For those devoted to the existing Fleur de Lys at Mandalay Bay, time is running out before they shut their doors for a few months and work on a major remodel.  Saturday, September 11, Fleur dy Lys will close its doors and come back as something…else.  I don’t [...]]]>

Bye bye for now, Fleur de Lys!

For those devoted to the existing Fleur de Lys at Mandalay Bay, time is running out before they shut their doors for a few months and work on a major remodel.  Saturday, September 11, Fleur dy Lys will close its doors and come back as something…else.  I don’t think they’re even solid on exactly what the new space will be once it comes back in a few months, but this I do know: Expect the “outdoor” patio area to be greatly expanded, a total overhaul of the indoor space and a more open DJ booth where Hubert Keller will be having much more of a presence in Las Vegas with filming his PBS show here.  The food, however, is still up in the air as far as the casual / fine dining balance goes.  Expect their International Tapas menu to be greatly expanded, but unlike other reports published elsewhere, expect there to still be a “fine dining” element to remain.  Word has it that Hubert Keller will be on hand on Saturday to give the room and the staff a proper send off.

Project Dinner Table Logo (courtesy: projectdinnertable.com)

Project Dinner Table returns with one hell of a dinner scheduled for Saturday, September 11.  The six-course menu will be prepared by six of the chefs at the MGM Grand; Chef Jennifer Hargisen of banquets, Chef Stefano Chiarugi of Fiamma, Chef Stephen Hopcraft (who I just interviewed) of Seablue, Chef Stephan Chevet of Shibuya, Chef Patrick Schaffer of Studio Café and James Beard Award Nominated Pastry Chef, Kamel Guechida from Joël Robuchon.  So far, Project Dinner Table has raised over $11,000 for the places it has benefited.  This edition will be at the historic Fifth Street School and will benefit the Vegas Valley Children’s Book Festival.  Tickets are $125 and the dinner bell rings at 6pm.  For more information, visit http://ProjectDinnerTable.com. You can follow Project Dinner Table on Twitter at @food4good.

Logo of The Best Buffalo Wings in Las Vegas

Home of the best Buffalo Wings in Las Vegas, the Naked City Pizza Shop, will be holding its Grand Opening Party on Thursday, September 9th from 8pm-3am.  There will be all sorts of specials, but most importantly….they have the best Buffalo Wings in Las Vegas! Remember, the Naked City Pizza Shop is located INSIDE Moon Doggies bar on the corner of Arville and Desert Inn.  They have an arcade game in there where you can shoot zebras.  How can you not go?!?

O.G. Bouchon in Yountville, CA. No elevator necessary for this one.

In case you make a habit of reading all-knowing, infallible “professionals” that gain their gold-standard credibility because they shit on the 400 or so words they get tossed from a shithole weekly rag with a vetting process akin to what Old Man McCain did for that dumb bitch that has overstayed her 15 minutes……there’s a fucking elevator in the Venetian’s parking garage in case you wanted to go to Bouchon.  That’s all I have to say about that.

Jet Tila - Chef, Guinness World Record Attempter, Lover of Humanity (photo: twitter.com/jettila)

Best wishes to Executive Chef of Wazuzu at the Encore resort, Jet Tila, as he attempts to break a Guinness Book of World Records record by making a 400-foot sushi roll today!  He will be doing his attempt at UMass, so don’t run down to Wazuzu to see it.  However, run down to Wazuzu because they make some kick ass food there.  To get more background story, check out Chef Jet’s very worthwhile blog at this link. No word if Schwan’s will develop a new truck to deliver 400-foot sushi rolls.

You Can Vote Once Per Day From Now Through 09/30/10, or you can masturbate to Judge Judy. The choice is yours! Thanks!

Time is running out and I’m still getting my ass kicked in Anthony Bourdain’s Medium Raw Challenge! I guess “getting my ass kicked” is relative as your much appreciated votes have put over 1,500 people in my rearview mirror.  However, the toughest 60-some remain and voting ends on 09/30/10.  I know it’s a pain in the ass, and I know there are fears of the spam fairy loading you up with having to register to vote, but think about the hungry children of the world when you vote.  Not that I’m going to give them shit, but maybe a moment of pity will also cause a moment of weakness!  I have spoken to many of my most adamant supporters, including The Wife, and no reports of spam with doing the Connect Through Facebook thing.

Remember, if not for me….vote for the epic hang that will be thrown should I actually win this pig.  I can’t even begin to tell you how much all of the links yous guys have been putting up on Twitter and Facebook mean to me.  It makes me feel special…down there.  For a direct link to ‘Cooking Well Is First’ click here – http://bourdainmediumraw.com/essays/view/1409

—–
Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

September 1

@james_gunn – My new film: [...]]]> I have the pleasure of following some pretty damn funny people on Twitter.  Submitted to you in this series are the top tweets I read last week.  Some have to deal with food, some don’t, but all of them kick ass in 140 characters or less. Behold, TLV’s Tweets Of The Week….

September 1

@james_gunn – My new film: Jerkloose-A small town where beating off is illegal, & 1 high school kid jerks off in front of the others to show how fun it is

@vegasmom728 – I’m trying to figure out why a tanning place is following me. I’m mexican, I’m already brown.

September 2

@DittoToo - Wish twitter had an anti-sports filter.

@TLV_TheWife – The 1 time in my life I try to get away with sweatpants in public, we get a tour of @republickitchen – They did a beautiful remodel BTW

September 4

@SleeplessBeauty – It’s not the cramping that brings the cranky, it’s the potential loss of panties. #lingerielover

September 5

@LeiraPR_CEO – Notice 2 ladies in Vegas this weekend: Id suggest swallowin, it sux 2 findout u had a janitors baby.#ThatBentleysRented CEO/Manager my ass

@MachaRuad – @TastingLasVegas I spent 22 years in the restaurant business before going into law. You know your shit. And your writing style is most fabu. (TLV Note: I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again; flattery is an automatic Tweet of the Week win!)

—–
Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

I know there's an elevator to Bouchon. For that reason alone you should vote once a day from now through 09/30/10! Thanks!

Buy a Key. For Charity.

If nothing [...]]]> Wait staff in barely there bikinis, mermaids swimming in the pool, dancers shaking what their mama (with a little help from their surgeon) gave them, Restaurant Week may be benefiting Three Square, but the Wet Your Appetite At Wet Republic kickoff event last night benefited my Spank Bank.  Yowza!

Buy a Key. For Charity.

If nothing else, it made me happy.  Not in the “Ooh look at that ass shake with each step” kind of happy, but in the sense that I see it as another step in the merciful dying of fine dining as we know it.  In case you were wondering, fine dining is dead.  It died a few years ago, but a couple places keep it on life support to appease the few remaining gourmands out there.  Finally food is getting down to the most important part of eating; the food.  The ivory tower holding the pomp and circumstance of which fine dining sits upon is finally being dismantled and instead of having a different glass for every year and every shade of wine, you can finally relax and enjoy your meal.  Eating food is so much more pleasurable when you don’t have a stick up your ass.

But notice I said the “dying of fine dining as we know it.”  There will always be “fine dining,” it will just be done in a more casual atmosphere.  The food will always be “fine.”  That concept will probably never be accepted by the old stodgy gourmands out there, as they’ll yearn for the days of tableside preparation, white tablecloths and a different sized fork for every bite, but who gives a shit.  The casualization of fine dining makes good business sense and it makes good cultural sense.  We are a people that are rapidly getting the ceremonious bullshit out of our lives, so why should restaurants go against the stream?

Ok…I’ll get off my soapbox now and get on with the event.

It's a party, so dance! For charity.

The Wife With A Tasty Watermelon Mojito. Think Watermelon Jolly Rancher That Makes You Drunk.

The Wet Your Appetite At Wet Republic event was a true celebration.  Think of it as a miniature version of the Vegas Uncork’d Grand Tasting with a whole lot more boobs.  It was great to see such a big turnout to enjoy the good times and to raise some dough for Three Square.  The restaurants represented at this event were a bunch of Restaurant Week participating restaurants that are housed in MGM properties; Olives, Sensi, Circo, Fleur de Lys, Burger Bar, Sage, Jean Georges Steakhouse, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, Fiamma, Joël Robuchon and Craftsteak.

Sensi: Makers of Tasty Foods

Pork Belly Steamed Buns from Sensi. Amazing.

Not even I am that much of an asshole to rag on any of the dishes presented.  It’s an outdoor catering event and it’s for charity for shit’s sake.  Mostly everything there was quite good, but the Pork Belly Steamed Buns offered from Sensi moved all of the aforementioned chicks down a spot in the Spank Bank and took over as CEO.  I’ve professed my love for Chef Martin Heierling and his crew’s food many times, and I will continue to do so many times.  A perfect choice for the event.

I make a motion to have these as the new uniforms in Burger Bar. Made a motion. Get it?

The Wife’s pick of the evening came via Burger Bar in the Mandalay Bay resort.  It was a mini-dessert burger with a donut bun, some kind of chocolatey / Nutella-y thing for a patty, I think passion fruit to look like cheese, maybe kiwi to look like lettuce and a strawberry to look like a tomato.  I could be completely wrong about all of that, but that’s what I remember tasting.  It was served with a Strawberry Beer which The Wife enjoyed quite a bit.  Obviously, I have failed as both a food writer and a husband in my attempts to make her understand that you don’t fruit the beer.

From Sage: Tasty Beer in the Foreground, Delicious Chilled Corn Soup in the Background

Another top choice for me was a Chilled Corn and Saffron Soup with Dungeness Crab from the fine folks at Sage in the Aria resort.  You can’t go wrong with good corn and crab, and doing a chilled soup in a plastic shot glass is a smart move for an outdoor mingling event such as this.

And yes, why I’d like to paint this event as nothing more than eating good food amongst the backdrop of finely tanned titties, there was, of course, something much more important going on, and that was raising money for a great cause, Three Square.

Chef Matt Seeber (2nd from Right) with the Craftsteak Crew

I got to chat a bit with Matt Seeber, Executive Chef of Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak at the MGM Grand. I asked him about Craftsteak’s relationship with Three Square outside of Restaurant Week and he said, “we work quite a bit with Three Square both in-house and with the hotel.”  He went on talking about different seminars the hotel puts on getting the employees involved with the Las Vegas community.  Seeber added about Three Square, “they do great work here in Las Vegas.”

Chef Robert Moore of Jean Georges Steakhouse

Also at the event was Executive Chef of Jean Georges Steakhouse at the Aria resort, Robert Moore.  While Jean Georges Steakhouse is a relatively new joint on the scene, Robert recently celebrated his sixth year in Vegas, three of which was spent at Prime in the Bellagio before he got tapped for his current position.  Through the time he’s been here he has also developed a good relationship with the charity of the evening.  Moore told me,  ”Three Square is an amazing charity, everything they do is to help people. How can you not want to help these people out?”

