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Archive for the ‘Bistro’ Category

After a less than stellar lunch, J. and I were hoping to get back into the successful groove of great dining in Las Vegas. Although, we decided to take a chance and leave the city limits of Vegas and go to its largest suburb Henderson for dinner. (Interestingly enough, Henderson is now larger than Reno. Who knew?)

We took our time getting to Todd’s Unique Dining on Sunset Road and were able to get a parking spot right in front of the entrance. Again, another restaurant in a standard-built strip mall.

Upon entering we were immediately greeted and taken to a quiet table toward the back of the restaurant. We were handed menus along with a recitation of the specials of the day.

Moments later, our server appeared with water and asked for our drink order. I had a Diet Coke ($3.00) and J. had an Iced Tea ($3.00). She then asked us if we had any questions about the menu and gave us a few extra minutes to make our selections. I am glad she did because we had a tough time decided on everything, but we did finally make up our minds.

Our server returned with our drinks and then took our order. We both were excited to try the Goat Cheese Wontons with Raspberry Basil Sauce ($8.00), the Flatbread with Apple ($9.00) and the Honey Curried Nuts ($5.00) for our appetizers. For our entrees, J. selected the Boneless Braised Short Ribs with Jalapeno Mashed Potatoes ($27.00) and I had the Kobe Skirt Steak on Fire with Homemade Chili Cheese Fries ($26.00). I also ordered a House Salad ($7.00) and J. had the Frissee Salad ($9.00).

Moments after ordering, our server brought us a loaf of herb buttered bread and a side of room temperature butter. The bread was hot, fresh and very aromatic. The crust was slightly chewy and the herbs really enhanced the flavor of the bread. It was a very satisfying start to the meal.

About 10 minutes later, our appetizers started arriving. The first one to arrive at the table was the Goat Cheese Wontons in Raspberry Basil Sauce. We weren’t quite sure what to expect and J. mocked the fact that we had eaten more goat cheese in the past three days than in the previous year. The five wontons were golden brown and pipping hot. We dredged the ones we grabbed through the raspberry sauce and brought them to our individual plates before cutting into them. They were very hot and the cheese was soft and warm inside its wonton shell. The first taste was dynamic. The goat cheese was creamy and smooth and the crunch of the wonton wrapper was great. We both loved the raspberry basil sauce which was tart, slightly bitter and lightly sweet. Putting it all together, it made for a widely successful dish.

Next up was the Flatbread with Apples. Two long, thin slices of toasted flatbread were layered with apples, arugula and a balsamic vinegar reduction. In concept, it seemed like a good plan, but in execution, it just didn’t wow us. The ingredients were certainly top notch but the flavors were about as flat as the bread. I did like the crispness of the flatbread and the bite of the peppery arugula, but the apples seemed to be missing something. I am pretty sure they used Roma or some other red apple on this production, but I think the sweetness of the balsamic really called for a Granny Smith or other tart apple. It wasn’t terrible, by any means, but rather wasn’t as bold as the other items we would have that evening.

Our final appetizer was the Honey Curried Nuts. Oh, were these ever so tasty. Assorted nuts were heated in a thick honey-based glaze and then dusted with curry powder and various herbs. They were excellent for snacking and the savory nature of the curry was wonderful. The honey paired so well with the curry. J. and I both joked about them being dusted with Methadone so we would keep grabbing more. J. was correct that these would be a very nice change from Chex Mix at our next party.

We were still munching on the nuts when our salads arrived. J.’s Frissee Salad was gorgeous. A sizable portion of frissee lettuce had been tossed with a red wine and mustard vinaigrette and lamb bacon. Yes, lamb bacon. I thought J. was going to explode: “It’s lamb. It’s bacon. I am in heaven.” Okay then. The final bit of the salad was a perfectly poached egg resting on top waiting for a fork to pierce its beautiful white exterior and expose its sunshine yoke. What caught J. off guard was the fact that the entire salad was hot. What surprised me was that at that temperature the frissee was still crunchy. The flavors were exquisite and we were both very happy. What a treat.

My House Salad was much more than your average house salad. The plate of greens also had tomatoes, cucumbers and a generous smattering of diced artichokes. This ensemble had been tossed with a very light, tart and superb lemon balsamic vinaigrette. This was perfect to separate the appetizers from the entrees. I had no complaints and J. was very pleased with the simplicity of the salad and how light the dressing was.

We had a small window of time between our salads and our entrees. I mentioned to J. that I had initially been concerned with the noise level but it didn’t pan out to be a problem at all. The dark interior and the general layout of the room with banquettes on the sides and tables in the middle did a good job of keeping the noise at bay. The restaurant was very comfortable.

