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 2^nd 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 9^th 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

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 -

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+, 2^nd 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+ (1^st: 6/14 alone, 2^nd: ~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+

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

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 

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. 

A 

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

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