From the Pages of GQ to the Floor of Fleur de Lys, Owen Deignan

While his boss, Chef Hubert Keller, was spinning discs up in the DJ booth, General Manager of Fleur de Lys at the Mandalay Bay resort, Owen Deignan, was on hand looking his GQ self and handing out some lovely Sashimi of Hiramasa with tasty foam. Owen told me that, “Restaurant Week is a great way to celebrate, getting together with other restaurateurs in the valley, but most importantly to help out the community in the passionate way that we find ourselves working in the day-to-day.  It’s a nice way to give back.”  I couldn’t agree more.

Restaurant Week is indeed a great way to celebrate.  Our restaurants in this valley should be a source of pride for our community.  These people, our neighbors, work their asses off day in and day out and present some of the best food that’s found on this planet.  How lucky are we to live among such talent and be able to sample the things they do?  Most importantly, how great is it that we have an organization like Three Square to get behind?  Their dedication to helping the less fortunate is inspiring. To be able to help out in some small way makes you feel good inside.

I’d like to thank the good folks at MGM for inviting me and The Wife to come to this event.  I’m sure there will be something of this nature every year for Restaurant Week, so if you missed it this year, make sure you go next year.  You can’t beat a night out like this for the price of admission.  And it’s for charity.

For more information about Restaurant Week, check out my recent post; Restaurant Week In Las Vegas Approaches, Happy Dance Ensues.

—–
Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

If Not For Me, Vote For The Hang That Will Be Thrown Should I Win! You Can Vote Once Per Day From Now Through 09/30/10! Thanks!

We’ve already mentioned Restaurant Week a few times, and we’ll keep on mentioning it because it’s such an amazing week and benefits such an amazing cause.  Unfortunately, you won’t find much in the shit rag known as the Las Vegas Review-Journal, as they seem to [...]]]>

Las Vegas Restaurant Week Benefiting Three Square (image courtesy: threesquare.org)

We’ve already mentioned Restaurant Week a few times, and we’ll keep on mentioning it because it’s such an amazing week and benefits such an amazing cause.  Unfortunately, you won’t find much in the shit rag known as the Las Vegas Review-Journal, as they seem to think the importance of Restaurant Week is on par with some 3-course special being done at Viva Mercado.  I urge you, TLV Army, to not only support Restaurant Week and the good folks at Three Square, but to also let the R-J know how shitty their food and beverage coverage is.  It’s an embarrassment and a stain on our fine city.  Let them know it’s about time to get their head out of Sharron Angle’s twat and start covering some stories that actually make our Little  Twinkle in the Desert a better place.

Now that I got that off my chest, I look forward to hanging with all who make it out to the Restaurant Week kickoff event at Wet Republic in the MGM Grand tonight (August 30) from 8pm – midnight!  There are still tickets available for the low low cost of $30.10 and it would be great to see you!  To find out more about the Wet Your Appetite At Wet Republic Event as well links to Restaurant Week menus and such, check out our recent post; Restaurant Week in Las Vegas Approaches, Happy Dance Ensues

Hussong's Cantina Logo

Another week goes by and another special launches at Hussong’s Cantina at Mandalay Bay.  This time it’s a combo deal for locals that has $3 get you a taco, a Dos Equis and a Tres Agaves margarita or shot.  This will be a weekly special held every Thursday from 7pm-9pm.  It’s launching this week on September 2nd and it looks like Carrot Top will be on hand.  A hang just isn’t a hang until Carrot Top shows up.

The Man, The Myth, The Legend - Robin Leach (photo: Robin's Twitter Page)

In honor of Robin Leach’s (you can follow Sir Robin on Twitter at @Robin_Leach) birthday yesterday, I’m going to steal a play out of his playbook and let you in on a little Wicked Whisper and Racy Rumor! Is it true that an award winning songwriter is in advanced talks to bring a cuisine that would be totally unique to Las Vegas, further putting us on the map  as a premier destination for world cuisine? Alright…so it’s not so wicked and it’s not so racy….and I already know it’s true….but I don’t know if I can spill the beans on it yet and thought I’d give it a shot.  Guess I’ll leave things of this nature to the master.  More on this groundbreaking restaurant once I see that things are more solidified.

Thanks so much to everyone for your support! You can vote once each day from now through 09/30/10!

Things are going great on the ‘Medium Raw’ Challenge entry front, although I think I need a minor miracle to make it into the Top 10.  Thank you so much to all that have voted and continue to vote once each day, as well as put up links on Facebook and Twitter.  If anybody happens to know Oprah and think she could put out a wee bit of a shout out, that would be groovy.  There’s only one month left that you’ll hearing me beg for votes as voting ends on 09/30/10.  Remember, if I win this thing, the celebration hang will be so epic that even P Diddy would say, “Damn, that was one hell of a hang!”  Keep up those votes!  Thanks!

A direct link to read ‘Cooking Well Is First’ and to cast your vote is – http://bourdainmediumraw.com/essays/view/1409

—–
Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

August 23

@conantnyc – First off its [...]]]> I have the pleasure of following some pretty damn funny people on Twitter.  Submitted to you in this series are the top tweets I read last week.  Some have to deal with food, some don’t, but all of them kick ass in 140 characters or less. Behold, TLV’s Tweets Of The Week….

August 23

@conantnyc – First off its CONANT RT @i8la: foodie friend on Scarpetta TO: “Scott Contant is a greedy, lying whore who will do anything for a buck..

@gastropoda – When you think about it, it’s actually amazing we’re allowed to eat eggs in this religious country. They’re the unborn.

@ConanOBrien – Stallone is still on top! Our reward: more Planet Hollywoods.

August 26

@UNLVgirl – My phone wants to always change xoxo to socks so if your tweet or text says socks at the end, consider yourself kissed & hugged.

August 27

@tmwrnj – To confirm: the reason my phone was greasy when it was extracted from under the bed yday was thanks to a trojan ultra ribbed.

August 29

@patiokerr – Honesty is the best policy unless telling the truth will get people mad at you.

—–
Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

Still A Ways Behind The Lead So Each And Every Vote Is Needed! You can vote once everyday from now through 09/30/10! Thanks!

Thanks to all of you that are supporting my little venture with Anthony Bourdain’s ‘Medium Raw’ Challenge! It’s because of your votes that my entry is now in the Top 100 and climbing!  There is still a little [...]]]>

You Can Vote Once Per Day from Now Through 09/30/10! Thanks so much for helping this happen!

Thanks to all of you that are supporting my little venture with Anthony Bourdain’s ‘Medium Raw’ Challenge! It’s because of your votes that my entry is now in the Top 100 and climbing!  There is still a little over a month to go, but the biggest part of the mountain is still left to climb.  I’m currently about 1,100 votes behind to break into the Top 10, so every vote is desperately needed!

I know many of you are squeamish about registering to vote on these websites, but the Connect Through Facebook thing they use is easy and all I can tell you is that The Wife has been voting everyday (ain’t she great?) and has had no problems with spam or otherwise.  If not voting for the quality of the essay, then vote for the epic hang that will be thrown in magnificent fashion should I actually win this pig!

Thank you to all for your incredible support and your dedication to voting once each day. Here’s a direct link to the essay – http://bourdainmediumraw.com/essays/view/1409

Republic Kitchen and Bar Logo

Opening to the public today is Republic Kitchen and Bar, located in the space vacated by Fadó Irish Pub at 9470 S. Eastern Avenue in Henderson.  Headed up by Chef Josh Green, who has an impressive resume that spans from Aureole to the late Daniel Boulud Brasserie, Republic appears to be offering mostly traditional American bar fare with a few twists here and there.  They are rolling with some late night hours with a reverse happy hour that happens from midnight to 2am each night, so that makes me happy to have another place for the late night gorge closer to the homestead.  Also things to note they are having a Saturday and Sunday Brunch that ranges from $8 – $17 and a decent looking cocktail and beer menu.  Best wishes to the folks at Republic Kitchen and Bar, I hope ye doesn’t suck! Republic Kitchen and Bar’s website is at http://republickitchenandbar.com.

JaiHo Fusion Restaurant Logo

Also near the new Republic Kitchen and Bar comes an Indo-Chinese Fusion restaurant called JaiHo at 9530 S Eastern Avenue in Henderson.  I know absolutely nothing about this place other than they say they opened on August 16th.  Oooh….a mystery!  Full website advertised as coming soon at http://www.JaiHoFusion.com.  Also best wishes to the crew at JaiHo, I hope ye doesn’t suck either!

R.I.P. - Naked City Sandwich Shop

It’s not all good news though, and I have the unfortunate duty of informing you that the Naked City Sandwich Shop is no more.  Apparently this happened while The Wife and I was on vacation, but I was just perusing through some Facebook pages today, and saw the news on the Naked City Sandwich Shop page.  All hope is not lost, however, it looks like they will gradually add in the Sandwich Shop menu to the new Naked City Pizza Shop location, so the best sandwiches in Las Vegas will still happen in Las Vegas, but we’ll just have to wait a minute to get them again.  I’ll let you know if there are any further updates.

—–
Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

August 18

@OrinTrpt – I hear Dr. [...]]]> I have the pleasure of following some pretty damn funny people on Twitter.  Submitted to you in this series are the top tweets I read last week.  Some have to deal with food, some don’t, but all of them kick ass in 140 characters or less. Behold, TLV’s Tweets Of The Week….

August 18

@OrinTrpt – I hear Dr. Beat in my nightmares.

@aka_kristin – My thigh is sticky.

August 19

@Mercedeslv – What you don’t know can’t hurt you…unless you didn’t know about the salmonella recall before you made your veggie scramble this morning.

@ruhlman – if you’ve got to worry about your eggs you’re buying the wrong kind of eggs! RT @mbhide: egg recall:http://ow.ly/2rZ2r

@ruthbourdain – Now I hear @Rick_bayless is in CA not Chicago so who’s the fucking guy w/the goatee, preternaturally sunny disposition & huitlacoche breath?

August 22

@WhitneyCummings – Eating a peach must be what it’s like for a man to masturbate. Seems worth it at the time, then you’re left sticky and alone.

@Adeviousone – @TastingLasVegas hmmm I’ve never heard chefs complain about much except for food critics.

—–
Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

We're Getting Closer! You Can Vote Once Per Day From Now Until 09/30/10! Thanks for your support!!!

I love San Francisco.  It is one of the few places I’ve been to where I instantly feel home, Las Vegas being the only other.  New York makes me gag, Chicago makes me bored, Los Angeles makes me cringe…but San Francisco…I love San Francisco.  I don’t know what it is about the place.  There’s [...]]]> San Francisco.

