Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Best Mac & Cheese in Utah

Best Mac & Cheese in Utah
- 3 June 2018

(This repeats the rating at Best BBQ in Utah)

Check out our other tests at TasteTestersClub.Blogspot.com 

We've had Mac and Cheese at over 4 dozen places. These are the top ones:

#1. Ruth's Diner, SLC A

#1 tie: Corner Bakery Cafe (if add bacon and tomatos) A

#1 tie: Romano's Signature Truffle mac and cheese A

#4. Red Robbin, national burger chain, served with pork riblets. A- with riblets (B+/A- alone)
(lately served with breaded chicken - not good!)

#5 Even Stevens Sandwiches, national chain, with tomatoes, cilantro, creamy sauce A-

#6  Communal, Provo (smoked cheese, peas, ham) B+

#6A Garage Grill, Draper. 3 cheese with ale B/B+, plus king crab leg B+

#7. Pizzaria 712 (same owners, similar recipe). B/B+

#8  Famous Dave's: B/B+ (jalapeno, 4 cheeses, and corn)

OUT OF BUSINESS: Big Bones BBQ, Spanish Fork. B+

#9 O'Shuck's Pub and Grill, Park City (west side location only) B+

#10. Blue Street BBQ, American Fork B+

#11. Golden Corral B+

#12. Purple Sage, Park City B

We've tested it at every BBQ place (and numerous other restaurants) in Utah - these are the only really good ones we've found.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Best Chicken Salad SANDWICHES in Utah

Best Chicken Salad Sandwiches in Utah
- 19 May 2021
Check out Best Sandwiches in Utah, Best Cheesesteaks in Utah, Best Steak Sandwiches in Utah, Best Burgers in Utah, Best Restaurants in Utah, and OTHER FOOD REVIEWS at TasterTestersClub.BlogSpot.com 

BEST CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICHES IN UTAH

1. Trellis, Thanksgiving Point, Lehi A
On grilled sourdough bread, also has perfect amount of and chocked full of apples and grapes and the lesser proportioned celery

2. Nauvoo Cafe, Salt Lake City. A-
This place is at the old Hotel Utah, downtown.  When we had it, it was loaded with the necessary fruits, but on the top floor of the same building, at the Garden Restaurant, it was supposedly the same sandwi
ch, from the same kitchen, but lacking many fruits.


3. Corner Bakery Cafe, national chain. D.C. Chicken salad (sliced almond, cranberry, celery, green apple, raisins. A-

4. Kneaders, locations throughout northern Utah. B
Salt Lake Valley and Utah Valley
Great croissant. Nice moist filling. BUT no fruit or nuts in it - It would be an A if it had those.

5. Arbys, national chain. B
We got it on whole wheat-white flour blend bread. Needs more fruit in 2021. It used to have perfect amount of and chocked full of apples and grapes, small-chunks of pecans, leaf lettuce, and the lesser proportioned celery - Without the fruit it's only a C -. THIS IS A SEASONAL SANDWICH ONLY. 


6. Village Baker

7. Honey Baked Ham Co.

8. Apple Spice Junction


NO LONGER SERVING IT OR OUT OF BUSINESS:
Was #1: OUT OF BUSINESS: Cafe 300, Provo. A+
Their one NOT on the menu and only occasionally served is the best one we ever tested. It is chocked full of luscious grapes, apples, craisens, pecans, etc. on a croissant. They serve it when catering as well. The sandwich on their regular menu rates merely a C.

(no longer serving it: Mimi's Cafe, national chain A)

4B. NO LONGER SERVING IT: Antonelli's, Orem A-

 (Was #5): Chef's Table, out of business Orem B+++
Eloise is the name of it, and it gets its crunch from the crisp iceberg lettuce, rather than slices or cubes of apples and celery. No fruit and only a few thin slivered almonds. $12, (not available in summer unless special-ordered in advance with another menu meal.)

5. BYU Food Court pastry shop, Provo B+++
Its secret weapon is the "craisen" and is called the "Craisen Chicken Sandwich." It uses semi-dried cranberries (craisens) with other good stuff.

