Three and a half years and $8.5 Billion later, CityCenter is now mostly open to the world.  Billed as the “Savior of Las Vegas” by both MGM Mirage fluffers and sensationalist media bitches alike, there are very high hopes on the shoulders of the massive complex, setting itself up for some correlatively sizeable disappointments.  Of the six buildings that comprise CityCenter, we visited the Crystals Retail and Entertainment District, Vdara Condo-Hotel, and Aria Casino and Resort.  The Harmon and Veer Towers aren’t open yet and we didn’t make it inside Mandarin Oriental.

Upon approaching and first entering CityCenter’s campus, it’s simply jaw dropping.  The collection of architectural marvels is undeniably breathtaking.  One of the things I first took note of is that you can’t truly appreciate the intricate angles of each unique building until you’re right on top of them.  The beautiful curves of Aria with the clean edges of Mandarin Oriental as well of the leaning precision of Veer versus the angular free-for-all of Crystals gives the eye a spectacular feast. Truly beautiful buildings.  Then you go inside them……

We parked at the Crystals valet, as it more or less serves as a central point to explore the whole 67 acres.  Walking into Crystals for the first time, I wondered if I took a wrong turn and walked into a hospital.  Granted, it is difficult to judge Crystals as it appears to be less than half occupied…but they’re the ones that still opened the doors so judgments will come.  It’s rather ugly on the inside.  White walls everywhere with funky angles jutting out at will.  I would have to think that once the solid white walls are replaced with colorful storefronts, the overall impression will change a great deal, but right now it’s pretty brutal.

One of the big features being lauded about CityCenter is the collection of public art displays throughout the six buildings and connecting outdoor spaces.  Crystals has both a Water Tornado thing featured, as well as a melting Glacier display.  Both are brilliant concepts that were both very poorly executed.  The Water Tornado thing had condensation collecting in some of the tubes and just generally looked cheap.  The Glacier thing was something that could have been beautiful but just looked like an ugly collection of ice sticks. The infinity-edged pool that the melted water collected in was also poorly designed as water would spill over in different spots requiring a Resident Mopper to continually walk around the exhibit.

Crystals uses a touchscreen interactive system for their directory. It sucks. Not very user friendly and just confusing to understand, mostly due to the asymmetry both vertically and horizontally in the mall. Using a system more designed for a typical box shaped mall won’t work in the Christopher Reeve-esque Fortress of Solitude.  Definitely still a work in progress, I question the decision of opening Crystals.  Veer is scheduled to first open in mid-January and the epic FAIL that is The Harmon is scheduled to open in late 2010.  I don’t know if the face saved by opening Crystals on time was worth the face lost by opening a half empty, cheap looking mall.  Only time will tell.

It was then off to Aria, which is considered as the centerpiece of CityCenter. A nice fountain in the Porte Cochere with some magnificent waterfall walls lining the entrance, my hopes were high.  Then we went inside.

Hands down, Aria has the ugliest lobby of any hotel built in Las Vegas since the Tropicana.  Think decent airport. Hardly something you’d want to see in a higher end hotel.  Big beams, no attention to detail and a clusterfuck of partitions in some possible last-minute thrown together Feng Shui fix, it is just ugly.  The casino floor looks as if the M Resort and Red Rock Station threw up their leftovers.  Grimly dark and overtly cheaply masculine, one has to wonder where the hell the name “Aria” comes from.

We were hungry so we decided to get some lunch.  We went to Aria’s cafe which is called Cafe Vettro.  Obviously not expecting much from a casino cafe, but this would be the worst casino cafe I’ve been in, and I think I’ve been in them all.  Relatively small menu and heinously overpriced ($18 for a Cheeseburger made from Angus beef), we decided to pick up and leave after not even getting a drink order in after 10 minutes of being seated.

We walked over to Vdara, the condo-hotel of CityCenter. Vdara is non-gaming and I believe non-smoking, an obvious rarity on the Las Vegas Strip. We decided to give Vdara’s restaurant, Silk Road, a chance.  The decor of Silk Road seems to be inspired by the thought of Austin Powers having an epileptic fit.  It makes the set of Laugh In look like Masterpiece Theatre.  Hideous. But…..the food was excellent.  I had the Spice Rubbed Kobe Flat Iron Steak ($20, take THAT Cafe Vettro) and it was magnificently flavorful. I would be happy to risk temporary blindness / insanity from the flamboyant decor again for how tasty the piece of meat was.

That 60’s kitsch seemed to infect other parts of Vdara as well, especially with the artwork hanging behind the Check-In Counter. Vdara seems to be like the asshole that thinks everything vintage is automatically cool.  Oh well….at least the food is good.

There is a walkway that connects Vdara to the Bellagio as well as the free monorail tram system that connects Bellagio, CityCenter and the Monte Carlo.  Again, the attention to details that other high end resorts would have never missed were eyesores, such as the visible ductwork on the way to the Bellagio.  At least they put a potted plant in front of it though, that makes a world of difference.  After being whisked away back to Crystals, we went back into Aria.

We made reservations at one of the primary reasons for my excitement towards this $8.5 Billion behemoth opening up; Julian Serrano’s self-titled tapas restaurant.  With a few hours to kill, we went to the View Bar, which is a bar that has a view of the previously discussed ugly lobby.  I was excited to see they had New Belgium’s 1554 Black Ale on the bottles list, but then disappointed when I was told they didn’t have it.  I wound up getting the Black Butte Porter by Deschutes, and that made up for it.  The cocktail waitress uniforms were rather hideous as well.  Kind of a cheap, awkward version of the uniforms at the Wynn. However, what was inside the uniforms was rather nice, so at the end of the day, who gives a shit about the uniforms.

After a few rounds we still had time to kill, so we went exploring the rest of Aria.  As stated before, the casino floor is remarkably dark, which was confusing as I recall the gaming space being flooded with natural light being touted by the MGM Mirage fluffers.  Maybe they meant that there was only natural light simply due to the lack of artificial light…I don’t know.   The smell of Aria was quite nice, sort of like a chocolaty burnt sugar.  I don’t know if it was a smell that was being pumped in, or if it was the treats from Jean-Philippe Maury’s Patisserie permeating throughout the space. Either way, it is hands down the best casino smell in town.

Walking around Aria found more awkward spaces with little-to-no detail. However, in this collection of interior design mediocrity lie some apparently magnificent restaurants. Shawn McClain’s first Vegas venture in his restaurant Sage, Sirio Maccioni has an Italian Bistro called Ristorante, Michael Mina opens a seafood extravaganza in American Fish (Lobster Wellington on the menu, HELLO!!!) and Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Steakhouse, which I was told was a “gorgeous restaurant” where a “brilliant dinner” was had by one of my favorite Entertainment / Foodie Gurus in town, Robin Leach.  Of course, there is also Julian Serrano, which we were still an hour away from our reservation. We decided we had it with the walking around. The new plan was to sit at the bar and drink Sangria until it’s time to eat.