I love San Francisco.  It is one of the few places I’ve been to where I instantly feel home, Las Vegas being the only other.  New York makes me gag, Chicago makes me bored, Los Angeles makes me cringe…but San Francisco…I love San Francisco.  I don’t know what it is about the place.  There’s a certain vibe, a certain energy that is palpable, simpatico with my own.    San Francisco is the most European of the American cities, I suppose. There’s a focus on the good things in life; food, drink and culture.  The frantic pace of “work work work”  isn’t felt here like other major American cities.  It’s a city that lends itself well to The Hang.

On the Bay Bridge to San Francisco

San Francisco was my part of the trip, The Wife gets credit for the big ass trees I talked about last week.  I’ve only been to San Francisco once before, almost 9 years ago.  It was when I was living in Salt Lake City (yes, really. Don’t ask.) and was at the point where I couldn’t take…it…anymore.  I hopped in my car and just starting driving west on I-80 and before I knew it, after a liver abusing stay over in Reno,  I was in San Francisco.  I only spent a few days, not knowing anything about the city, driving around aimlessly, literally sticking my head out the window to smell something good for a place to eat. That’s how I first discovered the wonders of The Stinking Rose.  I walked into bars that looked inviting, ate at restaurants that smelled good from the outisde and lived for a few days as an actual San Franciscan.

Ever since that fateful voyage there has been a tug on my heartstrings to go back.  After far too long an absence, I was back in my happy place, and with not much more knowledge than I had my first time around.  I knew ahead of time a few places I wanted to hit up, of course all of them being food related, but other than that I was happy to wander like a blind idiot again.  San Francisco is good for that, there seems to be something worthwhile at every corner. The hills suck ass though.

We stayed at the Hilton in Union Square.  A nice hotel with nicely appointed rooms and very comfortable beds, but in retrospect not necessarily the location I’d pick again.  It was a few blocks away from the closest Muni Station which was our preferred method of travel, even though we had our own car.  One thing Vegas has over everyone is FREE PARKING! With each garage you need to park in being $15 or so on their own, it’s cheaper to cab it, or even more economical (and much more entertaining) to take public transportation.  New York’s subway system is still the most idiot proof for clueless tourists such as ourselves, but the Maps app on the iPhone was brilliant in letting us know how to get to where we wanted to go.

We got to town around 3pm and quickly hit the streets.  Not having a clue where the hell anything was, our sense of direction completely in the shitter, we looked up and down O’Farrell St. and decided to go down…or at least what we perceived as down.  Not really having a game plan for anything, we were just playing it by ear and it was wonderful.  So many vacations are wrecked by having a mapped out schedule of events.  We went to San Francisco knowing we couldn’t do everything, we didn’t really want to do everything. We want a lot of reasons to go back and go back often.  San Francisco certainly doesn’t disappoint in that department.

D & G Lounge in Chinatown, San Francisco

We were hungry (surprise, surprise), and Chinatown was the first thing to spring to mind.  I remembered there was a place in Chinatown that Bourdain visited on the San Francisco episode of No Reservations, so after a few quick searches on the iPhone, I found out it was the R & G Lounge.  I don’t know much in life, but one thing I know is that when you go into a Chinese restaurant and have to walk downstairs to get to the dining room, you’re in for some good food.

Salt & Pepper Dungeness Crab from D & G Lounge

Combination Chow Mein

Good-But-Not-As-Good-As-First Walnut Shrimp

Tank O' Shrimp at R & G Lounge

R & G’s signature dish uses the signature ingredient of San Francisco, Salt & Pepper Dungeness Crab.  Beautifully fried and elegantly simple, it was a real treat.  One of the toughest things for me is to not be disappointed by crab that doesn’t have Alaskan King on its birth certificate.  The Dungeness is certainly no Alaskan King, but R & G did their product proud with expert execution and fun presentation.  We also had a Combination Chow Mein that was fine, and Walnut Shrimp that were also fine, although made me puff with pride as First Food and Bar here in the 702 is still the Grand Champion of the Walnut Shrimp.  One thing about R & G is the supreme freshness of their seafood, as we were seated next to a tank of still smiling, still unsuspecting prawns.  Oh, the fate that lies before them. Yum.

The Wife in Chinatown

Chinatown

Chinese Dick Figurines

Not found in Walmart - $95,000 Hand-carved Elephant Tusks

Homeboy rocking out American Folk Songs on an Erhu

After our very satisfying meal at R & G Lounge, we hiked up the hill to the heart of Chinatown, you know, where all of the junk shops are.  I absolutely adore Chinese junk.  This is what a Chinatown is to me; a crowded city street filled with junk shops, exotic markets, ducks hanging in windows (although I don’t remember seeing any) and massage parlors oozing from happy endings.  I love it. While our Chinatown in Las Vegas has some fabulous restaurants of all Asian persuasions and its fair share of shit stores, it’s still a strip mall Chinatown, thus losing the vibe that a “real” city’s Chinatown has.

Café de la Presse

With last minute reservations at Chef Chris Cosentino’s Incanto for that night still a few hours away and since we just ate a late lunch, of course we should stop at the cute little Parisian café on the walk back to our hotel and eat more.  We desperately need places like Café de la Presse in our neighborhoods here in our Little Twinkle in the Desert.  Yes, Starbucks and the Coffee Bean have a place in life, but don’t come close to filling the void created by not having a kick ass daytime hang spot like Café de la Presse.  A big newsstand of an international assortment of magazines, premium coffees and a whole assortment of the standard French café light fare to nibble on, this is a place that I would love to spend all day, every day at.  Unfortunately we don’t grow these in Green Valley.

Macarons and Café Americano from Café de la Presse

Eyeballing some delectable looking macarons, The Wife and I sat at a table and had a conversation about the world, exactly what needs to happen in a place like this.  Not some fucking sales pitch or other irritating business meeting, but a conversation about life and love.  From our table I heard at least French, German and Spanish being spoken elsewhere.  Not once did I see some eager douche with a calculator stuffing figures down his companion’s throat.  It was nice.  Also nice were the macarons; we had an assortment of Pistachio, Strawberry and Mandarin Lime.  A very fine Café Americano to sip on as well, the atmosphere was perfect.

Chris Cosentino's Incanto

From a brief aside in Paris it was time to make our way down to Cosentino’s House of Pig Entrails; Incanto.  It’s almost funny to witness chefs on Twitter like @AndrewZimmern, @tom_colicchio and @Rick_Bayless continuously rub one out to the pictures that @offalchris puts up.  Incanto is the ultimate of food porn for chefs; impeccably prepared parts of tasty animals that no one should ever want to eat.  When eating at Incanto, one must come with an open mind. A very open mind.

Hanging Meat.

Located in the unassuming neighborhood of Noe Valley, it’s a substantial but easy Muni ride from downtown.  It reminds me a lot of Soyo here in Vegas in the light that you wonder why the hell a restaurant like this is in a neighborhood like this, but you’re thankful that it is.  Cosentino also runs a very popular salumeria in the Bay area called Boccalone. At Incanto, you are greeted with some of the fine hanging meat from Boccalone as you enter the restaurant.

Wall-Sized Pig Asses at Incanto

Incanto is a beautiful space. Rustic stonework along with large photographic murals of odd animal parts.  Any restaurant with a wall-sized picture of pig ass is my kind of joint!  The hard stone does create for a lot of sound reflection, and with a jam packed floor, it made for a very high volume level, so don’t go to Incanto for intimate conversation, but go to have your mind blown away with some food you’ve probably have never even thought about eating before.

Piglet Salumi Platter from Incanto

We started with a salumi platter which immediately  made me see why Boccalone is so beloved.  This was some of the finest salumi / charcuterie / cold cuts / whatever the hell you want to call it, that I’ve had.  The platter made me see proscuitto in a different way, with this offering having a much thicker slice than what is the norm.  Over two weeks later and I’m still thinking about the flavor of the pistachio studded mortadella.  The accouterment were a perfect compliment; pickled beets, gherkins and house made whole-grain mustard.  This was one fine plate of pig.

Pig's Blood Pappardelle with Pig's Head Ragout. Yes...really.

While there was a salumi of heart, kidney and liver included in the platter, something I never thought I’d ever eat in my life was the next course.  Pig’s Blood Pappardelle with Pig’s Head Ragout.  No…really.  Have you ever heard of Pig’s Blood Pappardelle? I sure as hell haven’t.  This is the part where I usually like to be a dick and say, “Well, there’s a reason.” , but I can’t in this instance.  It was delicious.  The pig’s blood was present more for unique color than actual flavor, there was still just the faintest hint of minerally flavor that blood-related foods are known for.  I almost felt like a Cullen eating this thing.

The Pig’s Head Ragout was spectacular.  Head braised down until it falls off the skull and in a fabulous reduction of the tasty juices that come with such braising, it was a full blown porkgasm (patent pending).  I’m pleased to say that even The Wife, while squeamish at first, also greatly enjoyed it.  It made me think about food.  I personally know about only four or five people that would ever order such a thing, and it’s a shame.  If I didn’t go with the specific intention of expanding my palate, I might not have ordered it either.  While most of this offal craze is utter bullshit with a bunch of jabronis serving up organ meat because it is the countercultural hip thing to do, Cosentino and crew work magic with it.  I ask myself the question with the obvious answer; “Why can’t anybody do this in Las Vegas?” Then I think about the only four or five people I know that would actually order it.  I think about that in a restaurant that couldn’t possibly fit another soul in the room. On a Wednesday night.

Cornish Game Hen Fra Diavolo with Zucchini Waffle

We finished up our mindblowing meal at Incanto with a mindblowing spin on Chicken and Waffles, Cornish Game Hen Fra Diavolo with Zucchini Waffle. It, like the rest of the meal, was perfect.  Succulent Game Hen that brought just the right amount of heat was perfectly balanced with a pillowy soft waffle and drizzle of honey syrup.  Unfortunately with all the food we already ate that day, there was no way in hell dessert was going to happen at Incanto.  Also unfortunately, I didn’t get to chat with Chef Cosentino as the kitchen seemed to be in the weeds with a full house and I didn’t want to be the unimportant pain in the ass from another town interrupting his expediting duties.  With the outside chance that Chris reads this, thanks for one hell of a fucking meal!  I now know why people like Colicchio, Bayless and Zimmern spill their seed at the mere glimpse of your menu.

Bad

Waddling out of Incanto, we jumped (more like fell) back on the Muni and returned to our hotel for the evening.  This wasn’t before stumbling across a jazz club about a block or two from the Hilton.  My intention was to completely avoid live music on this trip, but some of the contents of my stomach jostled around just enough to make room for a taste of dessert. We saw Les Jeoulin’s Jazz Bistro and I wish we didn’t.  The only shitty place we went to in San Francisco.  The service was appalling, if not offensive.  You’re running a jazz club, it’s well after what Americans consider standard dinner hour, so don’t be a dick when a patron is up front with you and saying they’re only getting drinks and dessert.  Douches.  What the fuck were they expecting at 11pm? A five-course order?  In a huff they left The Wife and I stranded, being subjected to shitty smooth jazz interpretations of fucking Watermelon Man.  Yeah, yeah…I know most jazz makes me gag, so why would I go to a jazz club, but the music I can excuse.  The Hostess-quality shit cake in plastic cup drenched in Well-Grade rum I can not.  Hideous.  As soon as I could convince some asshole at that place to come to our table to bring us our check, we paid in full and got the hell out promptly.

