Pet Peeves – 2016 – AKA Things That Piss Me Off

Posted on March 16, 2016 by LeAnne Notabartolo

Disclaimer: This post is filled with foul language. If your sensibilities are tender, I suggest you take a pass.

Pet Peeves is the one of the few blogs of the year where I bitch, whine and generally complain. I try to keep this a positive space, but I need to vent about this once a year. It’s that one blog post of the year where I let loose and bitch about the little things that annoy me, piss me off or just aggravate me to the point of distraction. Yes, this post will be filled with foul language, and yes, you are supposed to laugh, snicker and get a chuckle out of these. Everyone has Pet Peeves, but I am bold enough to share mine. Share yours in the comments. Share this blog and make the world a better place…for me <snicker>. I frankly don’t care whether you agree with me or not, I just like to get this off my chest once a year. If you see something that I posted in another Pet Peeves post, it’s because it STILL pisses me off.

Noisy eaters. I loathe people who chomp, slurp and chew with their mouths open. I know I am not alone in this one. My sister has the same peeve.
Not following through. If you say you are going to do something, fucking do it!
Bar Fails
- No place to hang my purse. For fuck’s sake, put hooks under the bar! On a true bar stool there is no “back of the chair” to hang your bag and I don’t want it there where it might walk away.
- Not taking care of clients in the order they bellied up to the bar (Tits McGee at my local is famous for only waiting on the men and ignoring the women).
- Local bars with nothing local on tap. With the explosion of local breweries in every corner of the country, you should be able to get something local or regional on tap at your neighborhood bar.
- Crap on tap. If you are going to drink shitty, mass produced beer (BMC – Bud, Miller, Coors), you should have to drink it from a bottle or can and pay the upcharge for that. Bars who take up valuable tap space for crap piss me off too.
- Stop acting like PBR tastes good. You are only drinking it because it is cheap and you are either hipster or you are cheap.
Grammatical and spelling errors by paid journalists. Generally they have an editor or proofreader who should be catching the mistakes. At the very least they have spell check on their word processing software. (I can forgive bloggers on this one.)
I am completely over molecular gastronomy. It’s cool and all, but it is a very expensive way to turn already fabulous ingredients into something utterly ridiculous.
Paying for parking REALLY pisses me off. Basically you are paying to rent a space to put your car when you are already spending money in an establishment. I get paying for city street parking meters and truly have no problem with those, but Disney? Casinos? Six Flags? Hotels when you are a guest? Malls? You have got to be fucking kidding me!
People who complain about politicians but don’t vote. If you don’t vote, you lose your right to complain to me. Shut the Fuck up!
Nitpicking over the check. If you like someone well enough to sit down to eat with them in public, splitting the check evenly should be acceptable. Chances are you are going to eat with them again, so even if you “only had a salad” it will all come out in the wash later.

Please share YOUR pet peeves in the comments section!

Downtown Grand – Not So Grand

Posted on October 23, 2015 by LeAnne Notabartolo

Ever since the renovation and reopening of the Downtown Grand, I have been a huge proponent of the property. I have booked blocks of rooms for parties, pub crawls and events in the downtown area. Nice rooms, decent house staff, conveniently located, gorgeous pool…and all of that has changed. I have had my final stay at that property.

Upon their reopening, the food and the beverage program needed some work, but they were on the right track. Their center bar NEVER was a draw for me because all they had was crap on tap, but the Mob Bar and the Art Bar both had a decent cocktail menu with friendly staff. Bring in Chef Todd Harington and the food game was brought to a new level. Harrington has exacting standards for his kitchens and it showed in the revved up menus and the wonderful Chinese restaurant on property. His departure saw a complete “dumbing down” of the food and beverage program. The Chinese resto is gone. The cocktail menus have been stripped. Little known fact is that Pizza Rock, Triple George, Commissary and Hogs & Heifers are all owned by The Grand, but to the best of my knowledge, only Pizza Rock solely creates their own menu. The other properties have input and oversight from the Execs at The Grand.

