Italian in Vegas

I am extremely picky about Italian food. I refuse to eat just anywhere serving what claims to be authentic. So far, in Vegas I've only been to two Mario Batali restaurants (B&B Ristorante in the Venetian and the more casual,Enoteca San Marco which Ilya and I enjoyed more than B&B).
http://www.venetian.com/Pages.aspx?id=812
http://www.enotecasanmarco.com/

Aside from these two restaurants, I have not even tried any other Italian in Vegas. I know there is a Rao's, an Il Mulino and even a Grimaldi's Pizza. I plan on trying more spots but for now I trust in my home cooking, so most of our Italian meals are made at home.

Hyakumi @ Caesar's Palace

http://www.caesarspalace.com/casinos/caesars-palace/restaurants-dining/hyakumi-detail.html

We were really in the mood for some sushi and were toying with the idea of gong to Sushi Roku which is supposed to be one of the top rated sushi spots in Vegas. We decided to hold off and try the "Japanese Indulgence Menu" at Hyakumi in Caesar's Palace. This menu is only offered from 11am-3:30pm on weekdays. $28 for all you can eat sushi and handrolls and $38 if you want to add in sashimi. We were under the impression that we would be able to order basically any sushi (with the exception of uni, toro and a few others) form the regular menu as part of this all you can eat special but we were mistaken. We got a checklist which contained a limited selection of fish options. It was very typical....salmon, eel, tuna, cucumber, octopus, some fish eggs and a few more. You also get three hot options (1 per customer) - udon, egg rolls or potstickers. The hot options were average. The sushi itself was very fresh and each serving is huge. We ordered a scallop roll and they brought us something that didn't appear to be scallop. Oh well. We also noticed that sitting at the sushi bar is the way to go...you get served much faster and it's a lot easier to take advantage of the all you can eat while at the bar. The ambiance at Hyakumi is that of a typical sushi bar...no giant buddha or huge bamboo. Plus, the restaurant is in the middle of two sides of the Caesar's casinos so there is a lot of activity going on while you eat. It makes things a bit interesting but if you hate smoke..you can still smell the casino and passerby smoke while you eat. Anyway, if you want some no frills, fresh sushi - this is a good spot.

Society Cafe @ Encore

I'm not a huge fan of the strip and all of the craziness but I have to admit there are some good eats on the other side of town. We have been looking forward to checking out Encore (Steve Wynn's latest hotel which is connected to Wynn). The restaurant selection looks great. We decided to start with lunch at Society Cafe. Our server brought out homemade kettle potato chips with french onion dip, soft, warm pretzel sticks and a whipped mustard butter. Not a bad way to start things off. We decided to skip apps but it wasn't easy. I really wanted the "Quiche Trio" but I knew I would be stuffed after my "Charred Rare Yellowfin Tuna Sliders". The tuna sliders were very tasty..not the best tuna burgers I've ever had but I would order them again. The actual tuna was a bit sparse. The burger also came with some shrimp chips which was a nice accompaniment. Actually, I have to give props to Harry's in NYC http://www.harrysnyc.com/. By far the best tuna burger I have ever had..giant portion with plenty of delicious condiments to compliment the fish...excellent! Ilya ordered the "Grilled Ham and Cheese" which was made with Kurobuta Ham and Gruyere Cheese. It tasted very similar to a croque monsieur without the bechamel sauce.

The ambiance in Society is very hip and elegant. I love the design..everything from the wall paper to the drapery. It's a cool place with a fun menu and I look forward to going back and sampling some more tasty bits.
http://www.encorelasvegas.com/pdf/SocietyCafe_menu.pdf

Poolside Gizmo

It hasn't been warm enough to go swimming but Gizmo enjoys hanging out by the pool.

Vegas

We've been in Vegas (Summerlin) for almost one week. We love the area we are in...it's so convenient to everything you could possibly need. The weather is gorgeous everyday. We can even roam through the desert with Gizmo. My mom has been asking me to post some pics of the house so here are a few. We really want people to come visit so maybe the yard pics will entice people.

We have arrived....Vegas Baby!