When my Kobe Skirt Steak with Chili Cheese Fries arrived, the aroma of the plate hit my nostrils with a might force. The scent was outstanding and I could tell immediately this was going to be a very spicy dish. J.’s “oooh!” and “awww!” told me he gave his approval to the presentation. The steak had been marinated in various forms of chile and then grilled and sliced into bite-sized pieces and topped with a black bean sauce. The chili cheese fries were crispy, homemade fries topped with a black bean chili and grated cheese. I took a bite of the steak and a smile crossed my face immediately. The meat was tender and flavorful and the chile marinade was outstanding. Whew, this was very spice and I loved every minute. I then tried one of the chili cheese fries. Oh, was this a big hit for my taste buds. First, the potatoes were perfect. Crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside was the way to go. The chili did not drown the fries but enhanced the fries quite nicely. J. tried my dish and immediately said that the next time we came to Todd’s, he would be getting my dish.

J.’s Boneless Braised Short Ribs were a masterpiece. A huge portion of the meat was resting atop a dollop of Jalapeno Mashed potatoes and a touch of J.’s fork had the meat melting. There was no need for a knife. Simply touch, stab and eat. J. raved about the dish, particularly how well the meat had been treated. The braising broke the meat down and the juices were fantastic. Each bite was an event worth savoring. J. noted how well the crisp onions and the sauce were the perfect counterparts to the meat. He also loved the mashed potatoes with just a bit of heat from the peppers and the luscious sauce that had drained down from the meat onto them. The entire dish was wonderful and I loved it as well.

After a wonderful meal, our server returned and asked us if we wanted dessert. Being very full, we decided to split a dessert and agreed upon the Creme Brulee ($7.00). We also ordered two glasses of the Ice Wine ($10.00 each) to round out the entire meal.

We waited no more than a few minutes before our wine arrived. J. and I both adore Ice Wine. It is such a wonderful treat. (Please forgive me for not remembering the winemaker of this.) The glasses we had were robust, sweet, and decadent. This was a great after dinner drink.

Our Creme Brulee was brought to the table and it was a classic presentation. A small bowl was filled with the thick, rich custard and the top had a prefect crust on it. The dish was decorated with a large strawberry, raspberries and blueberries. The audible crack of the top as we plunged our spoons into the dish signaled they had done a great job in the kitchen. The brulee was perfect. Not cloyingly sweet and a delicious melted sugar top. We couldn’t have asked for better of this classic attempt.

We finished up the wine and requested the bill. The total was $134.04 including tax. Joining Todd’s email list prior to our trip had garnered us a $25.00 coupon off two entrees, so our actual total was $109.04. At $134, we thought our meal was a very good value. At $109, this was a bona fide steal. The meal was very good and we were not displeased (although we were somewhat disappointed with the flatbread). Service was very friendly, attentive and accommodating.

We left Henderson and headed back to our hotel talking about the experience and thinking that we had been blessed with some great meals in Vegas, including Todd’s.

Then, reality set in and we knew that we were heading back home the next day.

With the lights of the Strip twinkling in the background. J. and I took it all in and spoke little on the drive back.

Todd’s Unique Dining
4350 East Sunset Road
Henderson, NV 89014
Dress: Resort casual on up.
Hours: Dinner daily from 4:30 to Close.
Notes: The local Costco’s in Las Vegas have gift card for Todd’s. The cost is $79.99 for $100.00 worth of value.
Alcohol: Full bar and nice wine list.
Website: www.toddsunique.com (You can see videos on the site of how the Wontons, Skirt Steak and Shortribs are created.)

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After our brunch at Bouchon, we had no luck in the Venetian’s casino, so we did a little driving around Vegas before heading back to the room for some relaxation and preparation for dinner.

However, I was hankering to sit by the hotel pool and relax with a drink. J. was amenable to the idea, so we put on our swim trunks and Hawaiian shirts and headed down to the pool at Tower 2 at the Signature at MGM Grand. The server took our drink order and we opted to try the Orange Basil Mojitos ($11.00 each, but free for us as we had a drink credit with our room).

Moments later, we were presented with a delightfully delicious concoction of Bacardi O, fresh basil leaves, orange slices, rock candy syrup and 7-Up. This mojito wasn’t too sweet or too bland, but hit a lot of taste notes that were just perfect for poolside. We were most pleased.

We kept our drinking to one each since we were driving to our dinner destination, so we finished up, made our way back to the room and got ready for dinner.

