic kind of sauce with cashews.

Then we tried another Dussehra special the chule batura (spiced chick peas with fried bread called puri).

Much less spicy than what I expected but tasty.

For entrees we shared off the daily menu the pulusu fish (fish curry) and off the Dussehra menu the mughial chicken (brown onion gravy curry chicken)

It gets delivered to you like take out food with boxed fluffy rice. Both dishes have very small amounts of protein in them. The fish curry on the left is tasty but unlike any fish curry that I have had before. It is less sour and less spicy but is aromatic. The munhial chicken on the right is MELT IN YOUR MOUTH tender as can be. This is an extremely fragrant dish….also not very spicy but does have some heat to it.

Side note……The leftover munhial chicken I took home to have latter grew with heat maybe two levels.

That was a little taste of Biryani Bowl in Peoria AZ – Newly opened!

www.BiryaniBowlAZ.com

Everything is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

A Little Taste of Cook & Craft a locals eatery in Scottsdale AZ

Cook and Craft Restaurant is a full service modern American restaurant with vegan and vegetarian options located in Scottsdale Arizona. They are soon to open a second location in Phoenix at Desert Ridge on High Street. Cook and Craft helps to support other local businesses and offers some local coffee roasters, local breweries, and local distillers on their menu……. Food forward some of the starters they offer are starters such as sliders, wings of chicken and cauliflower, deviled eggs, house made mozzarella and chocolate bacon. They also offer salads, soups, and some of the entrees are craft burgers, short ribs, filet mignon, gnocchi stuffed acorn squash, wrapped meatballs, barramundi, grilled meatloaf and MORE!

They do offer some patio seating.

Or you seat yourself inside wherever you want.

bar area

During nice weather the garage door windows are open and lots of bright light and fresh air comes in.

They start you off with water, complimentary trail mix, and seasoned Chex Cereal.

We shared a starter of filet sliders.

The slider filets are very tender and well seasoned. They are topped with provolone cheese, tomato, crispy onions and are on brioche buns spread with a mustardy-like aioli. The plate also came with a generous serving of crispy fries.

Today I had the crafted salad with added salmon.

crafted salad with added salmon

This plate is packed with LOTS of stuff. There is arugula, roasted beets, goat cheese, pomegranate, marinated artichokes, these fancy dance-ee vegetable rolls of squash, carrots, asparagus and more stuff. balsamic dressing and the salmon….This is an extra generous portion of food. I doubt most people can finish.

My husband tried the crafted grilled cheese with added short rib.

It came with a. basil laced tomato soup. The grilled cheese was made on a quality toasted and buttered baguette bread. The sandwich is different and isn’t. your typical grilled cheese. This is a four cheese sandwich (provalone, cheddar, gruyere, parmesan). It’t not. all melty. The cheese on the top is hard and the sandwich is stuffed with the added short rib and some of the cheese.

We also tried a side order of macaroni and cheese.

side order macaroni and cheese

The side order of macaroni and cheese was made with nicely cooked pasta. I think the cheese sauce is good and tasty but maybe too thin or just not enough because you only get the cheese sauce at the bottom of the dish.

That was a little taste of Cook and Craft restaurant a locals eatery in Scottsdale AZ.

www.CookandCraftAZ.com

The Forking Truth

Just a Taste of Smoked Food Festival at Ocotillo Phoenix AZ 2021 Hosted by Arizona Foodie

The Smoked food festival was held Sunday October 17th 2021 at Ocotillo restaurant, coffee bar, cocktail lounge, wine bar, and park near downtown Phoenix Arizona.

The event was hosted by Arizona Foodie Diana Brandt. This festival is called Smoked because it features smoked food, smoked drinks and more!

Here are random pictures from Smoked 2021.

That was just a taste of Smoked Food Festival hosted by Arizona Foodie at Ocotillo in Phoenix AZ.