Awful

Even if you might not make a fortune off a particular table some night, treat your table well.  You never know when that person at your table is some asshole with a blog that can send more business your way.  The worst part is that this was the end of an otherwise incredible day.  It’s was like a rancid fart after a basking in the glow of a good run in the sack.  Ugh.

Ok…so I’m already 2,300 words into this pig, and I have yet to get to Day 2 in San Francisco.  I’m going to keep it all here, but now might be a good time to get up, stretch, take a piss, run some errands and come back.  Sorry this thing is so long (that’s what he said) but I’m not only using this for your enjoyment, but also something to use for personal memories (that’s what she said).

Heaven: Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco

Day Two in San Francisco was magnificent.  I finally got to go to one of my life’s destinations, the Ferry Building Marketplace.  When I put the call out to Twitter and Facebook of where to go and eat in San Francisco, the Ferry Building Marketplace was confirmed as a number one destination, as well it should be.  An amazing marketplace of all sorts of restaurants, shops and other food stands, the Ferry Building is the place I would go everyday should we ever move this operation to the City By The Bay.

Good Coffee Made Here

Mocha from Blue Bottle Coffee Co.

Highly recommended by many and now also by myself is the Blue Bottle Coffee Co.  Anyone that is a coffee nerd is going to love their custom drip process, suspending a filter in the air, directly pour the perfect temperature water over it and letting the good juice drip into the cup.  It was like a standard drip married a French press. So. Good.  The Wife got a Mocha (specifically recommended by follower on Twitter and soon to be a San Franciscan once again, @GeriJeter) and it was as beautiful as it was tasty.  Got to love coffee houses that take so much care in the craft of what they do. There’s so much more to coffee than waking up.

Good Meat Served Here

SAUSAGE ON A STICK!!!!

I almost walked by the Golden Gate Meat Company stand before I caught the Organic Sausage on a Stick out of the corner of my eye.  Organic. Sausage. On a stick.  How the hell could I turn that down?!?  It was so good.  When animals are left alone to be the animals they are supposed to be, man do they make for some tasty eats.

Ciao Bella Gelato in the Ferry Building Marketplace

A pleasant surprise was a lemonade drink with a scoop of Blood Orange sorbet from Ciao Bella Gelato, directly across from the Blue Bottle Coffee Co. stand.  They call it something Italiany sounding, but I can’t remember what it is.  Mouth-puckering and sweet, it was a boldly flavored drink that was remarkably refreshing.

Good Bread Made Here

Assortment of Bread from Acme Bread Co.

One of the must eats in San Francisco is the Acme Bread Company, nationally recognized as one of the best bread makers in this free land of ours.  I tried an assortment of their breads, finding all of them to be just as good as advertised.  Crusty, rustic and fresh, this is the place to cheat on your diet should you be terrified of carbs.

Not a bad place to chow

Ferry Building Marketpace

Lucky Bird

Full from a bounty of foods, I was sad I wasn’t able to try more.  I guess that’s why people go more than once.  By the time we left the building, the outside was bustling with activity, with phenomenal smelling food stands lined up with droves of people waiting in line to sample their wares.  Everything from Organic Hot Dogs to Grilled Pizzas filled the lot.  If there was a heaven, this would be it.  The next time we go back, there is a Hyatt Regency right across the street from the Ferry Building Marketplace and the venerable One Market Restaurant, as well as right by the Embarcadero Muni station.  Although the Hilton we stayed at was just fine, I think future operations will be held at this Hyatt to be the Official Hotel of My San Franciscan Gluttony.

Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf

The Wife and The Noodle

From the Ferry Building we hopped onto a cable car and went up The Embarcadero to Pier 39.  Yeah yeah yeah, I know it’s a tourist trap, but we were tourists and consider us trapped.  Pier 39 is a decent tourist trap though, and  exposed The Wife and I to a new favorite candy, candy-coated chocolate covered sunflower seeds, affectionately known as Crab Poop.  I will go on record and say that a man hasn’t lived until he has eaten Crab Poop. Crab Poop can be purchased in the store with all of the crab related t-shirts.  I can’t remember the name of it, but you’ll know it when you see it.

Crackhouse on Pier 39

Bag of Crack

As many of you know, I am a sucker for donuts and the smell emanating from Trish’s Mini Donuts was irresistible.  A little  miniature production line like you would see at a Krispy Kreme (minus the Kreme), the cake donuts are practically made to order and are served hot and sprinkled with sugar. Pure crack.

Smelly Sea Lions at Pier 39

A main attraction of Pier 39 at Fisherman’s Wharf is viewing the sea lions.  They are amazing to behold, but beware the smell of R.C. (that one’s for my boys in SLC) that occasionally wafts in your face.  Hearing the belches and roars, seeing them get in pissing matches and the resulting open wound battle scars of trying to get to the top of the pile, it was something else.

Far from Bruce Lee

Another fun thing at Pier 39 was a real life Hall of Mirrors.  I felt very Bruce Lee-ish circa Enter The Dragon as The Wife and I tried to navigate through the mirror maze.  Nothing makes you feel as stupid as when you see a reflection of yourself, yet continue to walk into yourself.

Worst Street Performer. Ever.

Speaking of stupid, Pier 39 also features the worst street performer I’ve ever seen.  The worst jokes, the guy can barely juggle.  He’s the kind of guy you’d expect to see on America’s Got Talent.  Even with how horrendous the guy was, maybe even as a result of such horrendification, there was something endearing about the guy.  What was not endearing however was the little shit punk bastard child left unattended by his useless mother.  A 4-year old heckler, I felt sorry for the poor performer.  People, grab hold of your fucking children and make them obey.  Please. Thank you.

Experiencing enough touristy shit, we decided to get us some culture, so a cable car ride down to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art it was. We didn’t stuff food in our face for at least a half hour, so of course we were hungry.  Not knowing anything in the area, we walked around near the SFMOMA, saw a big red sign and walked towards it.  The sign said “Brewing Company,” the sign said “Spanish Cuisine” and that was more than enough to entice The Wife and I to dine at The Thirsty Bear.

The Thirsty Bear in San Francisco. Go here.

To say the Thirsty Bear has Spanish Cuisine doesn’t quite do it justice. Chef Jessica Gorin is kicking ass and taking names putting a serious California spin on Spanish favorites.  I can’t believe I’ve never heard anything about this restaurant or this chef before stumbling in the door out of sheer chance and hunger.  While the execution was absolutely perfect, the ingredients made a desert fox such as myself completely reconsider what food actually is.

While the best restaurants in Las Vegas will rival any of the best restaurants anywhere else in the world, San Francisco kicks our ass everyday and twice on Sundays when it comes to produce.  I’ve never had grape tomatoes that tasted like these grape tomatoes, corn that tasted like this corn, Romano beans that tasted like these Romano beans, shallots that tasted like these shallots. Unfuckingbelievable.  This food tasted like food.  Imagine the concentration, the clarity and the intensity of the greatest grape you ever tasted, multiply that by 4 and this is the experience of all the produce used at the Thirsty Bear.  Words can’t describe, you just have to go and taste it for yourself.

Menestra from The Thirsty Bear. Nom.

Seasonal, fresh, organic and prepared in a way where the ingredients are put on the pedestal they deserve to be on, the food at the Thirsty Bear is spectacular.  Take for instance the Menestra, which I think the loose translation from the Spanish is “mixed veg that doesn’t suck.”   Completely blown away, and if it wasn’t for what we were to eat in Yountville the next day, this would have been THE dish of the vacation.  A mixed vegetable dish topped with an exquisitely poached egg. Amazing.

Spectacular Flatbread from The Thirsty Bear

Also amazing was a flatbread.  I can’t remember everything that was on it, I remember quail eggs, serrano ham, manchego cheese, an olive tapenade and some spicy aioli, but I do remember the foodgasm that ensued upon first bite.  Here was one of those rare instances where you had a shit ton of ingredients, yet it worked as a dish.  So many chefs dick that up, not this one.  I couldn’t imagine an flavor missing, and I couldn’t imagine a flavor added; it was a perfect bite.  After several other fabulous dishes like empanadas and flank steak with chimichurri, we headed back across the street to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Henri Matisse ' Woman In A Hat'

I don't know who did this, but I liked it.

Ass.

Remarkable!

Much of “modern art” is completely lost on me, and the collection at the SFMOMA is no exception.  It was special to experience the Matisse ‘Woman With A Hat’ first hand, but Warhol and Lichtenstein aren’t my bag.  Even worse were these bullshit videos, one of a guy bending over.  Is that really art?  A black and white film of some dumb bastard bending over?  I guess that’s the point of modern art, to expand and redefine the borders of what art “is,” but I am perfectly comfortable in my closed-mindness to tell you that three blank canvasses hanging on a wall is bullshit and it is not art.  Behold…

Art.

This day was a special day in California, the day where Prop 8 was overturned.  Being in San Francisco, I expected there to be a Yellow Brick Road laid out with full ticker tape parade of Dorothys celebrating.  But there wasn’t.  There wasn’t a fucking peep.  If it wasn’t splashed on the headline of the San Francisco Chronicle, you would never know what happened.  I guess when people are finally given the privilege to be treated like a human being, it isn’t much cause to celebrate.  There was more of a “what the fuck took so long” feeling in the air.  I think being in San Francisco during this major event and advancement in equality and experiencing this reaction was much more special than the Dorothys.  This is the kind of feeling that sticks with you in the important way.

Castro Theater Sign

However, if you’re going to see an impromptu performance of the Wizard of Oz, the best chance of it happening is in the Castro neighborhood.   Castro isn’t just all about being loud and proud though, Castro is also home to Ike’s Place, maker of ginormous hoagies.

Home of the Ridiculous and the Delicious

Kitchen at Ike's Place

Ike’s Place is an interesting space.  It’s a kitchen, and that’s it.  Your order is taken at the front door and you’re only allowed inside to pick out your drink and chips.  You wait outside, there are no tables to be found and apparently the neighbors bitch about the droves of hungry people waiting in line for a spectacular Ike’s Place sub.  They have over 100 subs to choose from, ranging from the huge to the absolutely ridiculous.  Being the supreme glutton I am, I of course went for the absolutely ridiculous and this was in the form of the Lex Luthor.

The Lex Luthor from Ike's Place

Chai Cola. Who knew?

