Tag: Las Vegas

Here I am again, writing about another trip to Las Vegas. It has been a few months since my last trip. This time I stayed at the opposite end of the strip. I was hungry for Chinese food and it was recommended that I check out Wing Lei at the Wynn Hotel and Casino.

 

As soon as I walked through their doors, I was greeted by the most attentive staff. They were constantly checking on me to make sure I got everything I needed.

The restaurant was beautiful. Rather than the traditional Chinese colors of red and black, they used an uplifting color scheme of gold, ivory, and green.

  

They had large glass windows that over looked a beautiful garden. Located in the center was a giant gold Chinese dragon statue.

When I sat down at my table, I was greeted with a small cup of “Welcome” tea. It was a lychee black tea. It was cold and very sweet. It was really good and the cup they served it in was an extremely unique shape. It reminded me of a small fish bowl.

I asked my waiter for his recommendation of a cocktail to try. He said that the Pomegranate Martini was one of their most popular. It used Absolut Mandarin vodka, Cointreau, and pomegranate juice.

This cocktail was sweet with just a slight hint of sour. I sipped it slowly because I would have drank it quickly otherwise, that is how smooth it was.

Before all of the starters came out, the waiter brought a little palette cleanser. They called it “compressed” watermelon. It was a slice of watermelon that was extremely juicy. It was sweet, spicy, and salty. It was a unique preparation for a slice of watermelon.

Just as I finished my watermelon my soup came out. I ordered the Tofu Blossom Soup. It was a chicken broth with a few mushrooms, sugar peas, broccoli, and tofu. The presentation was pretty. The chef actually cut the tofu to look like a flower floating in the bowl.

As I ate the soup and cut up that flower, the tofu ended up acting like noodles. The soup had a subtle sweet taste. It was not filling because there was not enough vegetables in the soup itself. It simply made me hungry for more.

The sautéed green beans were spectacular. They used very fresh green beans and cut them up to make them easier to eat. They used a ton of garlic and sea salt when they cooked the beans, but it did not make the beans overly salty. It was just enough for flavor. There was something about the taste that made the beans addicting to eat.

At this point of the meal it was time for another cocktail. This time I got the Sparkling Blossom. It was a blend of Absolut Citron vodka, Pavon orange blossom liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup, and sparkling wine. Twisted in the glass was a thinly sliced cucumber.

It was a pretty presentation in the glass. This cocktail was even sweeter than the first. It was also refreshing because of all the citrus flavors that were combined together.

For my main dish, I ordered the Cantonese Chow Mein. I got it with chicken. Now because this was Cantonese Chow Mein I expected the noodles to be crispy. That has always been my experience. However, they used a soft noodle. So this ended up being more like a Lo Mein. Please do not misunderstand me, I am not disappointed by this at all. The dish was fantastic.

The taste was amazing and the noodles soaked up all the flavor from the ginger, garlic, and soy sauce that were used. The few vegetables that were mixed in added crunch. The chicken was cut into nice pieces that were tender and moist.

The portion sizes for each thing I ate were just the right size. It prevented me from getting too full. This also left room for dessert.

I ordered the Red bean ice cream. I really enjoy Chinese desserts that use Red Beans. Red beans are very sweet, which is why they are used so frequently in desserts. Having them made into ice cream would be a new experience for me.

The taste of the ice cream was sweet, just like the bean. The texture of the ice cream was slightly gritty, which also resembles the red bean.  This is not a creamy ice cream, so if that is what you are looking for then do not get this one. I enjoyed this ice cream because it was different and it balanced out all the salt I had from the chow mein and the green beans.

Now to my surprise, when the check came, the waiter also brought out a little tray of candies for me to enjoy. There were five pieces of candy:

(1) Coconut chocolate truffle

(2) Chocolate covered caramel

(3) A jelly candy

(4) Mini macaron

(5) Mango candy

Each of these candies were the perfect bite size. Two bites and they were done. It was a fun little treat.

My waiter also gave me a little cake that was boxed up for me to take for later. I did eat the little cake the next morning for breakfast. It was like an apricot glazed cake with a cookie on top. It was perfect with a cup of coffee.

This was a very fancy Chinese dinner. It was not a traditional Chinese meal. There were many elements that felt more French to me. The food was extremely enjoyable and I would go back in a heartbeat.

Check out their menu at http://www.wynnlasvegas.com/Dining/FineDining/WingLei

Enjoy!

T

There are so many hotels to stay at when visiting Las Vegas. Every time I go out, I do like to stay at different ones, if nothing else than for a new experience. This most recent trip to Vegas, I stayed at the Trump Hotel. What surprised me was this hotel had no casino and they only had one restaurant.

