Betting on Michelin Stars: Tapas Muy Deliciosas en Julian Serrano

Tucked in a corner of the grand casino at Aria, the heart of MGM Mirage's brand new CityCenter project, is Julian Serrano. Yes, it's Spanish. Yes, it's tapas. And yes, the food here is fantastic!





Start off with something like the stuffed piquillo peppers. The goat cheese inside is creamy and tangy. The pepper outside is cooked just right. And oh my, the savory tomato sauce pulls it all together and makes it extra delicious!





And if that isn't amazing enough, order the mushroom and manchego risotto. Maybe you've had good risotto dishes before, but this takes risotto to another level with tasty mild mushrooms and tangy manchego cheese. Of course, it also doesn't hurt that the risotto is cooked to al dente perfection... Perfect to absorb that lovely sauce.



Go ahead, order a sangria. It's quite refreshing... And fruity, too!





And while we're talking sweet stuff, it's time to talk about flan. Honestly, the flan itself doesn't really have a strong flavor profile... But thankfully, the strawberry compote on top and light caramel sauce on bottom enliven this plate! And when all three combine, that's when the magic happens on this plate.





And just days after Cafe Ba Ba Reeba closed further up The Strip, it was truly heartwarming to go to Aria today and find all these fabulous tapas dishes at Julian Serrano. Maybe it didn't work out at first, but it ultimately looks like good Spanish cuisine is back on The Strip and will be here to stay.



And by the way, don't hesitate to come and enjoy this place! MGM Mirage did something truly revolutionary on The Strip in taking CityCenter in such a green direction, and the rest of Las Vegas really is following. All of the CityCenter hotels (Aria, Vdara, and Mandarin Oriental) have achieved LEED Gold Certification in sustainable design, as well as the adjacent Crystals shopping mall.

So if that isn't enough to bring you here, I don't know what is. ;-)

And by the way, you always find more of my food reviews at my Urbanspoon page.

Betting on Michelin Stars: Bradley Ogden, Simply the Best

(You can find this and more of my reviews at my Urbanspoon page.)

OK, I must admit I was a little afraid of trying this place. I backed out of a reservation for my dad's birthday over a bad review. I was second-guessing myself when I was thinking of the reservation for my birthday (well, the day after, but I celebrated) tonight.

However, all my doubts were thrown out the window once a friend and I went into Bradley Ogden and began to take in the casually elegant ambience. This place is so luxurious, yet so comfortable! And yes, the same goes for the food.

The breads were fresh and interesting. The sourdough tasted like the best I could find in San Francisco. The blue corn muffin was perfectly soft and sweet and delectable. The butter complemented both breads quite well.
We were then served an amuse bouche of shrimp ceviche. Since I'm a vegetarian I couldn't really dig into it, what I could taste seemed refreshing. My friend really seemed to enjoy the small bite of it.

And now for the appetizer. The Maytag Blue Cheese (Mini) Souffles were simply divine! The cranberries, raisins, and candied pecans complemented the souffles quite well. The savory, the tart, and the sweet were brought together beautifully and made for fantastic flavors in this dish.

So what about the entree? I ordered the gnocchi, since it looked interesting. It was a potato gnocchi dish with shaved parmesan, shiitake mushrooms, broccolini, and parmesan foam. And yes, all these ingredients came together exquisitely! Not only did the dish look beautiful, but all the ingredients meshed perfectly. The gnocchi were tender, the veggies were cooked well, and the parmesan added some good tang.

After that great dish, I was ready for something sweet again. And when perusing the dessert menu, the bananas foster cake really stood out. So I ordered it. And I really enjoyed it! The cake was moist and tasty, while the vanilla ice cream was a refreshing complement and the bananas added a lovely fruity touch.

And finally, we were served a complimentary post-dessert sweet bite of butterscotch pudding. This really hit the high note for me, as it was sweet but still satisfying and a fabulous way to end a perfectly fabulous dinner.

