The Frugal Foodie

Saffron Flavors of India

2011-03-10T19:48:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to write about Saffron Flavors of India for awhile, despite the unfortunate name, but had been holding off since lunch buffets don't photograph very well. My horribly lit dinner pictures aren't anything to brag about either, but don't hold that against the food as this just might be our new favorite Indian restaurant in town.

Saffron Flavors of India, not to be confused with plain old Saffron on East DI, is the first Indian Chinese fusion restaurant I've seen. Though traditional dishes found on the menus of most Indian restaurants make up the bulk of the menu, some interesting plates catch your attention immediately. One dish that sounded particularly enticing to us was the Paneer Chili ($7), an appetizer of homemade, mild Indian cheese dressed in a sweet and sour sauce with green peppers and onions. I know it sounds strange, but it was actually quite successful. The sauce wasn't sickeningly sweet and artificial tasting as sweet and sour often can be, and we loved tasting Chinese flavors in a dish that actually had some heat.

Non-fusion dishes were just as successful. The sauce of the lamb rogan josh ($15) was a deep brick red and flavor-PACKED, letting you know someone loved it for awhile. My mushroom and sweet corn masala ($13) was served in a sauce that was equally complex and flavorful, yet I was disappointed to see that canned mushrooms were used. The sauce was so incredible, however, I really didn't mind at all. Anyone who can make canned mushrooms taste so good gets a big culinary thumbs up from me. I also enjoyed the addition of corn, which replaced the more common peas found in many Indian mushroom dishes.

Fun little extras included a superb raita with crunchy chunks of cucumber and crispy onion pakora. If you love onion rings, the latter is a must try. We also loved the bullet naan ($5), a flatbread stuffed with cheese, potatoes, chickpeas, onion, cilantro, and green chilies. It made me think this restaurant could do well as the first Indian pizza joint.

Sadly, I fear this restaurant may not survive due to it's location. It's actually fairly easy to get to as it is right off the 95 at Craig, but the new strip center it's in is dead with no signs of budding life. Max Jacobson, if you're reading, please add this to the list of Frugal Foodie spots you've subsequently reviewed in Seven Magazine. You reach a lot more people than I do and I hate seeing these mom and pop's dissolve - R.I.P Taqueria Los Parados and Vegas Cafe.

I hope I can entice my own readers to go by mentioning that restaurant.com is currently offering certificates valid for dinner only. Today they have 60% off for St. Patty's Day with the code LUCKY, but if you sign up for their updates they offer discounts just as deep nearly every week. You can also same money by taking advantage of their great lunch buffet. The number of items is limited, but it's a bargain at just $8.99.

Note: Saffron Flavors of India has a full bar, great service, and pleasant atmosphere, though the decor could use a little modernization.

Saffron Flavors of India

4450 N. Tenaya

Las Vegas, NV 89129

(702) 489-7900

Pictures: lamb rogan josh (above), paneer chili (below top), mushroom and sweet corn masala (below bottom)

La Palapa

2011-02-10T18:06:00.000-08:00

Greetings to my followers who haven't forgotten my blog despite my haitus of nearly one month! I apologize for the much overdue post, but I've been busy with the upcoming opening of our new dog boutique, and more importantly, I just haven't been inspired by any restaurants lately (that is, until now). I've dined at La Palapa twice this week because it is a perfect Frugal Foodie spot. This Mexican seafood restaurant offers incredibly fresh underwater fare at incredibly affordable prices. Yay!

I insist that you start with a Modelo Especial served michelada style, or 'preparado' ($4). This is a light Mexican beer laced with hot sauce and fresh lime juice, served ice cold in a massive salt rimmed goblet. Sounds strange, I know, but once you try it you'll be hooked. Ian and I actually had a similar drink served to us in a plastic cup at the HUGE Broadacres swap meet on the north end LVB, which I also recommend for delicious cheap eats, but this is the first time (and certainly not the last) I've had it in a restaurant.

Then, you should order the fish taco ($3). This was primarily desirable to me because of the price, but once it came to the table I knew I wouldn't be let down. It needed a shot of acidity (may I recommend their house salsa, a dash of Tapatio, and a squeeze of lemon?) but the beer battered fish was hot, crispy, and oh so good.

