Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Best Spaghetti Sauces

 

Best Spaghetti sauces

In order, tested side by side



TEST 1

1 May 2023


B+

Rao - Tomato basil


B/B+

Olive Garden marinara (not meat sauce) - restaurant

Stauffer's meat sauce with spaghetti – frozen meal

Schwann's meat sauce with spaghetti – frozen meal

By the Bucket – marinara sauce with spaghetti – take-out restaurant


B

Mediterranean Deli – marinara sauce with spaghetti – restaurant

365 Organic marinara – Whole Foods Market

Rao – marinara sauce

Rao – margherita pizza sauce


B-/B

Newman's tomato basil (in 2nd test below, it rated lower)

Food Club – tomato sauce


B-

Victoria – tomato basil


C+/B-

Newman's Own – Sockarooni


C+

Barilla – traditional with savory oregano and basil

Barilla – tomato basil

Mezzetta – Italian plum tomato


C

Ragu – chunky mushrooom and green pepper sauce


C-

Vine Ripe – traditional pasta sauce – in can


D+/C-

Classico – traditional sweet basil

Classico – tomato basil


D

Hunt's – premium pasta sauce, traditional – in can


TEST 2 – Spaghetti sauces

15 May 2023


Starting with 9th best above – Rao's margharita pizza sauce


B

Rao – margharita pizza sauce

Yo Mama's basil sauce


B-

Lucini Organic Tuscan tomato


C+/B-

Michael Angelo's Nonna's Secret tomato basil


C+

Newman's Own organic tomato basil (rated B-/B in test #1)


C/C+

Botticelli – tomato basil


C

Prego – traditional


C-/C

Bertolli – tomato and basil


C-

Ragu traditional

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Best Vitamin C powder for taste

 

Best Vitamin C powder

7 Dec 21


Note: where grades are tied, sometimes I put a number after the grade to show which is better. Where others are tied, the higher ranked one had lower carbs/sugar.



BEST-TASTING:


Emergen-C Tangerine: A- (8g carbs, 7g sugar)


Ester-C Natural Orange B/B+ (6g carbs, 5g sugar)


Trace Watermellon C++ (4g carb, 1g sugar)


Trace Pom Blueberry C+ (4g carb, 1 sugar)


Emergen-C Acai Berry: C+ (8 carb, 5 sugar)



2ND LEVEL:


Trace Guava Passion Fruit C/C+


Trace Mixed Berry C/C+ (6g carb, 3g sugar)


Trace Acai Berry C (ditto)


Trace Concord Grape C (ditto)


Trace Cherry Lime C1 (4 g carb 1 sugar)


Trace Lemon Lime C2 (4g carb, 1 sugar)



3RD LEVEL:


Trace Pineapple Coconut C-/C (5g carb, 3 sugar)


Ener-C Cranberry: C-/C (5g carb, 5g sugar)


Trace Cranberry C- (4g carb, sugar)


Ener-C Tangerine Grapefruit C- (5g carb, 5g sugar)


Trace Gangerine C- 2 (ditto)


Ener-C: C--1 (5g carb, 5g sugar)


Emergen-C Lemon Lime: C- -2 (8g carb, 7g sugar)


Trace Raspberry C - - (ditto)


Trace Orange Blast C- - (ditto)


Ester-C Natural Raspberry: C- - (5g carbs 4 g sugar)


Ener-C Orange D+/C- (5g carb, 5g sugar)


Resistance (Costco) – 3 flavors: D -

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Best Cheesecakes in Utah

LATEST TEST: 

13 Oct 2021

Best CHEESECAKES IN UTAH

The Block Restaurant – strawberry honey cheesecake (Labnah fermented yogurt, more sour) (July) A

PF Chang – Lawler, own recipe for them; Lawler also makes special recipe ones for Outback and Carrabbas and others (10/10/21) (graham cracker crust alone, tested in 2017: B+) Total: A