Let’s be candid, if you want luxury, Downtown Vegas is not for you; you should stay on The Strip. If you want clean rooms, nice staff and a good value, in close proximity to our hottest, hippest, growing scene, this is where you want to stay when you come to Vegas. You can find excellent food at value pricing compared to the Strip and you can stay in landmark hotels like the Golden Nugget, Golden Gate (all newly renovated FYI) and Four Queens.

One of the things I have always loved about Vegas is that it is the only major metropolitan area in the country where you do not have to pay for parking at your hotel. In Chicago, NYC, San Francisco, New Orleans, LA etc. you pay per day to park your car starting at $25 a day, sometimes without in and out privileges (meaning there is an additional fee to USE your car during your stay). I even paid to park at a damn Hampton Inn in Ontario, California (not even LA, mind you…). Well, either that is changing or the Downtown Grand thinks it has been transported to another city. They charged me $11 to park my car and I was a hotel guest. To add insult to injury, when we claimed the car the price listed for parking was $7!

Here’s the thing – I think paying to park is the biggest fucking racket on the planet. I was floored when I moved here and found that I need only tip the valet and I could use valet parking. And I LOVE that. I understand wanting to charge for event parking (I don’t LIKE it, but I understand it). I even understand charging tourists who are USED TO PAYING for parking, but when you charge the locals for something they can get free at other and better hotels, be prepared for the back lash. FYI – the Four Queens also charges you to valet if you are NOT a hotel guest, and I even get that thought process.

So let’s take a look:

Stripped cocktail program
Stripped menu options and closure of the best resto on property
Broken A/C in the room (another story entirely)
Rude front desk staff when addressing the parking charge AND the A/C
Having to pay for parking

I guess I will stay elsewhere when I am downtown. The Downtown Grand is NOT the only game in town and while they were the best for a little while, they aren’t even the best game in downtown any more. I’ve yet to stay in The D, The Four Queens or the Golden Gate and the Las Vegas Club is undergoing renovations to the entire property, so we’ll wait to see what they bring to the game.

The feature Image is from USA Today online.

Life is Beautiful Indeed! #LIB2015

Posted on October 1, 2015 by LeAnne Notabartolo

I wasn’t supposed to be there. Really I wasn’t. I wanted to go, but I was supposed to be in Phoenix. Then a dear friend – let’s call him “G” – texts me to say he has a pass for me. Hubby goes to Phoenix without me. It is a GA pass, and I am totally cool with that. Along the way, new friend “L” gives me a “Holy Shit” wristband that allows me access to literally everywhere except backstage. How’s that for serendipity?

On the left my GA band and on the right the “Holy Shit” JACKPOT band. Yes, I hit the Jackpot!

This third year of the event is the first time my schedule has allowed me to attend. I was so energized and overwhelmed by the experience that it took me until today to finish writing this.

Here is what I learned about Life is Beautiful:

You need to plan and stick to the plan. I didn’t get to see any of the speakers I wanted to see because I didn’t stick to my plan. I’d run into people I knew and end up talking to them instead of dragging them with me to the Learning Center and by the time I got to the venue, the room was full.
The organizers drastically underestimated the appeal of Bill Nye. I talked to a few people who said the room was so packed they couldn’t get in, that he really warranted a stage. Of course I wasn’t there.
September is too hot for this event – it really needs to be in October.
Drink more water
You will never get to see and do everything you want, even if you are there all 3 days. There are often conflicting scheduled performers.
Do the research on the bands so you’re better informed and can choose which venue to visit if there is a conflict.
After speaking with a wheelchair bound attendee, I learned that LIB had excellent access for the handicapped. He said he had been to more than 20 festivals of this type THIS YEAR and LIB was in the top 3 for accessibility.
Walking into the crowd at a Snoop concert is like walking into the crowd at a George Clinton show – be prepared for a contact high.
I could have make a FORTUNE if I had a booth selling ICE!