The food was fabulous. The service was superb. The wine list was wonderful. And the atmosphere was so charming and cozy and comfortable and still elegant that it was easy for me to forget that I was in the middle of one of The Strip's biggest and baddest (as in badass good!) casinos! What's not to love about Bradley Ogden?

Oh, and by the way, there's no need to feel guilty about eating here. Nearly everything on the menu is "farm-to-table" and organic. And better yet, Caesars Palace and other Harrah's casinos participate in Harrah's Code Green program to shrink their (admittedly large in the not-so-distant past) carbon footprint and do better for Mother Earth.

Bradley Ogden
at Caesars Palace
3570 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 731-7731
http://www.caesarspalace.com/casinos/caesars-palace/restaurants-dining/bradley-ogden-detail.html

Betting on Michelin Stars: Burger Time!

OK, I'm sure some of you have loved my recent reviews of some of Las Vegas' finest dining establishments... And some of you have just been rolling your eyes and wondering when I'll step out of Fru-fru-land and get to the burgers and fries.

So guess what?

IT'S BURGER TIME, BITCHEZ!

I want to share with you two of my favorite burger joints, one on Strip and one off Strip. Both are fantastic, but neither will destroy (what's left of) your 401(k).

Burger Bar: I'd Like a Pinot with My Burger, Please.

Where else can I get away with sipping a glass of Syrah while munching on my veggie burger and not get stared at? I love this place! It's so tasteful, yet still so tasty.

Want a beef patty? Or a buffalo patty? Or a veggie patty? Want to top it off with spinach? Or bacon? Or bleu cheese? Or cheddar? Or all of the above? Whatever you're craving, you can actually have your burger your way... And it will still taste great!

Just make sure to order some delicious sweet potato fries with your burger. And for a little more fun, pair it up with a nice wine or beer. I always have a good time at this burger joint, and I'm sure you will, too.

Burger Bar
@ Mandalay Bay
3950 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89119
(702) 632-9364
http://www.mandalaybay.com/dining/burgerbar.aspx

LBS Burger Joint: No Bull, All's Good





OK, so one must drive all the way through Summerlin to Red Rock Resort & Casino to get to LBS. I didn't know what to expect when I first came here, as this place was all the way on the other side of town and the 'burbs hadn't yet seen a true gourmet burger joint.





So here's what happened. With tip included, I paid $60 for lunch for both me and my dad. We both had root beer to drink. My dad ordered an organic beef burger with mushrooms and horseradish while I ordered a veggie burger with brie and alfalfa sprouts. He had the potato fries while I had sweet potato fries. For dessert, I ordered a brownie sundae that he took a few bites of.

And honestly, all the food was excellent! Perhaps I'm just more of a bread person, but I really appreciated the fresh wheat roll that supported my burger. And my goodness, the taste and freshness of the veggie patty easily rivaled the quality of my other favorite veggie burger at Burger Bar... Well, maybe not so much. Actually, dare I say my burger at LBS was actually better?

I don't often heap so much praise on a place that advertises itself as "a burger joint", but I guess I must today. LBS was easily worth $60 for a meal for 2. When I'm back in Summerlin and craving a burger, I'll be going here for my big burger jackpot.



LBS: A Burger Joint
@ Red Rock
11011 W Charleston Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89135
(702) 835-9393
http://www.lbsburger.com

Betting on Michelin Stars: Amazing, Awe-inspiring Aureole!

When my father's birthday was approaching in December, I knew I wanted to do something special to celebrate. So what to do? Where to go? What should we eat?

Then all of a sudden, I had an idea. Yes, this was the place. ;-)









And quite simply, this is the one of the best restaurants I've ever been in so far! I knew this would be special, but I never expected the spectacle we would find inside. We started off with wine in the bar before moving to the main dining room.

The design inside is just stunning! The wine tower is the centerpiece, and for good reason. There are thousands of fine wines stored inside, and it was fun to watch the "wine angels" climb up and down to retrieve our wine!