The Lex Luthor is Niman Ranch Hamburger Meat, Chicken Fried Steak, Ribeye Steak, Mozzarella Sticks, American Cheese and all the standard greenery and goop one would expect on such a beast.  It is huge, and I only could get through half of it.  The Wife got the Hot Mama Huda which was Chicken Breast, Frank’s Red Hot, Ranch and Provolone.  Not as big as the Lex Luthor but still fabulously flavorful.  Ike’s serves their sandwiches with Dirty Potato Chips and have the most interesting soft drink selection I have ever seen.  I went for some kind of Chai Spiced Cola and it was ass-kickingly incredible.

Harvey's in Castro

Tasty drinks from Harvey's

As I said before, there are no seats to be found at Ike’s, so we walked up to Castro St., sat in a little public park right next to a cable car track and in the light of the historic Castro Theater sign.  After powering through as much as we could of the delicious beasts, we walked down to Harvey’s, named after a true hero of the gay community, and quite frankly a hero to humanity, Harvey Milk.  I thought it was a nice nod to a remarkable guy on the street where he launched a revolution.  We only got a drink there, I can’t even remember what I had, but I do remember it was good and that there was an interesting mixed drink selection.  The food we saw at the other tables looked like quality bar food, I wouldn’t mind giving it a shot on a return visit.

It is from here that we rolled ourselves into a taxi and returned to the hotel, thus ending a fabulous two days in a fabulous town.  Thus ending this nightmarish beast of a post.  I think if anyone actually made it this far, you really need to leave a comment and kind of sign your name and get the recognition you deserve.  I wish I had medals to hand out.  To everyone that bailed a long time ago, I’m certainly not offended, there’s no way in hell I would have made it.

No, we didn’t go to Chez Panisse, we didn’t even think about going to the O.G. Fleur de Lys or even wanted to step foot in a Michael Mina joint. We didn’t see Japantown or North Beach and we fucking missed out on Alcatraz because it was sold out.  To the bitter disappointment of several friends on Twitter and Facebook, we didn’t get to hit up Molinari’s either (sorry @Chef_RyanR & @TonyJnVegas). But we’ll be back, my sweet love.  Oh yes…we will be back.

Part III will cover the last leg of our journey; The Wife and I’s 5th Anniversary in Yountville and our drive down the coast to Santa Barbara.  I swear it will be nowhere near the size of this pig.

—–
Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

Remember, you can vote once per day from now through 9/30/10! Thanks!

Las Vegas went such a long time with only one Hash House A Go Go location, but now they seem to be popping up like pimples on Montana Fishburne’s ass.  The third location will mercifully take over the Red Cup Café space at the M Resort and is slated [...]]]>

Hash House A Go Go Logo

Las Vegas went such a long time with only one Hash House A Go Go location, but now they seem to be popping up like pimples on Montana Fishburne’s ass.  The third location will mercifully take over the Red Cup Café space at the M Resort and is slated to open sometime in October.  They’re looking for a wide range of positions, both front and back of house, and they are holding a job fair in the Molise Room 4 in the M Resort on Tuesday August 17 and Wednesday August 18 from 9am-6pm.  If you’re looking for a gig, make sure you’re prepared for an interview.  Best wishes to all applicants!

Pistachio Summer Fruit Tart from Bachi Burger. Amazing.

Due to overwhelming demand, Bachi Burger is shooting their day off out the window and are re-opening with slightly shorter hours than the rest of the week, 12pm-8pm, on Sundays. (of course they’re keeping their Monday-Saturday hours from 11am-2am) By the way, they’ve got a new limited-time special burger there called the Spicy Miso Burger along with a new item on the dessert menu, a Pistachio Summer Fruit Tart, that will knock your socks off.  I call the Spicy Miso Burger a Four Napkin Burger.  You need three for your face and hands and one for the mess that is sure to be made in your lap after you take your first bite.  The Summer Fruit Tart is easily one of the best desserts I’ve ever had and comes with this Plum Wine Ice Cream that will make you thankful to be alive. They’re good.

Good Food Made Here. Silk Road.

One of the highest recommendations I give is for people to hit up Chef Martin Heierling’s Silk Road at the Vdara hotel for breakfast.  I just got word in that for a limited time, Silk Road will be offering half priced bottles of champagne along with their fabulous Sunday Brunch. Like we needed another reason to go eat the sensational food, half price bottles of bubbles ain’t that bad!  Remember, it’s only for a limited time, so make sure you call ahead if the deal is going to make or break your visit.

Comeoniwannaleiyou Day at First

Celebrating the anniversary of Hawaii’s Statehood, First Food and Bar is throwing a full blown Luau on Saturday, August 21st starting at 9pm.  They’ll have all the traditional Hawaiian grub from Kaluha Pork to Spam and will be having drink specials as well.  Anybody that scores a picture of 0 in a grass skirt and coconut bra will be my Hero for Life!

Vote Once Per Day!

Speaking of First, thank you so much to all that have already voted and have been promoting my ‘Medium Raw’ contest entry!  We still have a long way to go as I’m over 2,600 votes shy of the top, but I’m still hopeful to make up some ground with us being able to vote once per day from now through 9/30.  I know many of you have posted links on Twitter and Facebook, but I do have to give a special shoutout to two fabulous ladies that have been going above and beyond trying to get the word out, @aka_kristin and @Adeviousone on Twitter.  It seems like everytime I go on Twitter, one of them has put a link up, browbeating their own followers to help me out.  Thank you so much to both of them and thank you so much to everyone for your incredible support!  With your help, we can bang this thing out and take one home for the 702!

A direct link to read my entry, Cooking Well Is First, and to vote for it is - http://bourdainmediumraw.com/essays/view/1409

—–
Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

August 9

@Jesus_M_Christ – #newcommandment Thou shall [...]]]> I have the pleasure of following some pretty damn funny people on Twitter.  Submitted to you in this series are the top tweets I read last week.  Some have to deal with food, some don’t, but all of them kick ass in 140 characters or less. Behold, TLV’s Tweets Of The Week….

August 9

@Jesus_M_Christ – #newcommandment Thou shall stop thanking me for everything. I don’t give a fuck about the B on your English test.

August 11

@JohnUnwin – Nice dinner at Okada tonight – no problem getting in and out
(TLV Note: For the background story why this made me LOL for realsies, check out @TheStripPodcast’s post – Wynn Assesses The Cosmo)

August 12

@SleeplessBeauty – I have the libido of a 16 yr old boy & the responsibilities of a woman. Toys are necessary so I don’t kill the boyfriend.

August 13

@tmwrnj – I really hope I don’t look the same walking in heels as half these bitches on the strip

August 14

@MistressDrea – I had a dream I went to Reno. More like a nightmare.

August 15

@DittoToo – Why are white people acting like they just invented the food truck?

—–
Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

You Can Vote Once Per Day From Now Through 09/30/10! Thanks for your help!

What’s good, everybody?  Did you miss us?  Did you even know we were gone?  The Wife and I are back in Vegas from a much needed vacation, the first one we’ve taken in well over three years!  We did a road trip through the Great State of California where we [...]]]>

From Highway 1 in California

What’s good, everybody?  Did you miss us?  Did you even know we were gone?  The Wife and I are back in Vegas from a much needed vacation, the first one we’ve taken in well over three years!  We did a road trip through the Great State of California where we first went to Sequoia National Park, then one of my favorite places on Earth, San Francisco, then up to Yountville for our 5th Anniversary (can you believe it?) and finally making our way down the coast to Santa Barbara.  We drove a total of 1,559.1 miles and ate at (I think) 27 different restaurants / food stands / places where calories are consumed.  Much more about our epic journey through the Golden State to be posted this week…

Las Vegas' Restaurant Week Benefits Three Square! Yay!

Get your fat pants on deck as one of the best weeks of the year, Restaurant Week, rapidly approaches with it falling on August 30 – September 5 this year!  Over 80 restaurants in town will participate with special menus they create for $20.10, $30.10 or $50.10, a portion of each of the proceeds will directly benefit the our favorite charity, Three Square.  As we get closer to the August 30th start date, the participating restaurants will be putting out their special menus and we’ll certainly pass along the details once we have them.

Club Fortune Casino Logo

For those of us interested in shortening our life spans with grotesque food challenges (Dobranski Burger, anyone?), Emily’s Cafe in the Club Fortune Casino located in old school Henderson now has a Colossus Burger Challenge. If you alone eat the 12-pattied monstrosity in 20 minutes or less, you get the $19.99 burger for free, get your picture on the wall and get a t-shirt.  Eat it after the 20 minutes, you still get the shirt.  Due to fear of The Wife’s Wrath, I will not be attempting it, but I sure as hell would like to see someone try!  Let me know if you’re going down!

—–
Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

Occasionally, offers come in [...]]]> For some unknown-to-me reason, restaurant owners, chefs, restaurant managers and PR folk have been treating me somewhat like a legitimate restaurant writer.  This of course leads me to wonder if they have actually ever read any of this shit, but who am I to question a show of respect, deserved or not.

Occasionally, offers come in from these folks to go to their place of business and try out some new menu items as their guest.  I’ve tried to stick to a self-made rule that I won’t accept the offer until I’ve eaten at the restaurant in question at least a few times unannounced.  I’ve been a good boy at sticking to my rule up until this past Friday, where I buckled after several offers of a free meal being dangled before me.  With an upcoming vacation that we’ve already blown twice the budget on before even stepping foot out of the door, the allure of free meat overpowered me at a moment of weakness.  I like meat.  I like free. I’m human. Kiss my ass.

Sounds Like Mrs. Wollensky Is Quite the Lady!

The offer came in from Smith & Wollensky to try out their new Summer Grill Menu.  I’ve never eaten at a Smith & Wollensky before, thus the prolixity of my introductory paragraph and ensuing moral dilemma.  As the title to this post has already spoiled, the meal was a complete disaster.  Normally a meal so utterly heinous would cause anger, but since we didn’t pay for it (we left a $20 tip for the server only), I came away from it somewhat relieved.  Yes…relieved.  Relieved that two wrenching questions I’ve had in these past 7 months were at least partially answered;

1. Will going to a place recognized or announced get you special food?
2. Will I feel the need to write a blowjob of a review when a place treats me to food and it turns out to suck?

Over these last 7 months, The Wife and I have been recognized quite a bit and have had our share of free / hosted food.  While they might sic the best waitstaff on us and feel the need to massage my balls on how they like my writing, I’ve never found the food to be anything too extra special from what I’ve had previously.  Our trip to Smith & Wollensky showed me that it doesn’t matter who the recipient is, when the kitchen staff is either inept or simply has a bad day, it’s going to show up on the plate.