Here is what surprised me about Life is Beautiful

The Killers! Brandon Flowers was supposed to perform without The Killers. SURPRISE!
I was more interested in the art installations than I expected to be. The Art Motel was a brilliant use of reclaimed space with fabulous interactive art.
The bottom left reminded me of Cannoli. Many of the installations were interactive and not meant for pics, but for sound! On the bottom right, the “Google it” balloon only showed up with your flash.
I didn’t see one fight
I didn’t see anyone who was severely over-served (aka – drunk as a skunk)
The vibe was MUCH more mellow than I expected. People were acting like they were Canadian apologizing for bumping into you <smirk, giggle, snort>
A flowy skirt is a good choice. Pants are bullshit.
Duran Duran was fantastic! They looked good and sounded great!
Helpful and polite staff, including ALL team members!
Free drinks at Commonwealth from It’s On Me
Free Drinks from anyone is a good thing. Made even cooler when they are from It’s On Me!

What I loved best about LIB was…

Free water stations…even if it was piss warm
No Selfie Sticks allowed!
The variety of food trucks
Clockwise From Top Left:
Cousins Maine Lobster Roll
Truck U BBQ – pulled pork torta
Buldogi’s Angry Dog
Strip Chezze’s Hot Streak SandWISH
Oming’s Kitchen Lumpia
The map was excellent! Compact with a complete schedule of events included and easy to read.
The APP!!! Create your own schedule, follow along with what is hot, and search by artist, time slot or venue to find exactly what you want.
My “Holy Shit” wristband allowed me into the artists’ lounge so I could hang out with my fellow culinary friends, enjoy Brian Howard’s roasted pork and an open bar.
My fave bar, Atomic Liquors, was in the footprint of the festival grounds this year so I could go in, cool off, drink great beer and use a REAL commode.

Biggest disappointment? Not getting to see the Banksy art installation truck open. There was no schedule as to when the back of the truck would be open, you just had to luck into seeing it. I guess that is par for the course with Banksy!

I wonder what was inside?

Schedule permitting, I am attending next year with a better plan to NOT miss anything I am truly interested in seeing. I also learned that the “Holy Shit” band could not be purchased. It was a gift from the sponsors. SOOOO….I am putting it out there NOW for 2016 that I was truly grateful and would love that opportunity again!

Grills & Guitars 2015

Posted on September 25, 2015 by LeAnne Notabartolo

The kickoff event to Life is Beautiful was held at the SLS Foxtail Pool and the food was fantastic! Many of my faves were on hand to serve up some great food, but a few were noticeably absent . The cocktails by the liquor sponsors were varied and delish (I did not drink the tequila). And a good time was aimed for by all, but it wasn’t all good. Having chaired and worked several of these types of events, I know there is a lot that goes into them and a LOT that can go wrong. When it is an annual event in the same location like DISH or Taste of the Nation, there is always the opportunity to learn from mistakes and make it better the following year. While this event is annual, it is NOT in the same place every year, so new challenges arise with different staffing, planning teams and regulations based on the venue. The first time we attended G & G it was outdoors downtown, adjacent to the LIB grounds and it was phenomenal. Last year I missed out because I was out of town. This year John and I were both thinking it should return to downtown next year.

According to one of the staff members, the fire dept made them reconfigure the layout of the booths at the last minute and ALL of the grills, hot boxes, ovens, steamers and fryers were ALL in the same place, away from the stage for Spoon. The new layout caused huge bottle neck problems in traffic flow and while the event wasn’t oversold, it sure seemed like it trying to get through the throng of people. Incidentally the new layout also made it as hot as the gates of hell.

The Good

Echo & Rig’s oyster display. The grilled Oysters were one of the best bites of the night!

Wide variety of food – not the “slider fest” of recent events – Best bites? Shawarma from Cleo and Grilled Oysters from Echo & Rig
Excellent cocktail selections
Great photo opps for attendees with some of their fave celeb chefs
Beautiful venue
Chef Kim Canteenwalla in the background while one of the grillmasters shows off a Tomahawk Ribeye.

