Forks Over Knives

The pandemic of Americans today is not sickness related; it is disease caused by over-consumption and the consumption of too much red meat and processed foods.

If you haven't seen the documentary film Forks over Knives, I highly suggest you watch this wake-up call.  Warning: this movie may change your life forever... or you can feint ignorance and decrease your lifespan and your quality of life by compromising your health.

"Let food be thy medicine."  - Hippocrates

This is the true wake up call.  Change today: start by eating a whole foods, plant-based diet and you will see the difference in the numbers, your lifestyle, and your mental health.

Forks Over Knives official website:  http://www.forksoverknives.com/
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1567233/

Village Fries + Homemade Sriracha Mayo

After traveling to Washington DC, I encountered a restaurant recommended by many of the locals: Good Stuff Eatery.  Opened by celebrity chef Spike on the Food Network Channel, we began our food adventure.

Their menu has gourmet twists that can be made by any cook (the flavors, however, are another story). Although these burgers were delicious, I'm not here to rave about the meat.

Very do-able and easily found (I found this on Oprah's website), their Village Fries were amazing.  Paired with my favorite sauce, their Sriracha Mayo, this recipe is to die for.

Ingredients

• 5 pounds Red Bliss potatoes
• 1 cup chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 cup chopped fresh thyme
• 1/4 cup sea salt
• Canola oil for deep-frying

• 2 cups Homemade Basic Mayonnaise (below)
• 1/2 cup sriracha hot sauce
• 2 Tbsp. sweetened condensed milk

• 2 large eggs
• 4 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 2 tsp. white wine vinegar
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 2 cups grapeseed oil

Directions

To make Homemade Basic Mayonnaise: Add the eggs, mustard, vinegar and salt to a food processor or blender. Process for 30 seconds in the food processor, or for 10 seconds in the blender. With the motor running, drizzle in the oil slowly at first, then add in a thin, steady stream until all the oil is added and the mixture is smooth. Stop the motor and taste. If the sauce is too thick, thin it with a little hot water. If too thin, process a little longer. The mayonnaise can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

To make Sriracha Mayonnaise: Add the mayonnaise, sriracha and condensed milk to a food processor or blender. Puree until smooth. The mayonnaise can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

To make fries: Wash and scrub potatoes under cold running water. Pat dry with paper towels. Cut in half lengthwise, then into long strips about 1/4-inch thick.

In a deep pot or deep-fat fryer, heat about 3 inches of oil until a thermometer reads 250°. Line a metal tray or baking sheet with paper towels.

Add one handful of the potatoes to the pot. Fry until tender but have no color. Remove with a slotted spoon. Drain on the paper towels. Repeat the procedure until all the strips are cooked. Refrigerate until cool.

Reheat the oil to 350°. Line the metal tray with fresh paper towels.

Add the cooled potatoes a few handfuls at a time and fry until golden and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon. Drain on the paper towels. Toss with the rosemary, thyme and salt while the slices are still hot. Serve immediately.

Try it paired with your next burger-- you won't be disappointed.

Tuscany

Tuscany is a fine dining experience that provides gourmet Italian dishes right here in Utah!  This restaurant, located in Cottonwood Heights, has an ambiance to remember.  Khanh and I decided to soak in the sun as we dined on the patio on a perfect Utah day.

http://www.tuscanyslc.com/

The patio was covered by trees to block out just enough sun
to enjoy the meal.  Absolutely beautiful setting.

The house Chicken Picatta (best seller) with olive oil mashed potatoes,
asparagus, topped with a light caper butter sauce.  The meat was tender,
the sauce was perfect.  $12

The grilled Salmon Filet over house smoked fingerling potato salad.
The salmon had a great flavor, but I was more surprised at how tasty
the potato salad was-- not too much dill and great texture.  $13

For dessert: banana cream pie dished in a coconut tart shell
with brulee topping over caramel sauce.  $8

Overall, lunch time is much more affordable than dinner, but if you're looking for fine, romantic, and unique, I would highly recommend Tuscany.

