Category Archives: Food for thought

Downtown Grand – Not So Grand

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

Ever since the renovation and reopening of the Downtown Grand, I have been a huge proponent of the property. I have booked blocks of rooms for parties, pub crawls and events in the downtown area. Nice rooms, decent house staff, conveniently located, gorgeous pool…and all of that has changed. I have had my final stay at that property.

Upon their reopening, the food and the beverage program needed some work, but they were on the right track. Their center bar NEVER was a draw for me because all they had was crap on tap, but the Mob Bar and the Art Bar both had a decent cocktail menu with friendly staff. Bring in Chef Todd Harington and the food game was brought to a new level. Harrington has exacting standards for his kitchens and it showed in the revved up menus and the wonderful Chinese restaurant on property. His departure saw a complete “dumbing down” of the food and beverage program. The Chinese resto is gone. The cocktail menus have been stripped. Little known fact is that Pizza Rock, Triple George, Commissary and Hogs & Heifers are all owned by The Grand, but to the best of my knowledge, only Pizza Rock solely creates their own menu. The other properties have input and oversight from the Execs at The Grand.

Let’s be candid, if you want luxury, Downtown Vegas is not for you; you should stay on The Strip. If you want clean rooms, nice staff and a good value, in close proximity to our hottest, hippest, growing scene, this is where you want to stay when you come to Vegas. You can find excellent food at value pricing compared to the Strip and you can stay in landmark hotels like the Golden Nugget, Golden Gate (all newly renovated FYI) and Four Queens.

One of the things I have always loved about Vegas is that it is the only major metropolitan area in the country where you do not have to pay for parking at your hotel. In Chicago, NYC, San Francisco, New Orleans, LA etc. you pay per day to park your car starting at $25 a day, sometimes without in and out privileges (meaning there is an additional fee to USE your car during your stay). I even paid to park at a damn Hampton Inn in Ontario, California (not even LA, mind you…). Well, either that is changing or the Downtown Grand thinks it has been transported to another city. They charged me $11 to park my car and I was a hotel guest. To add insult to injury, when we claimed the car the price listed for parking was $7!

Here’s the thing – I think paying to park is the biggest fucking racket on the planet. I was floored when I moved here and found that I need only tip the valet and I could use valet parking. And I LOVE that. I understand wanting to charge for event parking (I don’t LIKE it, but I understand it). I even understand charging tourists who are USED TO PAYING for parking, but when you charge the locals for something they can get free at other and better hotels, be prepared for the back lash. FYI – the Four Queens also charges you to valet if you are NOT a hotel guest, and I even get that thought process.

So let’s take a look:

  • Stripped cocktail program
  • Stripped menu options and closure of the best resto on property
  • Broken A/C in the room (another story entirely)
  • Rude front desk staff when addressing the parking charge AND the A/C
  • Having to pay for parking

I guess I will stay elsewhere when I am downtown. The Downtown Grand is NOT the only game in town and while they were the best for a little while, they aren’t even the best game in downtown any more. I’ve yet to stay in The D, The Four Queens or the Golden Gate and the Las Vegas Club is undergoing renovations to the entire property, so we’ll wait to see what they bring to the game.

The feature Image is from USA Today online.

Murray’s Cheese Shop

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

If you know me at all, you know that I LOVE cheese. In a small secret circle I am known as Sister Silver Hair, Goddess of the Cheeses. I once tried a diet that had me eliminate dairy. Yeah, that lasted about 48 hours. I will put cheese on just about anything and I literally have a drawer in the fridge specifically relegated to cheese which contains no less than 6 varieties for different uses. My husband recently remarked that I was not allowed to buy any more cheese until I finished what was in the fridge. Let’s just say I am working on it. So you can just imagine how delighted I was when my local Smith’s became home to the latest Murray’s Cheese Shop in Vegas. Finally Centennial Hills gets something before Summerlin does!