Ketel One had my fave drinks of the night, but there was a great Jack Daniels Peach offering as well

Chefs Hubert Keller and Laurent Pillard

The Bad

Ineffective door procedures. There was no Media Check-in set up when we arrived and once set up, I never saw anyone man that station. People were jumping into whichever line was moving faster (they had separate lines for GA tix holders and invited VIPs) and security wasn’t honoring the signage so people from the back of the line were getting in ahead of people who had patiently waited their turn. No clearly marked reentry area.
No smoking lounge – At every poolside event I have been to in this town there is a designated smoking area – even Vegas Uncork’d Grand Tasting. In order to vape or smoke you had to exit to the casino and wait in line all over again to get back in…because there was no clearly marked reentry
Hot as the gates of hell because all heating elements were in the same area and there was NO breeze at all. NO air circulation, nothing. Thank goodness I had my personal fan.
Only corporate beer was represented, no local or craft beer available. Dos Equis and Heineken were our only choices.

The Ugly

Poor customer service from the security and valet at the SLS.

The very first G & G we attended was a great value for the dollar. This one was a disappointment. Still I’d go back again next year, and every year after that.

And BTW – all these photos were taken with my Samsung Galaxy s6 – yes, really! To see all of the pics, go check out my FB page Good for Spooning.

David Leibner – It’s On Me & Gift Local

Posted on August 20, 2015 by LeAnne Notabartolo

David Leibner is one of those guys. You meet him and immediately want to get to know him better. You know the type, handsome and confident with a strong handshake and a salted caramel voice. He looks and acts like he knows what’s going on…and that’s because he does. He’s the mastermind and creative genius behind one of the coolest apps for your phone and it’s one of those ideas that once you realize the brilliance of it you smack your head and say, “Why didn’t I think of that!?”

An 18 year resident of Las Vegas, via New York, Leibner works and lives downtown, participates in and supports downtown ventures and is the Founder and CEO of It’s On Me and Gift Local; a digital gifting app that interfaces with your desktop and smoothly performs on both Android and iPhone platforms. As of this writing there are three major cities with offerings – Las Vegas (75 locations), San Diego (30 locations) and newly launched New York City (6 locations) with more than 250 new locations to be added within 6 months across those cities. The participating merchants are a carefully curated group of locally owned restaurants and bars; no big box chains to weed through when looking to give a gift. Currently the app encompasses dining and cocktails, but they aim to bring personal services on board (like spas and hair salons) soon. The app literally takes gift “cards” to a whole new level and it’s a win-win-win for merchant, gift giver and gift recipient.

Let’s start with the merchants. Frequently, merchants will employ couponing services like Groupon to drive business in the doors. The downside is, “Once a customer has had your $20 [menu item] for $10 they aren’t going to come back and pay full retail for that same dish, no matter how much they liked it,” says Leibner. When someone uses a gift from It’s On Me it has been purchased at full retail value, no discounts. With the sign-up fee, a merchant is guaranteed a certain amount of sales. In the event that doesn’t happen, It’s On Me gives the merchant that specified dollar amount of gifts to use as they please. They can send them via email or text to clients who haven’t visited in a while. They can run a promo on Facebook to encourage participation. However they decide to use them. Sign up is available through the website and merchants can even add a free “affiliate button” to their website linking clients directly to the purchasing site of It’s On Me to purchase gifts for themselves or someone else. No cash spent on mailing or printing. Cost effective and genuinely effective marketing – go figure!

Bloggers like me, who write about food, can also be affiliates. Very soon you will see the affiliate button on my site – be on the lookout for it. When I write about someplace that is part of the It’s On Me network, I will be sure to point it out.

As a gift giver, how many times have you “forgotten” someone’s birthday? This app allows you to send a gift immediately to a recipient in any of your multiple contact lists (personal, Facebook, Twitter) and it will arrive via text, email, Twitter or Facebook message. Heard someone had a bad day? You can send shots of their favorite spirit at the neighborhood bar or coffee and a muffin, or a slice of pizza. The gift you choose will show up as a photo (like a gift card), but they can use the dollar amount to select anything they want. Of course you can choose a dollar amount instead of a specific item. And you can gift from your desktop or your phone.

When you receive a gift card, do you lose it, only to find it after it has expired? Yeah, me too. With It’s On Me, your gifts are in your phone. When was the last time you walked out the door without THAT? You don’t need the app to receive the gift, but you will need to download it to redeem your gift. Redemption is easy. Once you receive your check, open the app, find your gift and enter the receipt info from the check. The gift amount is automatically deducted and the server will charge you the balance if there is one. Don’t really like that bar or restaurant? No hassle re-gifting with ease!