The night I got in I was hungry for a small bite to eat. I headed to the restaurant DJT located on the main floor of the hotel.

It was a pretty big place that was decorated nicely. I kept staring at all the crystal light fixtures around the restaurant. They were very sparkly and kept catching my eye.

  

I ordered their French onion soup to start with. The presentation was beautiful because of the bowl they used. They used melted gruyere cheese and sheep’s milk gouda. Those are not cheese I would normally have in onion soup. they tasted perfect with the salty onions and broth. They actually helped cut down on the overall saltiness. They used a generous amount of onions in the soup, along with nice pieces of bread that added extra texture. And for the added touch I loved the crunchy onion strays that they added to the top of the soup.

Since the soup was not enough for dinner so I also ordered the Margarita flatbread.  The cracker thin crust was covered with fresh mozzarella cheese, heirloom tomato slices, and fresh basil.

The crust was very crispy. Because of that it was very easy to pick up to eat. The sauce they used was slightly sweet. The cheese was amazing and my favorite part. The fresh tomatoes were good but because they were large slices it made it a little hard to take a bite of the pizza without the whole tomato slice falling off. So I ended up taking them off and eating the tomatoes by themselves.

I had a really nice dining experience at DJT. My waiter was very attentive. You can check out their menu options at www.trumphotels.com

Enjoy!

T

With all the travel I do, sometimes I get a sweet tooth. While staying at the Aria Hotel and Casino I noticed they have a pastry shop called Jean Philippe Patisserie that is open 24/7. I decided to check them out on two different occasions.

This shop is run by award winning executive chef Jean-Philippe Maury. Once I started walking around I realized they had more to offer than just French pastries.

 

They have a large selection of chocolates, gelatos, crepes, and sandwiches. You can eat them there in the shop or get them to go.

 

The first visit I decided to get my dessert to go. I figured that after a long day of work I could relax in my room and enjoy their fresh made Napoleon. The puff pastry dough used in the Napoleon layers was very flakey. The vanilla cream was like a sweet pudding. It was generously proportioned out between each layer of dough. There was a fondant icing decoration on top. It was sweet, creamy, and melted in my mouth. It was the best fondant that I have ever had. This was the perfect treat to end my day.

On another night I decided to make a second visit. This time I ate in the café area. I went for a crepe. They have savory and sweet options. The fruity raspberry crepe sounded like it would hit the spot. They make each crepe to order. I was fun to watch them make it right in front of me.

 

 

The crepe was cooked perfectly – almost paper thin and crispy on one side. The sweet raspberry jam melted nicely into the crepe itself.

The crepe batter was semi-sweet so it was great that it was sprinkled with powdered sugar. I enjoyed each bite and it was not overly filling.

There are so many dessert options at Jean Philippe Patisserie that it would take several visits to try everything. I am adding them to my re-visit list. If you have a sweet tooth you should check them out. And remember they are open 24/7.

Check them out at www.aria.com

Enjoy!

T

 

 

The origin of tapas comes from Spain. The idea of small bites or small plates of food was all created for a king that was sick and could not eat much food. Thanks to his unfortunate illness we can now find tapas restaurants all over the country. Tapas is always fun to enjoy with a group of people. It is a great opportunity to try different culinary creations.

Award winning Chef Julian Serrano has a Spanish tapas restaurant inside the Aria Hotel and Casino. It is appropriately called Julian Serrano Tapas.

The décor of the restaurant is beautiful. There are colorful columns, mosaics on the wall, and a bar area that is decorated with filled glass apothecary jars.

  

  

To make sure I stuck with the Spanish origin of my meal, I ordered a drink that also originated in Spain, the sangria. I chose the sparkling sangria. It blended vino blanco, orange juice, peach brandy, and spumante. Surprising to me, this sangria was not overly sweet, even with the use of spumante that is very sweet. It had a slight sour taste. What was the most enjoyable was the chopped up fresh strawberries and red raspberries that were in the drink. They were extremely sweet.

Dish number one was the Pan Manchego. It was a fresh baguette with fresh crushed tomatoes spread across it. Then it was topped with a slice of aged Manchego cheese.  The tomatoes were extremely sweet and complemented the slight smoky flavor of the cheese. The entire taste made me think about a summer afternoon and picking fresh tomatoes from the garden. The dish was the perfect starter.

The second small plate was called Tender and Crab. It was a prime tenderloin topped with roasted peppers and sprinkled with Dungeness crab meat. The tenderloin was the star of the dish; it was tremendously tender and cooked to a perfect medium. The flavor of the meat shined through, the crab meat only added texture.

