More Vegas Eats!

This most recent trip to Vegas I was there for almost an entire week.  We were lucky enough to stay at the Mandalay.  While we were there I went to an event at the Shark Tank.

My boss and I also made a quick getaway to downtown Las Vegas to the Freemont area.  I took her to the casinos that every Hawaii person knows, the California and the Plaza!!  As we stepped into the Cal, we were literally transformed back to Hawaii.  Everywhere we looked we saw local looking couples!  I took her upstairs to Aloha Specialties, which had all my local favorites!  It was a tough choice, but I opted for the Korean Chicken plate with a side of haupia and my boss got the Teri Beef Bowl. 

We had enjoyed our dinner at Hubert Keller’s Fluer so much, that we decided to try his other place at the Mandalay; the Burger Bar.  I had planned on getting the sliders- which had three different types of burgers!  (Traditional Cheeseburger, a buffalo burger with caramelized onions and an angus burger with  bacon).  My boss did order this though and they looked so cute!  At the last minute I changed my mind and went with the Hubert Keller Burger, which was a buffalo burger on a ciabatta bun with caramelized onions, blue cheese, spinach and a red wine reduction sauce. 

Look how cute the sliders are!

I got my burger with zucchini fries with a basil aioli dipping sauce.  We also all go to try the mozzarella sticks and the onion rings as well. 

In my earlier trip to Vegas we also had the chance to eat at Mario Battali’s Otto Enoteca Pizzeria.  The meal was simple, delicious and excellently pre-pared!!  We started by sharing one of Mario’s famous pizzas and an Octopus Salad.  Both were amazing!!

 

Mmm we went with the pancetta and goat cheese pizza to share!  So good, I want to try the eggplant pizza next time I go back. 

This salad was so good!  Simple fresh and expertly prepared.  It had octopus, potato and celery with a light and fresh vinaigrette. 

For my main I had a linguine with shrimp sauce that was super yummy.  The thing I love about Mario Battali’s restaurants is that things are cooked expertly and simply so the ingredients are able to shine through expertly.  The pasta was a perfect al dente and the portion was just right. 

That wraps up my Vegas eats!  We had stopped by at Bouchon for some pastries and also had a diner at Sushi Samba (which I didn’t take pictures of).  Both were so good… PS- Nothing beats a Bouchon croissant on the plane ride back to Los Angeles. 

Eating in Sin City!

I’ve been so busy lately, I haven’t had a chance to post about some of the great eats I had on my two trips to Vegas this year.  Here is a quick recap of some of the amazing places that I visited!

Most recently I stayed at the Mandalay Bay, and we got to try many pf the great restaurants there!  On the top of my list was Hubert Keller’s place Fleur.  You may be familiar with Hubert Keller from Top Chef, every time I have seen his episodes I have wanted to try his cooking so badly.  I convinced my co-workers to eat there and it was a great meal! 

On the menu, a $5,000 burger!!

I didn’t try that, but I did try the Ahi Tuna Tacos and the French Onion Truffle Shooters.  I had done my research before hand and both items came highly recommended on yelp.  I was a little surprised at how small the tacos were, but they were super good! 

We also sampled one of the flat breads and the hummus and baba ganoush.  The flatbread was terrific! My coworkers split the Prime Tomahawk Ribeye with the roasted asparagus and the truffled potatoes (which were amazing and melted in your mouth!).  The meat was cooked to perfection and seasoned just right.    

I finished off my meal with the almond panna cotta that was topped with a honey tuile. 

Next on our list was Michael Mina’s Stripsteak, which was named Esquire Magazine’s Best Steakhouse in America!  The steaks here are poached in butter and then wood smoked to perfection.  The meal starts off with duck fat fries and a variety of dipping sauces.  That night it was old bay seasoning, ketchup and a truffle aioli. 

For my meal I decided to go with the Filet Mignon and all of the guys went with the American Kobe Rib Cap. 