Inside the Montecito Smith's at 7130 N Durango Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89149

Inside the Montecito Smith’s at 7130 N Durango Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89149

Murray’s Cheese Shop on Bleecker Street in NYC has been around since 1940 and in recent years they have expanded slowly so other parts of the country can enjoy great cheeses from around the world and across the country. Believe it or not, we have some fantastic artisanal cheese makers right here in the USA. The majority of the nationwide Murray’s are located in Kroger stores (Ralph’s, Smith’s, and King Supermarkets) and many of them are in the Midwest. Each Murray’s throughout the country has a bonafide cheese monger that receives training at the original Murray’s and from local  or regional experts. Here in Vegas we have two Murray’s outposts, both in Smith’s Stores, one at LV Blvd and Windmill and the other in Centennial Hills at the Montecito Smith’s. My local cheese monger is Charles.

Recently I was invited to a personal tasting and chat session with Charles (sadly none of the pics of Charles turned out the way I would have liked, but ask him for him at the counter), and I learned a few things about Murray’s that I didn’t know. For example, each one across the country is client and regionally driven in what they offer. The location in Centennial Hills offers different cheeses and other items like crackers, charcuterie and Bloody Mary mixes than the one in Henderson. And some of the items available here in Vegas are not available in the Midwest or California and vice versa.

clockwise from upper left: Stilton, Manchego, Aged English Cheddar, Robiola Bosina, Taleggio, Parrano on a slate board. Everything and the board available for sale!

Clockwise from upper left: Stilton, Manchego, Aged English Cheddar, Robiola Bosina, Taleggio, Parrano on a slate board. Everything and the board available for sale!

When you go, expect to have a tough time deciding on what to get because there are nearly 200 cheeses available, but KNOW there will be help in selecting and setting up your cheese board for your next get-together. In case you didn’t know, there is SO much more out there than the pre-cut cheese cube tray offered by your local grocer (fine for tailgating or football games, but HARDLY what I want when entertaining at my home). Let’s say, for example, you want to feature all sheep’s milk, or all California, or all Italian cheeses. Charles can hook you up! Tallegio? Check! P’tit Basque? Check! Aged Manchego? Check! Burrata? Check! And so much more! What I really love about this counter is that it is divided by the style of cheese – crumbly, creamy, rind style, etc. Can’t find what you are looking for? Don’t know EXACTLY what you are looking for? Don’t worry!  Charles or one of his capable staff is there to help you! They love cheese and they want you to love it too! And seriously, don’t be afraid to ask for a sample! They have samplings every day of featured offerings, but also will offer a taste if you are unsure on MOST of the cheeses in the case, but don’t be THAT GUY and ask for a sample of several and walk away with none in your basket.

Note the labels in red guiding you to the styles and flavor profiles of the cheeses.

Note the labels in red guiding you to the styles and flavor profiles of the cheeses.

Always remember, you get what you pay for. If blocks of yellow cheddar and bland Monterey Jack are what you and your friends think is good cheese…you may want to walk on by (as Dionne Warwick would say); but, if like me, you view cheese as particularly as you view wine or beer…well then, slow down, take a minute and a sample and ENJOY!

 

Kerry Simon

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

My friend Jim says I have food memories and that I have perfect recall when it comes to food, dining experiences and who I was with when I ate something unique. That MAY be true.

I can recall with perfect clarity the very first thing I ate that Kerry Simon made. He was doing a demo at the Global Gaming Expo (GE) and he made a beet & arugula salad with burrata. I was comped the ticket to the event because I was in culinary school so I am pretty sure it was 2008. When I mentioned that to him upon first meeting him, he was shocked that I would remember something so simple so vividly. It stood out in my head because

  • I couldn’t believe a chef of his caliber was doing a demo at a convention
  • Up until that point I hadn’t experienced burrata
  • I rarely ate beets then (they were just becoming the “trend” ingredient of the moment).

Today the world lost that culinary visionary. The chef who made “Junk Food” trendy and hip.

Snowballs and "Hostess" cupcakes at a recent fundraiser dinner.

Snowballs and “Hostess” cupcakes at a recent fundraiser dinner.

Kerry's Junk Food Table at the party for the Hard Rock Installation

Kerry’s Junk Food Table at the party for the Hard Rock Installation

The chef with literal Rock Star following and status. The only chef to ever have an installation at the Hard Rock.

