O.M.G. Burger (LVB Burgers)
duck burger stuffed with muenster cheese, smoked ketchup, heirloom tomato, watercress, roasted duck mayo
—Where I began to wonder if I actually love duck, or if I just love Peking duck.
March 2017
morimoto / sugarcane / the buffet at wynn / beauty and essex / the buffet at bellagio / chengdu taste / royce' / sugarcane / the buffet at wynn / yonaka modern japanese / shang artisan noodle / sweets raku / wicked spoon buffet / naked city tavern / bacchanal buffet / sugarcane / bacchanal buffet / tacos el gordo / sushisamba / the buffet at wynn
Ichigo (Sweets Raku)
balloon-shaped thin white chocolate cup filled with pie crust and strawberry mousse, served with strawberry candy filled with strawberry sorbet and condensed milk mousse
^ Standing fuckin' ovation. I was delighted to discover sorbet inside the candy strawberry.
Angel Cream (Sweets Raku)
fromage blanc mousse and pear mousse with earl grey cookies and dark chocolate
Hamachi Tacos (Morimoto)
yuzu kosho, avocado, lime
Petite crunchy raw fish tacos are ubiquitous in Vegas – and I will always order them.
Another trend: Beef cocktails.
Wagyu Manhattan (Morimoto)
iwai whisky, melted wagyu lard, walnut liquor, walnut bitters, burnt orange peel
Wagyu Manhattan (Sugarcane)
wagyu-infused iwai japanese whisky, walnut bitters
Wagyu Old Fashioned (Sushisamba)
japanese whisky treated to a wash of the highest-grade wagyu before being stirred with maple and salted caramel
—
A barman at (Morimoto) explaining its drink menu: "We have blah blah blah blah blah…and Moromito beers."
Toro Tartare (Morimoto)
wasabi, nori paste, sour cream, sturgeon caviar
^ A clunky deconstruction. My server explaining it: "Toro with blah blah blah blah blah…and Morimoto guacamole."
Tuna Pizza (Morimoto)
anchovy aioli, olives, jalapeno
^ Barman: "As seen on the cover of Morimoto's cookbook." "Are staff paid by how many times they say 'Morimoto'?" I wondered.
Duck Duck Goose (Morimoto)
duck meatball soup, duck confit fried rice, gooseberry compote
^ Rekindled my love of duck. The soup is potent.
(Aria)
(Naked City Tavern) is a smoky, skeezy off-Strip pub that serves some of the most interesting food in Vegas.
Crawfish "Popcorn" (Naked City Tavern)
crispy crawfish tails, butter dust, naked city seven pepper hot sauce
Duck Confit Lasagna (Naked City Tavern)
in-house noodles, duck-laced ragu, fresh mozzarella, pecorino, sweet basil
Bacon Candle (Naked City Tavern)
a square of solidified pork fat with a wick surrounded by a ring of sweet balsamic reduction, two high-end salts, and both bacon and basil powder
I saw a sign outside (Harrah's) promoting a "Bizzurger."
I thought it was white people being lame, but upon closer inspection, it's a burger with pizzas as its buns.
Design Firm: Oh shit! Sbarro's rebrand is due today!
(Miracle Mile Shops)
(Beauty and Essex) is, of course, Chopped judge Chris Santos' chain of restaurants hidden inside pawn shops.
Grilled Cheese, Smoked Bacon, and Tomato Soup Dumplings (Beauty and Essex)
Hand Cut Steak Tartare (Beauty and Essex)
crispy mustard and chive sticky rice cake
—Damn, I love raw proteins served in/on crispy carbs.
"Fish and Chips" Tacos (Beauty and Essex)
beer-battered chilean sea bass, chile-lime slaw, crispy matchstick potatoes
^ The crispy matchstick potatoes are wholly unnecessary, but welcome.
Peanut Butter Pie Sundae (Beauty and Essex)
peanut butter ice cream, chocolate sauce, chocolate chunks, crushed pretzels
^ Vegas Seven named it the best dessert in Vegas. Ehh…
Nutella Sundae (Sugarcane)
nutella ice cream, nutella hazelnut brownie, cracker jacks
^ Nutella ice cream doesn't taste like anything. Nutella isn't good diluted.
Torrejas (Sugarcane)
caramelized apples, maple butter, cinnamon ice cream
^ Oversold to me [it's French toast], but I lapped up every drop of the melted maple butter.
Goat Cheese Croquettes (Sugarcane)
membrillo marmalade
Foie Gras Bastilla (Sugarcane)
pistachio duck leg confit, golden raisin puree
Fat Duck Makimono (Yonaka Modern Japanese)
crispy foie gras, eel, gruyere, bacon, avocado, foie gras caramel, spicy aioli
^ Perplexing sushi. Liver, eel, gruyere, avocado… The crispy foie gras is a garnish?! And the bacon, or what I assume was bacon, was jerky tough.
Chicken Sesame Cold Noodle (Shang Artisan Noodle)
shredded chicken breast, sesame sauce, veggies
—The one time I find this dish on a menu, it's bland.
Boiled Fish with Green Pepper Sauce (Chengdu Taste)
^ If water-boiled fish made with red peppers is a show-er, then this green chili counterpart is a grower. You don't realize how spicy the fish is until your tongue is numb.
Toothpick Lamb with Cumin (Chengdu Taste)
^ You can't go wrong with lamb and cumin. Individually skewering chunks of lamb seems like a waste of toothpicks, though.
MISSED CONNECTIONS
Mt. Fuji (Andrea's)
"Pan con Chocolate" (Jaleo)
chocolate custard with caramelized bread, olive oil, and brioche ice cream
"Gin and Tonic" (Jaleo)
gin and tonic sorbet, fizzy tonic "espuma," lemon, and aromatics
Guava Chiffon Pancakes (Cinnamon's Restaurant)
Cookie Dough Baked Alaska (Cut)
baileys, milk chocolate ganache, espresso salt
Graham Central Station Ice Cream (Handel's Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt)
graham cracker-flavoured ice cream with graham ripple and chocolate-covered honeycomb crunch
Yellowtail "Pastrami" (Morimoto)
togarashi, gin creme fraiche, candied olive, morimoto grapeseed oil
^ MORIMOTO GRAPESEED OIL.
Fiery Salty Caramel Chocolate Tarte (Morimoto)
dark chocolate sorbet, marshmallow, salty caramel ganache, spiced rum