My Week in Food – Jan 21-27

This week has been really interesting for me with food. Michelle and I did our usual class. This week’s topic was “Fast & Fresh: Pasta.” I’ll be honest, I was pretty disappointed. They made a bolognese with 59 cent spaghetti and fancy jar sauce with fancy imported pasta. I can’t say that I thought that either was particularly good. I thought they were both bland. Also I thought that combining the jar sauce with fancy pasta was a cheat – even though it seemed to backfire in end. The class (usually 1 hour +) was done in 35 minutes and we booked it to the Old Town Farmer’s Market to get in on Truckin’ Good’s Duck Fat Fries. Totally worth it.

I also managed to snag a serving of Torched Goodness’ Salted Caramel Creme Brulee. I also managed to pick up some more great jam (grape, pomegranate, & plum), a couple of pounds of fresh grass fed beef, and lots of citrus. I have been on a serious grapefruit kick lately and am averaging about 2 a morning. So good. We also got some random veggies from McClendon’s and a killer glass of lemonade from the FNB tent. It was definitely a good haul.

I played Pathfinder in the afternoon, before having a Wizard People, Dear Readers viewing party. Since a few couples were coming over, I made two pastas, one veggie, one not and I can’t say that I thought either one turned out well. While my husband insists that seconds were being taken I was pretty much blah-ed out by the meal. What I did like was the impromptu garlic bread I made with homemade bread, butter, garlic, and Italian Seasoning. Yummy. After that it was a round of pumpkin ice cream for the group.

Sunday seems like it was really busy, starting with a fantabulous breakfast at Mac’s Broiler and Tap. I owe them a review, but I can tell you that I love this restaurant and that it’s one of my top five faves. It is a great community restaurant/bar/hangout/etc and I am down to eat there just about any time. This morning I had the Mac’s Original off the breakfast menu, subbing the hashbrowns for steak fries, and effectively creating a plate of ham and chips. Adding in a side of their amazing (literally best in town) medium wing sauce and it was perfect. After a quick trip to Hoodlums for some musica, and a massage (yay me), I had some church stuff to do and ended up eating Cheerios for dinner.

Monday, I had coffee at Into the Bungalow, a neat little coffee shop that I had only had the chance to check out once before, and I made my awesome tacos for dinner. Tuesday was tacos otra vez and then Wednesday, we had a fun work lunch at Contigo Peru, where I had the best Shrimp Ceviche I think I’ve ever had. Contigo Peru (review to come eventually) is a great little restaurant in Mesa and I really love the food there – especially the home made Alfajores. After that, we snuck over to Dori’s Bakery next door (go go gadget Apple Turnover) for a totally worth it batch of sugar, butter, and all around good cheer.

Wednesday night I went with a friend to check out a “Wild Dining” meetup group, who was dining at an Australian restaurant in Gilbert called Down Under. That’s a whole experience, but I’m glad I went. I actually didn’t get a chance to eat much, so I plan to go back, test it out, and then review it properly.

Yesterday, we went to Cost Plus to look at furniture and ended up walking out with some Dark Chocolate Salted Caramels and a bag of Haribo Raspberry Candies. After eating just about all of them, we met friends for dinner at Boulders on Broadway – a great tempe spot with killer waffle fries. I was really impressed by the Spinach Artichoke Dip. They served it with toasted french bread and chips and it was really tasty. The perfect combo of spinach, artichokes, tomato, cheese, garlic, cream, and spices. I was really happy with it. My sausage stromboli was good but super rich, and I ended up mostly eating fries with Ranch ( a throwback, I know) and just enjoyed my Mango Iced Tea (a must).

So that’s my week in food. A little here, a little there, a little late of a post, but still tasty. Enjoy.

Restaurant Review: Torched Goodness (Creme Brulee Food Truck)

 

Last week when we were at the Old Town Farmer’s Market, I was treated to a spoonful sample of some vanilla creme brulee from Torched Goodness while I was waiting for my mega crepe to arrive. Thinking I would still be famished post-crepe, I promised a return, but to no avail. This week, I was in no such quandary, preferring to go for straight sugar and fat. Skipping a crepe and going straight to french fries, I saved room and was in it to win it at Torched Goodness – the creme brulee food truck.

What more you you ask for than this?

It was SO creamy and delish!

Arriving in a personal tin, it came out of the fridge, already looking good, and then only preceded to get better as the dessert was torched in front of me to give it that perfect, crispy, crunchy, sugar topping. Instead of the vanilla that I had tried before, I decided to go with what the proprietor described as equally popular – the Salted Caramel. Having had salted caramel before, I was both mildly incredulous and intrigued. I should have known that it would be fantastic.

The carmelizing of the sugar gave it the perfect caramel flavor, slightly smoky, very sweet. The salt that was gingerly drizzled over the top was obviously special and definitely good. I loved the texture of the creme itself, as well. I am not a custard person. I prefer my food crispy. However, this was a delicately flavored cream delight. Saying that it was almost like lukewarm ice cream is wrong, but I feel like saying it gave me the sensation of delicious ice cream, just not super cold, would be right.

I think that the next time I get a creme brulee, I will definitely be down for the more alternative flavors. As much as the vanilla is a classic, it is obvious to me that Torched Goodness knows what they are doing. The get it. Not mushy, not cold, not wishy-washy with flavor. Just perfect. I can’t wait to see what flavors they have next week! If you can’t wait for that, check them on FB here, and see where they’ll be in town to get yer own. Apparently it’s favorite flavors week so that means a choice of Traditional Vanilla, Sea Salt Caramel, Maple Bacon  or Nutella. Seriously epic Creme Brulee!!!