Kerry at the Hard Rock Installation

Kerry at the Hard Rock Installation

Kerry Simon's installation at the Hard Rock Hotel. Filled with memorabilia of a lifetime of music and cooking.

Kerry Simon’s installation at the Hard Rock Hotel. Filled with memorabilia of a lifetime of music and cooking.

Kerry Simon was all of those things and more. He was a humanitarian and a fighter.

Attacked by MSA (Multiple System Atrophy), a horrible, debilitating disease for which there is no cure, he raised awareness and brought the disease to the forefront of the Las Vegas culinary community’s consciousness. I had never heard of it until Kerry was stricken with it.

I had the good fortune to meet Kerry before the MSA took hold and to volunteer at a fundraiser to raise awareness and funding to find a cure after the disease had attacked him. It was so heartbreaking to watch a vibrant beautiful person deteriorate before our eyes.

Kerry & Pal Al Mancini at the Hard Rock Installation

Kerry & Pal Al Mancini at the Hard Rock Installation

Kerry & I at KGB for the kick off of Restaurant Week in 2010

Kerry & I at KGB for the kick off of Restaurant Week in 2010

May a treatment and cure be found and may he rest in peace.

 

Food Movies for the Summer

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

My dear friend Nanette is a movie lover. Don’t call her during the awards shows; she’s busy with her tally seeing if she agreed with the voting academy. When we watch movies together, other than the plot lines and characters, we notice very different things. She always hears the soundtrack and I almost never even notice it. What I DO notice are the costumes, make-up and set design. Especially in movies that have anything culinary as a theme.

Sometimes the food plays a role like an actor would, advancing the plot through its presence on the screen. Sometimes it’s an actor playing a chef that is the focal point. In some cases it is both. Of course there are scenes surrounding food which are engraved in everyone’s mind – the rotting wedding cake of Miss Havisham in Great Expectations, the deli scene from When Harry Met Sally, Andy Garcia making gnocchi in Godfather III*, the food fights in Animal House and Blazing Saddles and so many others. But these movies are MORE than that to me for LOTS of reasons.

With that in mind, here is a list of food-centric films to get you through the hot weather. Available on Netflix in streaming format unless otherwise noted. This is just a jumping off point – there is SO much more out there including Netflix original series Chef’s Table and Anthony Bourdain’s The Mind of a Chef. Pop that popcorn and settle into the A/C and cool off.

Chef – Jon Favreau’s pet project is wonderful. And I LOVED this soundtrack so much I bought it. What I loved most is a chef finds his love of food again as he finds his love of life. The scenes in New Orleans are so reminiscent of taking my son there for the first time.

The Big Night – Stanley Tucci AND Tony Shaloub? YES! I find both of these gents to be hilarious and the movie is just as good. Two brothers argue about everything when it comes to their restaurant, their food and the critic coming to eat.

Murder by Death (DVD only) – Everyone and their brother is in this flick – Peter Falk, James Coco, Peter Sellers, Nancy Walker, and Dame Maggie Smith to name a few. While the food isn’t CENTRAL, scenes at the dining table are laugh out loud funny in this spoof of Agatha Christie stories.

The Hundred Foot Journey (DVD only) – What is NOT to love about this film? Dame Helen Mirren as an uptight, snobbish pain in the ass does everything in her power to quell the culinary dreams of an immigrant Indian chef until she realizes HE HAS IT. The book was stunning and film is a pretty decent adaptation.

Chocolat – Juliette Binoche brings magic to a sexually, emotionally and spiritually repressed town in the form of sweets at the beginning of Lent. Johnny Depp’s gypsy is romantic and fun and Dame Judy Dench’s cantankerous old broad is fabulous. Watching battered wife Lena Olin learn to temper chocolate is beautiful.

Fried Green Tomatoes (DVD only) – The book is terrific and the film is just as good. Intertwined timelines around a southern diner with a strong female driven cast make this a must watch for the food. I especially love the food fight and BBQ scenes.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi – this one is in my queue. I haven’t had the time to properly devote myself to this documentary project yet. 85 year old sushi chef Jiro profiled in the best way possible. (I know, how can I call myself a true foodie if I haven’t seen it yet…30 lashes with a wet noodle).