Our table got a bunch of sides to share, Truffled Mac and Cheese, Brussel Sprouts, Artichoke Hearts with Goat Cheese and Chipotle Potatoes!!  We washed this down with a nice Silver Oak Cabernet as well!  My favorite sides were the truffled mac and cheese and the chipotle potatoes. 

For dessert I tried the dunkin donuts which came with a Jasmine Fudge, Chocolate and Salted Caramel dipping sauces.  YUM! 

There was a lot to eat so this is just part 1 of the Vegas eats!

Lunch at Sotto

A while ago my friend LT and I went to lunch at Sotto when it was DineLA.  It was by far one of the best DineLA’s that we have ever been too.  I can’t wait to go back for dinner one night, someone just told me that Los Angeles Magazine also named it as one of the years top 10 best new restaurants. 

We started our lunch off with some amazing cocktails!  I don’t know about you, but I take it as a good sign when drinks are served with clear, perfectly cubed ice cubes.  A bartender once told me that to make them appear perfectly clear, you need to use hot water to make the ice cubes. 

We tried the Grappa Don’t Preach and Dem Apples.  I am currently in love with Bourbon drinks, Dem Apples was so good!

We started off our meal with an amazing cauliflower almond soup, which I am still thinking about months later and some savory grilled pork meatballs. 

 

So good, the almond essence added such a nice complex dimension to the soup.  I need to learn how to recreate this!

For our main we had Casarecce, a perfect pasta with a lamb ragu.  This pasta was seriously cooked perfectly.  It was the perfect al dente and had so much flavor. 

The other main we had was highly recommended on yelp.  It was the crispy pork belly porcetto sandwich, this was so decadent, I can’t imagine eating the entire dish, but it was perfect to share.   

The desserts were solid, but nothing special in my opinion.  We went with the panna cotta and the chocolate hazelnut torte. 

Overall a great meal!  I really want to go back and try another pasta and their pizzas.  I highly recommend this place if you are in the LA area!

Banana Pudding

Do you ever have cravings that haunt you for weeks?  One minute you’re doing you’re thing and the craving pops in your head and for the next week or so you can’t get it out of your head.  Banana Pudding is one of those things.  Such a simple dessert, but so comforting!  I had heard great things about Magnolia Bakery’s Banana Pudding, so the other week I decided it was time to give it a try. 

Let me tell you, this pudding is no joke!  I brought in some left overs to work, and we’re already scheduling another time to eat it.  I had just made a half recipe, but that was a HUGE mistake since I think everyone would have licked the container clean if I made the full one.  Please excuse the horrid pics, I was in a rush and took them quickly with my phone.     

Magnolia Bakery’s Banana Pudding
from Magnolia Bakery

1 1/2 cup ice cold water
2/3 cup instant vanilla pudding mix (Jello Brand works the best)
1 can condensed milk
3 cups heavy whipping cream
1 box Nilla wafers
4-5 bananas, sliced

1.  In a small bowl, mix the water, condensed milk and pudding.  Set in the refrigerator and let set for at least 4 hours.

2.  In a large bowl whip the heavy cream until you reach stiff peaks.

3.  Fold the pudding and cream mixture into each other until well blended. 

4.  In a bowl layer Nilla wafers (overlapping if necessary), sliced bananas and pudding.  Repeat until pudding mixture is gone (2-3 layers). 

5.  If you have any left over cookies, crumble a few and sprinkle on the last layer of pudding. 

Refrigerate for 30 minutes and serve!

Sorry I don’t have more pics, honestly this gotten eaten up so quickly I didn’t have the chance.  I think I am actually making this again next week for some of my co-workers birthdays!!  

Warm Brussel Sprout Salad

This is one of my favorite salads!  My former Trainer actually was the one who taught it to me, I’ve changed it a couple times and reinvented it for my own.  You can do so many variations on this, give it a try!!

