At the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale Arizona there is a Chefs and Farmers Market Series on Saturdays June 22 – July 13 2019 from 9am-1pm. This is a FREE event but you do need to R.S.V.P. on the Hotel Valley Ho Website. Each week is a different theme. The first week was South of the Border.
There were several delicious things to try today.
Chef Rene Andrade and his team from Ghost Ranch prepared Pork Chiaquiles.
Chef Samantha Sanz of Talavera prepared Ajo Blanco, Basil Honey Sorbeto with Marcona Almond Gremolata.
Chef Greg Otero prepared Citrus Marinated Carne Asada Tacos with Roast Poblano Crema, Pickled Red Onions, Cabbage and Cotija Cheese.
There also was a milkshake competition. You could try all three and vote for your favorite.
It was very crowded. There was a complimentary champagne taste that I passed by.
Edibles for sale. (all this and more)
A little bit of produce too!
Next week June 29th the theme is Bada Boom, July 6th will be Grilling and Chilling and July 13th will be Sweet Treats.
Parking may be challenging. The lot is very small and street parking was mostly filled.
Tacos Chiwas is a small casual state of Chihuahua Style Taqueria located in Phoenix Arizona. They offer about eight kinds of tacos (some are a little tongue and cheek), gorditas, quesadillas, burritos, breakfast burritos and a bean soup.
You order at the counter.
Pick a table on the patio.
Or pick a table indoors.
Soon someone runs your order to you.
Today we tried an asada taco, a carnitas taco and a pollo taco.
These are street sized tacos (smaller sized) but they are very well packed with lots of fillings. You can eat them the way they come or spike them up a little more with the salsa bar.
All the tacos were very good but the one that stood out today was the asada (beef) taco. The beef (today…maybe not tomorrow) was the most developed with flavors. It was tender and had this delicious smoky char on it. All the tacos were well worth the $2.50 that each of them cost.
I’d say my trip to Tacos Chiwas was Worth a Fork!
Worth a Fork!
www.TacosChiwas.com
Every FORKING Thing is subject to change and your experience may or may NOT differ.
The Upper West Side of Metro Phoenix has a New Restaurant Opening with Greek Palace…..OPA!……This is a full service Mediterranean Restaurant. The atmosphere is airy modern with some Greek accents.
We ordered and the first thing that comes out are freshly made Greek Salads that are part of our lunch platters.
Next comes out our Combo Appetizer.
We received creamy Hummus, smoky Baba Ghanouj, lemon-ee Domas, Falafels, Tzatziki Sauce, (ultra garlic) Tahini Sauce and Lots of Warm Pita Bread.
The falafels are on the dense side and not so herby……but they taste fresh made and have a nice chick pea flavor.
Then our lunch platters arrive. I got the Chicken Kabob Platter.
I received juicy slightly charred marinated chunks of chicken breast, yellow basmati rice, grilled tomato, pepper and onion, tzatziki and more pita bread. All is A-OK here! I should note that the menu description differed slightly for the platters and reads Greek Pickles and Turnips instead of the Grilled Vegetables…..Our waiter explained that is due to the soft opening and they weren’t able to get them in………
My husband tried what is named the Fire Fighter Platter.
He received a plate of thin seasoned beef and lamb that was charbroiled on a vertical skewer, grilled onions, tomato, pepper, hot peppers (that might be giardiniera), yellow basmati rice, tzatziki and warm pita bread. The meat is moist and flavorful all is good here too!
Portions were large and we had leftovers to pack up…..
OPA! Muchas Gracias! LOL
If in the area you might consider giving Greek Place in Peoria a try!
OPA! Greek Palace recently opened in Peoria!
Opa!
www.GreekPalace.net
Everything is subject to change and your experience may or may not differ.
********UPDATE was CLOSED FOR BUSINESS during pandemic and is NOW OPEN AGAIN*****The HOT Chick Restaurant recently opened in Scottsdale by Old Town. This is a FUN casual chicken restaurant that offers a bar, games, videos to watch and of course food with a retro 70s vibe.