Our dinner at Julian Serrano was one of those epic experiences that makes me kiss the ground and thank some imaginary fairy tale that we live in Las Vegas.  We sat at the bar and got a pitcher of the Red Sangria.  It was delicious. One of the smoothest, most flavorful sangrias I’ve had.  The layers of flavor in the sangria were deep with the unique addition of bay leaf and cinnamon.  After a pitcher down the gullet, we decided to start our food journey, which wound up being 12 different plates of delicious.  The flavors were all spot on and the craftsmanship on some of the platings and the knifework was just a level above and beyond.  With this being opening weekend, Chef Julian Serrano was in the house, taking time away from his legendary flagship, Picasso, at the Bellagio.

Everything was good. We had 12 plates of food and I can’t pick a favorite.  The first bite we had was the Pan Manchego which is a simple toast with a fresh tomato sauce and a thin slice of 1 year aged Manchego cheese on top with a drizzle of olive oil.  It was so simple and so spectacular. Bursting with flavor, like the Sangria, it was complexity through simplicity. Other notables was the Pinxto de Chorizos which was Cocktail Weenie sized pieces of Chorizo over a bed of Garlic Mashed Potatoes, the Coca Chorizo which was Pastry Dough covered with Caramelized Onion, Piquillo Peppers, Chorizo and Goat Cheese and the Traditional Spanish Chicken Croquetas which Kerry aptly described as “deep fried Chicken Soup”.  If there was a “weak” spot, I guess I would say it was in the desserts, but that’s like trying to describe the worst part of an orgasm.  Fat, happy, fulfilled and perfectly satisfied, we decided to head home before the inevitable food coma fully set in.

Our first visit to the urban monstrosity left me with conflicted feelings toward CityCenter.  The majesty of the exterior is greatly let down by the half-assed interior.  It is laced with extraordinary restaurants, yet has no real other draw to go there.  They label CityCenter as a cultural mecca, yet not one single live musician was heard in our nearly 8 hours of being there.  We shall see how the “Savior of Las Vegas” develops as the economy heals and time allows some mistakes to be corrected, but right now the judgment is greatly mixed.  As it stands right now, I would say it is a shitty version of Wynncore.  Certainly nothing unique and nothing groundbreaking outside the architecture no matter how much the good PR folks at MGM Mirage want to fluff us.  It’s worth a drive across town to see, but certainly not a flight from far away, and that is what Las Vegas needs right now.

Get ready to enjoy nonstop gaming action, world-class dining, spectacular live and fabulous shopping opportunities during your Las Vegas vacation getaway! Check out the latest deals at Westgate Flamingo Bay: www.wgflamingobay.com.

So I haven’t been the diligent blogger I aspired to be. Oops.  Hopefully that will change now as the season of Top 10 Lists is upon us.  A holdover from the MySpace era, I try to start with the negative lists and then end the year with the positive.  Without further adieu, I present to you the first of many Top 10 Lists; The 10 Worst Places / Things I Ate in 2009.

10.) Woo at The Palazzo

As it is well known throughout the world, I am not a big fan of Asian cuisine.  It needs to be nearly impeccable for me to say I like it.  I had big expectations from Woo due to the hype of the local favorite, Mayflower Cuisinier, of which Chef Ming See Woo made the rare crossover from local foodie hero to culinary tourist trap on The Strip.  The meal was terrible.  Grossly overpriced miniscule portions with temperatures all over the place due to an apparent epic fail in coordinating the meal back in the kitchen.  It was so poor that I took the initiative to change the name of the restaurant to Boo.

9.) Todd’s Unique Dining

Todd’s Unique Dining may have been aptly named back in the 80’s, but Asian / Pacific / American Fusion has had its day in the sun and is now in a quiet retirement village in Boca.  There’s nothing “unique” anymore about dumping teriyaki sauce on meatloaf.  However, the “unique” fail is not the only reason this made the list.  Painfully bland food at prices higher than Applebee’s helps it a great deal.

8.) Memphis Championship Barbeque

I can’t understand how people like this place.  The meat is dry and tough and the sauce tastes like rotten balls.  Good barbeque is a tough find in Vegas, but Memphis takes the prize of being the worst.  Memphis Championship Barbeque is so bad that it makes me even more excited when McDonald’s brings back the McRib.

7.) Cathouse at Luxor

I made the big mistake of ordering a steak at a place that isn’t a steakhouse in Las Vegas. So that’s my bad. But…it still doesn’t excuse not being able to cook a piece of meat.  In the Bordello-themed tourist trap by Kerry Simon, I first ordered a NY Strip cooked Medium, to which the first presentation came in the form of a burned boot. I sent back the grossly overcooked piece of meat only to get back one that was seemingly only warmed up by the cow’s final fart.  Practically cold to the touch, I sent back the now undercooked piece of meat to receive something overcooked, but at least in the ballpark of Medium.

6.) Panevino Ristorante

Another place I had high hopes for based on people’s suggestions.  It was awful.  It made Olive Garden seem like a Mario Batali restaurant.  Horrifically overcooked pasta with prices that made your eyeballs pop out of your head.  I actually blame Glenn and David at The Pasta Shop for this culinary travesty.  Kerry and I intended to go to their rock solid establishment only to find they were closed to the public due to a private party that was booked.  We went to Panevino on a whim and the rest as they say, is Ragu history.

5.) The EDR at Mandalay Bay

Ok, I probably shouldn’t bitch about free food…but if you were to bitch about free food, the Employee Dining Room at Mandalay Bay gives you just cause to do so.  The running joke is “what deep-fried animal bits will be featured today?”, and it is usually a toss up from a disrespected pig or a disrespected chicken.  Beyond the deep-fried animal bits, the EDR chefs can make just about anything into a “Stratta” (whatever the hell that is) or offer up heinously processed mass-produced animal type substances that would give the strongest of colons a run for their money.  However, the cookies with dried cranberries and white chocolate are a hit.  Unfortunately, the month old Sugar Cookies found next to them are not, although make a great puck for a pickup game of Table Hockey.

4.) Circus Circus Steakhouse

What may be the ultimate in disappointments this year was finally going to the Circus Circus Steakhouse.  Boasting 20 some odd years of “Best in Vegas,” we thought the Circus Circus Steakhouse was a surefire hit.  We were wrong.  We thought, “how could anything in the cesspool that is Circus Circus be any good?” We were right.  The open-air grill in the middle of the dining area gives you that pleasant feeling of being covered in smoke and animal fat.  The steaks themselves were just awful.  Not seasoned at all, which you can barely get away with when you have the finest cut of beef, let alone the ass of an abused cow from which our cuts were chosen from.  The sides were also shockingly unseasoned and just a big pile of “blah.”

