Category: Las Vegas

Leslie and I knew we had a big day ahead of us, so decided to stay close-in for lunch: Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger’s Border Grill was inside the Mandalay, so we made plans for that.

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With all the fabulous experiences we had already had — Gordon Ramsay Steak and Lotus of Siam especially (and we didn’t go in with special expectations for this restaurant), this was just lunch. It was okay but not great and we’ll not be visiting this one again.  I do have to mention that Leslie ordered a sangria that was just way off on proportions, so the waitress for whatever reason was a little unkind when Leslie asked for a replacement, even though we sweetly explained we thought the mix of ingredients was just off. It was really bad. She decided to bring Leslie a completely different drink, made with autumnal flavors, and I’d summarize the taste of that one this way: imagine a cocktail equal parts tequila and nutmeg. Right. We considered that perhaps she was ‘punishing’ Leslie with an even worse drink…so she didn’t comment about that one! hahaha!

We had time this day to do more exploring, so we traveled over to the Bellagio and took in their Autumnal displays:
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Jean Philippe Patisserie is also in the Bellagio
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I wanted a little nibble of a couple different things, and they had this sampler available: a tiny raspberry macaron, creme brulee, and a red velvet cake pop on a little chocolate ‘plate’. I saved the plate for later (it was good) and tried the other three – the brulee was terrific, the macaron didn’t seem particularly fresh, and the red velvet wasn’t…well, know when you have a certain expectation of the perfect red velvet (or carrot cake, or…) and anything else just isn’t going to make it? I think it was the icing on the outside. Still, though, this was fun and left enough for a snack later.
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The fountain show outside the hotel
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We made it in plenty of time for our reservation at Nobu, which was beautiful and everyone was so kind and welcoming — the whole experience just perfect.
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This was a splurge — we both got the best tasting menu, which incorporated our preferences and kept in mind Leslie’s dislikes. The chef completely took care of us. We were impressed with every single dish.
Here, the lighting is dim so these images aren’t the greatest, but…

Truffle toro
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Salmon belly
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Yellowtail sashimi with cilantro and peppers
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Black Alaskan cod
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Wagyu A5, served atop super-heated stones so you may further heat the steak to your liking
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Chilean sea bass
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red snapper and fluke sashimi, tuna roll
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…and by the time dessert rolled around, I forgot to note how the waiter described dessert!
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It would be nonsense to try to describe in any detail to which each of these are deserving, but this was such an incredible experience, with every single dish incredibly special. This is a *must-do*.

We went straight to the Wynn, where we had tickets for their show, Le Reve (The Dream). Thankfully, we had a little time to take in the surroundings
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Preston Bailey’s floral installations

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and of all the shops, we fell in love with their Tiny Treasures toy shop
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We made our way to the theater for the show, and…Jeff Koons Tulips!

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We had the *best* seats for Le Reve (though I think they are all good, as it’s a water show done in the round). Photographs are allowed. I only took a few as I really wanted to take in the show
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Leslie liked it even better than the other two Cirque shows we saw this week.

I love America. Sometimes all the pieces-parts come together. And they’re always together, it’s just that certain times it’s so obvious how easy it is to love.

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Love Bobby Flay’s story — he dropped out of high school at 10th grade and, well, his success is incredible.

This was one of those times when I made the reservation to knock it off the list (let’s finally try a Bobby Flay restaurant) more than really, truly looking forward to it for its own sake. Not incredibly high expectations, really. Well, we were impressed starting with the bread basket of all things (blue corn cornbread, yum). And our entrees weren’t too far behind: this is Leslie’s smoked chicken and black bean quesadilla with avocado and toasted garlic creme fraiche. She *loved* it. Smoky, deep-deep flavors. Yes.

We made friends with the people at the table next to ours, and they were so impressed with Leslie’s quesadilla that they ordered — and loved it — too. 