The bar
They also offer all kinds of seating. You can be by the video games.
One of the patios
You get full service only if you sit at the bar.
For all other seating you order yourself at the trailer that is located behind the bar.
The trailer is the counter where you order and pay if you are not sitting at the bar.
Here’s the menu. All the chicken is organic, free range, antibiotic and hormone free.
They offer Fried Chicken in half or whole in original or Hot Chick, 2 kinds of wings, chicken nubs, snacks and sides, salads, seven varieties of chicken sandwiches but ONLY ONE is HOT Chick. They also offer a brunch menu limited to the weekend and two desserts.
We walked up to the trailer and ordered and paid. Took a pager with us and sat at a booth. We checked out the cocktail menu while waiting. In reasonable time our pager was blinking and buzzing.
I got the HOT Chick sandwich.
It’s a crispy hot chicken breast with house slaw and house pickle on a rich eggy bun. (they also had a condiment area and we picked up deviled egg sauce and some sort of Thai sauce)
First I taste a small amount of chicken by it’s self……WOW is THAT FORKING CRISPY and MIGHTY Flavorful……it’s also moist! It is HOT but VERY Flavorful. I think around a number 4 Thai Hot out of 5. I can taste a lot of flavors like cayenne, but there is something in there that makes the cayenne taste very delicious, there’s something very sweet but it’s balanced, not too sweet…..not sure but I think a taste some secret crushed potato chips…? Well whatever all this is …….This is Forking AWESOME with well made slaw and well crafted pickles. It’s getting very messy with sauce or and juices squirting out everywhere…….It’s a DELICIOUS HOT MESS! It’s also a Forking hum YUM Dinger! (only $9.00…..WHAT THE CLUCK!…..is that a misprint?………..only $9.00…… ((price is subject to change..))
Mu husband ordered the 1/2 hot chicken…..but it was cut into 6 pieces. It came with house made biscuit and house made pickles. I think it was suppose to come with maple butter?
He got a wing (cut in two), thigh, breast (cut in two) and a leg. I took a small bite out of the thigh. NO FOWL PLAY HERE! The Thigh is Forking awesome……Crunchy succulent flavorful…….really Really Great…..Not sure but seemed hotter than the HOT Chick sandwich…maybe because it didn’t have the slaw, bun and pickles to cool things down…? . (only $12.00) subject to change
We shared two of the sides The pimento macaroni and cheese and the green goddess green beans. ($5.00 each and subject to change)
pimento macaroni and cheese and the green goddess green beans
The pimento macaroni and cheese was topped with crunchy chicken skin. I taste the macaroni……..This is smoky……to me it doesn’t taste like pimento because the smoke taste over powers everything else. My husband taste it and agrees that it is smoky. The green goddess green beans are more of a cold salad with a lot of arugula and smoked almonds.
I’ll say find that HOT Chick and buy a sandwich and all the day you will have good Cluck!
Hot Chick is Worth a Fork!
Worth a Fork!
www.TheHotChick.com
Every FORKING THING is subject to change and YOUR experience may or may NOT differ.
Can any salad be a Caesar salad if you stab it enough? (incase you didn’t know Julius Caesar was stabbed 23 times by his assassins)
I recently went to Pappadeaux Fresh Seafood Restaurant located in Phoenix.
I ordered the Creole Caesar Salad with blackened Salmon with house made Caesar dressing. ($24.95)
My plate arrives and the first thing I notice is that the fish isn’t very blackened….(for $24.95)
It should look more like this Blackened Salmon from Ocean Prime below.
The Blackened Salmon Salad from Ocean Prime
.(blackened is the technique of darkening the protein in the pan or on the grill) The second thing I notice is that the dressing doesn’t look like Caesar Dressing?
It doesn’t taste like Caesar Dressing either…..
Trust me I was a Caesar Expert….I was a professional…and preformed Caesar salads Table-side when I worked in fine dining. Maybe you are wondering WTFork is Caesar dressing anyway?