3.) Eggs Benedict at Simon Sunday Brunch

Shockingly enough, Chef Kerry Simon makes a second appearance on this list, but this time at his self-named flagship restaurant at Palms Place.  I single out the Eggs Benedict because everything else with this meal was quite good.  The poached egg of the Benedict first came out like a water balloon.  You could tell by looking at it that it was bloated, and cutting into the poor chicken abortion confirmed that water got trapped in the poaching process.  Water flooded the plate.  I asked the server to take it back to which he said, “that’s how they are.”  I disagreed with the uninformed chap and told him to exchange the mess anyway.  A new Eggs Benedict arrived at the table with a cold, overcooked yolk.  Apparently Chef Simon needs to get his people to go back to both the Steak and the Eggs section of their Cooking For Dummies textbooks and get some education.

2.) Southwestern Chicken Wrap on Continental Airlines

This collection of chemicals can only be described as Instant Diarrhea.  When you bite into something, have no clue what the hell it is and realize you can’t fit into the sardine can sized toilet on your four hour flight, deep panic starts to set in.  Basically if you took a soft, chemically enhanced flour tortilla and stuffed it with uncooked rice, corn, cold processed chicken and a cup of Crisco mixed with Cholula, you would have the Southwestern Chicken Wrap on Continental Airlines.

1.) BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse

Behold what is not just the worst dining experience we’ve had this year, but quite possibly in the five years since moving to Las Vegas.  The in-house microbrews that have flavor ranges from Dirty Ass to Syrupy Ass was just the beginning of the comprehensive disaster that was our experience at BJ’s.  Clueless doesn’t even begin to describe the wait staff.  If you could capture the Road Construction experience of 20 people scratching their balls, watching 2 people do all the work in a restaurant, this would have been it.  In the efforts to minimize trips back and forth from the beverage station, our courageous server decided to put about 13 cups of water on one tray, which of course resulted in a tidalwave for us and the surrounding tables.  Once the food came, I wish it just went back.  First they brought out a completely wrong meal for me, but then when they “corrected” it, they brought out a burger so overdone that a piece of charcoal would have said, “Damn, that’s some dry ass shit.” Kerry’s meal won the prize, though.  She ordered a simple Chicken Salad, but was what presented was a bunch of unripened tomatoes, rotten lettuce and deep-fried chicken bits all put it in a blender.  The pieces of the salad were so small it was inedible with a fork. Kerry needed to scoop her Salad Confetti with a spoon, which was not worth consuming anyway.

Legendary rocker Sammy Hagar will personally rock the red carpet at Cabo Wabo Cantina in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m. with a grand opening fiesta and live performance with his band, The Waboritas.  

The rock and roll event is open to the public. Complimentary tickets will be given out to the first 400 lucky fans beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 4 at Cabo Wabo Cantina. 

Cabo Wabo Cantina, located at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, is Hagar’s newest flagship U.S. location for the legendary rock and roll restaurant. The two-level, 15,000-square-foot Cantina brings the best of Cabo San Lucas to Vegas combining Hagar’s signature blend of killer margaritas, flavorful Mexican food and rock ‘n’ roll style. Cabo Wabo Cantina is open daily at 11 a.m. 

For more information visit www.cabowabocantina.com.  More information about Hagar and his famous tequila can be found at www.redrocker.com and www.cabowabo.com.

 Here is where we have some fun with Beer and Food. I love this part. I like to shake things up and try different pairings that most people don’t try, or may not think would work. When it comes to Thanksgiving foods there are some things to consider right off the bat. A good majority of the foods are very earthy in flavor so there are a lot of options out there to experiment with. I love the way Belgian beers work with the types of food that are being served. The Yeasty qualities of a lot of them work in such a fashion that it is a no brainer to pair them. I almost always suggest, like I said previously in part 1 a Quad such as Rochefort 10 or St. Bernardus Abt. 12, or Urthel Samaranth Quadrium. They are rich and bold beers that go great with the traditional Bird, stuffing, Potatoes, Squash, etc. Those aren’t the only Belgian beers that go with the meal though. Unibroue Maudite, Tripple Karmalite, and Gulden Drak are also favorites of mine for this meal. Without going too much in depth they are strong Belgian Ales that have flavors that lend themselves to the traditional meal especially the Bird itself. They bring out the earthiness in the sage and the sweetness in the turkey.

  That being said if you consider all of the flavors involved, they run from sweet to tart as well. The one thing I tell everyone when pairing with beer is that sometimes you need to let go of preconceived notions about pairing. A lot of you go into this meal, like I used to do as well and say “well hoppy beers are out, too much earthy food going on….not going to pair well.”  This is not true. Being a hop-head, I had to try and find a way to incorporate a good IPA or something hoppy into the meal. If you take a logical look an IPA is a great choice as well. It is very complimentary to everyone’s favorite  side dish cranberry sauce(yes, even the one shaped like a can that someone HAS to have at the meal or they call you a communist and ask you why you would bother making cranberry sauce from scratch when Wal-Mart sells it for 2 dollars a case). You also get a lot of contrasting flavors in the sweet and earthy dishes offered. Playing by the rules in pairing is for people who have basically never tried a different way to do anything. I am not like that, I always test the boundaries of rules to se what happens, and sometimes it’s good sometimes it’s bad.

Since I am a beer dork……here is what I decided to do I came up with “flights” for Thanksgiving to make it a little fun for everyone. I like to mix it up a bit with styles but I like doing a bit of themed pairings as well. One way is to go with a singular Brewery. You can do a favorite or go local if you have access to a local brewery. There is no order of what is a better pairing compared to another, these are just some that I came up with that work well.I will add to this in the next day or 2 so you can go out and have fun for the Big Holiday!

From mid-summer:

By Jason Farago| Posted Jul 15, 09 6:14 AM CDT

“(Newser) – Just a year ago, 25% of the country’s highest-grossing restaurants were in Las Vegas—where diners ran up $15,000 checks and tipped waiters with wads of C-notes. But now restaurants are closing, new construction languishes half-finished, and more than 5,000 food industry workers have lost their jobs. “It was gold, and suddenly it became fool’s gold,” one restaurateur tells the New York Times”.