Our travels would take us to the northwest side of Las Vegas to a restaurant called Rosemary’s. It, like many Phoenix restaurants, was situated in a non-descript strip mall. We parked and walked in.

After checking in with the host station we were informed that we would have a few minute wait as the table they wished to seat us at was being prepared. No problem as we were a few minutes early.

We were finally seated at a four-top table in a small alcove that was quite nice. We were presented menus and told our servers would be with us shortly. It wasn’t more than a minute before our first server appeared. “Good evening,” he stated. “I will be one of your servers this evening. Before we get started, do either of you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions our chef should know about so we can make this a pleasant evening for you?”

J. and I did a double take. In all the restaurants I have been to since I started Feasting in Phoenix, I have never had a server ask me that question. Since I have a severe allergy to avocado, I was incredibly pleased with the question and mentioned my allergy to the server. A very impressive and novel start to our meal.

He took our drink order of two Iced Teas. He informed us that he would return with rolls and our drinks.

As we reviewed the menu, J. and I were formulating our dining plan. The menu at Rosemary’s can be formed into a prix fixe menu of three courses for $55.00 or items can be ordered individually. You can also have two appetizers instead of an appetizer and dessert or two desserts. Our server stressed that they would try to accommodate our requests as best they could.

We debated what to get and what we could share. Just as we had decided, our server appeared with a basket of rolls. There were two kinds. The first was a potato roll. The roll was hot, fresh and clearly in-house made. It wasn’t phenomenal, but very good. The second was a white chocolate cranberry nut roll that has been brushed with melted butter. That was a big winner, although we couldn’t taste much of the chocolate. Still, we were very pleased with the tangy cranberries and the crunchy nuts.

Our server then took our order and we decided to go with the prix fixe menu with an add on. J. chose the Crawfish Over Grits, the Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Figs, the Roasted Rack of Lamb ($10.00 supplemental charge), and the Wilted Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese Cake ($11.50 as an add on). For my selections, I went with the Hugo’s BBQ Shrimp with Maytag Bleu Cheese Coleslaw, the Creole Prime Ribeye, and the Sweet Corn Soup. I also added a House salad ($7.50 as an add on).

Shortly after placing our orders, we were treated to an amuse bouche of Goat Cheese Mousse on Cucumber Slices with a Smoked Tomato sauce. It was fresh, creamy and mellow. Not a memorable dish, but certainly a nice treat. We had no complaints.

After a small wait span, our first round arrived and I was treated to a colorful plate that was quite satisfying visually. Hugo’s BBQ Shrimp were four large shrimp covered in a thick BBQ sauce surrounding a pile of Maytag Bleu Cheese coleslaw. The deep, rich red color of the sauce and the beautiful green color of the slaw was a beautiful contrast. I grabbed one of the shrimp and took a bite. The shrimp were perfectly cooked and the sauce had spicy overtones that paired well with the briny taste of the shrimp. The coleslaw was superb. The bleu cheese was strong, but didn’t overtake the dish. The cabbage was cold and crunchy and was excellent all the way around. What I didn’t expect was how well the BBQ sauce and the coleslaw matched up together. It was a heavenly combination that just worked. Marvelous.

J. was busy devouring his Crawfish Over Grits. Large chunks of crawfish meat were visible in each forkful of the dish. The tomato sauce that rounded out the dish created a fine addition to the overall taste of the dish. The grits were creamy and not overdone as to be mush. J. was raving from the first bite and I have to admit that it was a knockout in the savory department.

Next up was my Sweet Corn Soup. The large, shallow bowl was served piping hot and topped with a dab of chive butter that I swirled through out the soup. One bite was like eating summer. The soup was sweet and earthy and had a wonderful smoothness to it all. J. was very pleased with the dish as well.

Then, we encountered a service issue. However, it was in the positive column. While I was eating my soup, I managed to spill some on the vest I was wearing. I took my napkin and dabbed the excess. About 30 seconds later, our server arrived with a small glass of soda water and a fresh, clean napkin. He set it on the table and said if I needed another napkin or more soda water to let him know. Very, very nice.

The Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Figs were delightful with the soft fruit holding a bit of goat cheese and surrounded by a crispy slab of bacon. The flavors were wonderful together as the saltiness from the bacon and cheese enhanced the sweetness of the figs. I liked the fact that the dish had been thought out to incorporate a bit of all hits on the palate as there was a small salad and a light vinaigrette on the plate to add some bitter and tangy to the mix. J. said “yummy” several times, which I took as a sign of approval.

Our salads arrived and I was rather envious at the look of the Wilted Spinach Salad. A plate of dark, green spinach had been topped with a large, deep fried goat cheese cake and spicy pecans. There were also onions that had been pickled or heavily glazed in balsamic vinegar. The entire dish was stellar. Again, another well-thought out dish that was top notch from first to last bite.