The entree of shrimp served "a la palapa" (I love saying their name, try it!) came to the table looking one note and blonde, and not in the appealing sort of way men like. I was amazed, however, after taking the first bite of snappy, sweet shrimp. It was flavored with bay leaves and some sort of dried pepper, and tasted fantastic, especially when bundled up in a warm tortilla with their great refried beans and rice.

I also very much enjoyed the combination tostada of octopus (pulpo) and shrimp (camaron) ($3.75). There aren't many places outside of the Mediterranean you can get great octopus (my screen saver is a picture of the cephalopod dish we had on our cruise last year), but this was fantastic considering our desert surroundings. It was tender, yet firm, and very fresh. In fact, none of the seafood I've had here has been anything but fresh, so if you like offerings of the sea but don't want to drown in debt, La Palapa should be on your 'must visit' restaurant list (I'm not the only one who has one of those, right?).

PS. Do you like flan? Then don't pass on dessert. La Palapa's version is as creamy as cheesecake. I'm generally a poster child for self-restraint when it comes to over-indulging in foods that are very bad for you (I'm part foodie, part health nut), but I can only attribute that to my strict evaluation of whether or not something is worth the calories. The flan here most certainly is, so I left only a token bite.

La Palapa

1515 N. Eastern

Las Vegas, NV 89101

(702) 642-0699

Thai Style Noodle House

2011-01-13T17:35:00.000-08:00

I just love Chinatown, even for the Thai food. My latest discovery, or Ian's rather, is the discreet Thai Style Noodle House located adjacent to the large Chinatown plaza on Wynn Road (a second location on Ft. Apache and Trop opened last year). Not only does it offer some of the best Thai food in Vegas, but the prices are unbeatable.

There isn't much of an ambience, but I like that quality in my favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurants. And hole in the wall this is. They aren't bringing in drive by traffic, the signage isn't great, and you park in the delivery alley, but the crowd packed in (and sometimes waiting) at lunch speaks volumes of the food and value.

The chicken larb, Ian's favorite, is top notch ($6.95, pictured above). It wan't served traditionally with a cabbage wedge, but rather with chopped iceberg. Though this is a little unconventional, I liked the salad quality of the dish. The green curry fried rice ($7.95) is filled with fresh veggies and tender slices of pork, and has a slightly creamy quality. If there was risotto in Thailand, this would be it. I also enjoyed the Choo Chee Shrimp ($8.95) and Spicy Green Beans with silky chicken ($6.75). The Beef Noodle Soup ($6.50) had an exotic favor sweetened by spices, though the beef itself wasn't as tender as I would have liked.

Everything on the menu is so inexpensive you won't worry about looking at the lunch special menu, but if you are dining alone or just not a "sharing" kind of eater, these options will allow you to try several different item combinations for under $7.

Downside: If the place is very busy, it takes awhile to get your food. The servers are attentive and polite, however, so there is comfort in knowing it isn't taking forever because the staff is slacking off. My suggestion is to avoid peak times, or order take-out.

Thai Style Noodle House

3516 Wynn Road

Las Vegas, NV 89103

873-8943

5135 S. Ft. Apache #125

Las Vegas, NV 89147

823-2882

Forte: A truly European tapas place

2011-01-02T18:12:00.000-08:00

Upon entering Forte on my initial visit, my first thought was that it was very European. This wasn't just because it was dead at lunch, as most restaurants in Europe are, but also because of the eccentric decor, dark lounge-like feel, off-the-beaten-path location, and genuine hospitality. That, and the fully stocked bar featuring very cheap glasses of delicious European wines (this I would find out later).

I've over-ordered Forte at twice now, and though I can't say everything on the small plates menu is a winner, I can say I will keep coming back due to the aforementioned charming qualities and a few unique, inexpensive food highlights (sadly, my pictures don't do them justice).

The menu is broken down by European country (mostly Eastern) and their corresponding regional specialties. Under Russia, you won't find any caviar or borscht, but you will find adjarkski kachapurri, which goes down the hatch more easily than it rolls off the tongue ($6.99). This consists of a freshly baked bread loaf akin to a short, fat French baquette, that is hollowed in the center and stuffed with cheese, butter, and a raw egg. If I lost you at 'raw egg' then let me elaborate. The egg is mixed in table-side and is cooked by the heat of the bread, turning the dish into a protein-filled vegetarian friendly dish that will change your mind about Russian food. The flavor of the crusty bread combined with the egg and cheese reminded me of a quiche, yet this was unlike anything I've ever had. Extra (yet unnecessary) points for that!