Much of any meal in any place has already been set into motion far before any of us walk in the door.  Mise en place is done, proteins are par-cooked, frozen food has been thawed, the maintenance of the kitchen equipment is what it is and the staff of that day has been scheduled for work.  If a restaurant’s produce purveyor delivers shitty, big-factory chemical tomatoes that day and the person doing the receiving doesn’t have the wherewithal to tell that purveyor to shove those shitty hothouse tomatoes up their ass and bring back some fresh produce, then all is lost for anything involving a tomato that day.  No chef on Earth can miracle a chemically-ripened tomato to something palatable.

The answer to my second question solely resides with my personal integrity, of which I like to think I have lots.  It’s one of those questions where you’re pretty sure you know the answer, yet you never truly know until it happens in real life.  Well…it has now happened in real life…and here is my answer…

Seared Scallops Supposedly with Peanut Vinaigrette from Smith & Wollensky

We started off our lunch with the Seared Scallops with Peanut Vinaigrette ($14).  You can sort of see it in the picture above, but it was certainly much more noticeable at the table, the scallop to the left was way bigger than the the other two, I’d say 1.5 – 2 times bigger.  Why I bring this up is two-fold; One, it’s one of those early warning signs from the kitchen that they don’t give a shit what they put on the plate as like-sized scallops should have been portioned together during prep time, and two, you’ll see quickly if the sauté station is on the ball and uses the effort to cook asymmetrical proteins correctly.  I’m (shockingly) pleased to report that each scallop was cooked well and evenly.  It was a good start until we get to the part of the dish about the advertised Peanut Vinaigrette, of which I didn’t taste.

The Wife said she got some on her scallop, she took the middle one.  I had the two outside scallops, and I had her taste the one on the right to see if my tongue died of which she confirmed the peanut vinaigrette wasn’t present.  It wasn’t even in the bed of wilted greens below.  I guess there is a premium on peanut vinaigrette , who knew?

Spicy Lobster and Avocado Flatbread from Smith & Wollensky

Our next course was what could have been a decent flatbread, the Spicy Lobster and Avocado Flatbread ($12).  Although the crust was good, the lobster was greatly obscured by the spiciness of it all (as expected for $12), but the overall flavor was still ok.  Yes, the avocado was far too clunky, but who goes to a steakhouse to see precision knifework?  My main bitch about the dish comes from something that struck a big pet peeve of mine, the clunky sickly tomatoes.  First of all, the flatbread didn’t even need tomato for it to work, secondly, this again displayed that the kitchen doesn’t give a shit what is on the plate.

Personally, I would be embarrassed to serve such sickly tomatoes, or a sickly anything for that matter.  We’re in the heart of tomato season, there’s no excuse to be serving such shitty produce, especially for a restaurant with an average price point above Taco Bell.  That just pissed me off…but then I remembered I wasn’t paying for it, so I got over it.

For entrees, I ordered the Open-Faced Sliced Filet Sandwich ($20) and The Wife chose the Organic Lemon Pepper Chicken ($19).  But before I tear these sorry dishes apart, a word about service…

I wish I caught our server’s name as she was an interesting character.  Quite attentive (as to be expected), and a steadfast cheerleader of all the dishes.  ”Doesn’t that look delicious?” “I love this dish!” and “This is one of my favorites!” could be heard not just at our table but at others she was working.  I almost…almost…felt sad when she threw out a “Doesn’t that look delicious?” to the aforementioned flatbread and I saw the color drain from her face when I responded, “No, why would they put tomatoes that look like that on it?”  It was like I socked her in the jaw and her dog died at the same time.  I feel sorry that she is so enthusiastic over such shitty food.  I want to take her out somewhere good.

Deliverer of Heinous Foodstuffs

One of the things I love about old school steakhouses is the serving cart.  I can’t give a legitimate reason why I enjoy seeing a server navigate a rickety old serving cart through a busy dining room so much, but I just do.  Maybe it’s the history when you think about how many meals that cart has seen, maybe it is trying to see if a server is new enough to still have that slight humiliation or if they are crusted over from years of driving…I don’t know.  Props to the serving cart, I hope it doesn’t go anywhere anytime soon.

Glop on Brick - a.k.a. - Open-Faced Sliced Filet from Smith & Wollensky

Delivered via serving cart came our entrees along with shared sides of Green Beans and Whipped Potatoes for $10 each.  When the Open-Faced Sliced Filet was set before me, I was puzzled as this wasn’t the Open-Faced Sliced Filet I remembered from the picture I saw on Smith & Wollensky’s website (here’s a screen shot I took).  Keeping in mind this is the Summer Grill Menu, is this Bleu Cheese / Gorgonzola thick glop-buried sandwich what you want in the Las Vegas 110 degree heat?  Ick.  I wouldn’t want that much shit on any shingle, no matter what the season.  The poor steak trapped below the glop and more sickly tomato was actually decent, but then it was on top of this grossly thick, almost-couldn’t-cut-through bread. A disaster.

Melted Butter With Whipped Potatoes in an All-Clad Pot

Good Green Beans Ruined with M.F.B.C. (More Fucking Bleu Cheese)

I dug the presentation of the Whipped Potatoes being in the All-Clad Copper-ish Pot.  There was a ton of butter in them, which is rarely a bad thing.  Of anything tasted on this outing, the potatoes were probably the best.  I was saddened to see the bleu cheese on the Green Beans, which was the best quality plant life of the day.  The beans were prepared well, still retaining a decent crunch, but why pile more creamy glop on a Summer Grill Menu item?  Is it just me that doesn’t think a bellyful of moldy milk doesn’t mix well with 110 degree temperatures?  If you are going to do a Summer Grill Menu, make it for Summer…especially when you’re in Las Vegas.

Organic Lemon Pepper Chicken Promising On the Outside...

The Wife cut into her Organic Lemon Pepper Chicken and commented that the skin had good flavor.  She then took a second swipe into the promising dish and muttered an “Uh-oh.”  I took my “Why the hell did they put so much fucking cheese sauce on this poor sandwich” look off of my plate to look over at The Wife’s, only to see a steady stream of blood fleeing the wounded animal.

Raw chicken.

...but Bloody on the Inside

How was this possible?  Of all the tables in which you should cook the chicken, the invited restaurant blogger’s table should be the one where you take your head out of your ass and pay attention.  Sure, in the heat of battle even the best chefs make a mistake, but the floor was hardly packed (there might have been three or four other tables seated) and this is the dish for the most important table in the room.  Fail.

We sent back the chicken, the floor manager now just shaking his head and accepting defeat.  We refused the offer of a different dish as this story was now told.  We tried to share the Open-Faced Filet Sandwich, but, it too, was hopeless.  The ever-positive server asked if we saved room for dessert, which even though we were still hungry considering we didn’t eat much of what was presented, we declined.  Enough was enough, free or not.

I almost can’t believe this food was this bad.  Whether the kitchen was having a bad day or not is irrelevant as many of the dishes were a disaster conceptually.  Trying to squeeze what I can of a positive thing out of this experience, I’d say the regular steaks might have a chance at being good as the slices of filet held up, even when it was in the middle of a train wreck.  However, I’m sure as hell not going to go back to Smith & Wollensky anytime soon to find out.

—–

Smith & Wollensky
3767 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Las Vegas, NV 89109

(702) 862-4100

http://www.smithandwollensky.com/locations/las_vegas_steakhouse.htm

—–
Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

Three chefs of the First Food and Bar kitchen; Sam DeMarco, Rob Ryan & Jake Mual, are going to have a Wing Throwdown on Saturday, July 31 to see who makes the best Chicken Wing at First. Diners will be the judges of who’s [...]]]>

The Site of the Wing Throwdown. Lives will be changed forever.

Three chefs of the First Food and Bar kitchen; Sam DeMarco, Rob Ryan & Jake Mual, are going to have a Wing Throwdown on Saturday, July 31 to see who makes the best Chicken Wing at First. Diners will be the judges of who’s wing reigns supreme.  I’ve talked with each of the competitors and the battle is ON for this one, especially with the never ending breaking of balls at stake.

Following the Throwdown, the first 10 competitors to sign up will compete in a Wing Eating Competition emceed by yours truly!  The winner of the Wing Eating Competition will receive a $100 Gift Certificate to First and a goodie bag.  More importantly, they will be immortalized forever on TastingLasVegas.com as the First Food and Bar Wing Eating Champion.  The spoils of war are tremendous in this one!

Here’s how the night is scheduled to go down:

Saturday, July 31, 2010

• 10 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. – Diners are invited to judging and vote for their favorite wing
• 10 p.m. – Sign up for wing eating competition begins (remember, limited to the 1st 10 people that sign up)
• Midnight – 1 a.m. – Post party with open sponsored bar by Stoli White Pomagranik and specials from Wirtz Beverage Coors.

Of course, First’s infamous Happy Hour starts at 11pm, featuring 2-for-1 Draft Beer, Stoli and Patron.

This should be one hell of a Saturday night, it would be great to see you all!  I’ve set up a Facebook Event so you can let us know you’re coming.  Tell your friends!

Crema Catalana from Julian Serrano

It’s official, people have gone off the deep end with these National Days.  We just had National Tequila Day and Tuesday the 27th is National Creme Brulee Day, which if you must celebrate, get the Crema Catalana from Julian Serrano at Aria or the new Chai Tea Creme Brulee from First Food and Bar.

Apparently Riesling wine is too good to just have a day so they took a whole fucking week. No…really.  In honor of Riesling Week (July 25 – August 1) Alizé at the top of the Palms has a special Riesling Week menu at $65 that features items like Smoked Salmon and Ratatouille Roulade, Phyllo Wrapped Anjou Pear and Roquefort Cheese and Smoked Bacon Wrapped Coq au Vin.  For more information and to see the complete special menu, check out http://www.andrelv.com/alize/events.

Locals favorite, Rosemary’s Restaurant, is offering a flight of three different Rieslings for $18 and the Michael Mina joint at Aria, American Fish, is doing the same for two bucks cheaper at $16.

Logo of the Tired and Cranky

A quick bit of news about the home front here at Tasting Las Vegas and that is The Wife and I are going on VACATION!  Finally!  We will be going off the grid from August 2nd – August 10th, so you won’t be seeing any posts or much on Twitter or Facebook during that time.  Just wanted to give you a heads up so you didn’t think we quit / died.

—–
Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

July 19

@N9NEMIXER – Nice! My cab [...]]]> I have the pleasure of following some pretty damn funny people on Twitter.  Submitted to you in this series are the top tweets I read last week.  Some have to deal with food, some don’t, but all of them kick ass in 140 characters or less. Behold, TLV’s Tweets Of The Week….

July 19

@N9NEMIXER – Nice! My cab has a T.V! Rollin in style! Wait….#doesntwork #ithinkigotkidnapped #someguysvan? #help http://twitpic.com/26y1jm

July 22

@marseniuk – Town Square is extra hookerish this evening. Is this a mall, or a meat market? Yeesh!