My House Salad was just what I was looking for. The simple plate of greens had been tossed in a lovely Roasted Onion Vinaigrette that was perfect for cleansing the palate before my entrée arrived. I liked the addition of the “Rosemary Crackers” that were very thin and light, almost resembling tortilla chips.

Momentarily after finishing our salads, our plates were cleared and the crumbs were scooped up before our entrees arrived. J.’s Roasted Rack of Lamb was gorgeous. Three double-boned, meaty lamb chops encircled Katamala Olive Mashed Potatoes and Fried Arugula. The chops were perfectly cooked and J. said they were exceptionally tender and rich in flavor. They must of have been quite good because J. was gnawing at the bones for sometime. He said the olive-flavored potatoes were an excellent accompaniment to the lamb and loved the tangy shot the olive flavor provided to the overall dish. He also said he enjoyed the fried arugula. I had to admit that the look and portion size of the chops was quite impressive.

My Creole Prime Ribeye had me salivating the minute it was set before me and its scent hit my nose. The steak was huge and the mound of fried red onion rings was a very welcome touch. The meat was nearly fork tender and one small swipe of the blade of the knife was all it took to cut a piece off to eat. The ribeye had a bold flavor enhanced by the steak sauce that had sweet and chile flavors throughout. Hiding under the steak was a delicious pile of grits that had soaked up some of the juices from the steak and some of the steak sauce. I couldn’t have been happier with my dish. It surpassed my expectations on many levels.

So, after having a completely delightful meal, we were asked if we wanted dessert. Our response was an immediate “no.” We were quite full and didn’t want to push ourselves over into the uncomfortable range. We asked for our bill and a last refill on drinks.

Little did we know that our servers didn’t want us to leave without a little something sweet, so were presented with a complimentary plate of tiny treats: Lemon Squares, Mint Chocolate Squares and Peanut Butter Buddies. The lemon squares were light and refreshing. The Mint Chocolate squares were a perfect dessert and quite tasty, but exceptionally rich. J. and I both thought the Peanut Butter Buddies were the best with their crunchy texture and sweet and salty taste. It was a pleasant surprise and very much appreciated.

When we received the bill, the total was $150.26 which included the tax. We felt it was a very good value for what we had received. The food was exceptionally good and there wasn’t a bad dish on the table at any time. And what can we say about the service? Nothing but praises. From the opening concern about food allergies to the cleaning supplies for spilled soup to having our drink glasses never close to being empty, the service was stellar. I noted to J. that Rosemary’s had provided the best service we have had at a restaurant since our visit to Kai at Wild Horse Pass. He was in full agreement.

We discussed our elation with one of our servers and she said, “Well, we are located in a strip mall next to a dollar store, so we have to try harder.” Indeed they did and it showed.

After paying the bill and getting into the car, I expressed how much I thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Rosemary’s. We drove back to the Strip and to our hotel, hoping our fortunes would change in the MGM Grand Casino. Even if we struck out at the tables or on the slots we were still happy.

Rosemary’s had us grinning for the rest of the evening.

Rosemary’s
8125 West Sahara Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89117
Dress: Resort Casual to Dressy
Hours: Lunch: Friday only – 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM; Dinner nightly from 5:30 PM to Close.
Notes: Half-priced wine night on Sundays.
Alcohol: Full bar. Good wine list.
Website: http://www.rosemarysrestaurant.com/

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After an amazing meal at Lotus of Siam and seeing The Beatles Love by Cirque du Soleil (which we heartily recommend), J. and I collapsed after a very busy day. After sleeping in, lounging around and being vacation bums, we decided to hit the shower and then head out for Sunday brunch.

On the advice of JK the Cosmic Jester, we found ourselves at the Venetian Hotel and Casino making our way up to Bouchon, the Thomas Keller (of French Laundry fame) production in Las Vegas. We gave our name at the host station and was told the wait would be about 15-20 minutes but we were more than welcome to have a drink at the bar or have some coffee and a newspaper if we wished. Instead, we decided to take photos.

The 15-20 minutes passed quickly and we were on our way to a two-top table toward the back of the restaurant near the patio. The interior of Bouchon was pure Parisian brassiere with a tall ceiling, brass rails and bow tie and apron-clad servers darting in and out of the aisles. The noise level was elevated, but not deafening. After taking our seats, we were presented with menus and water.

