Tag Archives: #PhoenixEats

Grocery Shopping during the CoronaVirus Pandemic in Metro Phoenix AZ – Week Three – Still no paper products but I’ve found eggs

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This week we’ve been to Fry’s. Safeway, Walmart Grocery and Bashas supermarkets. Fry’s was reasonably well stocked except for paper products. Walmart Grocery was also reasonably stocked and out of paper products but I was lucky to find eggs this week. They were almost out of eggs but had around 6 flats in the refrigerator and I was lucky to get one with a limit on one. Last week Walmart Grocery was the only supermarket near me that had fresh raw chicken. Safeway was the least stocked of all the supermarkets with very little produce and no paper products. They didn’t have their usual brands of chicken and offered frozen raw whole chickens of a brand I never heard of. I bought one and it made Walmart Chicken seem like the best chicken in the whole wide world. This Sun something brand of Safeway Chicken had an abnormally large breast and tiny legs that were like white meat wings. It was one of the worst chickens I’ve ever tried with a weird texture and not the best taste. I don’t normally shop at Bashas because there isn’t one near me. I stopped into a Bashas because I was in the area of one and needed fresh herbs I couldn’t find near me this week. They had the herbs but this was the only supermarket that didn’t offer hand sanitizer and also didn’t offer sanitizing wipes. They still used the moving belt by the cashier without sanitizing it. I felt unsafe shopping there during this pandemic.

I don’t know if my experience is typical from other similar super markets.

That was Week 3 of Grocery Shopping during the CoronaVirus Pandemic in Metro Phoenix AZ.

Everything is subject to change and I hope it does for the better.

The Forking Truth

Take Out During The CoronaVirus Pandemic in Metro Phoenix AZ – Taco Fusion , Pita Kitchen , Confluence, Sala Thai & Popo’s Fiesta Del Sol

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We are supporting local restaurants as much as we can during the pandemic.

We did take out from a newly opened casual Taco Fusion. I’ve been there a couple weeks ago and was blown away with how great the food was….(particularly the mild habanero chicken taco with pineapple salsa…)…. I also was so happy that it wasn’t too far from where I lived so I thought it was extra important to stop here and give them some business. When we made our take out order we were told that they were offering 4 of their 8 salsas today and didn’t have pineapple salsa today.

All the tacos and quesadilla was delicious. The tortillas are hand made. The flour tortilla is thinner and bigger with less flavor than the hand made corn tortilla. The asada is more flavorful and more tender than from another popular taco place in the area. The fish taco is different and is topped with sweet carrots. They are all very good tacos but I still like the mild habanero chicken taco best. It’s full of really good flavors. It’s the one taco that is even better than a chicken taco from Mexico. (I’ve actually tasted many tacos on the streets of Mexico a few times) The sauces are good..we got one I’ve never tried before anywhere. It’s a dark ultra spicy sauce that is borderline too hot for me but if I only use a drop or two is wildly delicious. Very GOOD Tacos from Taco Fusion in Glendale.

Our next take out was from Pita Kitchen in Glendale. This is small Greek Casual Mediterranean restaurant.

We packed up our dogs and did a pick up.

I got my usual chicken kabob salad. I have to say that this chicken is abundant, moist, developed with flavors, delicious with a really tasty char on it. I really think their chicken kabob is the best in town.

My husband got the gyro Greek salad with added pickles.

We also got delicious fresh pita bread that they make there.

Our friends also helped us enjoy the food on our patio.

We did get take out from the AMAZING Confluence Restaurant in Carefree.

We picked up a fresh baked fontina roll that is to die for.

Tried some delicious vegetable soup that was so light and different. It was made with the fancy cauliflower and lots of parsnips.

For dinner had that incredible FORKING DELICIOUS Fried Chicken with broccolini and buttery cooked potato.

The sweet ending was a dark chocolate brownie for dessert.

We enjoyed delicious Thai Food from Sala Thai in Peoria.