July 23

@Jesus_M_Christ – Eternal salvation to the 1st person to bring me some munchies. I’m higher than Tyra Banks’ forehead.

July 25

@vegasmom728 – I told my Fairy DivaMother that my eyes are swollen, she said “do you have cucumber?Oh wait that sounds dirty” I said “I have tea bags” lmao

@patiokerr – Heads up: considering the juicy black grapes I just ate, I will hereafter only feel complimented when referred to as a fruit.

@TLV_TheWife – Wendy’s commercial bragging about using real chicken & real pecans in their salads. My question is… What were they using before? #scary

—–
Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

Yes…you heard me correctly.  National. Tequila. Day.

Happy National Tequila Day! (photo: blueprintpodcast.com)

Woe is me that a regretful night of over-indulgence some 13 years ago still has me gag at the mere whiff of tequila, but as the top-selling liquor in the U.S. by a mile, the blue agave-based [...]]]> Saturday, July 24 is National Tequila Day.

Yes…you heard me correctly.  National. Tequila. Day.

Happy National Tequila Day! (photo: blueprintpodcast.com)

Woe is me that a regretful night of over-indulgence some 13 years ago still has me gag at the mere whiff of tequila, but as the top-selling liquor in the U.S. by a mile, the blue agave-based party juice hasn’t wronged the masses as it has done me.  I have a great deal of jealousy toward those that still retain the ability to power down the poison, but on this day, I hoist my frosty beer unto you and say, “Slam one down for me!”

Of course…do all slamming of alcoholic beverages with the utmost responsibility.

Here is just a small smathering of the specials abound in Las Vegas celebrating this joyous day.  I hope these places stocked up on their mops…

* - Ok…this is no shit…but Dos Caminos at the Palazzo had their staff go through training by the Consejo Regulador del Tequila and Tequila Cazadores to become certified in tequila knowledge and receive the Award T.  I know…this sounds like something we’d come up with in college to justify getting shitty on a weekday, but this is legit.  On Saturday, Dos Caminos will show off their new-found knowledge and offer a special tasting menu ($42) with tequila pairing ($39).  The tasting menu includes a Corzo Blanco Tequila Cured Salmon Ceviche, Aged New York Strip Steak with Alaskan King Crab Enchilada and Helado Frito for dessert.

* – The Tequila Bar and Grill at Bally’s will be featuring $1 Margaritas, $2 Select Beers and $2 Shots of Silver Tequila along with $1 tacos.

* – Margaritaville at the Flamingo will have select tequila shots for $5 and select tequila cocktails for $7.

* – Mesa Grill at Caesars Palace will be featuring a Cactus Pear Margarita and White Peach Margarita for $13 each.

* – The newest boutique tequila to make a splash in Las Vegas, Ambhar Tequila will be on special in several resorts.  All of the Luxor’s casino bars will have Ambhar Platinum shots and cocktails for $9 and Ambhar  Reposado for $11.

* – Hussong’s Cantina at Mandalay Bay will have buy one, get one Ambhar shots from 4-7pm.  Buying a shot gets you a crack at a piñata, if you open it, you win a bottle of Ambhar Platinum.

* – The newly renovated Tropicana will have $5 Ambhar shots at all casino bars, including the pool.

Remember, Tasting Las Vegas always encourages you to drink responsibly as well as throw up responsibly.  If you do choose to imbibe on this national holiday, by all means, send me some incriminating pictures so we can all point and laugh.

—–
Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

I am a firm believer that one of the greatest things our town has to offer is the Booze Slurpee, and with variations popping up all up and down The Strip and on Fremont St., there are plenty of places to consume sweet, frozen poison.  Evening Call is one [...]]]>

Evening Call Dispensary of Booze Slurpees

I am a firm believer that one of the greatest things our town has to offer is the Booze Slurpee, and with variations popping up all up and down The Strip and on Fremont St., there are plenty of places to consume sweet, frozen poison.  Evening Call is one of these such Booze Slurpee emporiums and they are celebrating National Daiquiri Day today (July 19) with $3 Daiquiris and Free Shots and their three Las Vegas locations; Ballys, Luxor and Mandalay Bay.

Naked City Sandwich Shop

The Naked City Sandwich Shop has unleashed its new Summer Menu today featuring a Big BLT, Albacore Tuna Salad and Roasted Chicken Salad.  The Naked City Sandwich Shop is attached to Dino’s Lounge, a bit north from the Stratosphere on Las Vegas Blvd.  Go forth and eat there.  Best sandwiches in Las Vegas.

The Official Symbol of the Half-Assed

There are a few exciting (at least to me) developments happening with Tasting Las Vegas that you’ll be hearing a whole bunch about in the coming weeks.  Launching in the next two weeks will be both the TLV Book Club and the TLV Beer Club!

The TLV Book Club will be an interactive discussion of books I’ll pick out for us to read.  Some will be standard prose type things, and others will be cookbooks by local chefs for us to hack our way through. I’m still ironing out some of the particulars, and as always I’m open to suggestions, so let them fly.

The TLV Beer Club is going to be all about Earth’s Greatest Beverage.  News and reviews specific to beer and hopefully some organized bingeing Tasting Tweet Ups, the TLV Beer Club will at least be an excuse for all of us to drink more….so it can’t be a bad thing.

Last, but certainly not least, in mid-September we should see the launch of Tasting Las Vegas: The Podcast! I say this now because I want it on record and if you don’t see the podcast up by then I give you full authority to break my balls mercilessly until it is.

—–
Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

July 14

@Jesus_M_Christ – I find it [...]]]> I have the pleasure of following some pretty damn funny people on Twitter.  Submitted to you in this series are the top tweets I read last week.  Some have to deal with food, some don’t, but all of them kick ass in 140 characters or less. Behold, TLV’s Tweets Of The Week….

July 14

@Jesus_M_Christ – I find it funny that people think my Dad is against sex before marriage. He knocked up my Mom before they event MET.

July 15

@Mercedeslv – They say everything happens for a reason and sometimes that reason is that you’re an idiot.

July 16

@AriannaLA – Just realized I’m totally spilling out of my shirt. Explains, perhaps, why customer just bought that ’99 Banfi Riserva…

July 17

@VegasChatter – So many interesting outfits at mandalay bay tonight. And by interesting we mean kesha crossed w eastern europe pre berlin wall’s demise

@NatMoonLV – Oh my goodness. Funniest menu typo EVER.http://yfrog.com/5cd6ypj

@MistressDrea – Fuck you, Westboro Baptist Church. Fuck you with something hard and sandpaper-y.

—–
Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

What the hell is going on over at Town Square?  Has there ever been a part of this valley that has seen such an astounding turnover of restaurants?  I ask this as a semi-legit question as I haven’t seen anything like it in the 6 years The [...]]]>

The Most Appropriate Sign at Town Square Yet

What the hell is going on over at Town Square?  Has there ever been a part of this valley that has seen such an astounding turnover of restaurants?  I ask this as a semi-legit question as I haven’t seen anything like it in the 6 years The Wife and I have called this Twinkle in the Desert home.  However, just as one miserably failed concept closes, another one seems to open, because obviously, they have the solution that works.

At least today, recently opened Nu Sanctuary was closed because it is undergoing a “facelift” according to the sign on the front door. The sign also said they should be back open on Tuesday.  Nothing about this temporary closure was mentioned on Nu Sanctuary’s Twitter account (@nusanctuary) because apparently it’s no big deal for potential patrons to walk in 108 degree temps to find out they still don’t have their shit together.  And I ask myself yet again, why the hell do I want to give them a second chance…

Few Tears Have Been Shed

Above Nu Sanctuary, the third and final try was not the charm for the Louie Empire that took Town Square by storm when the outdoor shopping district first opened.  Bar Louie has mercifully closed its doors for good.  I told them they should have kept the 2-Alarm Chili…it was the only good thing on the menu.

However through death there is birth, and Lolita’s Taqueria seems to be closer to approaching an opening date. Another taqueria. Whoopie!  Oh, and just in case the food at Yard House isn’t shitty enough for you, Miller’s Ale House seems to be coming along nicely.  Can you tell I’m ready to throw in the towel on Town Square?  I guess hot weather makes me cranky.

Place of Fancy Ice Cream

Ok…on to better news….  Everyone seems to be insanely in love with the new Atomic #7 ice cream joint by the Galleria Mall in Henderson.  Atomic #7 features made-to-order ice creams with your choice of just about everything; milks, sweeteners and flavors.  They make it to order by freezing it with liquid nitrogen. Fancy.  They’re already expanding their hours and are now open for “breakfast” on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday at 8am featuring parfaits and smoothies.  I haven’t been yet, but have given it a bump in the line due to all of the raves I’ve been hearing from the TLV Army.

M Resort Logo

Speaking of the TLV Army, many thanks to one of our newest readers, @HaydenGrace, for giving me the heads up that Hash House A Go Go will be opening a third location at the M Resort.  It should be up and running by this coming October.  Here’s to hoping it takes over that disastrous Red Cup Cafe.

I still miss the Brasserie

Starting today, Wolfgang Puck Cucina & Pizzeria at the Crystals is jumping on this “Meatless Mondays” bandwagon and featuring their meatless stuff on Mondays.  If you ask me, a day without meat is a day not worth living, but if you are in to such ridiculous things, I’m sure the good folks at Wolfy’s Pizza joint do a fine job.

Hussong's Logo

In yet another promotion going on at Hussong’s Cantina in the Mandalay Place Shoppes at Mandalay Bay, if you are going to a concert at Mandalay Bay or at the Mandalay Beach, go for a pre-concert bite and show your ticket to your waiter at Hussong’s to receive a free appetizer with purchase of an entree.  I say go for the Carnitas Sopes or the Elote Plazero (grilled corn on the cob rolled in butter/mayo combo, cojita cheese and chili flakes). Muy tasty.

Whole Foods Logo

If you have the balls to wear a beret in public, you can at least score a free demi-baguette if you do so while supplies last at the Whole Foods in Summerlin on Wednesday, July 14th.  They say it is for Bastille Day, but really I think it is just to get a good stock of incriminating pictures for Facebook.

—–
Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

July 5

@LisaViscuglia – thought eating lots [...]]]> I have the pleasure of following some pretty damn funny people on Twitter.  Submitted to you in this series are the top tweets I read last week.  Some have to deal with food, some don’t, but all of them kick ass in 140 characters or less. Behold, TLV’s Tweets Of The Week….

July 5

@LisaViscuglia – thought eating lots of blueberries would be healthy. Now I look like an aging goth girl with blue lipstick

July 6

@chefjoseandres – Spain plays tomorrow! I can not sleep….I’m going out for Chinese, I look at the stars for a sign, but only crispypekingduck listens to me!