Red Lobster, Steven Charles – A Dessert Company, Aururo, CO (formerly Steven Roberts Original Desserts), but Red Lobster sells this whole cheesecake at their outlets if their inventory is good, for a decent price (10/12-13/21: vanilla bean cheesecake with cream topping and shaved nuts: A-/A

Whole Foods Market, by J.M. Rosen Cheesecake, San Francisco (lemon and orange rind flavored) (10/12-13): A-

Cheesecake Factory – frozen, Walmart (10/11/21) B+

Junior – frozen from Brooklyn, Smiths (10/10-12/21) cold B+, 2nd day thawed deteriorates in flavor: B

Carrabbas, Lawler – different recipe than PF Chang B

Feldman's New York deli shipped in (10/10/21) B-/B

Simple Truth, Skyr yogurt, Smith's (10/11/21) B-

Jon Donaire, Macey's (10/11/21) C+/B-

Gandolphos with cherry topping (cheap C/C+ grade cheesecake with canned cherries), pak B+ (1st: 6/14 alone, 2nd: ~July with Steve)

TESTED SEPARATELY FROM ABOVE:

Peru 51 - cheesecake de maracuya (passion fruit glazed cheesecake): B/B+ (texture quality of cake C+, flavor B++)

Momo – (7/30 alone) too much air

caramel topping version A-

fresh strawberries and choc syrup B+

original (regular) B+

Cheesecakes lower than B+

Momo – (7/30 alone), flavors different than above:

peaches and cream B/B+

German chocolate B-/B

Lucy's Pizza – cheesecake B/B+ (6/14 with Jacob and Chase)

LaJolla – B/B+, slightly too tart (7/31 with Steve and Brian)

Kabob Stop – Pakistani cheesecake (tastes like ¼ goat milk) C+/B- (June and July alone)

Cheesecake Factory version made for /Sysco (via Black Bear Diner) C+ (8/28 alone)



:
EARLIER TESTS: 2016-2017
(Note, the revised, latest test results are above.)
A -
1. PF Chang (graham crust alone B+), made for them by a company in Texas? that has many clients, including Outback, but they use different recipes for various clients
2. Red Lobster (made by Chudley's, a national dessert baker/distributor)
3. Whole Foods Market, sold by the slice as "Best Cheesecake in the World" 

A - -
4. La Jolla Groves, SLC, Provo

B++
4A. NOT TESTED WITH OTHERS, BUT FITS ABOUT HERE: Last Course, B++, with fresh strawberries added: A
5. Romano (graham crust B-)
6. Wingnuts (with much sour cream)
7. Carrabbas. brule ricotta cheesecake with strawberries and port wine reduction 

B+
8. Olive Garden. Sicilian cheesecake with black square box Andes mind topping

B/B+
9. Oregano, Provo. Carmelized Mango cheesecake 
10. Outback
11. Lawler's Member Only (GROCERY STORES)

B
12. Ruby River
13. Cheesecake Factory, plain (SEE THE FOLLOWING LIST FOR MORE of theirs).

B-
14. Vanilla Bean, Orem (July 2017) B-
15. Tucano's
16. Rusted Sun (not tested with others on this list)
17. Lucky H at Little America Hotel
18. Cheesecake Factory banana cheesecake

C+
19. Denny's

C/C+
20. Sam's Choice
21. Old Spaghetti Factory. Creme brule cheesecake

C
22. Gourmandise, SLC, with berries, grade C

C-
23. Mighty Baker, Provo
24. Cheesecake Factory mango key lime
25. Cheesecake Factory pineapple upside down

C - - 
26. At Whole Foods Market: Pie in the Sky brand

D+/C-
27. Cheesecake Factory's Key lime cheesecake

D+
28. Mighty Baker's lime cheesecake

Note: Black Sheep, Provo A- (2018 Note: with the former chef leaving in mid 2013, it may not be as good anymore, if it's even served).