The section from Spain features a variety of chorizo sausages, amongst other items. We had the chistora and bilbao (each $2.50) which were fantastically charred and of fantastic value. These rivaled the Polish links at Costco as far as sausage bargains go, and were much better in my opinion (sorry, mom).

One note selections included the chicken skewers ($3.25 each), sauteed shrimp ($6.50), and the Bulgarian shopski served in an adorable clay pot ($6.99, and much better at another place I'll review soon). Though there are a few minor flops, the thing I love most about this place is that you can try a lot of different foods you've probably never heard of, and, if you don't like them, you haven't spent enough to regret having given them a whirl.

Coming back to the wine, I ordered a glass of Spanish Cosechero Blanco, which I was told is located nowhere else in Vegas. Guess how much? $4.50!! The owner of the restaurant, who was our waitress on my second visit, and a gem in and of herself, offered to sell me a bottle at wholesale cost when I mentioned I liked it. So, I got a bottle for later that cost me just $8.20. That pretty much sealed the deal for me!

This is a place you have to be experimental and open-minded to go to, but if you appreciate other cultures and want to join me on my mission to support the mom and pops in Vegas, then you'll have no trouble mustering the strength to go to Forte.

Forte

4180 Rainbow. Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV 89103

(702) 220-3876

Frugal Foodie on the Road: Denver

2010-12-30T14:19:00.000-08:00

Other than passing through the largest airport in America, I've never spent any time Denver. On a recent holiday visit I was thrilled to find the city has some fantastic and reasonably priced cuisine. This entry is for the benefit of a friend who is moving there next week.

We stayed downtown at the Hotel Monaco, where we took advantage of free wine, free cocoa, a free suite upgrade and comfy beds. The best part of the hotel, however, was the restaurant located within it, Panzano. Panzano had the best happy hour deals that I've ever seen, and unlike some happy hours, you actually would order these items even if they weren't discounted. Take, for example, the deep fried brussels sprouts with pistachios and green apple matchsticks (a revelation!) that cost only $3, or a truffle oil and mushroom pizza for $4. Since drinks in the lobby were free, I don't think I've ever spent so little on such a great culinary experience.

We also dined at Panzano for a less frugal breakfast meal, where I had a bottomless bellini and Eggs Benedict with pesto and prosciutto. It was interestingly served over sun-dried tomato polenta (another revelation). Though this was pricier than happy hour, it was still worth every penny.

Another favorite dish was at Osteria Marco, an Italian restaurant that makes their own cheese. One such cheese was an uber silky capra ricotta, or goats milk ricotta, that we spread on crusty grilled Italian bread. So simple yet so divine!

I try to avoid thinking about how much we overpay for exceptional food in Vegas, but I'm always reminded when traveling that noteworthy food doesn't have to be ridiculously expensive. I almost look forward to getting the bill after a meal in other cities. Such was the case at Rioja, where we had a six course tasting menu and four drinks for just $100. The grilled black truffle gnocchi with wild mushrooms and arugula was the highlight here.

If you get to Denver, don't miss the following:

Panzano

909 17th Street

Osteria Marco

1453 Larimer

Rioja

1431 Larimer

Biker Jim's Gourmet Hot Dog Stand

16th Street and Arapahoe

(unfortunately we didn't get to eat here since Biker Jim is closed on weekends, but the reviews are phenomenal)

Frugal Foodie on the Road: Barstow's finest and Santa Monica finds

2010-12-17T16:10:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like a weekend trip to LA to whet your appetite - so many worthy places to try, so little time. I was surprised, however, to find such good eats on the way to my final destination.

If you are tired of the Mad Greek and other en route Vegas-LA eating options, boy do I have a place for you. On my last jaunt this past weekend I used my handy Yelp app to search out a more unique eatery, and stumbled upon Lola's Kitchen. This pipsqueak of a restaurant in a typically grim Barstow strip mall is run by twin sisters who cook deliciously down-home Mexican cuisine. I only sampled a couple of options, but was tempted to take the rest of the menu to go. The chicken enchilada verde was more than noteworthy, with a tangy, slightly spicy tomatillo sauce, delicately sauteed onions, and cotija cheese ($7). It was still good two days later on the Sunday drive home, when Lola's is closed.