I was taught that Caesar Dressing should only be made in a large wooden bowl. You start by breaking down a garlic clove with a fork. Then you mash in the anchovies, add an egg yolk and slowly drizzle in olive oil while you are stirring real fast and you get the mixture to emulsify. Then you dance around with other ingredients and go back and forth as much as you can to make a show with red wine vinegar, you squeeze a fresh lemon, add a dash of Worcestershire sauce, back and forth with the olive oil bunches of times, stir stir stir, toss in a big bowl of hand torn romaine, add lots of shredded parmesan, add croutons and finish with fresh ground black pepper. That is what Caesar should be. The dressing should be somewhat thick, deeply flavorful and is a sort of grout color.
What The FORK is this?
It’s a loose white dressing that is almost tasteless except for the chunks of cheese that taste like a weak parmesan.
I get my husband to taste some salad….He gets mad because this salad cost $24.95 and this house made Caesar Dressing isn’t Caesar Dressing.
He flags down our waiter and questions him. We were told that the dressing is made without anchovies and egg……I didn’t ask but I think it was made without garlic and also lacks black pepper and maybe everything else…..
Maybe these days any salad can be a Caesar salad if you stab it enough?
Fun Photos were used from www.Pinterest
Can any FORKING Salad be a Caesar salad if you stab it enough?
Tap and Bowl is a unique little restaurant located in Old Town Scottsdale on the end by the waterfront. They offer about a dozen different varieties of fresh made to order artisan bowls that are seasonal and some that are globally inspired. They also offer craft beers, cider, hand crafted artisan sodas, appetizers and more!
They offer lush patio seating.
Seating at the bar, traditional tables, a sofa and high tops.
We were given water and at the time it seemed like the best water I’ve had in a long time. The waitress said that it was filtered with their Italian soda machine. So we tried a hand crafted cucumber/watermelon soda made with real cane sugar.
WOW! It was so light and refreshing! I never had a soda like this before. It was delicious and not too sweet either. It was perfect.
I went with the Atlantic Salmon and Cali Rice Bowl.
My bowl was packed full of delicious vegetables and perfectly prepared salmon that was enhanced with a delicious slightly Asian sauce. The salmon had crisp tasty edges and was towards medium rare in the center…it was really great! The bowl included cauliflower rice, edamame, carrots, avocado, onions, peppers, mushrooms, snap peas, cilantro, sesame and ponzu sauce. I’d love to eat this every week! It had so many great textures and flavors!
My husband tried the Fried Chicken Mac and Cheese Bowl.
The Chicken seemed free of oil and had a very crispy tasty exterior and was juicy inside. The pasta was prepared well and was in a tasty cheddar sauce. The bowl also included broccoli, corn, tomatoes, cotija cheese, scallions and pickled onions added some interest.
We both enjoyed our meals very much at Tap and Bowl in Scottsdale.
I have to say Tap and Bowl is Worth a Fork!
Worth a Fork!
www.TapandBowl.com
Every THING is subject to change and your experience may or may NOT differ.
Confluence is a small but upscale restaurant located in Carefree Arizona. They prepare painstakingly detailed farm to table elevated modern cuisine. The atmosphere is classic with an open kitchen and modern touches.
Seating is available at the bar, traditional tables and on the patio with mountain views.
Tonight they started us off with house made country bread and a smear of perfect guinea hen yolk.
The yolk was jammy and very rich….The bread was just delicious..this was a treat.
Then we shared the Medjool Dates.
I don’t think I’ve ever had dates that were this fresh before…….or this creamy? The sweet dates sat on top of little mounds of labne. The rest of the plate was couscous that was studded with pistachios and golden raisins. Everything harmonized very well together.
For my dinner I tried the Scorpion Fish.