July 7

@ucsb1990 – Gotta go to Wal-Mart to get toilet paper. I would just use the R-J editorial page, but it’s already full.

@offalchris – Butchering with a broken finger is alot harder then I thought it would be 1 pig 3 hours. Please fire me I am slow!!

July 11

@vegasmom728 – Ok I’m out. Gonna give my pillow some head. Damn long day.

@bubafettt – I usually get inspired when watching Food Network…whatever Rachel Ray is making is hurting my feelings & I’m losing my appetite.

@ConanOBrien – Congratulations to Spain on their World Cup victory! May the streets run red with blood-orange sangria and ham!

—–
Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

Balls.

Good Food is Made Here

Why Origin India?  Why now?  Why does it seem like every fucking time I’m about to shout out to the world the virtues [...]]]> So here I am, in the middle of writing this gushing review of Origin India and this story from Channel 13′s news is plastered across my laptop screen.

Balls.

Good Food is Made Here

Why Origin India?  Why now?  Why does it seem like every fucking time I’m about to shout out to the world the virtues of Indian cuisine and do my best to dispel all stereotypes of less-than-adequate hygiene at Indian-centric eateries, the very one I’m about to gush about gets shut down by the county?

Balls.

Pre-dating the advent of Tasting Las Vegas, when I was just the guy all of my friends would ask, “Where should I go eat?”,  I espoused the fantastical wonders of the Namaste Indian Cuisine Lunch Buffet.  Sure enough, right after my semi-public vote of confidence, the headline scrawled across one of the deep crevasses of the R-J saying that Namaste was temporarily shut down due to Health Code violations.  Something about not having buckets with soapy water near the buffet or some bureaucratic bullshit like that.

Part of the Lunch Buffet at Namaste Indian Cuisine

Namaste was reopened the next day with a shining “A” rating from the county, but the stigma was already attached.  ”What the fuck are you trying to send me to, Dobranski?” was the message now received from people who’s trust I thought was in the palm of my hand.  After hearing this unfortunate news, I went to Namaste that very day, ate yet another delicious cheap meal in what I always found to be a very clean environment.  I didn’t get violently ill afterward.  I didn’t throw up until I saw the whites of Jesus’ eyes nor did I spew a fiery liquid from my anus.

In fact, just like I feel most times after eating good Indian food, I felt better than I did before I stepped foot in the restaurant.  The pro-biotics in the yogurt-based curries along with the exquisite, some would say medicinal, herbs and spices had my intestines never feeling better.

Quite to the contrary, you rarely see the fast food joints that serve up ammoniated, genetically mutated, imitation meat pucks get shut down for health code violations.  You know, the vile poison that’s at the very root of the wave of gastrointestinal disorders our generation feels can only be fixed by pumping even more bullshit chemicals into our bodies?  You tell me…what’s the more egregious violation of health: a bucket of soapy water not being within 10 feet of the buffet line or a lifetime of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

I have eaten at both Namaste and Origin India at least a half dozen times each, and I have never found both establishments to be anything less than perfectly sanitary.  The food has always been consistently great at both, front of house staff appear to be clean, when back of house staff come out their whites are always white and my overly-sensitive digestive tract has yet to experience any fireworks.

While I won’t make excuses for either establishment for having some undeniable slips, I don’t give a shit that Origin India didn’t have a permit to run their lunch buffet.  A permit is just more juice to the county that means nothing when it comes to you and I the consumer.  Paper or no paper, the Origin India buffet is one of the classiest, most well put together buffets in town, Indian food or otherwise.  Also, the health inspector has a responsibility to understand that yogurt-based curries do indeed have cultures in them.  It happens.  Saying a container has a “mold-like” substance when really it just has Korma sauce is a display of an unfortunate ignorance.

Indian joints aren’t the only parts to this story that come bearing stereotypes.  County Inspectors don’t necessarily have the most upstanding reputations on Earth.  While I won’t speak to this particular inspector, for all I know he could be the Andy Griffith of food police, but the unsavory La Cosa Nostra-esque practices by inspectors are well-documented.  It’s amazing how Benjamin Franklin can convince a few people that exposed wiring is merely a decoration and at the same time helps sharpen the inspector’s eye should he/she happen upon the competition.  For anybody that has walked into a restaurant, felt the need to wipe their feet before they head back outside and wonder “How the hell is this place allowed to be open?”, wonder no more.

Lamb Shank Rogan Josh from Origin India

Did Origin India fuck up? Yes.  Should they now be forever shunned for it?  Absolutely not.  As I’ve said before, I’ve always found both Origin India and Namaste to be nothing but delicious and sanitary.  Keep in mind too, this is hardly the first time a very fine restaurant has had run-ins with health code problems.  As some may recall, the much-celebrated Michelin 3-star Fat Duck in the U.K. shut down last year after giving over 500 people serious food poisoning.  Heston Blumenthal’s eatery was shut down for a few weeks before it was allowed to reopen.  It’s still celebrated, and so should Origin India.

So my big gushing review of Chef Kuldeep Singh’s food and the entire Origin India experience is now put on hold.  The last thing I want is for some dick to take a few pot shots at both a very fine restaurant and my credibility by bringing up this recent bump in the road.  The Wife and I will certainly still be eating at Origin India between now and then.  Though they re-opened the next day with a top “A” rating,   a month or two should suffice in letting this mishap blow over and we can go back to being in awe of the tremendous food being put out at Origin India.

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Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

Just one note to pass along in this edition of the Monday Mise en Place, and that is an invitation to come get shitty on a school night and say Happy Birthday to yours truly at First Food and Bar at the Palazzo resort.  The festivities start at 11pm on Tuesday, [...]]]>

Happy Birthday to Moi

Just one note to pass along in this edition of the Monday Mise en Place, and that is an invitation to come get shitty on a school night and say Happy Birthday to yours truly at First Food and Bar at the Palazzo resort.  The festivities start at 11pm on Tuesday, July 6th as First does their nightly happy hour that features 2-for-1 drafts, Stoli and Patron.  While any human being with common sense might be afraid, it would be nice to meet the people that actually read this shit.  You should be going to First Food and Bar anyway, they make good food there.  Tell your friends!

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Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

June 28

@shitmydadsays – “Don’t focus on [...]]]> I have the pleasure of following some pretty damn funny people on Twitter.  Submitted to you in this series are the top tweets I read last week.  Some have to deal with food, some don’t, but all of them kick ass in 140 characters or less. Behold, TLV’s Tweets Of The Week….

June 28

@shitmydadsays – “Don’t focus on the one guy who hates you. You don’t go to the park and set your picnic down next to the only pile of dog shit.”

June 29

@chezpim – Happiness is a dead rabbit in my fridge.

June 30

@cookeatrepeat – No internet at work so we’re playing cards. Next we may churn some butter

@MistressDrea – I remember why i don’t go see local bands, they suck.

July 2

@UNLVgirl – Best line @ Cadillac Ranch- very drunk guy stops me, points to himself & says “it doesn’t get any better than this”. Um yes. Yes it does

July 4

@thestrippodcast – I just discovered I’m blocked from following @PerezHilton. That must be a select group of esteemed company. What an honor!

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Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

Starting today (June 28th), Hussong’s Cantina is starting a 20% off deal on food for Las Vegas area locals!  Kicking off the discount will be none other than Mayor Oscar Goodman at 5pm as he gets his charcoal portrait hoisted among the likes of the venerable Norm Clarke.  Also for both tourists [...]]]>

Hussong's Cantina Logo

Starting today (June 28th), Hussong’s Cantina is starting a 20% off deal on food for Las Vegas area locals!  Kicking off the discount will be none other than Mayor Oscar Goodman at 5pm as he gets his charcoal portrait hoisted among the likes of the venerable Norm Clarke.  Also for both tourists and locals, Hussong’s will be having a happy hour Sundays – Fridays from 4pm-7pm featuring 2-for-1 draft beers and original margaritas.  The 20% food discount for locals, however, is all day everyday (although only for parties of less than 6).  Check out Hussong’s Cantina at the Mandalay Place Shoppes in the Mandalay Bay resort.  Don’t let the T.G.I. McBullshit-style explosion of kitsch all over the walls give you the wrong first impression as it did me.  The food and drink here are muy tasty.

Dos Caminos at The Palazzo

Speaking of tasty Mexican food, Dos Caminos at the Palazzo resort is going to be having a special Pig Roast Buffet on July 4th.  From 11am-7pm, Dos Caminos will celebrate our nation’s independence the way it should be celebrated…with all-you-can-eat roasted pig!  The buffet will feature the aforementioned piggy along with Jumbo Shrimp Fajitas, Skirt Steak, BBQ Chicken, Turkey Burger Sliders with Mole Poblano and a whole host of side items.  Cost is $30 for adults and $12.95 for kiddies under 12 (tax and tip not included).

Chef Marcus Samuelsson and Chef Rick Moonen (photo courtesy: Rick Moonen)

I was sad to not be able to attend, but I’m happy to report that last week’s guest dinner at RM Seafood with Top Chef Masters winner, Marcus Samuelsson, was a big success.  All in all, the event raised $15,000 for local charity Three Square, which comes out to be 45,000 meals! Congratulations to Chef Rick Moonen and Chef Marcus Samuelsson on a job well done.

Retro Bakery

We mentioned this last week, but congratulations again to our Champions of Buttercream, Kari and Brian Haskell of Retro Bakery, for their gig on baking up some cupcakes for the CBS After Party of yesterday’s Daytime Emmy Awards.  Retro Bakery is now on a much-deserved summer vacay and will be back to the business of making our asses bigger on July 8th.

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Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas

June 21

@patiokerr – Please don’t sing [...]]]> I have the pleasure of following some pretty damn funny people on Twitter.  Submitted to you in this series are the top tweets I read last week.  Some have to deal with food, some don’t, but all of them kick ass in 140 characters or less. Behold, TLV’s Tweets Of The Week….

June 21

@patiokerr – Please don’t sing and dance in the lunch line unless you have a union card. And if you have one, remember Taco Bell is not a union house.

June 23

@BoricuaALaMode – If you think Cheesecake Factory is fine dining #yournotmytype

June 25

@averagebetty – People say they want salad but really, they want burgers.

June 26

@arosemoon – Toilet stolen from police station. Cops have nothing to go on.

June 27

@dirtylinecook – When u get 5 boys singing “lady gaga-bad romance” on the line while cooking on a busy Saturday nite, u know you have pull. :p

@MistressDrea – Currently blasting The Fame Monster from the bakery. Suck it, garde manger!

@vegaschatter – Just found something we really, really like at the hard rock. It’s quite a novel feeling.

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Mike Dobranski is a professional musician, amateur blogger, eater of good food, poker junkie, master of the inappropriate comment and bad husband to a wonderful wife.

Follow Mike and Tasting Las Vegas on Twitter at @TastingLasVegas