Tag Archives: Yardbird

Chick Fil A, Kiss My Ass

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

Everyone here in Vegas is all atwitter about Chick Fil A opening up and I say they can kiss my fat, fried chicken loving ass.

I consider myself to be an ally to the LGBTQ community and I also try to put my money where my mouth is. The chain and owner vocally railed against LGBTQ issues. Well…since half of my friends, my sister in law and so many others I know are part of the LGBTQ community I saw no reason to ever go back. I show my support – and displeasure –  with my wallet when I walk out my front door. I don’t shop in W-mart and I choose to shop local when possible. I don’t fly Southwest, Frontier, Allegiant or Spirit. I don’t shop in Hobby Lobby, McD’s, Carl’s Jr. I actively avoid merchants who piss me off in one fashion or another and I will pay more money to have superior customer service. I know several people who feel the same way I do about LGBTQ issues and are still so excited about Chick Fil A opening in Vegas. I just don’t get it.

Let’s take political and social action off the table and be honest. The best thing about Chick Fil A is their hilarious Cow advertising. The fried chicken isn’t even that good! FYI – chicken is their first ingredient, salt is the second and MSG is the third (Moment of Truth – MSG is one of my 2 food allergies. I break out in hives).

So, if you need a fried chicken fix here in Vegas I suggest you try one of these places instead:

Mochiko Chicken – Trader Joe’s Plaza on Decatur – locally owned and operated with a variety of bowls, strips, sauces and good customer service. They are also big supporters of Breast Cancer related charities.

M & M Soul Food Café – Charleston & Valley View – Locally owned and operated. Trust me, just go. All the things you love about Southern food, including sweet tea and collards.

The Bromberg Brothers places –  Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken (Downtown Summerlin) and Brooklyn Bowl (The Linq) all have great chicken!

Fried chicken wings at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in Downtown Summerlin

Fried chicken wings at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in Downtown Summerlin

Honey Salt – Charleston & Rampart – Locally owned and operated by the Blau Group, Chef Kim Canteenwalla makes a seriously good fried chicken sandWISH*. Huge supporters of Three Square Food Bank.

Yardbird – Venetian – I can’t say enough good things about this fried chicken. Flavorful to the bone and pressure fried in LARD…yeah, THAT. (pictured at the top of the page)

And if all else fails, go to Popeye’s.

I have a lot of friends who are “ethical eaters” for a variety of reasons. And I choose to eat and shop ethically as well. Ethical means a lot of things to a lot of different people, but the basic definition is:

pertaining to or dealing with morals or the principles of morality; pertaining to right and wrong in conduct

According to my mother, a company can choose to do whatever they like (clearly, they are PEOPLE according to congress after all). That’s true, but so can I. I do not have to spend my money in places I find morally repugnant. Choose one of the local options list above. I am quite sure they will appreciate your business MUCH more than corporate giants will.

*sandWISH is a word of my own making…

The 10 Best Things I Ate in 2014

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

Thanks to all of you for following along with me on this ride. If you have been enjoying this blog all year, some of these pics will look familiar. If you are new to Good for Spooning, be sure to subscribe by adding your email address in the space to the right. Also, you can follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter. All @Good for Spooning.

It’s time for my annual list of awesome things I consumed.  Many of them are available to you NOW, there are only a few on this list that aren’t available regularly and only one that you will never get to enjoy.  But DO enjoy this list. All photos provided are by me personally. In no particular order, here we go…

Northwest Seafood and Coconut Soup at Etta’s Seafood in Seattle. Salmon, clams, mussels, shrimp, calamari with house sambal.  Yes, it’s from Tom Douglas.

The best thing we ate on the entire trip! A Thai spiced fish stew at Etta's.

The best thing we ate on the entire trip! A Thai spiced fish stew at Etta’s.

Fried Quail at Hakkasan in the MGM Grand – this was on the menu during Restaurant Week for Three Square. It is not a regular menu item, but shows up from time to time.

Crispy Fried Quail with Five Spice

Crispy Fried Quail with Five Spice

Bacon Jam at Carson Kitchen – yeah – there is no pic of this because we ate it too fast.  Just go, and get it and thank me later.

Spicy Cold Noodles at Mama Ji’s in San Francisco – thank goodness the noodles themselves are icy cold because the sauce that goes on top is SPICY and HOT. Definitely a do-over the next time we eat there!

Cold Spicy Noodles at Mama Ji's

Cold Spicy Noodles at Mama Ji’s

Prime Veal Chop at NYY Steak in Coconut Creek, Florida – This was so much more than I expected in a simply prepared veal chop. Dry aged 21 days and absolutely perfect.

And Whitey Ford's retired number was on my plate!

And Whitey Ford’s retired number was on my plate!