Possible new logo for It’s On Me – keep your eyes peeled for changes!

Leibner and his team have created a unique ecosystem (think economic system) that is totally interactive, symbiotic and easy to navigate. The logo is easy to recognize, but watch for changes once the aforementioned service options become available. All too often finding local merchants with quality products can be a crap shoot. By vetting these merchants for you, the guess work has been taken out of gift giving by providing you with a list of premium locally owned businesses. Gifting local will forever be changed.

David says, “We thought it would be great for you to see how good it feels to receive a gift so click here goo.gl/0fvrdH and your next round is on us”.

Wolfgang Puck Joins Intuitive Forager

Posted on August 18, 2015 by LeAnne Notabartolo

Las Vegas, NV 8/12/15 — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wolfgang Puck’s Artisanal Breads Come to the Intuitive Forager Farmshop! Special Event “Farm-to -Table” Wolfgang Puck Artisanal Bread Tasting Saturday, August 22nd 11:30am Downtown Summerlin Farmers Market under the Pavilion 1825 Festival Plaza Dr. Suite 170 Las Vegas, NV 89135

Intuitive Forager Farmers Markets is excited to welcome the arrival of Artisanal Breads from Wolfgang Puck’s renowned Baker, Pastry Chef and Chocolatier, Kamel Guechida. Available now! Come choose from an array of fresh baked Campagne, Ciabatta, Walnut Cherry, French Baguette and Multi Seed Breads made exclusively for our Farmshop.

Everyone is invited to a special “Farm-to-Table” Wolfgang Puck Artisanal Bread Tasting Event on Saturday, August 22nd – 11:30am at Downtown Summerlin Farmers Market under the Pavilion. Hosted by Kerry Clasby and Chef Kamel Guechida, come gather around the farm table for a spread of breads, artisanal jams, organic grass-fed European style butter from Sonoma County, assorted fromage from our cheese program, buttery lamb avocados, organic pesto, heirloom tomatoes, EVOO and aged balsamic from Ojai Valley –to name few! The Intuitive Forager Farmshop will soon carry Wolfgang Puck’s hand selection of namesake Wines and hand-crafted Chocolates.

CONTACT: Sarah Clark:805-358-5058 E: Kerry@intuitiveforager.com

I know it appears I have been a slacker, BUT there are some changes coming to the site that I want in place before my next post! Stay tuned. And go eat something tasty while you wait!

Food Movies for the Summer

Posted on July 7, 2015 by LeAnne Notabartolo

My dear friend Nanette is a movie lover. Don’t call her during the awards shows; she’s busy with her tally seeing if she agreed with the voting academy. When we watch movies together, other than the plot lines and characters, we notice very different things. She always hears the soundtrack and I almost never even notice it. What I DO notice are the costumes, make-up and set design. Especially in movies that have anything culinary as a theme.

Sometimes the food plays a role like an actor would, advancing the plot through its presence on the screen. Sometimes it’s an actor playing a chef that is the focal point. In some cases it is both. Of course there are scenes surrounding food which are engraved in everyone’s mind – the rotting wedding cake of Miss Havisham in Great Expectations, the deli scene from When Harry Met Sally, Andy Garcia making gnocchi in Godfather III*, the food fights in Animal House and Blazing Saddles and so many others. But these movies are MORE than that to me for LOTS of reasons.

With that in mind, here is a list of food-centric films to get you through the hot weather. Available on Netflix in streaming format unless otherwise noted. This is just a jumping off point – there is SO much more out there including Netflix original series Chef’s Table and Anthony Bourdain’s The Mind of a Chef. Pop that popcorn and settle into the A/C and cool off.

Chef – Jon Favreau’s pet project is wonderful. And I LOVED this soundtrack so much I bought it. What I loved most is a chef finds his love of food again as he finds his love of life. The scenes in New Orleans are so reminiscent of taking my son there for the first time.