Note: Best frozen cheesecake in a store: Jon Donaire at Emigration Market at 1700 E. 1300 S., SLC

Historical note: Spark in Provo was the best, but went out of business in June 2013.

ONLY AT CHEESECAKE FACTORY 2016 TEST 
a. Godiva Cheesecake B+
b. plain B
c. Chocolate mousse cheesecake (upper 1/3 is darker; shavngs on top) B+
d. pineapple upside down cheesecake C-, with cream B-/B
e. Hershey's with almonds (top half regular choc cake, lower half Hershey's choc cheesecake) B
f. mango key lime cheesecake C- 
g. banana cheesecake B-, added with real banana slices B/B+
h. key lime cheesecake D+/C-



Best chocolate cheesecake
1. Godiva chocolate cheesecake, Cheesecake Factory
Note: We tested most of their 30+ cheesecakes and all their chocolate ones. This is the best of theirs by far. Their Second best is #3 below.
2. Olive Garden chocolate cheesecake with mousse (mousse alone B+, cheesecake alone B+) total B+/A-
3. Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake, Cheesecake Factory 
4. Whole foods market, SLC, choc cheesecake alone C-, with their whipped cream B+

Saturday, June 26, 2021

Junk Snack Cakes (Twinkies, Ding-Dongs, etc.)

 

JUNK SNACK FOODS (Twinkies, Ding-Dongs, etc.)

26 Je 21


CHOCOLATE SNACKS IN ORDER:

C+ (best 3)

Little Debbie Mini double chocolate donuts

Mrs. Freshley's Deluxe Oreo mini-brownies

Hostess Double Chocolate-flavored mini donuts


C

Hostess Donettes, frosted mini-donuts

Hostess cupcakes, chocolate

Little Debbie chocolate cupcakes

Little Debbie Swiss Rolols

Hostess Zingers (has chocolate icing)

Hostess Ding-dongs

Hostess Ho-hos

Hostess Chocolate Cake Twinkies

C-

Mrs. Freshley's Deluxe Hershey's Triple Chocolate

Little Debbie's Frosty Donuts, chocolate


NON-CHOCOLATE cakes, in order:

B-

Tastykake, Butterscotch Krimpets (sponge cakes)


C

Hostess Twinkies, regular


Sunday, March 7, 2021

Best Mexican Restaurants in North Utah County

Best Mexican Restaurants in North Utah County

(Highland to North Orem)

rev. 6 August 2022, first round completed 7 March 2021

Taste-tested side by side with 4 items: chile relleno, cheese enchilada, rice, and beans


(Within each grade, restaurants are listed in order, except where indicated)

Chile Relleno

A-/A

Sol Agave's cream version


A-

La Puente



B++

Mi Ranchito

Sol Agave's carnita version



B+

La Fountain

Paco's Tacos



B/B+ (Not in order)

Los Arbiertos

Cocolito

Mexiquense (standard is C/C+ below, but it rates here with their red mild sauce from the salsa bar)

El Mexicano (Tuesdays only), North Orem



B

Los Compadres

Betos



B-/B

Los Hermanos



C/C+

Jalisco Market

Mexiquense (but higher, above, with added red mild sauce at bar)



C

La Costa



Cheese Enchilada



B+ (not in order in this grade group)

Cocolito

Mi Ranchito

Jalisco Market





B/B+ (not in order in this grade group)

Sol Agave

Pacos Tacos

Mexiquense

Costa Vida flour version





B (not in order)

Taqueria 27

La Fountain (corn)

Costa Vida corn

Los Compadres



B-/B

Cafe Rio flour



B-

Cafe Rio corn

La Costa

La Fountain (flour) (not tested with above 2 in this grade)



C/C+

Betos



C

Los Aribiatos



C-

Los Hermanos



Rice



B++

Mi Ranchito



B+ (not in order)