I had the spicy pumpkin basil with chicken and brown rice.

They gave us a CRAZY amount of brown rice. After we took what we wanted there was THREE EXTRA whole cups of rice that I portioned out and froze.

My husband had the spicy egg bomb with chicken and brown rice.

Then we went to Popo’s Fiesta Del Sol in Glendale.

I got my usual chicken fajita salad.

My husband got some sort of Mexican Beef Plate with rice, beans and tortillas.

We got margaritas to go. They were packed nicely and were very strong.

This week we were able to support five restaurants.

Taco Fusion in Glendale

Pita Kitchen in Glendale

Confluence in Carefree

Sala Thai in Peoria

Popo’s Fiesta Del Soll in Glendale

We are doing our best to help support small business restaurants. If you care about a small business you should give your support.

The Forking Truth

The CoronaVirus Apocalypse in Metro Phoenix AZ – Week Two – Annoying but no Famine this week

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Last week was brutal. My local Safeway super market was only filled with 20%-30% groceries. There was very little that could be purchased.

This week I went to Walmart Grocery.

I almost cried when I saw all the produce. It’s so much closer to normal.

They were also out of a lot of things like onions, potatoes, hot dogs, eggs, all paper products. A lot of things were very low or missing but at least they had fresh looking chicken so I was happy.

packaged cheeses

No eggs today.

Since I’m down to my last paper towel I stopped at CVS. They had a few paper towels left with a sign that says limit one. I grabbed a two pack of bounty paper towels. I don’t know if they priced gouged me because with tax the two rolls cost over TEN DOLlARS…dang I normally pay a little over a dollar a roll in a big multi roll pack from Costco….

A few days latter I went back to Walmart Grocery. I also had trouble buying my dog’s Blue Buffalo Food. The Dog Food Stores were out of the big bags and I was almost out but got lucky and found a couple small bags at Walmart. They still lacked paper products but there was maybe a half dozen containers of eggs with a limit of one per customer. I was lucky to get eggs this time. They only had 6 cartons and one was an extra large box of eggs so I snagged it up.

I also went to Costco. They now make you wait in a line and so many people are allowed in at a time. Many were waring masks. I’m not a fan of Costco raw chicken since they switched to Foster Farms Brand but they were still out of raw chicken and most paper products. I did notice that the empty shelves from last week now are filled with water bottles. They also had eggs this week. Now they block off the aisles and funnel you to one area with six foot spaces to check out. All cart contents stay in the cart and sneeze guards have been installed by the cashiers.

That’s how things were this week.

The CoronaVirus Apocalypse in Metro Phoenix Week Two – Annoying but no Famine this week.

Everything is subject to change and I hope it does for the better.

The Forking Truth

Skewers Mediterranean Grill – Newly Opened – Glendale AZ – #UpperWestSide – Worth a Fork if you are in the area

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Skewers Mediterranean Grill recently opened in North Glendale in the area that is considered the upper west side of metro Phoenix Arizona. This is a fast casual Mediterranean restaurant. You order at the counter, pay and seat yourself.

They offer gyros and shawarmas cooked on vertical rotisseries. They also offer beef, chicken and kefta (seasoned ground beef) kabobs and falafels. You can have these items served to you in a pita, fry bowl, tortilla wrap or a salad. They also offer extra toppings, sauces and various salads.

Natural light comes in threw the glass front windows and door.

Hand painted figures of folklore and mythology accent the wall.

Today I went with the chicken kabob salad bowl with pomegranate vinaigrette ($7.50).

The chicken is moist developed with flavors and is nicely seasoned. It rest over a bed of fresh salad with feta cheese. it also came with pickled turnips, pickles and garlic sauce. No complaints here! It’s good!

My husband ordered the gyro salad with added garbanzo beans and lemon vinaigrette ($7.50).

The gyro meat (beef & lamb) was moist and nicely seasoned. This platter comes with tzatziki sauce.