The Forking Truth

Ramen Egg Ramen Tostadas Recipe with Gochujang Vinaigrette Recipe

This recipe is an original that is a combination of reading about ramen tostadas from The Samurai Gourmet from Australia and from enjoying sushi tacos from the restaurant Headquarters Grill Bar Sushi in Peoria Arizona. Somehow I came up with something delicious. It was tasting all the seaweed in the sushi tacos that influenced how I made the toatadas. Then I started thing about ramen…..The tastiest part of a bowl of ramen can be the egg so that is what I did. I was thinking that sometimes you add that gochujang to enhance the ramen so I thought that kind of taste would be great on the vegetables I used (radish and pea sprouts). I don’t mean to brag but this came out really great.Serving size is difficult to judge. They do taste great but are small. I can see some people would eat only one while others would eat two or three. I’ll say six portions because they are small and two is one egg a person. You need to make the ramen eggs the day before so they have time to marinate and get all delicious.

Ingredients for around 6 portions

6 eggs

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup mirin

1/3 cup water

1 3oz package of ramen noodles (don’t use flavor packet for this recipe)

water to boil ramen noodles (reserve six tablespoons)

1 egg – lightly beaten

6 Tablespoons reserved water from boiling the ramen noodles

! Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon sweet butter – melted

4 Tablespoons flour

4 .18oz packages roasted seaweed – crumbled

1/2 teaspoon sesame oil

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1 Tablespoon rice wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon gochujang (or more or less each brand taste different. I recommend the tastier brands from the Asian Market)

2 teaspoons honey

Directions

Make the ramen eggs.

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add eggs carefully. Turn down the heat till water is barely boiling and time them for 7 minutes. Add eggs to an ice bath. In a quart ziplock bag add the soy sauce, mirin, and water. Peel eggs and add them to zip lock bag. Squeeze out all the air that you can and refrigerate the eggs over night.

Make the ramen tostadas.

In either a pot or a microwaveable dish you need to boil water and cook the ramen noodles for three minutes. You can let it sit while you do other stuff.

In a small bowl combine the egg, reserved water, butter, flour, seaweed, sesame oil, and baking powder. Mix well. Drain the ramen noodles and add them in and mix well.

Set the oven to 325 F.

Prepare a couple sheet pans with parchment paper.

Get a small scooper or use a spoon and try to make 12 even balls of dough with a good amount of room around them.

Then flatten them out…

Put them in the oven on the middle and lower racks for 20 minutes. Then flip them over and do 20 minutes again. Keep repeating till they look like this. Mine took I think an hour 20 minutes.

While you are cooking up the ramen tostadas you have time to prepare the vegetables (Your…choice I did a few radishes that I shredded up, scallions and pea sprouts…but you can just use lettuce or cabbage or other greens) You also have time to make vinaigrette.

In a small dish mix up the soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, gochujang, and honey.

If you are serving all at once you can dress the vegetables. If not keep the vinaigrette on the side so it doesn’t get soggy. I sprinkled eggs with some togatashi.

Ramen Egg Ramen Tostadas with Gochujang Vinaigrette

This is FORKING DELICIOUS!

The Forking Truth

HALLOWEEN FOODS for DOGS 2021

It’s fall so it’s Halloween time. Since I was born I always noticed Halloween treats for kids and people. Only the past few years I noticed Halloween treats for dogs. Here is what I’ve come across. I found it amusing. Maybe you will find some of it amusing too!

This bag is from Thrills & Chills Collection – Groans and bones that are in apple cinnamon flavor

These are assorted dog treats that look like frosted cookies. Starting on the left looks like cross bones, pumpkin, ghost, Frankenstein, skull

Thrills & Chills Creepy cupcakes in a mummy, Frankenstien and a pumpkin face

Blue Buffalo – Boo Bites in tasty chicken recipe

LIMITED EDITION – Greenies dental treats in pumpkin spice flavor

LIMITED EDITION – Greenies dental treats in Scaryberry blueberry flavor

Bocce’s Bakery – Bananas & Scream Banana & Pumpkin recipe

Bocce’s Bakery – Campfire S’mores – Peanut Butter, Carob & Vanilla (I think this can also be Christmas)

Bocce’s Bakery – Pumpk’n Spice – Pumpkin, PB & Cinnamon

Bocce’s Bakery – Nutty Mummies – PB & Banana recipe

Well that was Halloween Foods for Dogs 2021.

Happy HOWLOWEEN!

My other dog doesn’t do dress up.