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I ordered the cornmeal-crusted chile relleno with roasted eggplant and manchego cheese plus sweet red pepper sauce and balsamic. There was nothing not to like here. The insides were the right amount of soft, and the crust made the right crunch. Zero oiliness in any part. Putting little portions at the tip of the fork and making swirls in the sauce made each bite feel a little custom.  This wasn’t the self-same chile relleno from almost anywhere, it was really different. Just delicious.

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On our next trip, we’ll skip this one, but we were very satisfied with how good it all was.  No dessert, but we figured that we’d find something tiny and sweet elsewhere. We walked around the shops at Caesar’s (finally went to a Henri Bendel — and speaking of stories, could go on forever about how much I love his, starting out in the Jewish community in Lafayette, Louisiana and going on to NY, the monument he built his parents, and the way in which he lovingly treated his employees and partner…).

We also made our way to Francois Payard’s Patisserie and Bistro.

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If Thanksgiving had been at our home this year, one of these turkeys would have made his way to our dessert table.

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*So* many beautiful gelatos.

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As gorgeous as everything looked, there wasn’t anything we just had to try.

We made our way back to the hotel to change again for supper, and took a cab. When the driver realized that we were a little bit early for our reservation (we made it for 5:30p, the time they open each night, so we wouldn’t have to rush to our show later that evening) and the restaurant was closed, he actually offered to stay with us, as the shopping center it’s in doesn’t look that great.

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He was so sweet, not wanting to leave us out alone. Leslie spotted a — not sure what it’s called, really — a foot accupressure place just a door or two down from the restaurant, and we explained to them we had 15 minutes. After walking all over the Strip, we were in need of some foot/leg attention and it was just the thing.

So 5:30p, we are ready for our reservation and seated. As the restaurant stays booked, within ten minutes almost all the tables are taken.
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So here we are, at Lotus of Siam, supposed to be one of the best Thai restaurants in the US.

I started with Tom Kah. Leslie and I joke that “Tom Kah” is a boyfriend. We talk about Tom Kah, we want to bring home Tom Kah, we want everyone to meet Tom Kah. Tom Kah is a rockstar.
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We ordered a few things for the table. Not amazing, but good.

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But I want to tell you about one of the best things ever.

This. Crispy duck in red curry with noodles, khao soi, I think. The duck was so perfectly cooked. So moist and the skin crispy/crunchy even with all this curry around. The noodles we could have eaten forever. Every single time from now on, this is getting ordered at Lotus. Yesssssss.
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Rather than a cab, we ordered an Uber for the drive back to Mandalay after we were in total food-bliss.  This is where the whole day, it all crystallized: the app asked if I wanted to choose what to play in our driver’s car during our ride. I didn’t want to specify as we were going to give the deference to the driver, as it’s his car. We got in, are talking about music, and he asks if it’s okay if we listen to Christmas music, that it’s what he’s in the mood for. Of course!! He tells us that he’s an Iranian Christian and some of his story. So here we are, two Jewish girls in the car blasting “White Christmas” by Irving Berlin with a man who came here to enjoy his own freedom with big plans for the future and we’re all enjoying each other and just happy as little clams.

Beautiful, America.

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Lastly, we changed and went back downstairs for the Cirque du Soliel: Michael Jackson ONE show. Before the show, the ‘paparazzi’ came over and picked me out to ‘take pictures’ which was funny and sweet and the show itself was pretty great too with lots less ‘story’ but more acrobatics. We saw the CdS Beatles show the night before and I really liked that one better. Still, though, this was pretty great. xoxo!

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This was true birthday love! Leslie and I made reservations for Gordon Ramsay Steak at the Paris the first night we were in Vegas…and she treated me as part of my birthday celebration! How sweet is that!?!

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Our banquette was upstairs, and this was our view of the ceiling installation. The neon tubes are a representation of Gordon Ramsay’s hand movements as he makes a beef wellington.
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An iPad listed the signature cocktails (the HK Antioxident, with Veev Acai Liquer, lemon, and blueberries was smooth and fresh), and almost everything else was listed in the hardbound menu.