The Big Night – Stanley Tucci AND Tony Shaloub? YES! I find both of these gents to be hilarious and the movie is just as good. Two brothers argue about everything when it comes to their restaurant, their food and the critic coming to eat.

Murder by Death (DVD only) – Everyone and their brother is in this flick – Peter Falk, James Coco, Peter Sellers, Nancy Walker, and Dame Maggie Smith to name a few. While the food isn’t CENTRAL, scenes at the dining table are laugh out loud funny in this spoof of Agatha Christie stories.

The Hundred Foot Journey (DVD only) – What is NOT to love about this film? Dame Helen Mirren as an uptight, snobbish pain in the ass does everything in her power to quell the culinary dreams of an immigrant Indian chef until she realizes HE HAS IT. The book was stunning and film is a pretty decent adaptation.

Chocolat – Juliette Binoche brings magic to a sexually, emotionally and spiritually repressed town in the form of sweets at the beginning of Lent. Johnny Depp’s gypsy is romantic and fun and Dame Judy Dench’s cantankerous old broad is fabulous. Watching battered wife Lena Olin learn to temper chocolate is beautiful.

Fried Green Tomatoes (DVD only) – The book is terrific and the film is just as good. Intertwined timelines around a southern diner with a strong female driven cast make this a must watch for the food. I especially love the food fight and BBQ scenes.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi – this one is in my queue. I haven’t had the time to properly devote myself to this documentary project yet. 85 year old sushi chef Jiro profiled in the best way possible. (I know, how can I call myself a true foodie if I haven’t seen it yet…30 lashes with a wet noodle).

*did you ever notice in The Godfather Part I that whenever there are oranges in a scene someone dies or at the very least gets shot? Not that every time someone gets shot there are oranges (hello, Sonny?) but every time there are oranges, something is going down.

Confessions and Truths. You May Be Surprised.

Posted on July 1, 2015 by LeAnne Notabartolo

Lately I have been doing a lot of “interviews” rather than reviews, recipes or commentary. Las Vegas is teeming with great bloggers and food writers that cover all manner of topics. Brunches, Bloody Marys, Tapas, Cheap Eats, etc. My focus recently has been on the people who make all of that happen.

I figure if James Beard can have Delights and Prejudices, I can have Confessions and Truths. Many of you think I ONLY eat at fabulous places. Some may even think that I eat ANYTHING. A few of you know my very short “will not eat” list. All of these things will color the way you view me from now on…I promise.

I have never drunk a cup of coffee – love the smell, can’t stand the taste. I do, however, love coffee when used to amp up chocolate in baked goods and a coffee rubbed ribeye.
I hate the word “congealed” and I don’t like food that is congealed – like aspic or that funky gelled layer on some terrines and patés. It’s a texture thing. I don’t even really like Jello.
I am a junk food junky – I consider it a personal victory if I drive past Popeye’s and don’t stop and potato chips call my name from the snack aisle. Those chips have even been known to CHANT my name – especially the Salt & Vinegar variety…
I haven’t eaten McDonald’s in over 15 years.
The only bad fried chicken is NO fried chicken (except Chick Fil A).
I can skip dessert if you give me potato chips.
MOST of the time if I am going to eat dessert, it had better be chocolate.

Bourbon Barrel Chocolate Mousse served with Bourbon Barrel Russian Imperial Stout

I despise baking unless it is cookies.
French Macarons are my favorite cookie of all time and I’ve never made them because I don’t have the patience.
I have not baked a batch of cookies in more than 2 years.
Just say no to Béarnaise. I really dislike tarragon and I can taste it even if it is just a smidge.
Salad is one of the most boring things on a menu. I would rather eat hot vegetables. If I order a salad as my entree, I have been kidnapped and I am trying to signal you.
Canning tomatoes makes me happy – I like the plinking sound when the jars seal.

I love the PLINK! sound when the jar seals.