The third bite was the Bang-Bang Shrimp. The blue foot shrimp sat in top of little gem lettuce wedges spread with avocado. The shrimp were breaded and fried. They had a huge heat kick at the end of the bite. That’s where the bang-bang came from. The creaminess from the avocado calmed down the heat. After all the shrimp were gone I was able to eat the lettuce wedge with the avocado just like a salad.

I only got to try a few of Chef Serrano’s tapas dishes. The menu was filled with so many other choices that sounded delicious. I would definitely go back to try them all. If you are feeling adventurous and want to share some great food with friends, check out Julian Serrano Tapas at www.aria.com

Enjoy!

T

 

Las Vegas always amazes me, not because of the glitz and glamour. What amazes me is how many celebrity chefs have restaurants up and down the strip. I was excited to try Border Grill, which is owned by Chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger. These chefs have been on Food Network’s Too Hot Tamales and Bravo’s Top Chef Masters.

Located inside Mandalay Bay, Border Grill is a modern take on Mexican food.

I started off with one of my favorite cocktails. The Suprema Sangria was a blend of red wine, melon piloncillo, a splash of orange, lime, and pineapple juices. According to the menu it was supposed to come with a cinnamon stick, however mine did not. There was still a hint of spice in the sangria even without the stick. It was a unique tasting sangria. It paired well with the chips and salsa that the waitress brought to the table.

There were several things on the menu that sounded delicious. I went for the Yucatan pork. It was Achiote pork that was roasted in banana leaves and topped with cilantro, radish, and pickled onions.

The pork was extremely tender and pulled apart with my fork. The way it was prepared kept the pork tremendously juicy. The pork was both spicy and salty. It was like Mexican pulled pork barbeque. I tried the pickled onions that were on top. They were extremely tart. I ended up not eating them with the pork. The pork was perfect on its own and the onions took away from the savory flavor.

If you want a unique twist on Mexican food then check out Border Grill. Visit their website at http://www.bordergrill.com/

  

Enjoy!

T

The Aria hotel is home to the award winning Chef Masa Takagama’s upscale Japanese restaurant BarMasa. They receive fresh seafood straight from Japan daily. They are slightly more expensive than a typical sushi place, but their unique ingredients make it worth the additional money.

The décor of the restaurant was a unique design. There are interesting lights dangling from the ceiling.

  

I started with the miso soup. It had nice pieces of tofu along with Mitsuba, which is Japanese parsley. Instead of sliced mushrooms like other miso soups, they use Nameko, which are small mushrooms from Japan. I enjoyed these bite size mushrooms. They were moist compared to typical mushrooms that are spongy. The Mitsuba did not add a whole lot of flavor. It reminded me of spinach with its texture. The broth had a light salty taste.

I did not want a fancy sushi roll for dinner. I went with the simple tuna roll with avocado. The outside of the roll was sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds for crunch and a nutty accent. The tuna was amazing. I knew it was going to be super fresh based on the dark pink color of the tuna itself. It was like butter when I took a bite, not just because it melted in my mouth but because it had a creamy texture. The avocado pieces added even more creaminess. This was one of the best tuna rolls I have ever had.

If you are visiting Las Vegas and you want a sushi dinner to tell your friends about then make reservations for BarMasa. Even if you are not into sushi, you can sit at one of their Hibachi tables to enjoy some fresh chicken or beef.

Check out their menu at www.aria.com

Enjoy!

T

When working in Las Vegas during a convention I needed to have a quick lunch. However, I did not want typical fast food. Citizens inside of Mandalay Bay was the perfect solution. It was a quick sit down place that offered a variety of choices.

The inside of the restaurant reminded me of a New York deli. Their menu offers an assortment of soups, salads, sandwiches, and burgers.

  

I went for the chicken cobb salad. It was presented beautifully in the bowl. It was a rainbow of colors.

The chicken they used was fresh and shredded. This was nice because it allowed for chicken to be included in each bite. The other elements to the salad included tomatoes, white cheddar cubes, crumbled hard boiled egg, lots of crunchy bacon, and chopped cucumber for additional crunch. This salad was tremendously filling. I knew it would help me get through the rest of my meetings.

The beauty of Citizens is they are open 24/7. So if you are out in Vegas and get hungry after playing the slots, they can help you out. I took a glance at their breakfast menu and they have some great choices. If you are hungry check them out.

http://citizenslasvegas.com/

Enjoy!

T

 

Las Vegas has a plethora of things to do for everyone. Some people come to Vegas to check out the different shows. Other folks head to the casinos because they are feeling lucky. I come to Vegas excited to try some new restaurants. Since I have been to Vegas before, I knew that restaurants fill up quickly, therefore I prepared ahead of time and made my reservations before I left home.

