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”

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!

Just look at the little captions

The ever popular Mac & Cheese

Crunch & Munch Bread Pudding

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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