I never had scorpion fish before……It has a similar texture and taste to monkfish. It’s a dense firm fish. The crust on it is spectacular….It’s paper thin but so crisp and crusty. Bonito flakes add an unexpected smoky taste….The plate turns magical… The tomatoes taste like slow roasted tomatoes but have the texture of fresh tomatoes…..I don’t know how the Fork that can be possible….The Chinese Cabbage taste better than Chinese Cabbage…it was cooked in some sort of magical potion. The little purple potatoes just melt in the mouth in that brown butter hollandaise….and the sweet pops from the crisp snap peas are delicious and add a nice contrast.
My husband surprised me and got the Gurnard Fish from New Zealand. (I was surprised because he almost never orders fish)
It was a fresh tasting mild fish that was well seared crispy. It was served with crisp gnocchi, mushrooms, English peas and the finest Iberico Chorizo. (from a special black footed pig that was kissed by Jesus………..((only kidding))…… eats nothing but acorns……ultra expensive like around $90.00 for 4oz. )
Desserts are usually stunning so we tried the Caramel Apple this time.
It’s like a deconstructed apple pastry……On the side is a cinnamon walnut crisp that is shattering crispy. So you break it up and slice off some apple and taste it in the different sauces of honey vanilla, milk jam and apple cider. This one is delicious and really great!
Confluence is always worthy of a Mention and is – Worth a Fork!
Worth a Fork! The kind of place that you would travel across town for.
www.restaurantConfluence.com
Every thing is subject to change and your experience may or may not differ.
Some of the previous dishes we enjoyed from Confluence
SnapperDuckcucumber salad made with five kinds of cucumberpeachMonk Fish Guinea HenFruit Granite (all the desserts were great but this one was my favorite)This Chicken Sandwich was to DIE FOR!!!!! One of the best things I’ve ever eatenSea Bream The Forking Truth
Veneto Trattoria is an Italian Restaurant located in Scottsdale Arizona. They are a full service restaurant that specializes in serving Northern Italian Regional Foods and also several fresh seafood dishes.
The decor is very homey and classic. The tables are linen topped neat with polished silverware and wine glasses. All kinds of Italian souvenirs are decorations for the walls. It’s like you are in an Italian Grandma’s house. They offer some bar seating, patio seating.
There is also seating in the main dining room and the room off the main dining room.
They start you off with a basket of crusty breads, butter and oil and balsamic in adorable Italian made pottery.
One specialty of the house is the Venetian Style Cod that is very popular in Italy but seldom found in Italian Restaurants in Metro Phoenix.
Baccala Mantecato (Venetian Style Cod)
The Dried Cod (baccala) is rinsed in water for two days (or more) and then gets blended with olive oil, maybe some dairy till it turns into a mousse-like consistency and is served over grilled polenta.
But tonight we started with salads…They were fresh made and large enough to share. I started to eat mine and Forking forgot to photo it. I thought the Venetian Style Cod I just showed you from a previous visit was by far more interesting anyway.
I was pleasantly surprised with all the seafood specials they offered this evening. They offer six seafood items on the menu and tonight they offered an additional THREE More seafood dinners and one was a special branzino that was roasted in a salt crust and prepared table side.
I went with the Sea Bream Special because I don’t come across that one very often. It just so happens that one of the finest and most expensive fish dishes I ever had in my life was the Sea Bream from Bartolotta in Las Vegas. With the memory I had of that dish I had to go with the sea bream.
It’s very fresh…I don’t think it’s more or much more than a day old. It’s extremely mild and moist with unusually delicious grill marks served with some simple mixed vegetables and chunks of potatoes that taste like they were simmered in something tasty …..maybe a broth and lightly fried. The fish head is split for slurping if you care to suck out all you can….This is a really fine plate of fish for 28.95.
Someone else at our table had the Birodetto di Pesce Alla Veneta (Cioppino – fish stew)
In a fish infused tomato broth are shrimp, clams, mussels, calamari, scallops and sea bass…..To be finished off with garlic toast.