Ahhhh....the sun. The warm rays of the Nevada sun greeted us with open arms. lol

We arrived in Summerlin (the section of Vegas where we are renting) late in the afternoon on Saturday. The house is in a really nice neighborhood and it has a great kitchen and backyard. We had a lot to do...unpacking, food shopping and all that nonsense but we settled in pretty fast. We spent late Saturday and basically all day Sunday out and about. We went to a huge Asian market and a Eastern European grocer. We also tried "Sunflower Farmer's Market" which is similar to Whole Foods. We also stocked up at Whole Foods for the usual staples. The Asian market was great...it was gigantic, unbelievable selection and really low prices. I was worried about the food situation here but we are so covered. As long as I can find good Asian food - I'm good to go.

We also tried a Korean/Japanese restaurant in Summerlin called "Maru". It wasn't the best I've had but everything was fresh and flavorful. There's a cool atmosphere...dark wood, bamboo, etc. I'm glad we have such a convenient Asian option a quick drive away. http://www.marulv.com/

Almost there

Here are some pictures of the sights through Arizona and Nevada. It was really cool to see the changing terrain and truly experience the diversity of the south/west U.S. We haven't even scratched the surface but this was a great adventure.

Heading to Vegas

We woke up at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning. The ground was covered with a beautiful, soft snow. The mountains looked gorgeous but man was I glad to know that was the last trace of snow I would see this winter.

We headed west and decided to stop around our halfway mark in a town called Holbrook, Arizona. We picked a "Roadfood" stop called "Joe and Aggie's Cafe" which is right on historical Route 66. http://www.joeandaggiescafe.com/

This place was truly like stepping into a time warp. Real old school...wood paneling, vinyl booths and speckled, white countertops. The front of the store has tons of Route 66 paraphanalia and memorabilia. The menu offers some traditional American grill options and a variety of Mexican dishes. We stuck with the Mexican. I had a tamale with red and green sauce. I also had a sopapilla which is also referred to as fried bread in Native American communities and throughout western U.S. They are commonly served throughout Nevada, Arizona and Texas. A bottle of honey is conveniently supplied as a condiment to dress the sopapilla. They taste very similar to a zeppole.

Our server at Joe and Aggie's was extremely friendly and we were served very fast which is definitely important while roadtripping. The food was good and we especially enjoyed the sopa. My one complaint is the onion breath that you leave with...the salsa/hot sauce is tasty but it must be made of 99.9% onion. If you are looking for a Route 66 food experience this place has been on the map for a looong time and it is definitely worth a stop. Be sure to sign the book...who are ya and where ya from?

Best Guacamole Ever!

http://www.gabrielsrestaurante.com/

A special shout out goes to my fellow AHA alum and bar exam buddy, Maren. Maren recommended Gabriel's in Santa Fe as a must go to spot. She said the guacamole was the best and she did not steer us wrong. We've had made to order guac at many restaurants. I always enjoy some fresh guacamole but Ilya has never been a big fan. Gabriel's blew all guacamole out of the water. This stuff was great. Ilya also had the pork and chili stew called Carne Adovada. I had a fajita combo with chicken and tiger prawns. Both delicious.

Before we decided to go to Gabriel's we asked some locals which restaurants they would recommend for our only night in Santa Fe. A handful of people suggested Tomasita's. We actually went to Tomasita's before we headed to Gabriel's. Tomasita's was much closer to our hotel and we heard they had a great bar and excellent food. Tomasita's was totally packed and kinda strange. We didn't really like the vibe..loud, everyone kinda huddled together and definitely the complete opposite of a happening bar. Anyway, we left. Gabriel's was a good 20 min drive and we were starving. It was well worth the wait and the drive. Gabriel's also has a lot of cool artwork, fireplace, etc. Thank you Maren!

Btw...I slacked with the pictures. We were starving and scarfed down the food before I could collect my thoughts and take pics.

Santa Fe - outdoor art

Random Santa Fe Pics

These were taken on Canyon Rd near all of the art galleries.