Oh, but don't worry... The food is just as stunning as the ambience! My dad and I both ordered the baby iceberg wedge salad with blue cheese and "bacon vinaigrette". I'm obviously not a bacon person, but I very much enjoyed the flavor of everything else... And I'm not even an iceberg person, either! My dad also enjoyed the salad.









We constantly received fresh bread service, and all the breads were soft and tasty. The focaccia was my favorite, but the pretzel and baguette were also delectable.

Next up was the main course. My dad ordered the mahi mahi, and he said it was the best seafood he's ever eaten. I did the ricotta ravioli with a light spinach and red bell pepper sauce, and I was blown away by the delicate flavors all working together in harmony.

And finally, dessert! Both my dad and I did the caramelized banana bread pudding. He found it a bit awkward, but still enjoyed it. I, however, was really digging the flavors and the "just right" sweetness. We were also served a complementary dish of petite mini cookies and petit fours, and all tasted wonderful.









This was one of the best experiences of my life, and I was so glad to treat my father to a spectacular birthday dinner at this marvelous restaurant! And believe it or not, for a big, fancy Charlie Palmer steak place, there were some simply fabulous vegetarian dishes. Oh, and what's even better is that they're now serving $55 prix fixe menu specials... So eating here is more affordable and approachable than ever before!

So what are you waiting for? Wouldn't you like a taste of what makes Las Vegas so amazing? :-D

Betting on Michelin Stars: Daniel Boulud, One More Time

Hidden inside the fabulous and glamorous Wynn Las Vegas casino resort is a very special French Brasserie... A brasserie that we only have a limited amount of time to visit before it closes its doors for good. Come with me and check out why Daniel Boulud is a "Vegas must eat" from now until April.





Step into Wynn. Take Parasol Down to The Lake of Dreams. Turn right, and you'll see it. This is the place.





I had to go here on Monday, and I had to take my father with me. I was on a mission to make a believer out of him. He was skeptical at first, as he's not really one for "fussified, dressed up French food". However, I think I was finally successful this week!

He really enjoyed everything from the salad to the Sonoma Chicken with winter veggies to the passion fruit sorbet. In fact, he declared this to be his new favorite Las Vegas restaurant!







Meanwhile, I loved the cheese plate. These very special cheeses were paired beautifully with fruit jellies and breads.

And the DB Flatbread? Drop dead delicious! The caramelized onions and the chevre were paired together so delectably here! (Yes, the vegetarian options are a bit limited here... But the ones available are so delicious you'll stop being angry upon taking the first bite!)











Oh, and how could I ever forget that chocolate souffle? I felt like I died and ascended to Chocoholic Heaven, if only for a few minutes! The strong chocolate flavor of the souffle was so enticing, and the texture was really just right. The parsnip creme anglaise was just the perfect topping here.

Oh yes, and one more thing. The Lake of Dreams does a fun video show every 30 minutes nightly. Do take a look and sing along with the singing frog or wonder how those dancing balls are choreographed so perfectly. Is it hokey? Admittingly, yes... But come on, it's Vegas! Have a little fun with it.

And have fun at Daniel Boulud while you can. Again, this place will be gone for good come April. Take at least one more time to realize why even the harshest Michelin critics were won over by this simple yet elegant cuisine.

Betting on Michelin Stars: Best Bargain Breakfasts, Baby!

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I hear it all the time. Supposedly, dining in Las Vegas sucks. Supposedly, there's nothing original about Vegas eats. Supposedly, one can't live and eat sustainably in Vegas. And supposedly, one can't eat well on a budget.

Well, let me put your "supposing" to rest once and for all!

OK, OK, we'll just talk about cheap eats today. (The rest I'll cover later in the series.)

Now I know I had you salivating on Monday over all those delicious breakfasts. I also know you may have been a little concerned about the prices. Personally, I think a good meal is worth its dollars... But I don't always have the desire or the budget to eat like royalty.

Sometimes I just want a good breakfast, and at those times I always hit these favorite spots off The Strip, away from the limelight, and far from the typical "tourist rip-off" spots.

