we went las vegas for a long weekend, particularly for the pacquiao vs. hatton fight. i haven't been to sin city in probably 10 years, so going in my late 20s means something different this time around. actually, i really had no big expectations because i don't gamble, and in general all that glitz and glam isn't really my thing. and because of the over-commercialization of vegas (at least in my mind) i didn't expect too much out of the culinary options that we would have.and after all that hatin, i bet you wouldn't expect me to say that this trip ended up being one of the best mini vacas i have been on. besides the awesomeness of the fight (and everyone who's anyone knows the outcome of it) and cirque de solei- beatles' love (random), a big contribution to the kick a$$ time was the eats!!
okay okay. so i took out las vegas travel books from the library, specifically to scope out the eating scene. so a lied a little bit, i knew we had some good culinary options after reading the books. my favorite quote was "because who doesn't love that uniquely american obsession- unlimited gorging for one set price?" como se dice gluttony? yeah, i don't want to say that 6 of the 8 meals we ate in vegas was at a buffet- but it was. let it be known that we never did more than 2 meals a day. and we walked a lot. yeah, i was on vacation, but i didn't want the airlines to charge me for an extra seat on the way home.
besides the buffets- vegas was also big in the TV celebrity chef gigs. we definitely bought into that dog and pony show. but it was all worth it....
i decided to do "sin city foodie awards" instead of rambling like i normally do (or actually, that i just did) to outline the culinary highlights of the trip.
- best breakfast bacon - MGM Grand Buffet (the crispier the better, and it was the crispiest)
- honorable mention for attempting cultural culinary masterpieces- Mandalay Bay Beach (for serving lumpia (filipino egg rolls), sho pao (steamed buns), and san miguel beer for the pacquiao after party)
- the golden "begining to end" award- the spring tasting menu at craftsteak (from the bread, 3 course meal, and the sommelier wine pairings, a fantastic way to kick off the pacquiao fight night)
- good no matter what coast you are on award- China Grill (we've eaten there in nyc also, and just as good)
- lived up to the hype award- champagne brunch at Paris las vegas at none other but the buffet (what else)
- worth all of it's fancy-ness- ethel m's chocolate (any factory that gives out free samples, or makes a piece of chocolate that has pb&j is a winner in my book)
now if you do the math, that's only really 4 restuarants mentioned (mandalay bay beach doesn't count as a meal), out of the 8 meals i said we had. and now the "sin city poopie awards"
- me, james, and mrs. f- for eating at the MGM Grand Buffet for 3 breakfasts. we had our reasons. and our reasons were poopie.
- disappointing, even though it was named as a "buffet best bet"- Belllagio buffet
- the over abundance of margaritas and other frozen drinks in yards or some other life sized container (all that ish is food coloring, sugar, water for a premium price)
- not enough good, cheap, quick bite places (i.e. because we were eating at all those damn buffets, it would've been nice to have one of those places for the 2nd meal)
this wasn't my first visit, it won't be last. eat, drink, and be merry.