*did you ever notice in The Godfather Part I that whenever there are oranges in a scene someone dies or at the very least gets shot? Not that every time someone gets shot there are oranges (hello, Sonny?) but every time there are oranges, something is going down.

 

 

 

 

Confessions and Truths. You May Be Surprised.

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

Lately I have been doing a lot of “interviews” rather than reviews, recipes or commentary. Las Vegas is teeming with great bloggers and food writers that cover all manner of topics. Brunches, Bloody Marys, Tapas, Cheap Eats, etc. My focus recently has been on the people who make all of that happen.

I figure if James Beard can have Delights and Prejudices, I can have Confessions and Truths. Many of you think I ONLY eat at fabulous places. Some may even think that I eat ANYTHING. A few of you know my very short “will not eat” list. All of these things will color the way you view me from now on…I promise.

  • I have never drunk a cup of coffee – love the smell, can’t stand the taste. I do, however, love coffee when used to amp up chocolate in baked goods and a coffee rubbed ribeye.
  • I hate the word “congealed” and I don’t like food that is congealed – like aspic or that funky gelled layer on some terrines and patés. It’s a texture thing. I don’t even really like Jello.
  • I am a junk food junky – I consider it a personal victory if I drive past Popeye’s and don’t stop and potato chips call my name from the snack aisle. Those chips have even been known to CHANT my name – especially the Salt & Vinegar variety…
  • I haven’t eaten McDonald’s in over 15 years.
  • The only bad fried chicken is NO fried chicken (except Chick Fil A).
  • I can skip dessert if you give me potato chips.
  • MOST of the time if I am going to eat dessert, it had better be chocolate.
Bourbon Barrel Chocolate Mousse served with Bourbon Barrel Russian Imperial Stout

Bourbon Barrel Chocolate Mousse served with Bourbon Barrel Russian Imperial Stout

  • I despise baking unless it is cookies.
  • French Macarons are my favorite cookie of all time and I’ve never made them because I don’t have the patience.
  • I have not baked a batch of cookies in more than 2 years.
  • Just say no to Béarnaise. I really dislike tarragon and I can taste it even if it is just a smidge.
  • Salad is one of the most boring things on a menu. I would rather eat hot vegetables. If I order a salad as my entree, I have been kidnapped and I am trying to signal you.
  • Canning tomatoes makes me happy – I like the plinking sound when the jars seal.
I love the PLINK! sound when the jar seals.

I love the PLINK! sound when the jar seals.

  • I love anchovies and sardines.
  • I WILL NOT eat peanuts or melon – it’s a smell thing. (Exception – I don’t mind peanuts in Thai food because I can’t smell them with all the other great fragrances).
  • I really like fennel as a veggie, but I can’t stand black licorice…go figure?!
  • I will try almost anything once, especially if I don’t know what it is.
  • I draw the line at insects – I tried them once…I’ll pass in the future.
  • I am allergic to pineapple and MSG.
  • Charcuterie Whore is a label I’ve given myself – sad but true.
  • Poor service is a bigger crime than mediocre food.
  • I like to cook with my friends and would make a TV show out of it if I could.
  • There are only two things from NY that I still miss food wise – a fucking hard roll and a decent goddamned bagel.
  • Properly cooked offal is a dream for me, as is game meat, but so far I haven’t tried brains or eye balls.
  • I used to hate lamb and pork until I had it cooked properly. That was 5 years ago.
  • I am the asshole that orders fish at a steakhouse.
  • I would rather have a burger or tartare than a steak.
  • If I have to fight with my food, I probably won’t enjoy it (i.e. crab legs, shrimp I have to peel, lobster in the shell, etc.).
  • When Chefs eat in my house I freak out a little and don’t sleep the night before they arrive. Yes, really. Even if they are good friends.
  • Joe Bastianich scares the shit out of me and I have never met him.
  • Gordon Ramsay doesn’t scare me and I’ve never met him.
  • Expect me to go full blown fan girl when I meet a Chef – I truly admire them.
  • I like it when Chefs let me cook with them. I always learn something new.
  • I salt everything. I have a collection of different salts in my kitchen and have been known to carry a little tin of Maldon salt in my purse.
This was a while back and the collection has grown. Yes. I really do use them.