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While considering the menu, our head waiter brought over the selection of meats (it may be hard to decipher exactly how this is set up, but atop each placement is a mirror so that one may view the marbling of each cut from above as well). The funny part is that as he got done making his presentation, he asked us if we wanted to take a picture. When I asked him about it, he said, “everybody wants to take a picture of this!”.
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He especially tried to interest us in the tasting menu, but as both of us would have to order it and Leslie didn’t care for a couple of the dishes, we passed. One thing that I found a bit cheesy but, well, cheesy in a sweet way, was that those ordering the tasting menu got to keep the signed photograph of the chef:
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That’s Leslie on the left, and me on the right…and heh, realizing just now I wore those sunglasses the whole time we were at the restaurant.

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Chef Ramsay, we’re not going to take your picture home with us, but we did want to include you.

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We knew we were having a big supper so we passed entirely on appetizers. You can imagine, though, this bread plate was devoured.
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Leslie’s beef short ribs — red wine braised, with potato puree and wild mushrooms:
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*Of course* I had to have the beef wellington. Not sure how big this comes across here, but it’s big. I had half. Know how people say they ate a steak that was ‘like butter’? This was like butter. It was the most tender piece of steak I have ever had. The mushrooms were delectable. And the pastry was soft on the inside and flaky on the outside. Perfect in every way. I want this for supper every night.
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And it may seem odd, but we completely should have passed on ordering sides. With the vegetables and starches that came on our plates, there was no need for the macaroni and cheese (blue, cheddar, parmesan, truffle, english peas) or the ginger-glazed shiitakes (with scallions and crispy shallots).
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But THIS. I read English magazines — delicious., BBC Good Food, and others, but I have never made or had a real sticky toffee pudding. And where better? Sweet pudding cake, brown sugar toffee, brown butter ice cream. It was so soft and so warm and so comforting. Just the perfect amount of sweet. Yes forever.
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When Av and I go to Las Vegas, this is the first place we’re going. It will make him endlessly happy.

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After our just completely amazing supper, Leslie and I headed over to the Mirage for the Cirque du Soleil show, Beatles LOVE. I have an appreciation for the Beatles and have been to a handful of Cirque shows, but this was a thousand times better than imagined. No pics are allowed inside the theatre, but this is the walkway in:

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Happy New Year!
It’s Las Vegas week on DFK!

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There are family vacations and there are date nights and there are girls days.

But of all these, Leslie and I — friends for over 15 years — have never gone off for a few days just the two of us (other than family vacations together, the furthest the two of us have gone afield is the time we took the day to visit Graceland Too, its own life-altering experience).

Leslie’s little one is two so she can, for the first time, get away a little bit now. So it was time: let’s make a grown-up girl trip. Aah-may-zinnng!

The last time I was in Las Vegas was over ten years ago, for a work conference. We stayed that time at Mandalay Bay and although I was open to whatever, it was the hotel we chose to stay for this trip. I think it was several hundred dollars less expensive that some of the more interesting hotels on the other end of the strip and I knew it was nice (plus with tram/walking/cabs/Uber, not a huge concern) so we were great with it.

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Not all of the rooms have been renovated, but we were lucky enough to be given one at check-in:

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We got here right at lunch and although had already made plans for almost all other meals, we wanted something quick, easy, and nearby for lunch. We saw that Hubert Keller’s Burger Bar was in the hotel and headed straight over. Okay, let’s see what Hubert Keller dreams up for hamburgers.

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Leslie had the eponymous burger, which turned out to be under-seasoned buffalo on ciabatta. I had a lamb burger which wasn’t seasoned at all, along with a little sack of fries (though the fries on their own were perfect). Ah, a little disappointing.

But that’s okay — while this wasn’t much, we weren’t looking for much. And the trip turned out to include three of the great meals of my life (seriously.). One of those on tomorrow’s post.