Dining out with Dogs in Metro Phoenix is just a “Fluff” story about my adventure going out to eat with my dogs. It all sort of started when my dog Louie got diagnosed with aggressive cancer and was given a prognosis of 3-6 months. I thought the nicest thing I could do for him was to take him out as often as possible so I did. Instead of the 3-6 months he made it 17 months more. Today I take my current dogs out to eat and they also enjoy it just as much as Louie did.
There are some things you need to know first about dining out with dogs. Many restaurants in Metro Phoenix do have patios but not all patios are dog friendly. For that reason and other reasons it is ALWAYS BEST TO CALL a restaurant before your visit and ask if it’s ok to dine with a dog(s). It is also ALWAYS BEST TO DINE AT OFF TIMES. You need to avoid as many other people and dogs as possible. Some people just don’t like dogs and others are allergic. You also want to avoid dogs barking at each other because you could be asked to leave.
Then there are some rules to dining out with dogs. Your dog must be close and by your side at all times. Dogs are NOT to sit on restaurant furniture and dogs are NOT to eat off restaurant plates. You should provide water and a water bowl from home for your dog. (collapsible water bowls are great) You also need to be aware that most food and drink you consume is not safe, healthy or can even be TOXIC to your dog. You need to consult your veterinarian on safe foods and food and drink to avoid. Usually a small amount of lean meat without sauce is recommended. Here in Metro Phoenix you must be aware that your dog is NOT as heat tolerant as you are. All dogs differ just as people have a different heat tolerance. I would guess that the maximin heat for healthy younger dogs might be up to 90 degrees BUT ONLY WITH SHADE. In the sun this would be too hot. Again all dogs have a different heat tolerance and hopefully you can judge well. If there are any doubts it’s better to leave your furry friend home.
Now I will turn The Forking Truth over to my dogs to tell their stories themselves.
“We are on our way to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery!”
“Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery is a Vietnamese Restaurant that specializes in serving Vietnamese baguette sandwiches.” “They offer many Vietnamese favorites like appetizers, noodle bowls, curry chicken but they DON”T SERVE PHO.”
“Today our folks got a grilled chicken noodle bowl and a BBQ Pork Banh Mi.”
“I can tell you both were delicious!”
“Both the pork and the chicken were tasty and tender!”
“We enjoyed ourselves at Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery!”
www.BanhMiBistroAZ.com
“We are on our way to Salad and Go …..sort of”
“Darn it!” “Salad and Go took out all the Forking Tables!”
“WOW the drive threw is really loaded up with cars today!”
“Looks like someone will order at the self serve computer.”
“I miss the old days not so long back when they used to hand out dog biscuits!” “Now we have to drive away and eat someplace else.”
“The mixed greens salad with walnuts and apple is pretty good with the chicken and only cost $5.74……what a deal!”
“DARN the extra shrimp we paid for didn’t make it to the seasonal salad with deli meat and mozzarella cheese.” “What we tried was fine.”
“We enjoyed the salads from Salad and Go!”
www.SaladandGo.com
“We’re on our way to The Bourbon Cellar in Scottsdale”
“The Bourbon Cellar in North Scottsdale specialty might be the ground in house prime filet burger that they serve on an apple cider bun and top with a wasabi deviled egg.”
“Look at it!” It’s glorious!”
“It’s a very large half pound burger so we are here to help eat it.”
“WOW I never had a ground prime filet burger before but it smells amazing!”
“In house prime filet burgers make me happy!”
“FORKING YUM!” “More please!”
“The patio is lush with a water feature too…….but really you want to come here for the prime filet burger……(p.s. If you can’t finish your burger please call me and I’ll be happy to assist)
“You have some burger juice on your face.” “We did really great at The Bourbon Cellar.”
www.TheBourbonCellar.com
“We are on our way to Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante in Glendale”
“Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante is an Italian Restaurant located in North Glendale.”
“Ummmmmmm The bread here is the most delicious in the area Ummmmmmmmm!”
“Someone got a Strawberry Chicken Salad……..well be eating mostly chicken…Ummmm..one of our favorites!”
“Our other human got an Italian Meat Sandwich on more delicious bread that comes with a side salad topped with amazing cheese.