This was a while back and the collection has grown. Yes. I really do use them.

I’d love to hear your Confessions & Truths! Share in the comment section of the blog.

 

Chick Fil A, Kiss My Ass

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

Everyone here in Vegas is all atwitter about Chick Fil A opening up and I say they can kiss my fat, fried chicken loving ass.

I consider myself to be an ally to the LGBTQ community and I also try to put my money where my mouth is. The chain and owner vocally railed against LGBTQ issues. Well…since half of my friends, my sister in law and so many others I know are part of the LGBTQ community I saw no reason to ever go back. I show my support – and displeasure –  with my wallet when I walk out my front door. I don’t shop in W-mart and I choose to shop local when possible. I don’t fly Southwest, Frontier, Allegiant or Spirit. I don’t shop in Hobby Lobby, McD’s, Carl’s Jr. I actively avoid merchants who piss me off in one fashion or another and I will pay more money to have superior customer service. I know several people who feel the same way I do about LGBTQ issues and are still so excited about Chick Fil A opening in Vegas. I just don’t get it.

Let’s take political and social action off the table and be honest. The best thing about Chick Fil A is their hilarious Cow advertising. The fried chicken isn’t even that good! FYI – chicken is their first ingredient, salt is the second and MSG is the third (Moment of Truth – MSG is one of my 2 food allergies. I break out in hives).

So, if you need a fried chicken fix here in Vegas I suggest you try one of these places instead:

Mochiko Chicken – Trader Joe’s Plaza on Decatur – locally owned and operated with a variety of bowls, strips, sauces and good customer service. They are also big supporters of Breast Cancer related charities.

M & M Soul Food Café – Charleston & Valley View – Locally owned and operated. Trust me, just go. All the things you love about Southern food, including sweet tea and collards.

The Bromberg Brothers places –  Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken (Downtown Summerlin) and Brooklyn Bowl (The Linq) all have great chicken!

Fried chicken wings at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in Downtown Summerlin

Fried chicken wings at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in Downtown Summerlin

Honey Salt – Charleston & Rampart – Locally owned and operated by the Blau Group, Chef Kim Canteenwalla makes a seriously good fried chicken sandWISH*. Huge supporters of Three Square Food Bank.

Yardbird – Venetian – I can’t say enough good things about this fried chicken. Flavorful to the bone and pressure fried in LARD…yeah, THAT. (pictured at the top of the page)

And if all else fails, go to Popeye’s.

I have a lot of friends who are “ethical eaters” for a variety of reasons. And I choose to eat and shop ethically as well. Ethical means a lot of things to a lot of different people, but the basic definition is:

pertaining to or dealing with morals or the principles of morality; pertaining to right and wrong in conduct

According to my mother, a company can choose to do whatever they like (clearly, they are PEOPLE according to congress after all). That’s true, but so can I. I do not have to spend my money in places I find morally repugnant. Choose one of the local options list above. I am quite sure they will appreciate your business MUCH more than corporate giants will.

*sandWISH is a word of my own making…

I Bought a Pig

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

I love pork. That was not always the case. I have always loved sausage and bacon and some ham, but pork roast, chops and fresh ham were NEVER my faves. John was the exact opposite. When I met and married John he couldn’t stand fish and chicken.  Then we discovered the problem…he had never had it made properly. His Mom knew how to make chicken and fish in exactly 3 ways, all with the same seasonings – baked dry as a bone, broiled within an inch of its life and greasy fried. We figured this out early in our marriage and now he is a sushi lover and eats all manner of fowl with a smile. It wasn’t until about 6 years ago that I realized my problem with pork (and lamb FYI) wasn’t the flesh itself, it was that Mom, bless her heart, really isn’t that good of a cook, but I can’t really blame her. My grandmother was a terrible cook too. The only thing she made REALLY well was pot roast – probably because you are supposed to cook the shit out of it and she was good at that – and all other pot roasts are forever compared to hers. (Moment of Truth – Mom LOVES to bake and cook with the kids, but despises making dinner every night. Her favorite thing to make for dinner is reservations).

