Labor Day Las Vegas - The Food

So here, finally, is my write up on our brief trip in Las Vegas.

It has been a while since we have done any sort of traveling or vacationing. We have been working a lot on the house, and I was doing this self-discovery thing where I wouldn't actively seek entertainment or adventure until I got really, really bored. If you want to read more on that bit, you can, here.

Wanting to surprise my husband for his birthday (his birthday falls on the Labor Day weekend), I decided to surprise him with a cheap trip to Las Vegas. I got airplane tickets for ~$120 round trip, and hotel for ~$90/night, which is cheap for Labor Day weekend. (On a side note, a surprise trip is something that I want for my birthday, but not necessarily something that Mark wanted, but hey, I am not the most considerate gift giver.)

Well, as it turns out, the trip wasn't cheap at all. We spent a fortune on food, food and more food. When my husband got clued in to the fact that we were visiting Las Vegas (I couldn't keep it a surprise), he got excited about eating at Mario Batali's restaurants. He had thought that this goal was unattainable in his lifetime, as Batali's core restaurant is in New York City. But any "celebrity chef" worth his salt has a restaurant in Las Vegas. Well, I wanted to indulge in my husband's food dream, so we ate at not only one Batali restaurant, but two Batali restaurants, a Bobby Flay restaurant, and throw in Thomas Keller, too, for good measure.

A quick review of restaurants:

Batali Restaurant #1: B&B Ristorante

Mario Batali is known for his oversize personality and his oversize belly. He is one of the iron chefs in "Iron Chef America". What I remember most by his performance on "Iron Chef" was his preparation of a cheese dish that was stir fried in a wok made by a humongous round of parmesan cheese. This demonstrates to me Batali's gluttonous love for food and his subsequent great cuisine. This being said, and counter to Mark's experience, I was a little disappointed by my first Batali restaurant.

Mark had the Sardegna themed 4-course dinner (see picture), accompanied by a flight of wine. I had the pasta and tomato themed 4 course dinner (it tasted like our artisan tomato pastas that we prepare at home). The food was complex, and dare I say, overly intellectual? For example, I had a corn ice cream laced with chili pepper sauce, which was interesting at the very least. All in all, we spent a decadent $400 for both of us. I had had too much to eat and drink, and actually vomited in the ladies' room trash can! Just like the Romans back in their vomitariums!

Bobby Flay Restaurant: Mesa Grill

Although you may have a hard time imagining it, this restaurant demonstrated haute South Western American cuisine. The most memorable food we had was the shrimp appetizer, pork tenderloin in a spicy Southwestern sauce (see picture) and the churro with hot chocolate. The meal was excellent, and the restaurant deserves it's Michelin star. The price was decent as well, topping at around ~$150 for the both of us. Our experience was marred by the drunken pair of couples that sat next to us. There was no shortage of 4 letter words coming out of their mouths, and they made jokes about blow jobs and prostitution very loudly. Fortunately, I did not say anything to them, I was afraid to get beaten up!



Batali Restaurant #2: Carnevino

I am salivating just thinking of the juicy steaks that Mark and I had at Mario Batali's steak house. This was the best steak I've ever had, and possibly will ever have (and I have had my share of excellent food). Let me first set the scene: At the table next to us, were a couple of real dandies. These were young 20-something year old men wearing button down shirts in bright pastel stripe, their hair messed up artfully a la Hugh Grant. At the other table was a Hindu and two Caucasian friends. The Hindu mentioned to the waiter that he was about to try meat for the very first time in his life. The waiter did not skip a beat, and said, "well, this is a good place to try it." I wonder if the Hindu's meat lived up to his expectations. We were too immersed in our meal to observe.

We decided to have "La Fiorentina" ($70/person) which is a porterhouse steak for two prepared in the Florentine style (i.e. grilled rare to medium rare with a simple rosemary, salt and pepper seasoning, and then carved at your table). The steak was transcendent. I have had food that made me close my eyes in pleasure. I have had food that made me wonder at its complexity. But, I have never had food that made me want to tear up, and these steaks made me want to cry.

First of all, American cows don't have a lot of flavor. I am still not certain that if I were blind folded, and fed some beef, that I would be able to discern what it was. But these steaks were works of art in their artful charring on the outside and tenderness on the inside. And they were intensely flavored, but what was the flavoring? Mark argued that what we were tasting was the essense of cow. I argued that Batali must have dipped the steaks in bacon lard. Because what I was tasting was a little gamey, a little smokey, and scrumptious. Apparently, the meat cellar guy at Carnevino selects his meat alongside the USDA judge. The meat he chooses is beyond USDA prime grade in terms of marbling and flavor. I asked the waiter that we doggy bag the T-bone for later gnawing. They discreetly wrapped the bone in foil, and placed it in a little Carnevino shopping bag. And gnaw the bone I did the following morning in the hotel room!

Before I bore you to death, I just wanted to mention our transcendent side dishes and wine: bread with bacon lard and butter (yes, they served bacon grease with the bread, and it was to die for). Mashed potates with mascarpone cheese and "guanciale" (Italian bacon made from pig jowl), grilled octopus with chilies and citrus. I also had my first significant Barolo wine (from Piemonte), which is a light wine that tasted of strawberries. This wine broke my perception that Italian wine was not very good. So now, I think it can be good, but I am still not convinced that it is worth the price.

Thomas Keller's Bouchon Bakery:

Every morning, my husband dragged me to the other side of the Las Vegas strip so that we could have breakfast at Bouchon Bakery. Each morning, we ordered lattes, a pastry, and a spread of French macaroons. Mark is really into macaroons right now. Now, these aren't your ordinary coconut macaroons that we Americans are familiar with. These are fancy cookies, even by French standards (see picture). They come in all flavors, from vanilla, to coffee, fennel and raspberry. (In case you don't follow foodie current events, Thomas Keller is also the chef of the world famous French Laundry, and was also a consultant on the Disney film, Ratatouille.)