I love anchovies and sardines.
I WILL NOT eat peanuts or melon – it’s a smell thing. (Exception – I don’t mind peanuts in Thai food because I can’t smell them with all the other great fragrances).
I really like fennel as a veggie, but I can’t stand black licorice…go figure?!
I will try almost anything once, especially if I don’t know what it is.
I draw the line at insects – I tried them once…I’ll pass in the future.
I am allergic to pineapple and MSG.
Charcuterie Whore is a label I’ve given myself – sad but true.
Poor service is a bigger crime than mediocre food.
I like to cook with my friends and would make a TV show out of it if I could.
There are only two things from NY that I still miss food wise – a fucking hard roll and a decent goddamned bagel.
Properly cooked offal is a dream for me, as is game meat, but so far I haven’t tried brains or eye balls.
I used to hate lamb and pork until I had it cooked properly. That was 5 years ago.
I am the asshole that orders fish at a steakhouse.
I would rather have a burger or tartare than a steak.
If I have to fight with my food, I probably won’t enjoy it (i.e. crab legs, shrimp I have to peel, lobster in the shell, etc.).
When Chefs eat in my house I freak out a little and don’t sleep the night before they arrive. Yes, really. Even if they are good friends.
Joe Bastianich scares the shit out of me and I have never met him.
Gordon Ramsay doesn’t scare me and I’ve never met him.
Expect me to go full blown fan girl when I meet a Chef – I truly admire them.
I like it when Chefs let me cook with them. I always learn something new.
I salt everything. I have a collection of different salts in my kitchen and have been known to carry a little tin of Maldon salt in my purse.

This was a while back and the collection has grown. Yes. I really do use them.

I’d love to hear your Confessions & Truths! Share in the comment section of the blog.

Chick Fil A, Kiss My Ass

Posted on June 24, 2015 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

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…

VOM FASS Las Vegas Launches Free Whiskey Experience

Posted on April 6, 2015 by LeAnne Notabartolo

The following is NOT my content, but the pics are

LAS VEGAS, NEV.—Unlocking one’s inner whiskey aficionado is now within reach, right in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip at VOM FASS Las Vegas.
VOM FASS, located at The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian (near TAO), has launched a new, free Whiskey Experience event on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. At the informal, 45-minute class, guests will learn about various whiskeys from around the world and how they are made, while getting an overview to understand the differences between bourbons, Irish whiskeys and Scotches.

Attendees will have the opportunity to taste one bourbon, one Irish whiskey and two Scotches during the experience, as they learn about various kinds of Scotches, blended whiskeys, blended malts, single malts and the different regions from where the spirits derive.

“In our store every product has a story, including all of the whiskeys,” said Kim Weiss, owner of VOM FASS Las Vegas. “This new program is an opportunity for our guests to broaden their understanding of the wonderful world of whiskey. Each whiskey event evening will be a little different than the next, so we encourage everyone to stop by as often as they’d like. Make it a date night, bring a friend, or keep all of the information to yourself to impress guests at your next dinner party!”

Reservations are not required. Those planning to attend can visit facebook.com/vomfasslasvegas to get specific details on which whiskeys will be featured and discussed.

At VOM FASS Las Vegas, casks of various spirits are suspended throughout the store. All of the spirits are estate grown, most by fifth generation spirit producers. A selection of wines from around the world is also available.

In addition to spirits and wines, VOM FASS offers a variety of vinegars from Italy, France, Spain and Germany, along with oils including extra virgin olive, nut and seed, health and cooking oils. All of the spirits, vinegars and oils are poured into re-fillable, environmentally friendly bottles straight from the casks.

VOM FASS Las Vegas is open Sun. – Thurs. from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. and Fri. – Sat. 10 a.m. until midnight and is located at The Grand Canal Shoppes inside The Venetian Hotel & Casino near Tao Asian Bistro and Nightclub. For further information, visit www.vomfasslasvegas.com. For updates on events and unique recipes, “Like” VOM FASS Las Vegas on Facebook (www.facebook.com/vomfasslasvegas).

Good For Spooning

Food, Travel, and Cooking

Category Archives: Lifestyle

Pet Peeves – 2016 – AKA Things That Piss Me Off

Bar Fails

I am completely over molecular gastronomy. It’s cool and all, but it is a very expensive way to turn already fabulous ingredients into something utterly ridiculous.

Downtown Grand – Not So Grand

Life is Beautiful Indeed! #LIB2015