Read rest of the article here:

http://www.newser.com/story/64417/in-recession-vegas-eateries-cant-beat-odds.html

Hi I’m strawberryeve, I live in Las Vegas Nevada.  I sell tours to the Grand Canyon on the Strip and I spend my days answering questions about the city, dining, the sights, shows, the weather and of course the Grand Canyon.   I worked as a tour guide on the Colorado river in the Hualapai reservation for two years so I know a great deal about visiting the Grand Canyon.  I’ve also found that people are really interesting in hearing the insider information I have about visiting Las Vegas in general.    I also dine, check out the casinos, go to shows and well, live in the world’s favorite adult playground.  I’m starting this blog to share all the info I can, my insights and my reviews of  shows, restaurants and resorts.  I will offer information on the best of Las Vegas, the must-sees and the must avoids, the best way to get around the Strip, the amazing things you can find off the Strip, my random experiences and occasionally a little history.   I am open to any questions or suggestions.  Thanks for checking out my new blog

They delivered at 4AM on a Wednesday night, solid.

I got the buffalo chicken pizza with onion and bacon, but ordered it without the ricotta. Not a big ricotta fan My friend got a massive philly cheesesteak that looked delightful.

Not the best quality, but definitely passable for late night food. Decent menu, will probably try a sandwich next time. Decent prices, just a perfectly par place. You see that alliteration? I’m a goddamn poet.

MEAT FILLED DOLMAS. MEAT FILLED DOLMAS.MEAT FILLED DOLMAS.

JEWISH FUCKING CHRISTMAS!

Hummus was great. MEAT FILLED DOLMAS!!!! were great. Athens fries were great. Greek salad with gyro meat was great.

DISCO LEMONADE HOOKAH!!!! was great. Mango-Melon hookah was great.

This place is just neato! I will surely be a repeat patron here, especially since it’s 10 minutes from my house. GET THE MEAT FILLED DOLMAS!!!!

This bar is awesome if you want to watch a bunch of bartenders do tricks. The DJ had a shirt that blew my mind. But I’m highly disappointed… I ordered an Irish Car Bomb, got no flair, and it wasn’t even a proper carbomb?

How can a bar like that not even have shot glasses for me to drop the jameson/baileys into the guiness? I’m astounded. Meh for me, 3 stars at best.

Lunch was great. Quick and easy. Got a tuna sandwich, side salad, red wine vinaigrette. Priced well for a dining experience at the Wynn, solid, easy.

Not much else to it, really. I guess to be in line with the raunchiness of some of my other reviews, I’ll say that I had a semi-boner after eating. I’ve also found out that’s called a broner. It’ll catch on, kinda like the lemon law thing in How I Met Your Mother.

This place serves meat that’s more tasty and tender than a grilled newborn.

I went with a friend of mine and we gorged out. We started with the maple glazed pork belly ($19). That was served with a little bit of greens, absolutely delicious. We also got the tuna tartare appetizer ($22); it was served with wasabi aioli, avocado, ginger, wonton strips. Delicious, high quality. Paired the appetizers with a good Macallan 18 ($25) and we were in heaven.

For my main course, I got the 10 oz American Wagyu/kobe beef ribeye ($80). It was cooked a perfect medium rare, served with a side of wild mushrooms ($12) and cauliflower ($12).  Paired that with the CUT Trace Manhattan (buffalo trace whiskey, standard manhattan, $14) and I was in heaven.

Dessert looked like too much, I couldn’t do it. Dinner came out to around $275 for the two of us with our 25% off as locals. Delicious meal, A+, high on my list, would go again in a heartbeat.

Ehhhh, I’ve eaten a lot of sushi in Las Vegas, this is painfully sub-par.

I tried the kiss of fire roll and the kamikaze roll. Kiss of fire, if I recall correctly, is shrimp tempura, albacore, garlic ponzu sauce, jalapeno, crab. It was fine. Just fine. No great shakes, nothing that made me say, “wow, that’s incredible.”

The kamikaze roll… the eel just didn’t taste that fresh. Call me a snob, but for these prices I’d expect better quality. When you’re paying $14ish a roll, I was just expecting better. I know it’s not Nobu or Okada, but still… for the same prices, I’d 10000% rather go to Naked Fish or Oyshi. For all the sushi options in Las Vegas, Kan Pai doesn’t do the greatest job of separating itself.

Nobody I know ever goes here because it’s next to Naked Fish. But… I forgot Naked Fish wasn’t open until four, I was meeting someone for lunch, so we hit up Amore.

How surprised I was! Quick, friendly service… buffalo chicken pizza was top notch. I was really, really surprised to find decent pizza in Vegas. As a New Yorker, my standards are high. Everyone I know raves about Setebello, but I’m telling them to try this place first.

Walked in, the place smelled like farts.

Ate food, was mediocre if I’m being generous.

Got home, I’ve puked so much I’m crying and shit so much my ass is bleeding. Thanks for the food poisoning, I’m never coming back.

This place was so hyped up that I was expecting something out of this world delicious. My favorite Indian restaurant in the entire world is Bombay Club in Harvard Square. Delicious, in my eyes, you can’t beat it. So, I came in here with high hopes.

This was the first Indian restaurant I’ve tried in Vegas, it’s right next to Lotus of Siam, and right away that was a good sign for me. Anything that someone in my group of foodie friends recommends that is in a seedy strip mall HAS to be good.

Started off with a kingfisher beer, papadom, and the requisite sauces. Friend of mine got the mulligatawny soup, I didn’t try it, but he said it was good! For dinner, I got the chicken vindaloo and kheema naan (lamb stuffed bread). I asked them to make the vindaloo as hot as they could, and I didn’t have a problem eating it. Wasn’t as spicy as I thought it’d be. I mean, it was spicy, but it wasn’t like –  OH MY GOD IM GOING TO DIE IF I DONT GET WATER RIGHT NOW AIGDJGSADJG kind of spicy, na’mean?

Overall, though, high quality food for a very low price. I was impressed with the place and I’ll definitely be going back again.

Designed like an artsy roadhouse (or are all longhorn skulls just blown glass?), this eco-friendly Las Vegas burger joint serves juicy piles of dry-aged, hormone-free Hereford beef with never-frozen accoutrements: homemade pickles delivered daily, from-scratch ketchup, and farmstead cheeses (American, Cabot cheddar, Brie, goat, and you-name-it). 

Their saloon-style bar innovatively serves up Vitamin Water cocktails or, if all that heath-food c__p is not for you, take a guzzle of their booze-loaded milkshakes with straws made from a biodegradable corn-based polymer — along with the shake, the straw will go straight to your hips.  And the good thing about it all- their food has no MSG- and they have wheelchair access. Imagine that. 

But the good gets even better.  They have recently issued a gastronomic challenge of unmatched giganto proportions: Finish their four-pound Extreme Burger with fixings and the pound of fries that come with it in an hour and the burger will be renamed for you.   Think of it like streets being named for the deceased… 

Recently, competitive eater Ron Koch of Las Vegas reportedly finished the meal – lounging with a respirator now – in 27 minutes, having it promptly and aptly named the “Undertaker.”   It included six patties, weighing a half-pound each, cheese, bacon, Portobello mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, burger sauce, spicy mustard, herb mayo and ghost peppers (aka naga jolokia peppers, confirmed by Guinness World Records to be the hottest chili in the world) and served on a sweet egg bun no less. 