6. Station 22, Provo B++
It was at its best in 2013. It now uses ciabatta bread instead of croissant. Has nice but small apple cubes and unfortunately, soft, small, dry grapes that are like soft raisins, instead of sliced real grapes (that unfortunately turn bad quickly, which is their reason for discontinuing grapes). Menu says chicken is smoked - it used to be, but doesn't seem that way now, rather, it has interesting spice blend that it was either marinated or cooked in. $8.99

7. Great Harvest Bread Co., national chain B+
White meat chunks are too big - make them smaller or add dark meat, which is more moist and tastier for some of us. We also prefer cracked wheat bread - not as strong of a wheat flavor as their honey whole wheat and not as flavorless as regular white bread is in general.

8. Paradise Bakery and Cafe, Salt Lake, Sandy and American Fork. B+
"Chicken Walnut Salad Sandwich" comes standard on molasses wheat bread, which is very good, but it's better if you request it on their amazing, yummy, buttery croissant (which alone rates A-). Try it both ways! They add plenty of walnuts - a great touch. But to make this an A they would have to add more fruit (apples and grapes are the standard - big chunks like Trellis does, and tone down the strong mayo flavor.  $8.99. 

8A. NOT TESTED WITH OTHERS ON THIS LIST, BUT IT GRADES AT A "B:"
Honey Baked Ham B+
(filling alone B/B+)

9. Thanksgiving Point Deli, Lehi. B
Has some fruit.

11. Coffee Pod, Provo. B
Pecans and a nice filling are the hallmark of this sand. However, it could use a lot more fruit and better quality bread, and better yet, a croissant, in our opinion. 

12. Jason's Deli, national chain, in Murray. B
Pineapple and red onions highlight this sand. Good but not great. It comes in a wrap but we requested wheat bread.

13. Quisnos, national chain. B - -
Adding dijon (mustard) is not a good idea for chicken salad sands, plus there is no sticky filling to hold the ingredients together. Some nice ingredients, however.

14. Cafe Fresh (inside Good Earth, Orem). C
While heathier and not as fabulous tasting, they do have sandwiches, smoothies, and cookes there that are great.

15. Enliten, Provo, C. But it has B-/B, POTENTIAL (see note here:)
It's a B IF YOU GET IT ON THE CROISSANT. On the herbed foccacia (their "default" bread) they're a C. They have the right idea for the ingredients of the chicken salad - only they put in WHOLE grapes and big chunks of apple and way too much big chunks of celery. They need to slice the 2 fruits and cut way back on the celery, in our opinion.

16. Sundance deli. C





Sunday, June 9, 2013

Best Chocolate Bars in the World



Best chocolate bars in the world
Best chocolate bars sold in America
Tested May-June 2013, with Dark Choc and Hazlenuts tested Jan  2014 
updated 12 March 2014, 27 March, 30 April 2015
updated 13 June 2018

See our other FOOD RATINGS, including Best Ice Cream in the U.S., at TasteTestersClub.Blogspot.Com


5 categories tested:

  1. Milk Chocolate bars
  2. Milk Chocolate with Almonds
  3. Milk Chocolate with Hazlenuts
  4. Dark Chocolate
  5. Dark Chocolate with Hazlenuts
Note: Most of these are available in local deli’s or on the internet. We purchased them all in Utah deli's, mostly at Tony Caputos downtown and Liberty Heights Fresh Market, Trader Joes, and Whole Foods Market. Some of these may have a mailorder division. Tony Caputos has the largest variety of chocolates we have ever seen.)

IN ORDER
Best Milk Chocolate
A+
Irapa. 40.5% cacao. Venezuelan Single Bean. Origin: “Rio Caribe”
Melissa. 45%. Patisserie Chocolaterie Pralus, Francois Pralus, master chocolatier
Esmeraldas. 42% Original Beans
Scharffen Berger 41% extra rich milk
Trader Joes Belgian 33% "Product of Belgium"
Weinrich's 32% 1895 Lait
Purugina (rated separately from when the above were tested, but this brand would rate an A+, yet not necessarily at this spot.)