The pork and shredded beef sopes were equally mouthwatering ($3 each). The cornmeal dough crust was expertly crispy on the bottom, and the pork in particular was beautifully fork tender. It was loaded with the freshest iceberg lettuce (not sure how but they take this staple from 'dud' to 'stud') and given a shot of sour cream and a sprinkle of cotija. I recommend these with a touch of their spicy homemade salsa. OOOOh weee. You'll really thank me for this discovery, especially since it will cost you next to nothing.

Once in LA, we went o my new favorite breakfast spot, Amelia's on Main Street in Santa Monica (previously mentioned in Frugal Foodie on the Road). I can't get enough of their lattes, a drink I never order unless I'm here. This time I tried the Chai latte - don't miss out. To bring you up to speed, Amelia's is family owned spot almost too good to be true, as not only do they use the freshest, local ingredients, but the customer service is impeccable. The owner even chased us down the street to return a bottle of veggie juice we just had blended down the street at the Great Life health food store (also highly recommended).

Though we were full after our meal, I could help but gravitate towards a sign across the street that said "Sunny Blue - first store in California to make fresh omusubi." Not knowing what omusubi was, and this being the "first" store to make it fresh, I had to try. I discovered omusubi is a warm triangular rice cake stuffed with a filling of your choice and wrapped in crisp seaweed. The version I had was made with curry pork, scallions, and fresh onion. I always try interesting things and generally they don't WOW me, but this was a definite exception. Had I not been so full I could have eaten a couple more, and for just $2.60, it would have been tempting to order one of each variety.

These spots are enough reason to take a weekend trip. Just avoid coming or going on a Sunday - you'll want to stop at Lola's on the way there and back!

Lola's Kitchen

1244 E. Main Street

Barstow, California 92311

Amelia's

2645 Main Street

Santa Monica, CA 90405

Sunny Blue

2728 Main Street

Santa Monica, CA 90405

My Company on Groupon.com!

2010-12-06T11:55:00.000-08:00

The side deal on Groupon.com today (and tomorrow and Wednesday) is a gift basket of my dog food company's delicious, all-natural treats! I know you like to eat well if you read my blog, so you if you have a dog I'm sure you want them to eat well, too. The basket includes Banana Bark-scotti in a Good Dog Food Company mug, one Scooter Sandwich, one box of Doggie Truffles, one bag of our soon to be famous jerky treats, and a frisbee. Of course the treats are all-natural, wholesome, and made with no preservatives. All of this is offered for just $20 (retail value $40). Is that a frugal gift or what?!

Varadero

2010-12-03T08:42:00.000-08:00

After my disappointment following the closing of my favorite little taqueria, Taquria Los Parados, I've been on an even bigger mission to find the great mom and pop restaurants in Las Vegas. I recently found a great Cuban one in the Northwest called Varadero that needs our support as the strip mall it's in isn't what you'd call bustling.

It's hard to find good Cuban food in Vegas, and sadly we've lost a few of the better Cuban restaurants to the recession. I generally go to Havana Cafe on Eastern, but as much as I enjoy it I can't really say it's frugal. Varadero is frugal, however, and the food is just as good, if not better.

I'm itching to try more on the menu because both times I've gone everything has been just delicious. The traditional black bean soup is well done ($2.25), but a more interesting soup is the Crema Aurora, a cream based tomato and cheese concoction ($2.95). The heavy "soup" is actually more reminiscent of a dip, which paired wonderfully with the complimentary toasted Cuban garlic bread.

The Ropa Vieja ($10.75), meaning "torn clothes," was better than any I can remember having had. The rich, tomato based broth was reduced to perfect gravy consistency, and the shredded beef was tender without being mushy. Another highlight was the Arroz con Pollo ($10.95). It consisted of a juicy roasted half chicken hidden under a bed of creamy, saffron colored Cuban risotto. Both entrees came with maduros, or sweet fried plantains, and moros y cristianos, black beans and white rice cooked together. The latter wasn't done as well as at Havana Cafe but the maduros were as good as you can get.