But all records are meant to be broken, right?   Their new challenge features 11 patties (if the math is right, that’s a little shy of eight pounds) and consume not one, but three pounds of greasy fries of the good cholesterol kind.  Down about 11 pounds of food in an hour and the burger will be renamed for you – - or perhaps you could negotiate your choice of headstone at the grave site of your choosing?

The good news is that even if you don’t finish in an hour or all of it, the bill still will total $30. 

Now, really, is this an epic feast your arteries can be denied? 

To test your eating prowess, just head down to LBS Burger restaurant located inside the Red Rock Resort, 11011 W. Charleston Blvd., in Las Vegas. Call if you dare- 702-835-9393.

I have always been and always will be huge fan of Thanksgiving. Being a former East Coast guy, you have to start with the Macy’s parade on the tube while you are getting things going in the kitchen, call the bookie bet the Lions(the only time all year mind you). Slightly different here in Vegas, I just put my Lions bet in the day before at the sports book. Anyway back to the topic at hand….The Thanksgiving Feast, or what I usually pair with it. Let’s go back in time before Snoopy and Kermit the Frog were flying down to Herald Square. Now this is my take on History; The first Thanksgiving was in Massachusetts with Pilgrims and Indians, well you know the story….what I am getting at is that being from England, escaping to the new world for religious freedom, they probably didn’t bring any Pinot Noir, Beaujolais Nouveau or a nice Pinot Grigio(all hot wines for the holiday table)- the brought Beer, and most likely some form of mead. As luck would have it Beer goes quite nicely if not 10 times better than wine with what was served at the first Thanksgiving (and today for that matter), although I am quite positive that they were not concerned with that then, just being alive at that point was good enough.

  I like to dive into traditions and make new ones, so I pair up some different and unique beers with the meal. Now this really depends on what you do with the turkey. In general with a regular turkey (you know roasted with sage stuffing, gravy, etc) I go with Belgian ale. I know there are different styles and types, but the Quad (Quadruple) is the best fit for the meal in my opinion. They are full bodied, malty, somewhat fruity, and very rich in flavor which goes extremely well with the type of food, which is a nice complimentary pairing. Beers in this particular style are St. Bernardus Abt 12, Trappistes Rochefort 10, and Urthel Samaranth. If you want the style but prefer a good American craft brew Lost Abby Judgment Day, Avery’s The Reverend are a couple of great ones. Now if you can’t get these great beers or you want something different than traditional pairings, that I enjoy then I suggest going with the vast array of Holiday and Limited run beers that are out this time of year. This is a fun way to get into the holiday spirit and also try some outstanding one of a kind beers. One that I have recently tried and loved was Pangaea by Dogfish Head. It has a Belgian like flavor with a subtle hint of Ginger (they added crystallized Ginger to it). It is an incredible brew. If you can get your hands on it, it is perfect for the main course at any Holiday table. Along those Lines I would also suggest Stone’s Cali-Belgique if you can find that one as well. It’s essentially their IPA brewed with a Belgian yeast strain, so it resembles a hoppy Belgian trippel.I love a good hoppy beer and Celebration from Sierra Nevada is that. This one is nice and malty with a serious bite to it. This is perfect for those who choose to deep fry their turkey and hopefully not set your yard on fire. I love the combo of fried food and hoppy beers. It just works for me. This is the first part of my Thanksgiving pairing sessions; I will go more in-depth in the next couple of posts with ratings and some recipes if you are looking for some more interesting fare.

Like anything in life that is easy to put off, updating a blog—once you’ve taken a substantial (say 6-month) break—isn’t easy to start back up again. I’ve decided my self-imposed sabbatical has gone on long enough and it’s time to once again pick up my fork and start writing about the food I eat with it.

Recently I went on an extended vacation in the great American Southwest. We spent a few days in Vegas, the ultimate culinary playground, and then a week in Phoenix—while unable to top Sin City in number of celebrity chef-tagged restaruants per square mile, can definitely boast some great food.

First up, Vegas:

Mon Ami Gabi in the Paris (breakfast):  After a 6:30 a.m. flight from St. Louis to Vegas, for most people, the first thing they would want to do as soon as they got off the plane would be hit the slot machines or blackjack tables. Not me. I had breakfast on my mind, and after a little research, I settled on French bistro Mon Ami Gabi, with its solid reviews, promising menu and outside seating right in the center of the strip in the Paris Hotel.

It was the perfect beginning to kick off a three-day stay in Sin City. I had the Croque Madame, which was wonderful, and a mimosa. The french country bread was thickly sliced and a hearty base for the tender ham and melted Gruyere, and the fried egg on top was a deliciously decadent “sauce” when the yolk was broken. It was served with pommes frites—MAG’s version was more like chips, but tasty nonetheless. My husband ordered the French toast, which came with blueberries, but they kindly substituted with strawberries at his request, and a pillow of whip cream. My dad ordered the ham and Gruyere omelette, served with breakfast potatoes and the aforementioned french country bread, and my mom ordered the fresh fruit bouquet with creme fraiche and mint syrup, a side of toast and thick-cut oatmeal.

All in all, a great start to eating our way through Vegas.

Cravings Buffet in the Mirage (dinner):  Since it would be un-American to not tackle at least one buffet while in Vegas, we decided to hit up Cravings in the Mirage at the suggestion of Foder’s before going to LOVE. We showed up about 4:30 to allow plenty of time (and plenty of eating) before our 7 p.m show. An awesomely enough, we got the early-bird discount. So if memory serves, it was $18.95 or so a person.

First, the Cravings dining room was gorgeous for a buffet. Very Zen-like. The individual tables as well as the buffet stations were spread out and we didn’t feel the hog trough-vibe you get at most buffets (I’ll get to the Hilton later). Ethnic food was the specialty and everything was divided by type of cuisine. While it was decidedly still buffet food, it was definitely taken up a notch. My faves were the Asian corner with the various stir-fries, spring rolls and sushi and the Latin section with delicious pan-seared sea bass and chimichurri sauce. Desserts were the big weak point.

As is the point with buffets, I ate way too much, felt sick to my stomach and hated myself for my appalling lack of self-control.

Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak at Stone Crab in Caesar’s Forum Shops: Oh, my, was this place delicious. Went there for a Saturday lunch with my mom after some serious shopping at the Forum shops at the recommendation of my trusty guide book.  I ordered the stone crab lunch special for about $20 since it was their specialty and I had never tried stone crab before.  It came with three large crab claws, hashbrowns, cole slaw and key lime pie.