As I began eating at multicourse tastings where I didn’t have a choice on the menu, and I started hanging out with chefs and other food writers, I found myself eating all the things that I previously thought I didn’t like. What a revelation to have pork tartare. A mind blowing experience to have a pork chop, cooked barely medium with so much flavor and so juicy that it required a napkin. That had never happened in my youth I can promise you.

So now, here I am cooking pork, stuffing my own sausages, smoking bacon and ham and even curing my own pancetta. And buying a pig…well, part of a pig. Friend John M told me about a family run farm that allows you to buy shares of animals. We went in together on a half pig and it was picked up Friday. Dealing with a family farm that humanely raises and slaughters my food appeals to me on so many levels. I love supporting a small business. I love knowing exactly what’s going in my belly and shopping local when possible is also a big thing for me. While many of you may not think that Utah is local, it’s less than 100 miles from my doorstep and there aren’t a ton of meat producers here in the Vegas Valley that sell direct to consumer.

I have to say, I thought with it being a family farm that it would arrive fresh and wrapped in butcher paper, ready for me to prep for the freezer. NOT SO! It arrived frozen and already vac sealed, saving me a step. We divied up the goods and they are safely ensconced in my freezer awaiting the tender ministrations of me and friends. I have no idea what I will be cooking first, but I am sure with quality like this, it’s bound to taste great.

For more information on Christiansen Farm, check out their website.

While you wait for my next installment, I suggest you drool over these porktacular pics! And if you like them here is a shameless plea to SHARE and /or SUBSCRIBE to the blog and the FB page and follow along on Instagram and Twitter for a first look at what I am eating NOW.

Please forgive the quality of some of these pics – they were before I got my swanky new camera!

Porchetta waiting to be sliced at MTO's Swine & Wine dinner

Porchetta waiting to be sliced at MTO’s Swine & Wine dinner

Cochinita Pibil by Chef Jose "Lupe" Avila

Cochinita Pibil by Chef Jose “Lupe” Avila

Now closed Comme Ca's Brian Howard had Kurobuta pork tartare on the menu for Bacon Day with crispy chicharons.

Now closed Comme Ca’s Brian Howard had Kurobuta pork tartare on the menu for Bacon Day with crispy chicharons.

Charcuterie by the amazing Brain Howard at the now closed Comme Ca

Charcuterie by the amazing Brain Howard at the now closed Comme Ca

Guilty Pleasures #6 – Apryl Lyttle

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

I saved this post for last for several reasons, but mainly because part of what pal Apryl says here has been echoed by The Hubs and several of my friends who were asked to share their thoughts. To quote one friend, “Food is NOT a Guilty Pleasure for me in any way because I apply no moral value to food. It is simply fuel and I don’t feel guilty about eating anything.”

Apryl writes a VEGAN food blog and you can follow her HERE. If you have been following along, you know that I am an omnivore committed to the consumption of flesh, but I will tell you that the chocolate chip cookies in her recipe archives are SO good, had she NOT told me they were vegan I wouldn’t have believed it. Because I adore her so much I am even girding my loins to eat in a vegan restaurant <gasp>. I said I would do something new at least once a month for my 50th year and that might be on the books for April.

So, my dear friend LeAnne asked me to write something about guilty pleasures. I had a hard time with this piece because I don’t allow food or eating to make me feel guilty. I do, however, realize that I have a guilty pleasure when it comes to food, and that’s EATING OUT.

I was raised by poor people, so eating out was always an unnecessary expense, or a treat. It was also a luxury that we could rarely afford, and I still have a hard time warranting it when we go out to eat. Even though we live comfortably now, I always seem to find myself looking at a menu item and thinking “I could make that for the whole family for less than half,” etc. Frugality steps in and spending a week’s worth of grocery money on one meal still hits my head sideways. I’m working on getting over that.