We ordered a few extras that were good!

Four falafels that come with tahini sauce ($3.00).

The falafels were herby and seemed like they were free of oil.

Beet salad ($3.00).

It’s mixed with cucumber, garbanzo beans and fresh herbs. It’s light and refreshing.

Worth a Fork if you are in the area.

I haven’t found a website for Skewers Mediterranean Grill but you can find them on Facebook.

Phone# 602-607-5286

18589 N 59th Ave Glendale AZ 85308 and hours are Monday-Saturday 11am-8pm

The Forking Truth

Las 15 Salsas Mexican Restaurant Phoenix AZ – Outstanding Mole – Oaxaca Food – Worth a Fork!

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Las 15 Salsas is a small Mexican Restaurant that specializes in serving Oaxaca Foods. They are located in the Sunny Slope area of Phoenix Arizona. English is the second language here so if you don’t know your memelnitas from your enmoladas then ordering might be challenging but not impossible. There is some English on the menu and the people working there speak some English. A few years back they’ve moved across the street to a slightly larger location and have expanded the menu. Some of the things they serve are Oaxcoa appetizers such as los peques (II haven’t found a translation for this) mini memelnitas (stuffed fried masa cakes) and chapulines (grasshoppers). They also offer sharing platters, tamales in banana leaves, tlayudas (large Oaxaca tortillas with lard and pork, plate sized hand made empanadas, combination plates, seafood, stews, several mole sauces and more. I didn’t notice a bar here but my husband said he noticed that they sell tequila shots. This isn’t a fancy place but looks very authentic.

Inside is very bright and colorful. There are Mexican relics on the walls with Mexican TV and music filling the air.

They also offer patio dining.

We asked a few questions about items on the menu. Our server today didn’t seem to understand and asked us if we wanted to order more food.

Anywho-

They started us off with three kinds of salsas and a basket of chips.

Today we have a creamy green sauce, a smoky salsa and a creamy very delicious but extremely hot scorching sauce.

We started out by sharing an appetizer off the Empanada Section made with quesillo (an Oaxaca cheese) and huitlacoche (Mexican Corn Truffle). ($10.)

I didn’t know that an empanada could look like this……

It’s made with a handmade corn tortilia that is absolutely delicious. The cheese is melty and flavorful. I like the mushroomy huitlacoche. If you like mushrooms then you probably would like this.

We shared a chicken enchilada trio ($14.) and a filete empanizado ($13.) (a fish dish).

WOW! What a great sampling. You can get this plate with just cheese filling and you also have the option to add on Mexican Tasajo (dried beef) and or Cesina (cured meat like ham) for $3.50.

On the left is coloradito mole, in the middle is green sauce and on the right is black mole with rice and beans on the plate. Everything is delicious. My favorite is the black mole. It’s more flavorful to me.

I was all excited when I saw fish (filete and pescado) on the menu. I accidentally thought I knew what I was reading but was slightly off………I accidentally ordered plain breaded fish….But it was still good!

The fish is nice and moist. It seems free of oil. It’s a very large portion even for dinner. It’s like it comes with a lunch for the next day. I add some sauces to it for a little interest. It also comes with hot steamy tortillas.

Here are some of the previous dishes we enjoyed from Las 15 Y Salsas.

Chicken quarter with black mole and rice

white meat chicken stuffed tortilias with black mole

memelnitas with with anise leaf black sauce and house made beef jerky

chicken stuffed chile relleno

Mimi Quesadillas Fritas

La 15 Y Salsas – Phoenix AZ – Combo De Chile Relleno $9.00 (price might have changed)

Chicken Emmolladas

I’d have to say Las 15 Salsas is Outstanding Oaxaca Food and is Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

They used to have a website but it appears to have been taken down. but you can find them on Facebook in Spanish.

They are located at 722 W Hatcher Road in Phoenix 85021

602-870-2056 I believe their hours to be 9am-8pm every day but you should call incase the hours have changed.