For the prices and food quality you can't beat Varadero for Cuban food. It's one of the few good non-chains in the Northwest. Great service and friendly staff, too.

Varadero

5081 N. Rainbow Blvd. Ste. 100

Las Vegas, NV 89130

(702) 463-3609

Restaurant Rating: 9

Food Ratings:

Black Bean Soup: 9

Crema Aurora: 9

Arroz con Pollo: 9.5

Ropa Vieja: 9.5

Chapala's

2010-11-23T07:40:00.000-08:00

I know this picture from Chapala's isn't my most artistic photographic effort, but buffets are hard to capture on a (plastic) plate. Ian and I went here for brunch on Sunday, and though the place looks like a dive gaming bar from the outside, the inside is welcoming and the food is tasty and reasonably priced. They've managed to hang on for about as long as I've been alive, so they're probably doing something right.

On Sundays you can take advantage of a real bargain with the aforementioned buffet ($7.95). I'm not usually a fan of all-you-can-eat since I usually end up spending more than I consume, but this is a good one. For eight bones, you cant go wrong.

Selections included; shrimp ceviche; mole; chile verde; hominy soup; and cheesy roasted potato skins, amongst a handful of other more ordinary dishes. Everything was much better than I had expected. The ceviche was full of avocado and wonderfully fresh shrimp and the mole was fall-apart tender. The pork chile verde was probably my favorite, as it came very close to the mouth-watering version of my brother's full-time nanny and part-time cook, Dulce.

Dessert wasn't as impressive as the flan was mediocre at best. There was also something that reminded me of a caramel turtle pie. This was good, but so thick and sweet it was like eating candy. Next time I might splurge a little and get the tempting fried ice cream.

Even with a do-it-yourself buffet, the service was attentive and kind. The experience overall was one I'd like to repeat, so I'll be coming here on any given Sunday to save some money, eat good food, and support our local mom and pop's.

A note on family-run restaurants: I urge my readers to support the mom and pops of Vegas so we don't lose the good ones. I just found out we had another tragic casualty of the recession in Taqueria Los Parados, the wonderful little taco spot I raved about near Chapala's (I will sure miss their cheesy brocheta and tacos al pastor with the little slice of pineapple). If you like local and like to eat well, avoid the chains and patronize the places that really need you.

Chapala's

2101 S. Decatur

Las Vegas, NV 89102

(702) 871-7805

Today's Food Rating:

Buffet: 9 (value taken into consideration)

Restaurant Rating: 7

Restaurant.com Code

2010-11-13T09:26:00.001-08:00

Until Monday you can get $25 gift certificates on restaurant.com for $2 by entering the code GIVE at checkout. I recommend purchasing them for Nittaya's Secret Kitchen, Forte Tapas Bar, and Mundo.

India Palace

2010-11-12T08:32:00.000-08:00

India Palace has been voted best Indian restaurant in Las Vegas by The Zagat survey every year since 2001 and it has been described to me by Indians as the most authentic restaurant we have. I've dined there a handful of times to see if I agree.

Although I wouldn't normally want to hang out on East Twain, one of the city's most dangerous areas, I will always take unnecessary risks for good food. The restaurant sticks out as the only kept up, interesting piece of architecture in that area, so it's hard to miss.

You will forget about the exterior surroundings upon entering as the decor is immediately welcoming. The walls are painted in warm, cheery earth tones that are beautifully complemented by heavy amber drapes and rich, dark woods. There is a comfortable full-service bar you can enjoy a drink at before your meal, making India palace stand out from many of its competitors.

My favorite thing to get here is the dosa, a thin pancake made from chickpeas. It is of such great diameter that it must be folded upon itself so it can almost fit on your plate, and it is eaten by tearing off more reasonably sized pieces. The only other place I've seen dosa is at India Masala in the Riviera (same owners, I believe), so I highly recommend ordering it here. You can have your dosa stuffed with an incendiary potato filling, or get the plain Papper Dosa, which I prefer (both $10.95). It is served with an addictive coconut 'chutney,' which is more like a coconut puree, and sambar, a tangy tamarind based soup/dip. Even without the accompaniments, the dosa serves as a fantastic vehicle for eating your main selections and proves to be an interesting alternative to naan.