The flip side of being raised to believe “going out is only for special occasions” is that I always feel super special when I go out to eat. I love being around other people, enjoying food, cocktails and the like. I love the amount of time and attention I can give to my family, rather than fretting over the meal, wondering if everyone likes it, and so on. I like that there are no dishes to do afterward (though Sean usually does the dishes if I cook). I like experiencing the flavors that the chefs bring to the table, and potentially learning new ingredients to incorporate into my cooking.

Lately, my most favorite indulgence has been boozy brunches. There’s something LIBERATING about day drinking, and brunch food is my favorite type of food. My favorite brunch spot is Terrace Pointe Café at The Wynn. They offer fantastic brunch food on both traditional and vegan menus, and they also have a $22 bottomless mimosa and bellini option. It’s perfection. And true to Steve Wynn’s taste, the restaurant is stunning. I recommend it to every one of my tourist friends, as it’s truly an experience.

Terrace Point Cafe Mimosa - photo by Apryl Lyttle

Terrace Point Cafe Mimosa – photo by Apryl Lyttle

I’ve also been trying out new spots near my home in Summerlin as well. Mercadito at Red Rock was a great spot, where we dined on the patio on a beautiful Saturday. The food was good, but my favorite thing there was the V-9 cocktail, which was a delicious cocktail of tequila, pineapple, super greens, ginger, and lime. I felt like I was a little good, a little naughty. Tequila for breakfast? Yes please! I’m also looking forward to trying the brunches at Elements, Honey Salt, Marche Bacchus, and Embers.

V9 Cocktail at Mercadito

V9 Cocktail at Mercadito

What’s your favorite guilty dine-out pleasure? I’d love to read comments.

For those of you celebrating holidays this weekend – I wish you wonderful food memories and peace and joy.

Guilty Pleasures #5 – Lynn Moonen

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

Lynn is my often partner in crime in so many adventures here in Vegas and I look forward to having more shenanigans with her. She spends nearly as much time at my house as at hers and people often ask “Are you sisters?” (FYI – we look nothing alike).

When LeAnne first asked if I wanted to write about my guilty pleasures, my immediate response was to scoff at the idea. After all, I now live alone and I have no one to answer to if I want to indulge myself. It’s only guilty if you have to hide it from someone!

There was a time, as the mother of 2 boys (3 if you count the “was”band), that I had to be creative in stashing a treat just for me. Of course, you never shared that it was even in the house. They all, including the boys’ friends that seemed to have taken up residency, were experts at ferreting out any treat I had hidden for my enjoyment. Moment of truth, I kinda miss those times…but that’s another story!

So…I’ve thought about the guilty pleasure thing and I realize mine has more to do with nature than food. I know that’s surprising to those that know me. For me, a walk in a snowstorm after nightfall; not a Nor’easter blizzard but just a quiet snowfall….when everything is covered and there are no cars on the road. It’s a muffled quiet that’s calm and soothing. When I used to go deer hunting with my Dad and it would be 6:00am (‘cause you had to be there before the deer woke up). I’d be in the woods sitting against a tree and the only sound was that of a mild breeze rustling through the bare branches. It was a quiet and calm found only in the woods. And it has to be first thing in the morning before anything was up and stirring. Many years later when I lived in Key West, I’d to go out and sit on the beach in the morning before anyone got there and I’d listen to the waves lapping on the shoreline. Those were times I would have a feeling of total calm and quiet, free from the little voices of doom and gloom that reside in all of us, and just “be”!!

Sunrise

I no longer live where there are snowstorms (THANK GOD), it’s been more than 30 years since I’ve hunted and I no longer live at the beach…so for me, my guilty pleasure to recapture that feeling of calm and serenity is to take my coffee and sit on the patio first thing in the morning. The best time is Spring when it’s not freezing in the morning but has that promise in the air of a beautiful day. You can hear the birds that you don’t take notice of at any other time of the day. It’s that same feeling of calm and solitude that quiets me and gives me joy….sigh!!!

