back in the game
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.