Chow Truck

Ever heard of Utah's moving fast-food restaurant?  Chow Truck is getting more and more popular, and you never know where it will be unless you check on their website:  http://www.chowtruck.com/.

I had the opportunity to try it first hand.  It coincidentally was at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts Saturday morning during a moon festival indoors.

At first glance, you wouldn't know it was established... 

But they have an assorted menu of food and drinks...
and people just kept lining up!

I ordered the ever popular pineapple ginger pork taco ($3 ea.).
The flavors were very complimentary, taco was fresh... but it
was a bit expensive for a small taco.

A side order of Asian spiced root chips topped it off!
Very unique flavor... really enjoyed this.  ($2.50)

Other items on the menu can be found on their website.  It's sort of fun to just follow around a truck if you're craving some root chips!  :D

Brio Tuscan Grille

A new addition, like so many at Fashion Place Mall, has opened this week.  Brio, a Tuscan Grille restaurant, is sandwiched between Nordstrom and the soon-to-be Crate & Barrel facing west.


It was the group consensus (4 of us) that this place tops Olive Garden on a bad day.  Price ranges are $9-15 with a good variety of Bruchettas, Paninis/Sandwiches, and different pastas.  The menu isn't large, but the food is so flavorful and unique.

Our experience began with outdoor dining on a fabulous September day in Utah.  :)

Brio- the bread came with crispy pita covered
in assorted seeds/seasonings and butter

Lobster bisque ($3.95) with fresh ingredients in a presentable and appealing bowl

Mushroom ravioli: delicious, cheesy, and a HUGE plate :)

Grilled sandwich with their very own made chips

The Pasta Brio with a lemonade

I ordered the eggplant pomodor panini with wild rice. (~$9)
The bread was perfectly toasted, and arugula made this amazing!

The rice was nothing I'd ever had before- possibly one of my
favorite side dishes ever.  EVER.

Tiramisu in a cup (usually comes in a carousel of other cups
such as carrot cake, strawberry cheesecake, chocolate mousse,
etc.) and the creme brulee with a fresh strawberry.  :)  

The Tiramisu had a heavy coffee liqueur flavor and the creme brulee was creamy and sweet with a hint of strawberry.  :)

Overall, I would definitely go back for more to try other items on the menu.  Would not recommend if you're looking for quantity- however, none of us finished our plate.  The portions are a fair size.

Try it out!

Grand America Hotel: Afternoon Tea & Bonne Vie

Last week I had an auntie visit from Taiwan.  Iris took my sister and I to a great restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan and we wanted to return the favor.  The question was: what sort of food should we treat her to?  We were looking for something unique and nice that you can rarely experience.

The choice:  Afternoon Tea at the Grand America Hotel.  This hotel stands as the most expensive five star hotel in Salt Lake City.  They have several dining experiences that are signature to their hotel, including Sunday Brunch, The Grand Spa, Bonne Vie Shop, and Afternoon Tea.

The setup when you are first seated.  The china is so cute!

Seasonal strawberries and cream to start off the "meal."
We were lucky to have been seated in front of the entertainment-
a very talented and young harpist.

There are two choices you can make during tea time: Afternoon
Tea ($16) and The Grand Tea ($32).  The difference is a glass of
champagne and a few extra desserts.  The menu features various
types of tea, including un-caffeinated teas and hot chocolates. 

The first "course" of Afternoon Tea comes with 3 tiers of yummy-ness.

Everything is strategically placed to enjoy your afternoon.
We opted to sit on the sofas, taking our time eating, drinking, and conversing.

Notice the glass on the right?  That's the centerpiece- a tea flower.
Once the food is served, she added hot water to the glass- a
drinkable centerpiece.

Each order comes with 2 cups of hot tea.  Additional hot water
can be added upon request.  Milk, cream, and brown/white sugar
cubes are available to add as needed.

The bottom tier:  Marble turkey sandwich (front), creamy cucumber
on white (right), tuna cheese sandwich (back), tomato-egg on rye (center),
and smoked salmon wrapped in puff pastry (left).

Middle tier: Raisin scones :)  Last time we came they had black
currant scones (winter).