The choice I made for my first night was Lemongrass. It is a Thai restaurant that marries authentic dishes with a modern twist.

  

Patrons are greeted by beautiful flowers when they walk up. The flowers were a vibrant pink and the size of the arrangement made a powerful statement.

Throughout the restaurant there were beautiful, delicate orchids.

To start with, the table got the vegetarian spring rolls. They came with a sweet chili sauce. It was a classic spring roll that was crispy outside and had flavorful shredded vegetables on the inside. The sauce was better than a typical sweet and sour sauce. I liked the heat from the chilies in the sauce and since the sauce was sweet, the heat was toned down.

The chicken cashew nut dish was a great choice. There was a ton of tender white meat combined with bell peppers, carrots, mushrooms, onions, baby corn, and of course cashews. The sauce had robust flavor. The chicken was perfect with this sauce. It would not have tasted right with another meat. The baby corn was my favorite part.

I could not visit a Thai restaurant without ordering the Phad Thai. The stir fried rice noodles came with fried tofu, scrambled egg, and a tamarind sauce. I got mine with chicken but shrimp was also an option. On the plate came chopped peanuts and bean sprouts. I added the peanuts to the noodle but left out the bean sprouts. I like it when they are cooked, not raw.

You can pick the heat level that’s right for you. I went with a medium heat. It was only slightly spicy so in retrospect I could have gone a little hotter. I loved this dish. It was not overly salty and was more on the sweet side. Having the tofu in it added some additional texture and soaked up the flavor of the sauce. The noodles were thin and easy to eat. The scrambled egg that was included also added additional texture without adding any flavor.

If you are hungry for great Thai food while in Vegas, check out Lemongrass. They also have a selection of classic Chinese dishes, including Dim Sum. Visit their menu at www.aria.com

Enjoy!

T

 

There are several famous delis around New York City. Carnegie Deli was on of those. Sadly they closed their doors after 79 years at the end of 2016. I was lucky many years ago to get to visit. For anyone that was not so lucky, fear not, there is a licensed location out in Las Vegas. It is located at The Mirage Hotel and Casino.

Every time I am out in Las Vegas for work or vacation, I always make a stop as soon as I arrive. After a long flight I usually work up an appetite and Carnegie Deli always satisfies.

There are several staples that I have order before. Their homemade matzo ball soup is a classic. It’s chicken soup served with one huge matzo ball. It tends to be on the salty side. You can also get this soup with noodles. I would recommend this soup if you are in Vegas during the winter months, it is just too hot for soup during a Vegas summer.

Another dish I have gotten is their potato knish. It is the perfect blend of mashed potato with garlic wrapped in a pastry. This is a favorite of mine because it is so filling. It is also great to share.

On this visit I got their famous Reuben sandwich. It is an open faced sandwich with pastrami piled high and covered with sauerkraut and melted Swiss cheese.

This is not a sandwich I can eat with my hands, a knife and fork are necessary. There are so many layers of meat. It’s salty and spicy but also tangy because of the sauerkraut. Then when the melted cheese is mixed in, the flavor all comes together.

Clearly I was hungry when I arrived. This was the perfect way to start the trip. Now it’s necessary to walk the strip in order to work off all those calories.

If you are looking for a classic New York meal when you are out West, head over to Carnegie Deli at The Mirage. Get a sandwich, soup, or even breakfast. Plus don’t forget to pick up a classic black and white cookie to go.

Enjoy!

T

One of the newest steakhouses in Las Vegas is Stripsteak located at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino. This is the first steakhouse for award winning chef Michael Mina. The restaurant is warm and inviting and it is extremely important that you have a reservation, otherwise the wait will be long.

       

My table started off with a few appetizers while we waited for the rest of the group to join us. The Maine lobster tacos are a must try. They were mixed with grilled pineapple chunks, avocado cream, and cilantro.

They also offered French fries with different seasonings: sea salt, garlic, and truffle. These fries were addicting.

I got the 10 ounce filet mignon. They wood fire their steaks. The meat had a great smoky taste and the little drizzle of melted butter on top added a slight salty flavor. The steak came with a small bite of a homemade cornbread like bread that was sweet and a nice surprise to the plate.

The sides were designed to be shared. It was not hard for the table to agree on what to order. The creamed spinach topped with bacon was a must because what doesn’t taste better with bacon.

The other choice was the black truffle mac and cheese. It was extremely rich because of the cheese but it was delicious. The truffles added an earthy taste to each bite.

The meal was totally filling so I skipped dessert this time. I would definitely go back to try one of their other steak varieties. Check out their menu at www.mandalaybay.com

Enjoy!

T