A
Amano. 30%. Ocumare (their specialty is dark chocolate)
Moonstruck. 31%
Amedei. Toscano Brown

A-
E. Guittard. 38% Orinoco

B
TCHO 53% (rates between here and Trader Joes above, probably right here) (note: TCHO has 3 other milk chocolates rating lower, below) Tested separately than others on this list but would rate about here.
Chocolov 33%
Valrona 29% (a great chocolate cooking powder used by chefs worldwide) 
Le Lait 32%,"Finest Milk Chocolate," Weinrich's 18
Madecasse 44 Madagascar chocolate
Feodora 37% Schoolhouse Project
Blanxart 44% Filipinas
Theo 45%
Godiva 31% 
365 (at Whole Foods Markets) 39% Organic
Milka Alpine
Blanxart 34% With Organic Cocoa and Sugar

B -
TCHO MC 53%, lush cacao and fudge notes
Crev (actually B- -) All Natural Truffle Bar

C+
Trader Joes 34% Mini bar, Super Smooth Belgian
Puerto Cabello 43%
Lumi 40% from Artisan Chocolat, Fusion Bar

C
TCHO Classic 39%, caramel notes (no caramel in it however). Tested separately than others on this list but would rate about here.
Green & Blacks 34% Organic
AS OF FEBRUARY 2018, NOT SOLD THERE: Trader Joes 32% Fair Trade Organic – Belgian
TCHO Classic. Tested separately than others on this list but would rate between here and top of C's.
Sees

C-
Cadbury, Dairy Milk, UK version (better than U.S.)
Kara (actually C- -)
Whole Foods 34. Organic, Tanzania (actually C- - -)

D
Whole Foods 32% Madagascar, Premium Belgian
Sacred, 50% Raw, Naturally Dairy Free Coconut (replacing milk)
Buffalo 40% Laverstoke Park Farm, from Artisan du Chocolat

Best Milk Chocolate with Almonds 
A
Trader Joes

A-
Green & Blacks 37%

B+ 
Theo. 45%
Dove

B
Ritter Sport

B-
Artisan du Chocolate Almond Milk (this was not tested with the others. While getting a B- rating, it could be in a different spot, but should rate about here.)
Valrhona 40%
Cadbury, UK (actually B--)

C+
Chocolov (actually with almonds AND toffee)

C
Lindt

C-
Vosages 45
Hersheys (actually C- -)
Estonia brand (actually C---)

D-
Moonstruck, Mayan, 31%, has diced almonds
Divine 26% (unfair rating – this bar we tested was sold past due from the retail shop – it was rancid)

Best Milk Chocolate with Hazlenuts
A
Amedei 32%

B
Perugia - carmelized hazlenuts
Ritter Sport 50%, Equador chocolate
NOT TESTED WITH MANY ON THIS LIST: TCHO 53% 
Trader Joe's 33%,  Swiss Milk Chocolate with  30% whole hazlenuts
Milka 30%

Best Dark Chocolate
A
Purgina Italian
NOT TESTED WITH OTHERS ON THIS LIST, ONLY TRADER JOES BELOW: Purgina 56%, with almonds
Chocolove Cherries and Almonds in Dark Chocolate 55%, Belgian Choc (Boulder,          Colorado, USA)
Trader Joes 54% Belgian Dark Plain
Trader Joes Small 56%
Trader Joes 73% super dark chocolate (with almonds)
Trader Joe's "Dark Chocolate Bar"
Lindt - 49% (France)
Alter Eco 60% ortanic (San Francisco)
Trader Joes's Dark Chocolate 56% (too dark in taste)
Lily's Almond 55% no surar, with stevia, (Santa Barbara, California, USA)
Blanxart 62%
Note: not tested with the above, but fitting somewhere here in the A's, are the following two:
Scharfenberger semi-sweet
Scharfenberger dark chocolate 

B+
THESE 2 NOT TESTED WITH OTHERS ON THIS LIST:
TCHO Ghana 70%
Ghiradelli 60%

B
Godiva 72% (Germany, via New York)
Godiva "Solid Dark Chocolate"
Dove (New Jersey, USA)
THESE TWO NOT TESTED WITH MANY ON THIS LIST:

B-
NOT TESTED WITH OTHERS:
Hageland 53% Belgian
Ratraic signature dark milk

C
NOT TESTED WITH OTHERS ON THIS LIST: Williams Sonoma 72% cacao, "Devils Food"
365 Organic 56% (Italy, via Texas)
Theo 70% (with sea salt)
Moonstruck 68% (with sea salt)
Chocolov 55% (with sea salt)
Sees (San Francisco, California USA): "Sees Classic Dark Chocolate with almonds"
Sees 62% Premium Extra Dark
Hershey's Special Dark 45% (Pennsylvania, USA)
DC Dream (100% Dairy Free)
Kara

C-
El Rey "Bucare 58.5% 
Food of the Godes "Jamaican" C-
Trader Joe's 72% Belgian


Dark Chocolate and Hazelnuts
B+ 
Weinrich's 1895, 45% cacao, with whole hazlenuts

B
Ritter Sport (whole nuts)
Trader Joes Swiss Dark with 30% whole hazel nuts. Cacao is 50% minimum cocoa mass (better than their milk chocolate version, and better than TCHO's 54% milk chocolate version)

B-
Poco Dolce (not nuts, but flavored with hazelnut butter) (San Francisco)
Alpine (actuall grades B- -)
Lindt (too milky flavored, actually grades B- - -)

TRIED BUT UNGRADED:
Salazon 
Chocolat Bonnat 55% Voiron, France
Ghiradelli Intense Dark, Evening Dream 605
Valrhona LeNoir 56%
Cadbury Bournville "Classic Dark Chocolate" 36%
Amedi Toscano Black 63%
IN ORDER, LAST 3:
Ghiradelli 72%
Ratraic
Davao 62% Dark Milk Chocolate

A SMALLER TEST
13 Aug 2008
1. Scharfenberger Milk, 41% cacao
2. Cacao Reserve, Java 37%
3. Cacao Reserve, Arribas 50%
4. Milka
5. Ghiradelli
6. Russel Stover, Triple Choc Mousse
7. Russel Stover, French Cafe Vanilla Creme

Individual company brands. 
(Note: This list is still being built)
TCHO company
MILK
53% bar, Classic. B++
39% bar, Lush and fudgy B
MILK HAZLENUT
53% bar B-/B
DARK
Ghana 70% - chocolaty B+
Equador 65% - nutty B/B+
Peru 68% - fruity B
Madagascar 67% - bright B

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Best French Toast in Utah

Best French Toast in Utah
-revised 24 Mar 2021 

Also see Best Breakfasts in Utah, Best Omelettes in Utah, and other food ratings on our site: TasteTestersClub.blogspot.com

In reality, the Top 6 could be a tie, but if pushed, this is how we'd rate them. Try all 8; they're amazing. You'll never mess with other places again. (In addition to these 25, we've also tested over a dozen other places, none of which rated over a C.)

FIRST LEVEL - TOP 6

1. Traditions Mobile Cafe A

2. Ruth's Diner, SLC. Get ONLY their Banana bread french toast - not their others. A

3. Guru's, Provo: almond and cornflakes crusted French toast with cream cheese center  B+ 

(don't get their "traditional french toast," a C+)

4. Slate Restaurant, Provo Marriott. Brioche French toast with carmelized bananas and walnuts with maple syrup B+ 

(don't get their "crunchy" French toast - C)

5. Mimi's Cafe, now Mimi's Bistro and Bakery, Midvale. If they still have it, get their Cinnamon Brioche - really a Cinanamon roll - rates a B+.

(Note their plain french toast rates a C, so don't get it. Also, Orange cream pain perdu style rates a C/C+ and is more of a dessert.) Thus:

6. Village Inn, national chain. Vanilla battered French bread (upgraded significantly from their former plain french toast that was a C). B+

No longer served after 2015: orange cranberry french cakes: B)

SECOND LEVEL - ALL THE REST

7. Black Bear Diner, chain, "bearclaw" (cinnamon bun french toast) B
(regular french toast: C)

8. O'Hana Gril, Springvillel B

9. Joe's Cafe, Orem - plain but good - almost pudding like in texture, the way we like it, not overcooked C+/B-

10. Denny's, national chain. B; seasonal apple crisp french toast, served with apple syrup B+/A-. Their banana bread french toast: C+ (more of a dessert than a French toast). 