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

The Forking Truth

My Brunch at Sel Restaurant in Scottsdale AZ

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Sel is a small upscale fine dining restaurant located in Old Town Scottsdale Arizona. I’ve always wanted to try this restaurant and it always was among choices for a special occasion for me. It got moved up the list real fast when I found out that I could try it for brunch. It was a very nice day today so we sat on the patio.

We started with an appetizer of black truffle deviled eggs ($16.).

They came out looking pretty like a painting. They are very different to me. The whites have a very soft texture maybe from a water oven. The yolks are usually creamy. I don’t get the black truffle. They are flavored with dijon vinaigrette and tarragon aioli and are garnished with crisp chicken skin, some micro greens. They are strong….but not too strong…with acid and salt….. Then I remind myself of where I am.

Sel. (means salt in French)

Sel –

My main course is the Piri Piri Chicken ($18.) Our waiter explained that my plate would be different than described because the waffle iron broke and instead of the waffle I’d be getting a lemon-blueberry ricotta Dutch Baby pancake instead. I never ate a Dutch Baby pancake before and it did sound intriguing so I said ok.

The Dutch Baby Pancake is studded with blueberries and seems rich like a custardy quiche from the ricotta cheese. I’m not really sure if the spicy maple syrup really goes with either the Dutch Baby or the Chicken but it’s good with the plainer ends of the Dutch Baby. The Chicken is very moist and tasty. Not real spicy like Piri Piri Peppers but very tasty.

My husband had the crispy Iberico pork skirt steak ($28.).

It’s made of perfectly poached eggs, crisp grated patty of potatoes, arugula-preserved lemon slaw and creole hollandaise.

I decide that I can splurge for dessert and try the flourless chocolate tiramisu ($14.).

It’s very soft and also very smooth ….. It’s softer than lady fingers and cream. It has a little just right crunch from the hazelnut praline. The house made dulce deleche gelato is flavored nicely. I am extra sensitive to coffee flavors. To me the chocolate taste more like coffee than chocolate. I guess most people like it better that way but it’s still a good dessert.

Chances are you might visit a restroom during your stay. Both restrooms are accented with salt shakers.

The main dining room is pictured below.

The magic happens here.

That was my brunch at Sel Restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale AZ.

www.SelRestaurant.com

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

The Forking Truth

Abyssinia Restaurant and Cafe Phoenix AZ – Ethiopian Cuisine – Worth a Fork

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Abyssinia Restaurant and Cafe is a small Ethiopian Restaurant located in Phoenix Arizona. As you walk in the door there is the aroma of. incense. The atmosphere is slightly disco-like with some colorful lights and it almost loud with energetic music. They offer traditional tables, booths, bar seats and what appears to be Ethiopian Style seating.

We enjoyed the food they served at the Devour The World Festival in Peoria recently.

So we thought we try some more things.

We ordered the #3 Doro Wat ($15.99) Ethiopian National Dish of Chicken with an egg in a berbera based stew and the #9 Ageleel $19.99 described as a veggie sampler plate with 3 meats. They came all together on one plater that was lined with injera bread and plenty of rolled injera breads on the side.

You don’t get silverware here. You pull off a piece of injera bread and help yourself that way. I will start at around 5:00 on the plate. I think we got a curried cabbage with carrots, red lentils, green lentils and yellow lentils, collards, lamb stew, beef stew and a chewier beef with onions. In the middle of the plate is the doro wat. All the food is delicious. My favorite is the doro wat. The chicken is cooked to perfection (moist juicy tasty) and the spicy sauce to me is the most delicious. This one is the hardest to eat and share without silverware. My only complaint is that it is a very small portion of chicken for $15.99 The lentils are interesting. They all taste different and they all have a different texture.

The 2 entree platter was more than we could eat. Maybe she accidentally served us extra food? We got the leftovers packed up. She asked if it was ok if she wrapped them and I said yes. Then they got rolled up like a carpet with the injera bread that lines the platter. (Next time I will wrap myself)

The food was very good and the service was warm and informative.