Hash House a Ginormous!

Let's start with an old favorite of mine from California, Hash House a Go Go. This place got its start long ago in San Diego, and more recently opened a location on the west side of Vegas near Summerlin. Even more recently, they opened another restaurant on The Strip at Imperial Palace. I guess their "twisted farm food" is that popular.

And it should be. They serve HUGE portions at not so huge prices. Oh, and the food is higher quality than one would think for a "hash house". The sundried tomato, basil, and goat cheese egg scramble is perfectly tangry, creamy, fresh, and delicious. The french toast with banana cinnamon cream and maple syrup is another of my BIG guilty pleasures.

Hash House a Go Go
6800 W Sahara Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89146
www.hashhouseagogo.com
(702) 804-4646

Crack Your Dawn Right at The Cracked Egg

Not too long ago, The Cracked Egg was a great Las Vegas breakfast treasure that only West Siders could enjoy. But today, we have a Cracked Egg here just up Green Valley Parkway near my house and right off the 215 Freeway.

OK, so why is this so important? Try the coffee cake, and you'll figure it out. It's so soft, so buttery, and so amazing that the coffee cake alone will make you want to come back!

But of course, they also serve great food. Try the "Veggie Benny". Loaded with spinach and mushrooms, topped with a hearty hollandaise, and complemented nicely by fresh avocado slices, it's the perfect way to start one's day.

The Cracked Egg
1000 N Green Valley Pky #480
Henderson, NV 89074
www.thecrackedegglv.com
(702) 868-5505

It May Not Be Original to Vegas, But I Still Love This Pancake House

OK, so we have a few great Oregonians to thank [And thank you, Jay :-) ] for Original Pancake House. But without a doubt, their arrival has been a blessing to Southern Nevadans looking for classic comfort food in the morning. They recently reopened at Green Valley Ranch Resort & Casino with a larger dining room. And if one must dine at a locals' casino, then please do so here for breakfast.

Why? The apple pancake alone is reason why. It's HUGE, sweet (but not too sweet), fruity, buttery, and all-around delicious.

Another good reason is the potato pancakes. They're perfectly crisp, but still nice and chewy. They have a great savory taste, but the apple sauce adds a sweetness that compliments the dish.

All around good grub at surprisingly low prices.

Original Pancake House
@ Green Valley Ranch
2300 Paseo Verde Pkwy
Henderson, NV 89052
www.originalpancakehouse.com

If You Have to Visit the Saloon...

OK, so you're drunk and near broke. And hungry, too. What to do?

Sahara Saloon, that's who!

Honestly, the food is nothing to write home about. But if you need cheap eats and don't want to be totally disgusted by some cheap casino buffet or lousy greasy spoon just off The Strip, then do come eat off this greasy spoon.

I've tried the "daily special" of the spinach, mushrooms, and "swiss cheese" omelet with hash browns and sourdough toast. Now yes, the cheese certainly didn't taste anything "Swiss"... But for less than $6, my breakfast overall had decent flavors and was freshly cooked.

Yes, it's a "mini casino". Yes, you'll smell cigarette smoke from not too far away. But yes, if you really gambled, drank, and lordy knows whatever else you did away all your money, then you shouldn't complain about the hot food here.

Sahara Saloon
3345 E Sahara Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89104
(702) 457-2020

Betting on Michelin Stars: My New Series on Eating in Las Vegas

It's all their fault. My La Vida Locavore friends have inspired me to do this. Starting next week, I'll be working on an ongoing series on my culinary adventures in this town.

Why? Well, why not? A whole bunch of progressive bloggers will be "invading our town" in July, so they'll need some advice on where to go. And even if that weren't happening here, I'm still a crazy foodie who likes to chat about food.

Oh, and did I mention I have this insane habit of dining out at what I think are some of the most interesting spots in town?

So there you have it. "Betting on Michelin Stars" is born. And by the way, I'll also be talking about my hotel and casino experiences, so we'll have plenty to talk about. :-)