The crab was great, which goes without saying. The claws were super-meaty and served with this tangy mustard that I could have eaten by the spoonful. The hashbrowns were crispy, like I like them and well-seasoned and the special Joe’s cole slaw was very good as well. The key lime pie was the best I’ve ever had, and I know my key lime pie.

M ordered the special, which was a tortilla chip encrusted mahi mahi (perfection), and a green salad with a really tasty vinaigrette. The bread service was outstanding, too, with different variations such as pretzel bread and onion rolls.

‘wichcraft in MGM Grand: We went to Vegas for a wedding, which conveniently happened in a little chapel across the way from Top Chef head judge Tom Colicchio’s super-casual restaurant. We had some time to kill between the ceremony and the reception up in the suite, so we stopped by for a sandwich. I went with the pastrami, sauerkraut, swiss cheese and whole grain mustard on rye and my husband had the roasted pork loin with red cabbage, jalapenos and mustard on ciabatta roll. Both were good, and I could tell they were made out of quality ingredients, but I was underwhelmed.

Las Vegas Hilton Buffet (Sunday brunch): Why we would talk ourselves into another buffet after literally stuffing ourselves sick defies explanation. Though in all fairness, my dad had been to the champagne brunch at the Hilton before and said it was “wonderful.” And it was just eggs, bacon and other breakfast delights, so how could bad could it be? Right? Right?

Maybe our standards have changed or they were having an off day, but it was terrible. Like greasy pork chops stacked to the smudged plastic germ protectors-terrible. All the breakfast meats were  greasy beyond belief, the eggs were flavorless, and the lunch part of the brunch was unmemorable—save for the fact that my mom was so angry that we had paid almost $20 per person for another buffet that we were unhappy with, it bordered on amusing. Oh and a lady almost poked me in the eye with a feather from her enormous Sunday hat.

Really, there’s not much more to say. Just bad.

La Creperie in Paris: I went for a solo walk on the strip after brunch and before our next show (Jersey Boy @ the Venetian) to do a little shopping. Well, shopping makes me hungry so I stopped for a snack in the Paris at La Creperie after being drawn in by the sweet smell of fresh crepes. I went with the Favorite, which was the traditional mixed berries and whipped cream. The made-to-order crepe was huge ($7)  and I couldn’t finish the whole thing. It was light, fluffy and stuffed to the brim with a delicious mix of blackberries, raspberries and blueberries and topped with a perfect pillow of sweet whipped cream. It almost redeemed brunch.

Grand Lux Cafe in Venetian: When I’m on vacation or anywhere new, really, I like to try restaurants that I can’t find back at home. But on the other hand, when you’re traveling with other people, you have to compromise, too (funny, I thought the Hilton buffet was a compromise, but I digress). Now, I’m not a chain snob, but surrounded by all these wonderful restaurants in the Venetian, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t crying a little on the inside when we went to Grand Lux Cafe, the Cheesecake Factory’s inferior sister restaurant.  But we were starving, it was late and Grand Lux was a few steps away from the Jersey Boy’s theater.

Started with Asian Nachos, which were crispy fried wontons with chicken in a tangy peanut sauce, topped with wasabi cream and melted cheese. Pretty good, but it was vaguely reminiscent of the fake Asian flavor found in Lean Cuisines.

For my entree, I ordered a combo of two of their specialties, Shaking Beef and Caramel Chicken, both Asian-inspired—or uninspired, I should say. Just both very generic, Disneyland-does-Asian-style dishes.

I would talk about the entrees of my dinnermates, but most of them got the same thing I did. My dad got a burger that he was really happy with, so I probably should have followed my instinct and just went with a sandwich.

I will say, though, we ordered bananas foster and cheesecake for dessert and both were very good. So it wasn’t a total bust.

Border Grill in Mandalay Bay: For our last meal in Vegas, we chose Border Grill, the Vegas outpost of chefs Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, Food Network’s “Too Hot Tamales” Santa Monica restaurant. I had been to the original a few years ago and was highly impressed, so we thought we’d give the glittery Vegas version a shot.

I’m so glad we did. Went there for lunch, just before 11:30. The restaurant was still pretty empty and we were seated right away.

For appetizers we ordered fresh-made guacamole and then their special, some sort of potato-stuffed taquito, which was very tasty, but probably the least impressive part of the meal. The guac was wonderful, made with very fresh, simple ingredients.

I also ordered the house margarita with their tequila of the day, the triple-distilled Corralejo. I about fell out of my chair when I took a sip, because this margarita was the best I have ever had in my life.  Made with freshly squeezed lime juice and organic agave nectar, it transported me to a beach in Mexico. Transcendent.

Entrees: I ordered the special, a shrimp and poblano quesadilla with a mix of delicious cheeses… perhaps manchego and cojita? Everyone else ordered some version of their house tacos, carne asada, fish tacos and al pastor. All came with their own special touches. The tacos as pastor came with pineapple salsa, the fish tacos with tomatillo avocado crema and the carne asada with caramelized onion. So tasty.

Also, a word on service. We had excellent service at every single restaurant we went to. Border Grill was probably the standout, but Vegas servers work hard for the money, so hard for it honey…

All in all a great trip for my palate. Vegas never disappoints.

One trend in the last few years in beer that I have not been able to wrap my head around has been this whole pumpkin beer craze. I like pumpkin, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, even a pumpkin latte from your favorite overpriced coffee chain. I like beer, which to most is obvious since this is a beer blog and all. When the two come together, to me it’s a nightmare of flavors. I have tried a bunch, not just one but MANY over time. They are in 3 categories in my book sweet pumpkin pie in a glass, pumpkin pie spice hell (cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon) and the last one vegetable like flavors in poorly crafted amber ale. I am not knocking brewers here. I just do not like the beers. First off I am not a big fan of large doses of clove and nutmeg in anything. I am also not a big fan of using Vegetables of any kind in beer; it adds a flavor to me that is similar to a stock or a broth.

I know a lot of people love these beers. I know because I sell upwards of 3 to 5 cases of the different pumpkin beers that we are stocking right now a day. They tell me that they have been waiting all year for them to come out and they get giddy like school girls when they see it. In my head I just say what’s the big deal, I don’t get it, nor will I ever get it. I guess that is the equivalent of me getting all fired up when The Vertical Epic comes out from Stone, or when Celebration is out by Sierra Nevada. I think there are addictive properties to pumpkin beers that I am immune to. Kind of like meth or crack. This all being said I think that it’s more of a seasons changing to fall and Halloween and thanksgiving being not far away make them a hit. If a pumpkin beer was released in the spring it would fail to produce any following at all. That is my opinion on that (I know that pumpkins are not available then before anyone gets all uptight). I however do like the fact that brewers are trying different things like pumpkin beers and other variations. I may not like them but they are an injection of excitement to some people who may not ever try anything beyond the BMC brands. I can be a starter on a path to better beer for a lot of people which is one thing I am all for.