Worth a Fork!

www.AbyssiniaRestaurantCafe.com

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

The Forking Truth

Confluence Restaurant Carefree AZ – Astonishing Masterfully Crafted Foods – ALWAYS Worth a Fork!

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Confluence is a small but upscale restaurant located in beautiful Carefree Arizona.

They serve painstakingly detailed farm to table modern cuisine.

The atmosphere is traditional and cozy with mountain views.

There is seating at the bar, dining room and the patio.

Today they started us off with fresh baked brioche buns with whipped foie gras butter.

The bun is amazing. First thing you taste is fresh crushed salt. It’s so light and melts in the mouth with so much flavor. I don’t eat foie gras but my husband said it was really delicious butter. They were nice enough to serve me a very good tasting high quality butter that I enjoyed.

My first course (I shared) was smoked arctic char ($16).

This was a delightful delicious combination of brioche toast, endive, pickled red onion, grapes, whole grain mustard GLACIER LETTUCE and spiced walnuts. The mix los ight smoke, sweet, bitter, savory with the interesting watery crisp glacier lettuce really POPS!

My main was the Halibut ($45)

The fish is cooked and seasoned to perfection. But the magic is the way everything goes together on the plate. Somehow the silky sweet potatoes, red quinoa parsnips, sweet peas and pomegranate really do something special in the mouth. It’s Forking MAGICAL.

My husband enjoyed the 4 course tasting $65 (one cold appetizer, hot appetizer, entree and dessert.

Achiote marinated baby beets with arugula, spiced pepitas, blood orange, chicos, crema and arbor chile salsa.

Veal cheek and red wine braised shoulder ravioli with red pepper egg, sweet pepper and brussels sprout. I don’t know what he did to the egg but it was the best tasting egg I ever tried.

Guinea hen breast, ballotine, polenta, salsify, chard baby fennel and pecorino jus.

We shared the dessert.

Aged gouda cheese red grape, pickled apricot, bee pollen, whole wheat fruit crostini, macadamia nuts, honey comb and this magical fluffy, airy, milky cloud.

Oh my gosh beyond words.

Then it was a beautiful ride home.

Confluence in Care Free AZ is always Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

www.RestaurantConfluence.com

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

The Forking Truth

Memories from past Devour Culinary Classics Phoenix AZ

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The Devour Culinary Classic is considered to be the most grand food festival that Arizona has to offer. It is hosted by Local First Arizona and the Devour Phoenix Restaurant coalition. This is where chefs and restaurants do their best to razzle and dazzle you.

I started attending DCC in 2012. Back in 2012 you could get a great deal on tickets. If you purchased your tickets in advance general admission was only $45 a day. They used to offer the general admission a very nice reception before the actual culinary event. here are some pictures of a few of the past general admission receptions. My photos show mostly sweets but I do remember enjoying many savory items too.

They also used to have some other things like a live band and some other things like foodie T shirts and a photo opportunity.

As the years went by the general admission price climbed from $45 in 2012 to $105 a day without any discounts in 2018.

In 2018 the food part of the general admission reception was discontinued and replaced with a one man band.

Prior to 2018 one of the wines I enjoyed with my general admission ticket was Merry Edwards (actually 3 varieties) and the others were more expensive).

In 2018 the wine choices differed greatly and I drank this instead.

In 2018 was the first year that a section of food tents was reserved for VIPS only. These were many of the restaurants that I was expecting to try like Kai. I was ok with the discontinued food reception and the lower end wines. But the selective restaurants were the reason why I would attendant this event every year since 2012. VIP tickets were the only way to be entitled to everything. (today in 2020 VIP tickets are $205) One day would cost over $400 for me and my husband. That is not a bad price for such an event……but it is a lot to me. I don’t get invited to attend and have to pay my own way. I would love to attend as I always did but for $400 I will enjoy two really nice dinners out instead. For me the general admission 2018 was so disappointing…….. Lower end wines, discontinued reception, less food offerings (first year that I didn’t get stuffed). I saw all the restaurant line ups but had no idea at the time that some of the restaurants listed were only for VIPS. Felt deflated…..sort of bamboozled.