11. IHOP, national chain. plain french toast rates C+/B-

NO LONGER SERVED THERE: One line, introduced in summer 2013. is much better: Brioche French Toast with 3 separate toppings.We prefer in this order two of them: banana foster (A), cinnemon (A-). Bioche French Toast alone B-, but the toppings made it sing. 

12. Sundance Foundry Grill. (it may have changed since testing in 2013:) C,  but with their real maple syrup: B

13. BYU's Legends Grill. B-/B. Thick, whole grain. 

14. Belgian Waffle and Omelette Inn, Midvale. Cinnemon-walnut French toast: B -

15. Magleby's (plain french toast rates a C, but, their) banana french toast: B-

16. Kneaders. Grade B- (too much cinamon; without it, making it at home with their recipe, but with no cinamon, it rates B+!)

17.. Cracker Barrell C+/B- (but with their butter and real maple syrup: B+)

18. Marley's Gourmet Sliders (tested in 2014:) C+ with butter or alone; C- with their white sauce they serve

19. Communal, Provo (formerly number one, but in summer 2014 they stopped making their own bread and started buying frozen Texas Toast!). If you're lucky to find apple topping in the right season, try it with their terrific, sweetened diced apple topping Grade of French toast alone: C
Note: Their newer berry topping is good as well.

20. BYU food court. C Average

21, Original Pancake House, SLC, Lehi, and Sandy, national chain C (fruit and whipped cram brings it up to a B/B+)

22. Callies, Orem C

OUT OF BUSINESS: Cafe 300, Provo. Secret custard recipe and terrific French bread makes this sing! Grade: A

OUT OF BUSINESS. WAS RANKED HIGH: El Azteca, Provo. Horchata French toast. (most recent time it slid from an A to a B+ because the bread was too soggy, soaking too long in the horchata, and the bread was not as good as before, as this time it was a horizontally sliced torta (Spanish sandwich) bun. Grade: B+

OUT OF BUSINESS: Amber Family Restaurant, Spanish Fork B/B+

OUT OF BUSINESS: Baked, Provo B 
(but with added syrup, whipped cream and strawberries, it became a B++)

Best Omelettes in Utah

Best Omelettes in Utah
-Revised 30 Jan 2019

Also see Best Breakfasts in Utah, and other food ratings on our site: TasteTestersClub.blogspot.com

Note: We've tested them at a couple dozen places. These are our favorites.

1. Roots Cafe, SLC.
a. The Gardener. grade: A
2. Belgian Waffle and Omelette Inn, Midvale.  Best here: avocado, mushroom, and 3 cheese blend. (was #1 since 2000 until Cafe 300 came along late 2012. With it going out of business n 2018, we discovered our new fave, Roots, we in summer 2018).

3. Joe's Cafe, Orem - vege omeletgte - with sauteed veges and cheese. Using the ingredients (which they saute), they are the only ones we've  found that do a vege omelette right, and with the right quantities of each. 

4. Denny's Vege-Cheese omelette. Ditto.
4A. Denny's Philly omellette. same omelette but with pieces of prime rib added

5. Mimi's Cafe  Le California Avocado BLT Omelette B+

6. Ruth's Diner. Asparagas, tomato, and smoked gouda. B+

B-minus omelettes:

a. Slate Restaurant, Provo. Nice touch as they make it in front of you. best is spinach, tomato, onion

b. Guru's. OK but ask for EXTRA CHEESE. It adds to the flavor and makes it more moist. Fortunately they add it inside, unlike some places. .


Weak: dozens we've tried. The most recent ones that we have re-confirmed include:
Village Inn. C-
IHOP

Historical note: (former number 1:)  OUT OF BUSINESS: Cafe 300, Provo. Our fave was a custom one. Here was our write-up:
" - you have to request it: avocado, mushrooms, and 3 cheese blend.
Note that the house omelettes that come with the whole kitchen sink at most cafes - everything from bacon and ham to onions and green peppers are OK, but for a great omelette we recommend you stick to 2 or at the most 3 veges, plus cheese, and eat the meats on the side. And always order with cheese!"