You know it’s a bad sign when your mom tells you she didn’t read your last post because it was too long. Sounds like it’s time for a shorty. Perfectly timed since there is no way, shape, or form I could adequately do justice to my final meal in Las Vegas. I can sum of the dinner in one sentence: It was, by far, the best meal I have ever eaten in my entire life.
I ate at Bar Charlie, a Charlie Trotter restaurant located within Restaurant Charlie at the Palazzo Hotel. The simplicity of the space is as follows: 18 seats outlining a sushi bar. The cuisine (as stated on the website) is, ‘a “kaiseki” or multi course Japanese dinner in that the primary menu offerings are small plates of varied ingredients which are prepared right before your eyes!’

she's a beauty

got it going on

color me happy

one, singular sensation every bite that you take

greenz

small piece of heaven

squid dumpling, you are a genius

I'm here to cleanse your palate and help you transition from savory to sweet

chocolate and strawberry

don't leave without me!

As you can see, the food is a work of art. I watched with wide, disbelieving eyes as the chefs created each plate with skill levels and creativity that I have never been privy to see firsthand. The tasting menus are constantly changing, which is why I don’t have the dish descriptions 6 months later. I won’t attempt to detail any aspect of the meal, but I will say with as much sincerity and heart that I can muster up: Go to Bar Charlie. Talk to the chef. Watch with amazement. Make your culinary dreams become a reality.

Where just a few short years ago this city was America’s darling, Las Vegas has quickly turned into the media’s punching bag.  A global recession that made one bubble burst make another bubble burst that made another bubble burst, Las Vegas has fallen on some hard times.  An unemployment rate of over 13%, a sea of foreclosed residential and commercial properties, new construction halted with rusting steel suspended in the air and budget crises at every turn, Las Vegas has taken the full brunt of The Great Recession head on.  Out of all these apocalyptic pictures of the 2009 edition of Las Vegas, the worst is still to come.  I fear the worst picture that will represent the hard economic times in one frame will be Garth Brooks‘ billboard as he headlines at the Wynn Resort.

Being announced today, although known for quite sometime, Garth Brooks will announce his headlining residency at the Encore Theater, partially replacing the time slots of the unexpectedly deceased Danny Gans.

For those that aren’t familiar with this resort, the Wynn and sister property, Encore, were built as the most opulent resorts in this town.  Steve Wynn, creator of the Bellagio, out did himself with two of the most luxuriously breathtaking resorts on the planet.  A collection of Michelin Star winning restaurants, world-class retail shops and luxury hotel suites with the finest appointments, both Wynn and Encore deserve every star, diamond and other accolade they have received.

These resorts were designed to attract the über-wealthy of the world.  People that will put millions on the table and not even bat an eye.  People that will spend thousands on a pair of shoes at the in-house Manolo Blahnik boutique, a sparkling diamond necklace at the in-house Cartier and a dress at the in-house Alexander McQueen shop, just to wear the outfit one time as they spend thousands more at the in-house nightclub, XS.

As the recession hit, prices were drastically reduced throughout the property.  The restaurants all cut their prices, but especially the room rates were significantly reduced.  The Wynn and Encore was no longer only accessible for the well-to-do.  What was once the playground for Edmond Champagne was now a nice day out for Joe Six-Pack.  Steve Wynn himself has been on the record saying the business his resorts are attracting are not what they were built for.

So how does Steve Wynn get his diamond out of the cow patty?  By signing Garth Brooks. (?!?!?!?!?) Don’t get me wrong, Garth Brooks headlining in Las Vegas will be a massive success…..but at the Wynn?!?  That’s like prominently displaying Dogs Playing Poker in the Louvre or the New York Philharmonic performing the celebrated works of John Tesh.  It’s just a big bowl of wrong.

With Citycenter’s Aria opening in mid-December along with the Crystals Retail and Entertainment District ahead of that, big competition is coming in the luxury resort market, and Wynn is going to have a shitkicker with a black cowboy hat as the face of his resort.  Bad idea, bad timing.

I can’t imagine a Garth Brooks residency complimenting the luxury brand of the Wynn.  This is a demographic target fail of epic proportions.  However, in the spirit of the Wynn Resort’s new direction, I would like to present some ideas for Mr. Wynn that will help tie in his new headliner with the rest of the resort:

• Encourage diners to throw peanut shells on the ground at Daniel Boulud
• Replace Manolo Blahnik with a Sheplers
• Install a mechanical bull in the High Limit Gaming Salon
• Have Chanel introduce a line of Designer Belt Buckles
• Expand the Esplanade to have the first Walmart to ever be attached to a Casino Resort
• Remove Baccarat pit in favor of more Penny Slot space
• SW Steakhouse to feature a “Fixin’s Bar”
• Redevelop Golf Course to be a Skeet Shooting Range / Paintball Course
• Beds in hotel rooms to be retrofitted with Vibrating Machines that run on quarters
• Lake of Dreams Light Show to now be a Dale Earnhardt Tribute Montage
• The scent that is piped in throughout the resort should be a combination of Old Spice and Pig Shit
• Fire Paul Bartolotta, remodel the space to put in a TGI Fridays and have Guy Fieri actually cook at it

Of course, this entire post will be retracted and Steve Wynn’s unconventional genius will be celebrated should Mr. Brooks employ a bass trombonist as part of his show.  Just sayin’.

No daytime plans were made for the last day of vacation in Vegas. Lounging by the pool and relaxing was mandatory, but I didn’t have any strict rules for lunch. When hunger arose, we went walking in search of decent grub. We didn’t make it very far, and settled into the Caesar’s Palace Hotel (which was next door to our hotel) to scope out the scene. Within the Greek-inspired casino that was quiet, dim, and depressing during the day we came across the uber-bright Mesa Grill.

you wanna mesa with me?

So, I put on a happy face and dragged my feet through a torturous meal at an abomination of a restaurant, akin to a trucker rest stop on I-95. (Just kidding Lauren! – but the waiter was truly horrific…)

After finding out about a Prix Fixe Lunch, and talking myself out of tasting the salmon and tuna tartares, I went for it. $29 gets you a choice of an appetizer, entree, and the dessert of the day. Considering many of the lunch entrees were in the mid $20’s, I figured it was a wise choice. In addition, I have learned over time (and quite a few bad experiences) that it’s not mandatory to order a tartare just because it’s on the menu. Specifically, if raw fish appears nowhere else on the menu, it’s most probably not a specialty; just an addition or a filler. It’s okay not to try the tartare at mid-level restaurants, I told myself. Hey folks, I’m growing here!