Our server arrived and took our drink order. One Diet Coke ($3.50 for each bar bottle) and an Iced Tea ($3.50) for J. When our server returned, she set out the drinks along with a plate containing a ramekin of butter and one of cherry jam. She said she would return shortly.

After the drinks arrived, we were treated to a loaf of Pain Epi, a light and airy baguette crafted into a branch shape. We tore off nuggets and slathered them with butter and cherry jam. This was a wonderful way to start out the meal. The bread was hot, salty and rich with flavor. J. said the crust was perfect. The star here, though, was the cherry jam. It was ridiculously bold with flavor and so delicious when paired with the bread and butter.

When it came time to order, we were set and our server scrawled our wishes: one order of the Toasted Baguette with Nutella ($4.00), the Raspberry Beignets ($7.00), the Croque Madame ($19.00) for me and the Chicken and Waffles ($25.00) for J. To be honest, we had been heavily influenced to get our entrees by the diners on either side of us. One gentleman confessed that he could think of nothing else on his drive from California than to dive into Bouchon’s Croque Madame, and another diner was raving about the Chicken and Waffles.

As we passed the time, we continued to nibble on the Pain Epi. We were then treated with our order of Toasted Baguette with Nutella. The 6 inch mini-baguette had been sliced lengthwise and toasted and a small ramekin of Nutella had been set next to it. J. and I tried a mix of every combination possible with the Nutella, the butter and the cherry jam. The baguette was as excellent as the Pain Epi and a little butter really made the bread shine. Nutella on the bread was heavenly. Butter and Nutella on the bread wase really quite good as the saltiness of the butter enhanced the chocolate flavor. The big winner, however, was a combination of butter, Nutella and cherry jam. Superb on so many levels.

Next to the table were the Raspberry Beignets. These were more like traditional doughnuts rather than the fried dough pieces you get at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans, but we weren’t complaining. They looked wonderful with their cinnamon and sugar coating. They were served with a chocolate dipping sauce and apricot preserves. We each grabbed a beignet and cut it open, smeared it with the apricot jam and popped it into our mouths. It was a very pleasing experience although we had a very tough time discerning any raspberry taste. That was unfortunate because that flavor could have played off the apricot or chocolate very well. Overall, we did enjoy the beignets especially with their cinnamon spice, but they would have been better with the raspberry flavor.

We had just finished almost all of the bread on the table when our entrees arrived. J.’s Chicken and Waffles were very unique. The chicken, instead of being traditionally fried, had been marinated and then roasted. The section on J.’s plate was gorgeous and perfectly cooked. The meat was moist and a thin, crispy skin enhanced the meat. The big winner for J., though, were the waffles. They were savory with bacon and chives added to the batter. The chicken and waffles were also served with maple syrup and a gravy with bacon, mushrooms and onions. J. was raving about the taste and the unique vision of the dish. I tried the chicken and it was exceptionally good.

My Croque Madame was a feast for the eyes. The ham and cheese sandwich was stuffed with meat and cheese, lightly fried and then topped with a Mornay sauce. A big sunny-side up egg graced the top of the sandwich. It was accompanied with Pommes Frites. I cut into the egg and the yolk spread across the surface like syrup on a pancake. My first bite was incredible. The flavor mix was just astounding. Everything melded together and the Mornay sauce was a wonderful glue that enhanced the taste. J. was enthralled with the taste as well and said he would have no qualms about ordering that in the future. The pommes frites were perfectly fried with a crunchy exterior and a light, fluffy interior. The only drawback was that the kitchen had a very heavy hand with the salt and that marred some of the taste potential. Still, I would order the Croque Madame again in a heartbeat.

After our feast, we settled back for a few more glasses of water and just to take in the experience. The service at Bouchon was top-notch and was friendly, warm and accommodating. Everyone we spoke to at Bouchon was more than helpful and seemed genuinely happy that we were there.

We requested our bill and the total was $70.81 including tax. Yes, it was expensive and, yes, it was worth it. The quality of the food and the service experience were everything we could have hoped for in a brunch experience. We paid our bill, ambled out of Bouchon and decided to try our luck in the Venetian casino (it was lousy, by the way).

All in all, we were exceptionally pleased with our trip to Bouchon. It was excellent and we considered one of the highlights of our trip.

It made our Sunday that much better.

Bouchon at the Venetian Hotel and Casino
3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Dress: Resort casual to dressy
Hours: Breakfast: Monday through Friday – 7:00 AM to 10:30 AM, Brunch: Saturday and Sunday – 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Oyster Bar: Daily – 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Dinner: Nightly – 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Notes: Reservations for dinner only. Valet parking available.
Alcohol: Full bar
Website: http://www.bouchonbistro.com/

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