2018 was the last Devour Culinary Classic that I attended. I don’t expect to return to the Devoured Culinary Classic.

I enjoyed Devour The World this year (2020) in Peoria. That festival is a new favorite for me.

Those were some of my memories from Devour Culinary Classic.

www.DevourPhoenix.com

Everything is subject to change and your experience may indeed differ.

The Forking Truth

Popo’s Fiesta Del Sol Glendale AZ – Maybe the Busiest Restaurant on the Upper West Side in Metro Phoenix AZ

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Popo’s is the busiest restaurant that I know of on the upper west side in Glendale Arizona. I don’t know of any other restaurant that is often on an hour wait at 4:30 pm. They are a Mexican Restaurant that offers appetizers, soups, salads, fajitas, chimichangas, combo plates, specialty plates, sides, American plates, eggs, lunch specials, a children’s menu and happy hour.

Even the bar is packed at 4:30

Two tables just left and another is getting seated.

I should note that this is an older former Garcias Restaurant and it is very large with multiple dining rooms and a large bar area with lots of tables. The place is packed. I can’t believe we had to wait to get seated at 4:30. I thought we’d get lucky and beat the crowd.

That means that Popo’s is doing something right.

Popo’s serves very good hot chips and the very best salsa in town.

Popo’s offers the STRONGEST CHEAPEST Margarita….in town…actually more like the strongest cheapest margarita in the FORKING UNIVERSE……I don’t know what that drink is made of. I know the drink is around $5.75 on the menu but we seem to hit the happy hour and get it for $4.00 lately….It is so STRONG it can FORKING DO PUSHUPS……..IT”S IMPOSSIBLE to drink more than two…..actually it’s hard to drink more than one. It’s like they seem stronger than straight booze…..

My husband ate his way threw maybe half the menu and tried many of the plates. (sorry I haven’t kept all the photos) His favorites are the carnitas, fajitas, and the beef picadillo.

Combo #1
carnitas
beef picadillo

I’ve tried the fajitas, fish taco and the chile relleno. But after trying them I usually only order the Chicken Fajita salad with the cheese on the side no dressing because I use the delicious spicy salsa instead.

Chile Relleno
Inside Chile Relleno…..it’s egg battered……this day the pepper tastes like tin can so I never ordered it again.
Usually the chicken fajita salad looks like this when I order cheese on the side…..
This day they gave me tons of avocado…..and I got my husband’s side of guacamole

Today they forgot the avocado and I didn’t say anything because the last time they forgot the avocado they brought me a big bowl of avocado that was more than I could possibly eat.

Today the chicken was seasoned much better than the last few times. it’s not very moist today but I glad it isn’t real dry like the last time. (I find it differs greatly……so you just get happy when it’s good.)

Went back a couple months latter and got the chicken fajita salad again ($12.11).

Today it is moist (Whoo Hoo!) and nicely seasoned. They gave me a whole half of avocado today!

I have never been able to finish a Popo’s Fajita salad as it’s the most filling salad in the the Forking world.

I get about halfway and my stomach locks up

It’s like this salad cast a spell on those who eat it……and you get painfully full just half way threw. Since I’ve never been able to finish a Popo’s fajita salad sadly I’ve never tried a Popo’s dessert.

My husband had the 1/2 pound carnitas tonight ($16.42). He enjoyed them and had a little extra to bring home.

Popo’s Fiesta Del Sol in Glendale AZ might be the busiest restaurant in town. It’s often on an hour wait starting at 4:30 and longer after that.

www.PoposMexicanFood.com

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

The Forking Truth