Giovanni's and Chicken Fiesta: Part Deux

Weston came to RVA today - yay! Soooo nice to see him in person and not through video chat.

After revealing to him a surprise I'd been working on for about a week (a DVD compilation of our past photos and videos), we went for a nice walk and did a little shopping. Thank you for my pretty celebratory dress, honey! Oh yes, I also took him to Chicken Fiesta and he was in absolute heaven.

After returning home we were exhausted from the heat and walking around, so we watched a little Law and Order and then headed out to try Giovanni's once more. You can read my first encounter with this wonderful establishment here. The experience was, as before, very very delicious (and affordable). This time we chose the combination of Italian sausage, sun dried tomatoes, and feta cheese.

This past week I've been trying really hard to be mindful of how much I eat, not so much what I eat, since I don't really believe in depriving myself. I wanted to share a little tip passed on to me from my Weight Watchers years: when eating out, it's important to keep in mind portions. You typically are paying for 2 portions when you go out, so ask for a clean plate and serve yourself what you normally might eat at home: this way you aren't tempted to overeat, even by accident. Remember, you can always take some home for a second or third meal.

Fiesta Time! (this isn't what you think it is)

Some of the best things I have ever eaten I never would have known about had it not been for word-of-mouth. Kuba Kuba, Tastebuds, and Bev's come to mind. Chicken Fiesta, on Broad Street, is my latest addition to the list.

I don't exactly know where to begin - let's start with a little back story. I heard about Chicken Fiesta from a friend in my program and so we, along with another food-loving friend, decided to plan a trip over after class one day. I owe my friends a lot, since I'd have no means of getting to these places without their offers of transportation.

Chicken Fiesta is in a little strip mall and a bit unassuming. To be completely honest, I would never have gone in had I not heard such good things; the chicken on the front looks a little, um, chain-store-esque... The place is super chill - wooden tables and benches and a food counter to order. When you walk in, there is a rotisserie chicken fire pit and this, my dears, is why Chicken Fiesta has such a great reputation.

I don't know what the spice rub is, but their chicken is sinful. The skin is crisp and flavorful and so is the chicken meat itself. It's not low-cal for sure, and your fingers turn shiny moments after you pick it up, but we all deserve a treat once in a while. I ordered a half chicken which came with 2 sides and it cost a little over $8. The sandwiches are about the same price and quite tasty - my friend let me try some of hers. Side note: Emilija, thank you so much for always letting me sample for blogging purposes.

So, as far as sides go, I got the pinto beans and yucca fries, which the reviews were raving about. They did not lie - I am hooked on yucca fries. So crispy on the outside, a nice soft interior, and more filling than you'd think. The beans had huge chunks of slow-roasted pork and were super flavorful. Chicken Fiesta is also known for a famous yellow sauce which comes in a tiny dipper container. It was really yummy, but I think it might have been mayo and Dijon - with a little citrus, maybe lemon. But who knows, it was delish. And they also gave a little green chili sauce which I was a HUGE fan of. We also got a side of plantains which were sweet and had a little crust, just the way I like them! I could have eaten a whole plate of them, but I contained myself.

So, I realized I basically just broke down a really, really good "fast food" restaurant, but hopefully I convinced you to try it for yourself - and feel free to take me with you ;)