Hiking through hills of Santa Fe

Santa Fe, NM is absolutely beautiful and unlike any other city I have been in the U.S. We took Gizmo on a hike through some trails near the hotel. The views and the actual trails were really cool. We don't have cactus and snow in Jersey :)

Zen in Santa Fe

We arrived in Santa Fe, New Mexico at approximately 10pm, so we weren't able to take in the scenery along our drive. We arrived at "Ten Thousand Waves" which is tranquil oasis in the hills of Santa Fe.

http://www.tenthousandwaves.com/

What a wonderful place. You feel like you are in a snowy, hilltop retreat in Japan Everything about this place is Japanese influenced - the rooms, grounds and spa. We are staying in a sort of mini house ("Luna"). It is very zenlike but we also have a plasma and the best hotel internet connection. So, you can relax and enjoy modern conveniences at the same time. Luna has a private entrance and a courtyard which is great for the dog. The rooms are very spacious...including the bathroom which has an oversized shower. The grounds resemble beautiful, Japanese gardens. This is a very special place and we definitely want to return.

Not returning to El Reno

I did some research on local Oklahoma fare and learned about what appeared to be some great road food - "The Onion Fried Burger" and "The Coney". These are local favorites in El Reno, Oklahoma. The burger is simply what it says - a beef patty with bits of onion squashed into the meat. The meat and the onions are grilled together and placed on a bun. The coney is a hot dog with chili and coleslaw. Ilya and I were excited to make this stop so we decided to try one of the well known joints in town. We went to Sid's Diner. First of all, El Reno is kinda a scary place. I don't mind too much shadiness but this was definitely the type of place where if you're not a local, you will stand out. Sid's is very small and you can hear everything going on. There's a really down home feel which is cool. The burger was not the most appetizing thing I've ever had. It was edible but this experience was forgettable. I didn't even taste the dog. It just looked gross. Ilya said the inside was bright pink and the dye was literally absorbing into the bun. We did our quick tasting and left asap. We will never return to El Reno.

This experience reminded me of Tribe's, "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo"...except if I left my wallet in El Reno I would probably leave it there.

Cattle Country

We left Hot Springs on Thursday morning and headed west through Oklahoma. We stopped at Cattlemen's Steakhouse (http://www.cattlemenssteakhouse.com/) in Oklahoma City. We were two of the only people not wearing cowboy hats. This place was real deal...cattle rancher types and locals. We wanted to try and keep the lunch light because we planned on stopping about an hour west to try the local favorites in a town called El Reno. Our "light" lunch included the following:

We split lamb fries (aka "Rocky Mountain Pysters") which are fried cow testicles.
I had a small steak soup and Ilya had a "Club" steak with a baked potato.


We were a bit hesitant to try the lamb fries but after our enjoyable milt experience we decided to go for it. They were pretty tasty. Squeeze a little lemon and dip them in some cocktail sauce...good stuff.



The steak soup was really thick..mostly beans, some veggies and little cubes of steak. Nothing to spectacular but it was good.


When the club steak arrived we both said it didn't look too great. Ilya cut the meat with such ease and the perfectly cooked rare meat was revealed. The meat was like butter. We also had some local, Oklahoma brewed "Cattlemen's Beer". We were obviously stuffed but we were committed to stopping for lunch #2.

Ilya - Defeated

Stage 1: "I am a glutton and I can do this."




Stage 2: "I was challenged. I am a glutton. I have to do this."


















Stage 3: "F@$k this".

He tried but he just couldn't do it.

Stubby's BBQ, Hot Springs, Arkansas

The pictures say it all. Stubby's in Hot Springs cues their meat over hot logs to create some of the tastiest meat dishes around. I still can't breath from the meal we had a good 5 hours ago. We heard McClard's in Hot Springs was a must try but it happened to be closed during the time we're here so we decided to try Stubby's after seeing it on our drive to town. We didn't realize what a landmark Stubby's is until we entered to find mounds of meat piled behind the counter and dedicated customers finishing off their lunches.







I ordered the spiral ham with slaw, pickles and sweet mater' relish.