Los Aribiatos

La Costa



B/B+ (not in order)

Taqueria 27

Los Abiertos

Cafe Rio



B (not in order)

Sol Agave

Pacos Tacos

Jalisco Market

Costa Vida



B-/B

Mexiquense



B-

Betos



C+/B-

Los Hermanos



C+

Cocolito

Los Compadres



C/C+

La Fountain





Beans

A

Mi Ranchito



B+/A-

Pacos Tacos

Los Abiertos



B+ (not in order)

Costa Vida refried

Costa Vida black

Sol Agave black

Costa Vida refried

Los Hermanos, Lindon

La Fountain

Los Aribiatos



B/B+ (not in order)

Costa Vida pinto

Los Compadres



B (not in order)

Sol Agave refried

Costa Vida black

Cafe Rio black

Cocolito

Taqueria 27 - pinto



B-/B

La Costa



B-

Cafe Rio pinto



C+

La Fountain



C/C+

Mexiquense





MISC FOOD ITEMS TESTED

Street Corn:

Taqueria 27 B/B+

Mexiquense:



Duck taco:

Taqueria B



Chips

C+/B-

Sol Agave



Salsa

B-/B

Sol Agave 













Sunday, January 31, 2021

Best Pancakes in Utah

BEST PANCAKES IN UTAH

27 Jul 2021, rev 15 Aug 21, 20 Jul 24

Tested were plain (buttermilk and sweet cream) pancakes and multi-grain pancakes, all tested side by side except where noted.. With and without syrup. 

Corner Bakery Cafe

B/B+

Denny's buttermilk (they revised their buttermilk pancakes about 2016 - much better now)

Cracker Barrell buttermilk

Ruth's Diner 

B

Apollo Burger

Original Pancake House buttermilk (tested only with others from this restaurant)

B-/B

IHOP buttermilk 

Original Pancake House Sourdough (tested only with others from this restaurant)

C/C+

Village Inn buttermilk 

Original Pancake House Buckweat (tested only with others from this restaurant)

C

Left Fork Grill buttermilk (before 2024, it was graded A, almost a tie with Corner Bakery Cafe)

Denny's 9 Grain

C-/C

Black Bear Diner sweet cream

C-

IHOP Harvest & Nuts

PANCAKES NOTE: Need to re-test and add to this list: Joe's Cafe, Provo and Penny Anne's in Salt Lake Valley. Both rate at least a B, perhaps a B+.

SYRUPS AT CAFES :

A-

Cracker Barrell - 50% real maple syrup, 50% sucrose (real sugar) (For years it was 100% maple, but maple shortage caused them to revamp their syrup -- it tastes even better now.)

B/B+

Denny's

B-

IHOP

C+/B-

Smucker's brand, used at Village Inn, Black Bear Diner, and others 

C/C+

Original Pancake House


Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Best Bisquits in Utah

 Best Biscuits in Utah

revised: 27 March 21

IN ORDER, TESTED MOST SIDE BY SIDE:

A

Sweet Lake, Draper, A. (get sausage gravy ON THE SIDE so you don't get a drowned biscuit. The biscuit is great to eat both ways - butter only vs with sausage gravy); with butter: it's A+. Sausage Gravy is A-; gravy with biscuit is A-.

B+/A-

Station 22, Provo, A- (get sausage gravy) with gravy it's A+. With butter it's A.

B+

Ruth's Diner, Salt Lake City. B+ (not tested beside others). With butter and/or raspberry jam it's also B+.

Chic Fillet

B/B+

Pig in a Jelly Jar, SLC (their sausage gravy B/B+ also) (not tested beside others

Burger King

KFC

McDonalds

IHOP

Popeyes

B-/B

Village Inn

Wendy's

C+

Left Fork Grill (A- with their gravy) (not tested beside others)

C/C+

Callie's Cafe (not tested beside others)

C-

Carl's Jr.

D+

Denny's