The Chicken Tikka Masala ($14.95) and Mushroom Matar ($12.95) are fantastic, but I think the chef's abilities stand out most in the Lamb Rogan Josh ($15.95). The tomato broth is reminiscent of an authentic, slow-cooked Italian marinara that has been spiked with exotic spices, and the flavors continuously evolve in your mouth, revealing the sauce's complexity. The lamb is perfectly tender to boot, and hasn't a hint of the gaminess that can come with lower quality cuts.

So, is India Palace the best Indian restaurant in town? I can't affirmatively say yes (I had a spinach soup that was inedible and they don't use many fresh veggies in their lunch buffet), but it is definitely a contender. Best of all, they are featured on crowdsavings.com THIS WEEKEND so you can be frugal by purchasing a $30 certificate for just $15.

India Palace

505 E. Twain

Las Vegas, NV 89169

(702) 796-4177

open 7 days

Restaurant Rating: 8

Food Ratings:

Dosa: 9

Chicken Tikka Masala: 9

Lamb Rogan Josh: 9.5

Naan: 9

Mushroom Matar: 8.5

Spinach Soup: 1

Would I go back? I'M ABOUT TO PURCHASE MY CROWDSAVINGS.COM CERTIFICATE RIGHT NOW...

Sorry...

2010-11-04T14:50:00.000-07:00

I apologize that I haven't been posting much lately - October was a busy month in the dog world. Also, I apologize for the issues some of you have been commenting on with regards to my new website. I'll be posting on both sites until I figure everything out. I'm no computer whiz so thanks for bearing with me! If you tried to send me an email at my new address, jillian@frugalfoodielasvegas.com, I didn't get it because it wasn't set up correctly. It is set up now so I'd love to hear from you. Thanks!

See below for the latest entry on Sen of Japan.

The Semi-Frugal Foodie: Sen of Japan

2010-11-03T20:56:00.000-07:00

Sen of Japan is somewhere between 'Frugal' and 'Un-Frugal.' It's frugal because you won't get anything better for the price (on or off the Strip) and it's un-frugal because, well, it's not cheap. Ian an I used to go to Sen of Japan all the time when it first opened, but hadn't been in quite some time because it isn't very close to our house and it's only open for dinner. I've recently been twice, however, and am happy to report the food is as good as ever.

Both times I had the Black Cod Soy, because going to Sen of Japan and not getting the Black Cod Soy is like going to Italy and not getting pasta. It's a buttery piece of fish with a caramelized, but not overpowering, sweet exterior. Each bite melts in your mouth it may be the best piece of fish you've ever tasted. The pickled shoot that adorns it is also fantastic and offers a complementary acidic element ($13.75, add $9 to top it with fois gras).

Besides the cod, I sampled a few other old favorites, the home-made Japanese Pickles and the Mushroom Salad. The pickles are made from yamagobo (similar to a carrot), turnip, Japanese yam, cabbage, and something reminiscent of a caper berry. Each piece has a slightly different flavor and texture, but all offer a colorful, crunchy start to the meal ($8.50). The mushroom salad consists of a warm mound of gently sauteed mushrooms, including enoki and wood ear. It has a heavy dose of yuzu that makes it taste bright, and a bit tart ($7.75).

The sashimi is of the caliber of Raku, but here you can have rice with your fish at the full service sushi bar. The spicy yellowtail hand roll ($4.80) is bursting with flavor and filling, but a new favorite is the Sashimi Combination Salad with Garlic Vinaigrette ($12.95). Impecably fresh slices of normally mundane varieties, including tuna and salmon, are arranged around a pile of delicate Japanese greens topped with finely shredded radish. A light dose of garlic vinaigrette and sprinkling of capers complete the masterpiece.

Another surprise favorite was the fried calamari with onion (around $9). Tender strips of squid are paired with onion slices then beer battered and toped with slices of jalapeno. These taste like onion rings of the upscale variety.

The sukiyki was the only thing I wouldn't order again, but that's probably because I'm partial to preparing my own sukiyaki at Swish (review to come later). Overall, however, Sen of Japan is a place you should try at least once, even if it might be a little inconvenient to get to.