Ilya was somewhat dared by the server to go for the "Super Ultimate Platter" which is ribs, ham, beef brisket, pork and half a chicken. We also tried the smoked potatoes and fried peach pie (which was like a delicious peach filled empanada). The bbq sauce was delicious and the actual taste of the meats was very smokey and flavorful.

Hot Springs National Park and random pics

We hiked through Hot Springs National Park for a bit (right before we stuffed ourselves with Stubby's bbq). It's a really park. The thermal waters run throughout the park and you can see the steam emanating for the streams.


We did a quick look around town. Here are some random pics.

Gangsta Paradise...Hot Springs, Arkansas?

When I was planning our trip out west I needed to find a stopover location somewhere between NC and NM. The middle of Arkansas happened to be the area where I was looking to stay but I had know idea if I would end up dead in the ozarks or in a bbq pit. Anyway, I discovered the "resort" area in Arkansas. It's called Hot Springs. Hot Springs is a very interesting place....a lot of history.


We're staying in an inn called Lookout Point. It's a really cute place right on a lake. Another very dog friendly spot. http://www.lookoutpointinn.com/

At first, we were like what the hell are we doing here and even thought about cutting our 2 night stay short but once we got out and did a little bit of exploring we realized this was a cool place to see and hang out for about 36 hours. I wanted to stop here because I read about the thermal waters that flow into the bathing houses and hotels in the downtown section. The bathing houses have private baths where you can soak and heal. They also offer sauna/steam and massage in most of the bathing packages for a very affordable price. We went to the thermal water spa at the Arlington Hotel. They didn't have any pictures of the spa on the website but the inn we're staying in recommended it so we thought we would give it a try. I understand why there are no pics of this place. It's scarey looking. Most of the "luxury" buildings in Hot Springs were built in the 1920's. Hot Springs was once a mecca for gangsters, royalty and celebrities. Gangsters like Lucky Luciano, Al Capone and Bugsy Seigel made Hot Springs the it spot back in the day. A local antique shop owner was telling us that when the gangsters were in Hot Springs, it was understood that this was a safe haven where the "families" could vacation without fear of retaliation from enemies. Obviously, once they returned to NY or Chicago...it was on. We were also told that Al Capone (who died of syphilis) used to come to Hot Springs becuase the thermal waters can supposedly cure venereal diseases. This became a very common practice among gangsters and the famous madams that resided in Hot Springs during these times. They would come, get cured and then spread the love all over again.....and then die.

Back to the bath. We arrived at the Arlington Hotel which looks like it was very luxurious back in its heyday. However, it has not been updated since cira 1940. I felt like I stepped into a time warp. I took a dingy elevator up to the third floor where I stepped into the lobby of the bathing area. I was then met my bathing attendant who escorted me to the changing area and then to the bath. The bath looked like something a serial killer would use to electrocute his victim. The place seriously looks like an insane asylum (you're probably thinking this is appropriately suited for me since I didn't run out the door when I got here). Anyway, I was told to get in the tub and a wooden plank was placed behind my head. Then a electric cord was placed in my mouth and I was told to bite hard (just kidding). My very pleasant attendant gave me two glasses of hot mineral water to drink. There was a real old school generator type thing that circulated the water. I sat in there for about 15 minutes. Once I was in the water, I was feeling pretty good. I actually enjoyed myself. The experience was very therapeutic. I also came to realize that the place was actually very clean...it just hadn't been updated since the turn of the century so I literally felt like I was reliving a moment in history. After my soak, I went into a dry sauna for a few minutes. Once I had enough, my attendant told me to lay down on a massage table. She basically formed a cocoon of hot, thermal water drenched towels around my body and an ice cold wrap for my face. It felt great and I was really starting to love this whole thing. After the wraps I was told to enter what is called a needle shower. I entered a really scary looking shower that was spurting drops of thermal water. After my shower, I was ready for my 20 minute massage which is part of the package I got ("The Works" for $60). I had no idea what to expect for the massage but it was one of the best I've had, especially considering it was only 20 min. I left feeling refreshed and definitely happy I got to experience true gangtsa paradise.

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