Ohhh….and ice cream!! Preferably coffee and if it has a ribbon of fudge running through it…pure bliss!!

Saturday will be the final installment in the Guilty Pleasures series. I saved Apryl’s for last because part of her thoughts echo my hubby’s and one of my dear friend’s.

You can follow along with me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and soon MyFab5. All at @GoodforSpooning

 

Guilty Pleasures #4 – Maureen Kelly

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

Maureen Kelly is a brilliant friend and makes one of my high school pals, Luca, very happy – every day. More importantly she works in women’s health for Planned Parenthood in Ithaca, NY. Maureen is an avid baker, an adventurous eater and fun drinking partner. I asked her to share her Guilty Pleasures and she graciously agreed to do so.  Enjoy!

So, LeAnne is one of those Forces of Nature. You know, the kind of person who you know of, before you actually meet and you hear about before you’re ever lucky enough to share a drink or a meal with them.  That’s LeAnne and exactly how I got to know her and I’m so fortunate to call her a friend. I am delighted (and profoundly honored and humbled) to be invited into the Good for Spooning blog-world to share my own little riff on guilty pleasures.

So here’s the thing.  I’m not one for a lot of withholding or putting off or not doing because of guilt. I’m not sure if that’s just my over-reaction to the more rigid religious upbringing my folks lived through or perhaps a core element of my being.  I’m thinking it might be the latter. I’m a pretty pleasure focused gal. I see too much shame, fear, secrecy, worry and denial in the world and am pretty well acquainted with the fleeting nature of life (and careers, and relationships, and friendships) that my own brand of pseudo-Buddhism leads to a pretty here-and-now kind of life. And that approach is rather evident in my love of good food, good drink, and a deep love of cooking.

The one challenge this presents is picking but one guilty pleasure to share. So, I’m not going to.  I’m going to go with two of the top guilty pleasures swirling around in my life right now.

One.

Okay. I’m rather fond of nice steak. Really, quite fond. I’ll be honest; I’m a bit of steak-seeker. And I’m pleased to report I’m taking a break from my seeking because I’m pretty set. I found something really special in Manhattan.

You may well know of it, if not, and you’re a carnivore, you really must. (Don’t be fooled by the pull of Peter Luger to Brooklyn, stick with this.) Keen’s Steakhouse at 72 West 36th Street (between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue) was founded in 1885 by Albert Keen.  (You’re going to want to read more bout the storied history of this this place. Click the link above).

Yes, the mutton chops are certainly a thing, but please, walk with me to the Chateaubriand Steak for Two, with Three Sauces. This piece of meat exists wholly as a Guilty Pleasure. And my, does it deliver. It’s price is steep, the mass of perfect top end meat is outrageous how it melts, you will be full, you will be more than sated, and you will need to go back. Oh, and if you’re also a drinker, be sure to try the New York Sour as well. It completes the meal.

Two.

About that New York Sour. I am a committed whisky girl. I go so far as to gift myself a Whisky Advent Calendar every Christmas from the fine folks at Master of Malt. Did you do advent calendars as a kid? They were these excellent thin cardboard calendars that you opened a door for each day leading up to Christmas and it revealed a delightfully small, waxy, tasteless, ill-formed chocolate that when you’re 8 is an utter thrill.

Maureen's Whiskey

As a Big Girl, the whisky calendar operates on the exact same principal but the door you open reveals a dram-a-day of the finest whiskies around.  This year yielded an Isle of Jura 16 Year Old (Diurschs’ Own), a Macallen Amber 1824 Series, and a fine dram of Timorous Beastie. But my newest whisky Guilty Pleasure is right out of Japan. Hibiki Suntory Whisky. Yes. A Japanese whisky that really must be tried. The company started producing whisky in 1923 and has really done something special. It’s blended with malt whisky from Yamazaki and Hakushu and grain whisky from Chita and it matures in plum liqueur barrels. Don’t know if I need to say anything more about it. It’s some smooth sipping, excellent with a stir, and a fine Guilty Pleasure I hope to keep around for a bit.

Life’s pretty short to not do it right.

Cheers.

 

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.

-Virginia Woolfe