“Delicious food and a pretty park-like patio too!”
“I can’t wait for my next bite!”
“We loved everything we tried at Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante!”
www.BottegaRistorante.com
“Well that was Dining Out With Dogs In Metro Phoenix for May 2019.” “I don’t know if we will get to see you next month because it’s getting hot in Phoenix but we hope to see you next month!”
The Forking TruthIn Memory of Louie 5-5-2001 – 3-3-2017
These are the sandwiches that are not just excellent or very good….These sandwiches are what they call life changing….They go more than one step beyond…..These sandwiches are like they were created on another planet delicious and are OUT OF THIS WORLD CRAZZZZZZZZY GOOD! The sandwiches are in no particular order. Pictured first is the K.F.C. Sandwich from The Larder and the Delta in Phoenix. This sandwich holds a generously sized very moist and ultra scrumptious succulent chicken thigh that seemed lightly caramelized with amazing flavors that are out of bounds and a little heat for interest. The super awesome boneless chicken thigh that is developed with more flavors than most chicken on the bone gets topped with granny apple cole slaw, big yummy bread and butter pickles and is drizzled in a hot sauce aioli. All this goodness is set in the perfect size potato bun. They call this a K.F.C. Sandwich….I call it a Kentucky FORKING Crack Sandwich.
www.TheLarderandTheDelta.com
I don’t eat burgers often so I consider a burger a sandwich. This burger I had from The Bourbon Cellar in Scottsdale is very notable. This might be the most delicious burger that I’ve tried to this date. This is the ONLY Burger I’ve ever tried that was full of flavor, very juicy and didn’t even come with sauce. What makes this burger special is that it starts with an apple cider bun. Then the burger is filled with a generously sized ground in house prime filet burger patty, lots of greens, a tomato slice and the whole thing got topped with a wasabi deviled egg. I added on bourbon pickles because they’re unique. I think it was the best burger I’ve ever had!
Had another one since…….made with better lettuce this time.
www.TheBoubonCellar.com
Is an open sandwich a sandwich? YES it can be! Here we had grilled high quality seeded bread, tea egg, pickled shallots, dill creme fraiche, salad and house smoked buttery salmon. It’s so perfect and beautiful…..This came from Ocotillo in Phoenix. It’s just so good….I wish I could eat one every week.
www.OcotilloPhx.com
Another open sandwich that I tried that was exceptional was the Beet Toast from Singh Meadows in Tempe. High quality grilled country bread was topped with stunning vegetables of assorted beets (roasted, raw, pickled), fancy greens, avocado, almonds, onions, green beans and maybe some urfa pepper….It’s prettier than some pictures too!
www.SinghMeadowsTempe.com
This sandwich is called the BBQ Chicken sandwich from Confluence in Carefree. But really this sandwich is so much better than that….It’s OMG FORKING ASTONISHING……It should be called The Mind-Blower. The sandwich is a HUNDRED TIMES BETTER than I can make it sound. This gem must be made with magic…..I have no idea how chicken, celery root, spicy pickles, beet greens, staled onion mayonnaise and it’s on this mouthwatering fontina cheese bun can turn out this mind-blowing scrumptious!
www.RestaurantConfluence.com
I’ve had some other excellent sandwiches in Metro Phoenix but these sandwiches were The Forking Best!
Everything is subject to change and your experience may or may not differ.
The Forking Truth
When I think about how incredible and over the top these sandwiches were….In the back of my mind this is burning…..and I just have to let out……..THE FORKING TRUTH.
It’s hard to believe but the above amazing restaurant Confluence only rates a 3.5 on a popular review site. A restaurant in Peoria that served us this sandwich a few months back also rates the same 3.5 stars. (incase you are not paying attention the below sandwiches are NOT BEST of metro Phoenix) The sandwich below is from the Peoria restaurant.
This bothers me.
I also have been to this sandwich shop in Glendale that rates a whole star MORE than Confluence from the same popular review site…..
