100 Favorite Dishes 2015: Hoppin' John at Yard Bird + The Larder

This year we're marking the hundred-day countdown to Best of Phoenix 2015 by sharing some of our favorite dishes at restaurants all over the Valley. Have a suggestion for a dish you'd like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email [email protected].

14. Hoppin' John at Yard Bird + The Larder

"Make it nice" is the motto at Yard bird + the Larder, and make it nice chef Stephen Jones does. Located inside the DeSoto Central Market, this food counter has only been open since April, but in the last few months it's made quite a splash in the local scene. Jones, who's best known in town for his work at Blue Hound Kitchen and Cocktails, takes classic Southern dishes and infuses them with a subtle Arizona flair. The result is a selection of affordable plates unlike anything else in town. 

So far I've never had a dish I didn't like off the Yard bird + the Larder menu — from a heirloom tomato and watermelon salad to a fried chicken skin po'boy, the food's always been on point. There are even a few dishes (including the chef's crispy cauliflower that's dressed in hot sauce and bleu cheese) that are quickly becoming classics. But my favorite, from the beginning, has been the chef's version of Hoppin' John. 

It might just be that I love the history behind this dish, which goes back to the Carolina Rice Kitchen and the Antebellum South. But it certainly helps that to make it, Jones uses real Carolina Gold rice and Sea Island Red Peas. These are the ingredients that inspired the dish in the first place and you taste the difference — the authenticity — in the final product. It's a savory blend of peas and rice complemented with onions, celery leaves, and chive flowers to provide depth and spice. Simple, but satisfying, it's quickly become one of my go-to plates. 

The 100 Favorite Dishes so far...
100. Waffle at Matt's Big Breakfast 
99. Pacific White Fish Taco at La Santisima 
98. Beef Roll at Taiwan Food Express
97. Zinc Burger at Zinc Bistro
96. Goat Biryani at Khyber Halal 
95. Key Lime Doughnut at Welcome Chicken + Donuts
94. Chicharrón Prensado Quesadilla at La Merced
93. Moist Succulent Pork Chop at Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe
92. Deep Fried Squid with Salt and Pepper from Nee House Chinese Cuisine
91. Coconut Raspberry Brownie at Karl's Quality Bakery
90. Fried Chicken at Phoenix Public Market Cafe
89. The Tyler at Cheese 'N Stuff
88. Hurricane Popcorn at Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour
87. Ceviche at El Chullo
86. Date Shake at Couscous Express
85. Red Bean and Rice Burger at Liberty Market
84. Banh Thit Nguoi at Da Vang
83. Breakfast Sandwich at Ollie Vaughn's
82. Crispy Pig Ears at Crudo 
81. Parillada at Asadero Norte De Sonora 
80. Warm Jar of King Crab and Butter at Little Cleo's Seafood Legend
79. Pumpkin Spice Macaron at Essence Bakery
78. Falafel Sandwich at Al Hana Restaurant
77. Sheng Jian Bao at DingHao Shanghai
76. Baked Vegetable Pesto at Oven + Vine
75. Pollo Guisado at FrinGo's Kitchen
74. Aloo Paratha at Tahoora Grill 
73. Exotic Mushroom Pan Fry at Cowboy Ciao
72. Otro Cortado Salad at Otro Cafe
71. The Standard with Cheese at The Stand 
70. Kimchee Bokum Bap at Hodori 
69. The 301 Pizza at Forno 301
68. Green Chile Burrito at Rito's Mexican Food 
67. Aloo Tikki Chaat at Little India
66. Oysters Rockefeller at The Salt Cellar Restaurant
65. Bún Thit Nuong at Hue Gourmet
64. Pistachio Chicken Liver Pate at The Gladly
63. Fried Green Tomato Sandwich at Welcome Diner
62. Crawfish at Angry Crab Shack
61. The Lady at Short Leash Hot Dogs
60. Torta Ahogada at Tortas Paquime
59. Baiynchaiv Crepes at Reathrey Sekong
58. The Straw at Miracle Mile Deli
57. Fresh Shattered Potato Chips at Ingo's Tasty Food
56. Southern Fried Chicken at Bobby-Q
55. Buffala Verace at Pomo Pizzeria Napoletana 
54. Baklava at Middle Eastern Bakery and Deli
53. Tri-Tip Sandwich at Grassroots Kitchen at Tap 
52. Fig, Cheese, and Caramel Empanada at Republica Empanada
51. Cauliflower Pizza at Forge Wood-Fired Pizza
50. Bandeja Paisa at La Tiendita Cafe
49. Footlong at Ted's Hot Dogs
48. Chettinad Dosai at Woodlands Vegetarian South Indian Kitchen
47. Sticky Buns at El Chorro 
46. Wood Grilled Artichoke at Central Bistro
45. Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings at New Hong Kong Restaurant
44. Carne Adovada Enchiladas at Los Dos Molinos
43. Mac n' Cheese at Lux Central 
42. Carolina Dog at Joe's Farm Grill
41. Whole Chicken at El Pollo Supremo
40. Fried Saimin at Aloha Kitchen
39. Hummus at Princess Market 
38. Xiaolongbao at Chou's Kitchen
37. No. 6 Crepe at Jobot
36. Lo-Lo's Special at Lo-Lo's Chicken and Waffles
35. Banana Cream Pie Trifle at The Parlor Pizzeria
34. Bean & Cheese Burrito at America's Taco Shop
33. Butterfish Tatki at Roka Akor
32. Pan Seared Scottish Salmon at Bootleggers Modern American Smokehouse
31. Peking Duck at Hong Kong Asian Diner
30. Vic's Meatloaf and Eggs at Dick's Hideaway
29. Arizona Super Taco at LuLu's Taco Shop
28. Zucca Chips at North Italia
27. Haemul Soon Du Bu at Café Ga Hyang
26. Salmon "Yasu Style" at Yasu Sushi Bistro
25. Pineapple Li Hing Mui Ice Candy at Super Chunk Sweets and Treats
24. Mixed Grill at Copper Kettle
23. Super Colossal Shrimp Cocktail at Steak 44
22. Egg Tart at Great Wall Cuisine
21. The Pittsburgher at Wimpy's Paradise 
20. Beignets at Southern Rail 
19. Ricotta Gnocchi at Rancho Pinot
18. Ika Kare Age at Hana Japanese Eatery 
17. Pork Belly Pastrami at Citizen Public House
16. Pig Face Dumplings at The Clever Koi
15. Grand Prix at Crepe Bar