Sen of Japan

8480 West Desert Inn

Las Vegas, NV 89117

871-7781

Restaurant Rating: 9

Food Ratings:

Sashimi Salad with Garlic Vinaigrette: 9

Spicy Yellowtail Handroll: 9

Mushroom Salad: 8.5

Japanese Pickles: 8.5

Black Cod Soy: 9.5

Calamari with Onion: 9

Sukiyaki: 7

Would I go back: AFTER RE-DISCOVERING SEN OF JAPAN I PLAN ON GOING FREQUENTLY.

Sashimi Salad

Calamari with Onion

Mushroom Salad

Spicy Yellowtail Handroll

Japanese Pickles

Sukiyaki

New Website

2010-10-26T19:57:00.000-07:00

In June, I acquired my first Mac. With this genius machine (and the helpful staff at Apple), I've learned how to make my own videos and build my own websites. Long story short - this blog is turning into an actual website, frugalfoodielasvegas.com, and I will no longer be posting my reviews on blogger. While it's nothing special at the moment, I hope to make it into a useful tool for finding the best eats in Vegas. Please email me at jillian@frugalfoodielasvegas.com or comment on my posts (this should be easy now) to let me know what you think.

The Un-frugal Foodie: Joel Robuchon at The Mansion

2010-10-21T20:38:00.000-07:00

Last week my incredibly indulgent in-laws took Ian and I out to the very un-frugal Mansion at Joel Robuchon. Obviously, they know how to please. Joel Robuchon was voted chef of the century by the esteemed Gault Millau restaurant guide and The Mansion is the only restaurant in Vegas to have earned three Michelin stars. The Mansion is also Robuchon's only fine dining restaurant outside of France.

The decor is beautiful, yet quirky. There are Cartier-like jaguars above the fireplace, deep purple fabrics, flashlight candles on the table, plastic plate garnishes, and framed black and white pictures of famous people, such as the dad from Growing Pains.

The meal, or experience rather, was phenomenal - a true work of art. Kerry and I each got the $168 four course menu while Ian and Larry got the $365 sixteen courser. Here is the photographic journey of our trip. (Pictured above: Amuse bouche: Caviar on fennel cream.)

After you select your gorgeous bread from the selection of the fifteen or so varieties (all made on site in their own around-the-clock bakery), they bring it to the back to warm before serving. In the meantime, they shave your butter from a block shaped like gyro meat and pour you a dish of the richest olive oil.

King crab and asparagus blancmange, medley of seasonal vegetables (my first course). I'm not a huge fan of eating gold, but I guess it screams opulence.

Crispy fine tart with melted cheese and shaved white Alba truffle (Kerry's first course). This may look like an ordinary pizzette, but when offered at a $60 surcharge on top of the four course menu price, it most definitely is not. Simple, exquisite ingredients touched by the hand of a culinary genius - unforgettable.

Course 1 of the 16 course tasting menu: Carpaccio of fois gras and potatoes, covered with white truffle shavings. I don't believe those words can be put in the same sentence without capturing the attention of a foodie.

Courses 2, 3 and 4: Crispy toast topped with cepes mushrooms, trembling parsley royal and ginger matsutake tea. I challenge anyone to accurately describe this 'chip'. Note the abundance of white truffles on top. The tea tasted like dirt, in a good way.

Course 6: Crispy frog leg, garlic and watercress coulis. I love the frantic look of this crispy coating. The frog leg inside it was just as appealing.

Course 7 (back right, pictured with courses 8 and 9): Delicate flan of sea urchin with mocha foam. Not bad, but not memorable. Perhaps this was because of his plate mates.

Courses 8: Truffled langoustine ravioli with chopped cabbage. Look at this dish and tell me it how it could not taste incredible.

Course 9: Roasted lobster on cauliflower with green curry. I wish I could report on how this tasted but my husband "forgot" to let me try it. Yes, I stewed in my anger until the next course.

Course 10: Chestnuts veloute with smoked lardons foam. This was lovely, but didn't compare to its counterpart with fois gras on the "cheap-o" menu (Kerry's second course).

The petit four cart was the last course that we had, yet it kept gliding around us throughout the meal, tantalizing us with innumerate treasures on it's mission to please other tables. I couldn't resist a premature picture.

Course 11: Bone marrow and vegetable ragout with corn and spices. Great, except for the stale popcorn.

