I went to Las Vegas February 24 through March 1st for a Catersource conference with Rob & Martha. We stayed at Caesar's Palace. Our rooms were really nice!
I especially loved the bathroom...until I dropped my phone in the big bath tub! Luckily there was an Apple store in Caesar's Palace. Crisis averted!
There was a welcome reception in the Garden of the Gods pool area.
We gained some new ideas & inspiration from the Conference. But one of the best parts of the trip for me - the restaurants. Below are some highlights (in order of awesomeness) of some the meals we shared! Some of the current famous chefs have restaurants all within walking distance of Caesar's Palace. My favorite place was
Thomas Keller's Bouchon.
I woke up early and made the trek to the Venetian and found my way to
Bouchon. This is a chef that Shane greatly admires. I have to admit, I was a little giddy just being there! Pictured above are the cinnamon sugar beignets with chocolate and raspberry sauce. One word - Divune.
After my breakfast "appetizer" (which made a wonderful snack later!), I settled on the omelet special. A bacon, piquillo pepper and cheddar omelet with bacon and homemade brioche toast. Aaahhh...if only every day could start out this great!
My next favorite meal was at Todd English's restaurant,
Olives located within the Bellagio casino. Throughout our trip, Martha & I shared most of our meals. We were able to try so many more things at all of these wonderful restaurants. At Olives, we began with a glass of housemade sangria and a basket of bread with (aptly) olives and tapenade. We chose the special of the night and were not disappointed. We had the beet salad with mixed greens, candied pecans and champagne vinaigrette.
Followed by flank steak and possibly the best lobster mac & cheese I've ever tasted. And Shane can make a mean mac & cheese (back me up here mom!)...but this was SO, SO good!
From the patio of Olives, you could see the Bellagio Fountains. Perfectly choreographed water, lights and music. I saw this for the first time about 14 years ago. I flew out to California for a 2 week visit with Uncle Rick and Aunt Vicky. When I got off the plane, they surprised me with a trip to Vegas - what a great memory & experience!
Our first night in Vegas, we had a dinner of appetizers at the bar at Wolfgang Puck's
Spago. We started with B.L.T. SALAD "WEDGES" - Baby Iceberg Lettuce, Cherry Tomatoes, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Pepperoncini and Black Pepper-Parmesan Dressing
Then, Crispy Calamari served with Marinated Cucumbers & Hearts of Palm with Coriander Vinaigrette
Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce, Shishito Peppers
Pizza - Prosciutto, Fromage Blanc, Parmesan, Micro Arugula and wine soaked grapes - which were the absolute best part of this pizza!
We made friends with a lady sitting next to us. She's a regular Spago's customer, and lives in Vegas. She shared her Kobe Beef Sliders on Brioche Buns with Bread-Butter Pickles, Red Onions, Smoked Gouda, House Made Ketchup
I never would have found the next place if Shane wasn't my husband!
China Poblano by Chef Jose Andres literally combining noodles and tacos; Mexican and Asian. We started with the chipotle salsa and tortilla chips along with guacamole and house made tortillas. There's nothing better than a hot, fresh homemade corn tortilla!
Martha had the Pescado Frito - fried fish with ancho chile pickled onions
We shared fried wontons filled with shrimp and pork on sesame sauce
We finished with Chicken Ji Song - chicken lettuce leaf cups with fried sweet potatoes. Let's just say they put PF Chang's to shame. And I love PF Chang's lettuce wraps!
For our sweet tooth, we decided on the Tres Lychees. The traditional Tres Leches dessert with fresh Lychees. Very light and tasty!
This is the last meal I'll share, and honestly, probably the most disappointing at Bobby Flay's
Mesa. It wasn't bad per se...just not OMG good. I started with the Blue Corn Pancake with Barbecued Duck and Habanero Chile-Star Anise Sauce.
My entree was New Mexican Spice Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with a Bourbon-Ancho Chile Sauce served with a Sweet Potato Tamale with Crushed Pecan Butter
Dessert was a Flan with Chipotle Whipped Cream (didn't like this) and Shortbread Cookie with Caramel Sauce
But Martha's was much better - Bobby Flay's take on a s'more ~ Chocolate Bread Pudding, Toasted Bourbon Marshmallows and Crushed Graham Cracker
Our last night in Vegas we saw
Cirque u Soleil "O." It was quite amazing, and I can't say I've seen anything quite like it!
Me & Rob
Rob & Martha