I chose the green chili/pea soup for my appetizer. Then I had fight #2 with my hideous waiter. (Fight #1 surrounded my brainchild of a mocktail. Not very important, but the conclusion was the dude was an arse. Don’t you hate waiters that pass judgement? Especially, when they tell me I’m ordering too much food. As Chris Farley would say, while dressed in women’s clothing on SNL, “Lay off me, I’m starving!” In the end, and after much unecessary discussion, I received an awesome mocktail.)
Back to Fight #2 – I asked if the soup could be made vegetarian, which is not an outlandish request in my book. He checked with the chef and said that it could not. The ham was incorporated into the broth of the soup and was also used as garnish. Fine, not a problem. I then asked if I could get the soup without the addition of the garnish. Me no want no hammy sprinklings. He tried to argue with me about this, attempting to blame the chef and explain how the flavor will be harmed without all proper elements. Listen buddy, you’re a waiter in Las Vegas and you can’t make me eat ham sprinkles. I don’t recall the details, just that the soup arrived without the garnish and the waiter remained an arse.

I hope you're not colorblind so you can see me and feel joy

mean (the waiter) & green (the soup)

One slurp of this soup and my inner ‘Debbie Downer’ vanished. The soup was Gooooood! Sweet tangs from the peas, with a spice element from the chiles, and a multi-layered flavor (prolly from the ham hocks in the stock). The texture was creamy and think without moving into pudding territory. An absolute winner.

For my main, I ordered the Grilled Sea Scallops with Blue Corn Tortilla, Avocado Relish, Jalapeno Pesto

don't topple over!

The Chef’s Dessert of the Day was a complete throwaway:

don't be deceived, this is crap

Lauren ordered 2 appetizers – both were excellent. (Consensus: appetizers are the way to go.)

not for you

again, not yours!

The tamale was the stand-out plate of food. Hot, steamy, creamy, corn with large, juicy shrimp. Notes of garlic and cilantro help level out the sweetness of the corn. It’s all about balance.

Overall, the food at Mesa Grill was good; definitely better than decent. The quality level seemed a tad bit low for the prices, but I assume we are asked to pay to eat food prepared by people who may have met Bobby Flay at some point or another. More often than not, the food kept me interested. Just try to stay away from the waiters and the desserts. Plus, you can walk down the hallway and visit Payard Patisserie & Bistro for a pleasant and distinctly scrumptious ending to your meal.

wonka-esque

After eating Joe’s and Michael Mina meals back to back, it was time for a moderately sized meal. It was time to reel it back and settle down. This was attempted at Sushi Samba located in The Shoppes in The Palazzo hotel.

I kept it light by sharing a seaweed salad and a tasting plate of seviches and tiraditos (a peruvian dish made up of sliced, raw fish marinated in lime juice; similar to seviche without the addition of onions thus resulting in a subtler taste)

you don't have to pick just one

Top Left: Jumbo Shrimp passionfruit, cucumber, cilantro
Top Right: Yellowtail ginger, garlic, soy
Bottom Left: Kanpachi yuzu, sea salt, black truffle oil
Bottom Right:Tuna grapefruit juice, jalapeño, almond

Fresh fish, clean flavors, many textures, small plates = the best way to eat (for me)

Sushi finished out the meal (yes, the same sushi I was dreaming about during my juice cleanse:

need some sushi at sushi samba

my soulmates

Also, since it’s vacation I just HAD to get a mocktail:

Citrusy sweetness with fresh mint = awesome

Successfully edited lunch, although I did see a couple of people who had very heavy lunches while walking back to the hotel.

I ate too much

man, that turkey knocked me out

A few hours later it was time for my momentous meal at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon. If you’re a Top Chef fan, you already know Mr. Robuchon was named the ‘chef of the century’. And you clearly saw how well-regarded he is by both his peers, young chefs, and the food nerd world. If you’ve read any of OctoSquid’s previous posts, you also know how pretty the chef’s food looks and the level of detailed care put into each and every plate.

After walking a solid mile inside the MGM Hotel, you will find the 2 Robuchon restaurants side by side. Walk into the hipper looking restaurant with tones of black and red:

If you recall, I didn’t have the guts or the budget to enter the greatness of The Mansion.

Anyway, once you are seated at the bar it’s hard not to take notice of the surroundings:

food is art

you better believe the produce is fresh

Dried legumes and brightly colored produce was arranged around the room inviting me to head into a foodie wonderland. I was Alice in a French, culinary-loving, wonderful land. I was ready to hit the ground running.

After much, much, far too much research, I had settled on the Discovery Menu. Here goes:

discover me

L’AMUSE-BOUCHE: opted out of the Foie gras parfait with port wine and parmesan foam for something without animal organs.

no recollection

LE SAUMON FUME: Smoked salmon in an herb gelée with a light wasabi cream

from the top

from the side

LES HUITRES: Poached baby Kusshi oysters with French « Echiré » butter

This was pretty simple, which is how I believe oysters should be. The butter was a nice touch, and one that I am not accustomed to when eating raw shellfish. Added a richness factor to the briny, slimy creatures.

LE HOMARD: Maine lobster in a tomato sauce and green asparagus

uh uh uh uhwsome

Now we’re talking. If I remember correctly, the top picture is the full portion (what Lauren got) and the bottom pic is my tasting menu serving. This rocked it out – big claws, spicy tomato sauce, pops of green color in asparagus form. Loved this course, but didn’t feel the larger portion was worth the $60 odd dollars we paid.

Didn’t get the foie gras ravioli, so instead they gave me this:
LES ANCHOIS: Fresh marinated anchovies with sliced eggplant confit

I'm better than a Monet

LA SOLE: Dover Sole with a warm leek salad and crispy potato

sole or soul?

Instead of the lamb/quail course I got:
LE KAMPACHI: Lightly seared kampachi with crispy onion rings

who else loves the word 'kampachi'?

Time for dessert:
LE SAVARIN:pastry soaked in aged run with a tahitian vanilla cream.

This dish did not leave a lasting impression. I’m forcefully trying to remember it by staring at the photo to no avail. The cream was excellent and very vanilla bean-y (see the speckles?). Also, it was fun to try edible metallics (gold). Still….not for me.

LA FRAISE: Strawberry meringue around a fennel parfait and creme fraiche ice cream

so right, even after 45 courses

Not part of my tasting, yet I must include Lauren’s dessert.
LE CHOCOLAT: Chocolate sensation, « crémeux » Araguani, Oreo cookie crumbs

good friends are gold

breaking in

And because the French can’t end without coffee:

don't quit on me

What a day. Don’t even ask me how I ate a big lunch AND dinner the following day…..DAD!