Top tier:  Spreads for the scones!  English cream (top left),
strawberry preserve (top right), and lemon (bottom)

After you finish your sandwiches and scones, here comes round 2:  desserts <3

Bottom Tier:  Chocolate mousse crisp cake and caramel chocolate cake

Middle Tier: Almond chocolate brownies and citrus Madelines

Top tier:  Jellies!  Passion fruit, raspberry, and mango :)

Overall, it was pricey but something people should
try to experience on a relaxing afternoon.

Take a walk around the lobby and main floor and you'll be amazed at some of the floral arrangements and interior decor.  If you turn just around the corner (still inside the hotel), you'll reach a sweet shop called Bonne Vie.  <3

This cute shop sells stationary, crafts, and food-related packaging/cooking items in addition to their personally-made sweets.

A table of cute knick-knacks :)

Delicious sweets.  Many of them are some of the
sweets we had during afternoon tea~
PS- top shelf = my favorite desserts:  macaroons.  <3

Everything is cutely displayed ^.^  It just makes you want to
browse everything!  Lots of cooking material here

See?  Cute!  On the right you can order gelato they make, too.

We were too stuffed to buy more dessert, but the gelato is good (source: samples).  Prices are surprisingly low-moderate.  Macaroons were $1.50 ea.!

Dolcetti Gelato

Salt Lake has, within the past few years, picked up on the hot trend of iced desserts.  Whether it's self and soft serve yogurt or the better/healthier alternative to ice cream-- gelato (yuuuuuum, if you couldn't tell, I totally prefer gelato over ice cream), you can find a local or chain place quickly.

After tingling our pallets with food from Cafe Trio, we (Khanh AKA Penguin and I) headed down the street to indulge in a favorited Italian dessert.

Dolcetti Gelato features many foods/drinks that make you want to come back for more.  From Gelato to belgian waffles, espresso to locally made pastries, this unique "cafe" is one you'll want to visit more than just the one time.

We went late when they were about to close...
but doesn't it look so interesting inside?

AMAZINGNESS.  Penguin got cherry and fleur de dolce,
and I got pistachio and fleur de dolce.  $3.75 sm/ $4.50 med

Interesting chandelier inside~ there was also a lounge area
where you could watch old black and white movies :)

The spread.  It was so hard to decide!  You can try
as many flavors as you want before you order  <3

Doesn't it look delicious?  The Fleur was a mild creamy
sweet flavor... I thought it was a bit creamier than the other flavors.
 It isn't a regular flavor, so make sure you stop by for a taste!
PS- don't you love this table?  :)

Inside you can view bees at work on their honeycomb.
 It was really gross/creepy at first... but then you realize that
you CAN'T STOP STARING O_O

Cute quotes on the front windows about the food/drinks here ^_^

Next time, I know Penguin wants to try their equivalent version of Serendipity's Frozen Hot Chocolate....

Cafe Trio

Going out to a classy restaurant is always fun.  Dressing up and enjoying foods you would normally not indulge in... something that Khanh and I have decided to do on a regular basis.

Oh, by the way, Khanh is a new contributor to this food blog.  WELCOME KHANH!  ^_^

Cafe Trio is a moderately priced restaurant that serves pretty simple food on the menus.  I like how they take simple ingredients and fuse them into something that's light, yet flavorful.

Rosemary cream veggie soup of the day, $5

It was quite tasty!  I love soups :)  This is Khanh!  Shhh, don't tell her I put this up...

This was her salmon over risotto with arugula and a mustard sauce...  very good.  $24

Lemon chicken salad.  Grilled chicken with a lemon vinaigrette in romaine lettuce. $9 

The salad also had caper berries!  I've never had these before,
but they were sour and... weird looking.  Click for a close-up!

The salmon was so moist and flavorful...

This place has an open cork policy and serves cocktails and wine.  Great place to enjoy out on the patio in a cozy little neighborhood, away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Salt Lake City.  I would recommend trying it out!  It is definitely not a place to go if you're looking for quantity.  I would also recommend their flat-bread appetizer- I ordered it before and it was fabulous with the dressing the drizzle over it.

Go give your taste buds a ride!