The Forking Truth

Chef Davashankar Sharma’s Jodhpuri Tawa Chicken Recipe over Cumin Cabbage

Chef Davashankar Sharma is a multi award wining famous chef from England. He is also known for London’s best curry award and best Indian restaurant. He is also worked for several Michelin guild restaurants. When you find a recipe from him on the web it is worth doing. I have to say that this recipe is spicy and really delicious. It filled my house with aromatics that smelled amazing. I never tasted any dish like this one from any Indian restaurant that I’ve been to. This recipe Jodhpuri Tawa Chicken translates to frypan cooked chicken from (Jodhpuri now known as Rajasthan) India (North West India). I rounded the recipe some and placed the chicken over cabbage spiced like the potatoes that are suggested. The one thing about the recipe seemed like maybe a misprint to me……but I’m not sure……The amount of potatoes for four people only is about 8 ounces so that is only two ounces a person…..I don’t know if there is a minor misprint in the original recipe or not….I’m thinking that 8 ounces of potatoes is too little a serving for four people…….I used a whole small head of cabbage but I slow roasted it in the oven with the same spices in the recipe and this was a good amount of seasoning too…………for that so I am rounding up the amount of potatoes (or cabbage) to use because everyone wants more than two ounces of potatoes. This recipe makes around 4 servings. I do note that I doubled the amount of potatoes but didn’t double the amount of spices……I think it is plenty of spice use but you might disagree and want to bump up the spice for the potatoes.

1 1/2 lb chicken breast – (I cut mine into 4….and lightly pounded mine thin) do that or cut into 8 without pounding

4 Tablespoons sunflower oil (I substituted canola oil) (for chicken)

1 head of garlic – peeled – rough chopped (for chicken)

8 green chillies (I used serranos) – stems removed, rough chopped (for chicken)

3 bunches cilantro (leaves and tender stems) – rough chopped (for chicken)

4 Tablespoons tamarind puree (for chicken)

sea salt to taste (for chicken)

2 large ripe tomatoes (for tomato chutney)

1 Tablespoon oil (sunflower is suggested) (for tomato chutney)

1 teaspoon ginger – fine chopped (for tomato chutney)

1 teaspoon green chili – fine chopped (for tomato chutney)

1 teaspoon red chili powder (for tomato chutney)

1 teaspoon turmeric powder (for tomato chutney)

1 Tablespoon sugar (for tomato chutney)

1 teaspoon Kasundi mustard sauce (I substituted my home made beer mustard) (for tomato chutney)

1 pinch sea salt (for tomato chutney)

1 pound potato peeled and diced (original recipe says to use 200g potato…I used a whole small cabbage (rough chop) that I roasted slow with the same exact seasoning) (the vegetable)

1 teaspoon turmeric powder (the vegetable)

1 teaspoon ginger – fine chop (the vegetable)

1 teaspoon green chili – fine chop (the vegetable)

1 dash sunflower oil (I substituted canola oil) (the vegetable)

1 teaspoon cumin seed (the vegetable)

2 Tablespoons unsalted butter (the vegetable)

1 Tablespoon fresh cilantro (leaves and fine stems) finely chopped (the vegetable)

sea salt to taste (the vegetable)

Directions

Put the garlic, chillies, cilantro, tamarind, and salt into a blender and blend till smooth. Rub the marinade all over the chicken and marinate for at least an hour.

Make tomato chutney. Bring a small pan of water to boil. Blanch tomatoes two minutes, then drain. Cool and rough chop.

Heat oil in a sauce pot on medium heat and add ginger and chilli. Cook one minute, then add red chili powder, turmeric and a pinch of salt and cook another minute. Add chopped tomatoes and turn down the heat to low and gently simmer for 6-8 minutes until the mixture thickens. Add sugar and mustard. Taste for seasonings and set to the side.

For the potato mash. Bring a medium pan of water to boil and add the turmeric and ginger and a big pinch of salt and boil the potatoes until soft (around 15 minutes).

Heat a small splash of oil on a small pan and add the cumin seeds till they sizzle and remove from heat.

Mash the potatoes with butter, cilantro, and fried cumin seeds until smooth and keep warm.

Heat up a fry pan on medium heat with a good splash of oil. Add the chicken when the oil is hot. Fry chicken around 3-4 minutes a side or until cooked threw.

Serve chicken topped with chutney over the potato mash (or cabbage if you made cabbage like me)

Jodhpuri Tawa Chicken with Tomato Chutney and Cumin Cabbage

A Special THANKS to Chef Davashankar Sharma for this FORKING Amazing recipe.

The Forking Truth