Warm Brussel Sprout Salad

1 lb brussel sprouts, finely shredded
1 clove garlic, minced
1 oz. almond, chopped
1/2 lemon, juice and rind
2 Tbsp Olive oil
2 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese
Kosher salt and black pepper

1.  In a large pan add in olive oil and garlic and cook on medium high heat.  Add in shredded brussel sprouts.

2.  Once brussel sprouts start to soften add in lemon juice, and grated lemon rind.  Stir in and top with chopped almonds, salt and pepper and parmesan cheese.

This is always a hit at any potluck as well! 

Ramen Crazy!

We all have a soft spot in our hearts for Ramen.  From the 35 cent packs that we bought in college to the sophisticated ones served at Ramen houses, slow cooked broth, char sui and soft boiled eggs.  My amazing friend actually made a Ramen costume for her little girl, please don’t die from the cuteness. 

OK, too cute but just one more!

Recently I went to Tsujita LA Noodles by my house to have some of the Ramen noodles that the famed food reviewer Jonathan Gold raved about!!  The first time I went I had the standard Tonkotsu Ramen which was so tasty.  When I went back with my friend LT, I had the more unusual Tsukemen, in which the broth is served on the side and with a lime wedge.  The Tsukemen broth is thicker, slightly sweeter and has seafood added in it. 

The Tsukemen is definitely worth a try, there are some cute instruction cards letting you know how to go about eat it.  However I think I preferred the standard Tonkotsu Ramen personally.  Hmm maybe more research is needed?  LOL

Created by: Hack College

Thanks to Peter from Hack College for the awesome info graphic!!

Arancini Casserole

I had seen this recipe on the web a couple month ago and I was dying for an excuse to make this!  I invited some friends over for some hot tubing, wine and dinner and made this!  This comes from Skinny Taste, one of my favorite healthy eating websites.  She is a great resource for those of you who do weight watchers.  

This casserole is pretty healthy and taste just like those awesome Arancini balls that I love!!!  While I might have added a little more cheese and an extra sausage for my guests, this dish would still be amazing with out the extra add ins. 

Arancini Casserole
adapted from Skinny Taste

2 cups long grain rice
4 cups water
2 sweet Italian Chicken Sausage links, casing removed
1/4 cup onion, minced
salt and pepper
1 cup sliced cremini mushrooms
1/3 cup egg whites
1/2 cup pecorino Romano
cooking spray
4 Tbsp. seasoned bread crumbs
1 1/4 cup shredded part skim mozzarella
red chili flakes
basil

1.  Cook rice in water according to directions on the package, set aside to cool.

2.  Sautee sausage meat, cooking until brown and breaking up the pieces with a wooden spoon.  Add turkey and onions and cook until browned, breaking up the pieces as it cooks all the way through.  Season the mix with salt and pepper.  Add in the mushrooms and 8oz tomato sauce.  Simmer on low and cover for about 20 minutes. 

3.  Pre heat oven to 400 degrees.  In a large bowl combine rice, pecorino, eggs and 4 oz. tomato sauce and mix well.  *Optional:  Add in a couple dashes for red chili flakes for some heat* 

4.  Spray a 9x12 casserole dish with cooking spray (get the edges too).  Add in 2 tbsp. of the breadcrumbs into the dish and roll around so that it evenly coats the dish. 

5.  Place half of the rice mixture into the casserole dish, cover the bottom of the dish and up the sides, pressing it firmly into a bottom layer.  Layer in the meat mixture and sprinkle mozzarella on top (saving some to sprinkle on top).  Top with the remaining rice mixture and spread it until even.  Top with the remaining tomato sauce, bread crumbs and cheese. 

6.  Cover with a piece of foil (tent the foil so you don’t loose any of that cheese!).  Bake for 20 minutes.  Remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes. 

Let the dish sit for 10 minutes to set.  Garnish with basil. 

So good!  My friends and I completely ate this up in a heartbeat.