Charcuterie and Sausages at Lowbrau and Block Butcher Bar in Sacramento – I don’t have enough nice things to say about this. Lowbrau and Block are connected and sister stores.

Charcuterie board from Block Butcher Bar

Charcuterie board from Block Butcher Bar

Spicy Andouille sausage at Lowbrau

Spicy Andouille sausage at Lowbrau

Beef Tasting Dinner at STK – Chef Stephen Hopcraft pulled out all the stops for this fantastic meal. Having a “take it or leave it” attitude about beef in general, after eating this, I now have a MUCH better appreciation for cow flesh.

Our beef selections included all natural, grass fed and prime filets.

Our beef selections included all natural, grass fed and prime filets.

Three different types of filet mignon with sides.

Three different types of filet mignon with sides.

Porchetta at the Swine & Wine dinner at MTO – The Sunday Suppers at MTO are always a surprising mix of Chefs working inside a theme.  This was obviously a pork-centric meal and this porchetta was a stand out.

Porchetta waiting to be sliced at MTO's Swine & Wine

Porchetta waiting to be sliced at MTO’s Swine & Wine

And my top two faves this year, drumroll please….

The Fried Chicken at Yardbird in Miami – it’s opening in Vegas later this month and I can hardly wait! I will be able to eat this fried chicken any time I want. (Moment of Truth – Fried Chicken would be on the short list of “last meals” for me).

Just look at the little captions

Just look at the little captions

The Chefs to the Max Dinner – RX Boiler Room – Twenty Four Chefs together created a once in a lifetime meal as a fundraiser for critically injured food writer Max Jacobson. Each and every course was superb.  Bonus for me? Because I volunteered my time, I was allowed full access to photograph the Chefs at work and this is my fave pic of the night, taken during the pre-shift briefing. Can I tell you how fun it was to see Bobby Flay taking pics of other Chefs at work like any old fanboy?

The Chefs were just as giddy as I was I think.

The Chefs were just as giddy as I was I think.

Sneak Peek at Yardbird

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

I have a lot of friends who are in the food industry in one fashion or another and happily I get invited to some really great outings, but RARELY do I get to eat somewhere before food writer Friend Al Mancini does.  THIS time I can say, “Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner” with glee because I was able to preview some of the fantastic menu items coming to Yardbird Southern Table and Bar (Opening at the Venetian in December) before anyone else in town!

Chef and Friend Todd Harrington, along with Chef and Friend John Courtney are both training in Miami at the original Yardbird. I passed through on my way to a cruise ship and Chef Todd treated Hubby, Sister Nancy and I to a fab lunch with signature dishes and cocktails that blew my socks off. Julian took really good care of us and I know all of Las Vegas will get the same royal treatment. He has been with the company for years and is coming out to train the new staff. When you are served, you get a little “history” lesson on Yardbird and what makes the dishes so spectacular. Hint – it’s the home cooking secret recipes that have been table tested for generations.

First of all you need to know that Fried Chicken is my Kryptonite.  (Moment of Truth: Ask anyone who knows me about my chicken problem.) When Todd told me about the chicken I had to take a seat because I nearly swooned – brined for a day and then secret recipe seasoned and pressure fried…in lard. Be still my beating heart. It’s kind of their “thing” and once eaten I understood. The meat is moist and flavorful all the way to the bone, not just the skin.  Then of course there was the “BLT” with fried green tomatoes, and the deviled eggs…oh shit, I could go on all day!  Just look at the pics and checkout the Miami menu here.

Deviled eggs with "redneck caviar"

Deviled eggs with “redneck caviar”

Fried Green Tomato BLT - see the pimento cheese and the bacon?

Fried Green Tomato BLT – see the pimento cheese and the bacon?

BBQ Ribs and house made pickles. See that pickled okra? It had my name on it!

BBQ Ribs and house made pickles. See that pickled okra? It had my name on it!

Just look at the little captions

Just look at the little captions

The ever popular Mac & Cheese

The ever popular Mac & Cheese

Crunch & Munch Bread Pudding

Crunch & Munch Bread Pudding

Banana Cream Pie with white chocolate ice cream

Banana Cream Pie with white chocolate ice cream

Not shown are the amazing biscuits and house made jam, grilled farmer’s cheese with watermelon, shrimp & grits and a few cocktails.  Once Yardbird opens you are seriously going to want to check it out if you enjoy southern style food at all.  For me, the best thing is that everything is meant to be shared, and the portions clearly reflect that idea. Think about sitting down to eat at Aunt Sally’s table where the plates were passed to everyone…get the picture? There were 3 of us at the table and trust me, we were more than sated and there were leftovers. May I suggest you bring friends and wear comfy clothes the first time? You will want to try everything.

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