Braised veal cheeks in Thai broth, vegetable couscous with broccoli. Tender and Thailand-y, but sadly, this is where I start reaching maximum capacity. Advice to 'pace yourself' can't be applied here. Alongside this was served Robuchon's famous pommes puree, which would have been better if there hadn't been so much butter.... just kidding.

Course 12: Pan-fried sea bass with a lemon grass emulsion and stewed baby leeks. It photographs well, doesn't it?
Course 13: Sauteed veal chop with natural jus and vegetable taglierinis flavored with pesto. The veal was luscious and the taglierini (I protest the addition of that 's' ) was a fun a play on pasta.
Course 14: Spring root and sprout vegetables with Argan Oil. Have you ever seen a cuter carrot than the one pointing towards you on this plate?

Strawberries with mascarpone cream parfait and thyme flower sable (Kerry's dessert). I really want to learn how to make those strawberry chips.

Blueberry compote and lemon brulee, finished with a violet milkshake. This was my dessert, and I was glad for that. It was like a lemon float made with raspberry ice cream, and fresh berries.

Course 15: Pistachio cream, raspberries infused with Lillet and rose sabayon. This sounds more impressive than it tasted.

Course 16: Caramel parfait, chocolate poppy sable, light coffee mousse. I wish I hadn't been so stuffed by the time this arrived. I'm no chocoholic but this was glorious.

Aren't these adorable! I really wanted one of everything but this restaurant doesn't give you the impression it's a 'doggie bag' kind of place.

To finish your time spent at the Mansion, you are given a delicious loaf of pistachio raspberry bread to take home for breakfast (as if you could feel like eating again after all that). We also got a book with pictures of the sixteen course tasting menu. Too bad they didn't bring that first; it would have saved my dinner companions from the photo interruptions.

Overall, I would have to say that the only downside of an incredibly lavish and well-executed meal such as this (besides the price) is that all the unique dishes tend blur together in hindsight. I wish I could experience each dish again by itself so that I could truly give each the attention it deserves.

Hot Dog Heaven

2010-10-19T08:39:00.000-07:00

Looking for a real Chicago hot dog? Then you can get the real deal at the Hot Dog Heaven shack on E. Lake Mead for just $2.50 ($3.50 with fries). Don't be turned off by the abandoned look of the place. The focus is on the food and the food alone.

Everything at Hot Dog Heaven is done authentically, from the Vienna beef dog to the poppy seed bun. The hot peppers, pickle, mustard, celery salt, and freakishly green relish also join the party let you know that this is a bonafied Chicago Dog. It's even served with a slightly surly, slightly endearing attitude that transports you back to the hot dog stands of the Windy City. If you're not in the mood for a dog they also have beef sandwiches, though I can't vouch for these.

There's not too much more to say about this place; it's cheap; it's authentic; and it's delicious.

P.S. Don't confuse this with the Hot Dog Heaven on Maryland Pkwy that isn't as good.

Hot Dog Heaven

87 E. Lake Mead

Henderson, NV 89015

Food Ratings:

Vienna Beef Hot Dog: 9.5

Would I go back?: IT'S NOT TOO CONVENIENT FOR ME, BUT WHEN IN THE AREA, YES.

Monta

2010-10-12T07:59:00.000-07:00

As this is the first week we've been waking up to a slight chill in the air, I thought I would write about a place you'll love spending your Fall (and Winter) nights, Monta. This charming restaurant offering the best ramen in Vegas is located two doors down from Raku in the Seoul Plaza on Spring Mountain and is probably the smallest restaurant in the city. Monta is actually so pea-sized that if you come during peak times you'll almost certainly have to wait before you can sit down. Don't let this be a deterrant, just remember this before you go, and hurry up before even more people find out about it.

Half of the restaurant is an open kitchen, so dinner music consists of the clanking of woks and pans accompanied by the chatter of the waitresses, cooks, and other patrons. You can sit at the bar if you really want to be part of the action, or if none of the five tables are available. Though the vibe is nice and busy, the waitresses are sweet and won't rush you through your meal.

There are three types of ramen to choose from; Tonkatsu (rich, cloudy, almost creamy broth); Shoyu (light and delicate soy sauce based broth); and Miso (somewhere in the middle of the other consistencies and tastes like...miso). The Shoyu and Miso ramen come with chewy, thicker noodles which I much prefer in texture and taste to the thinner, less al dente noodles that come in the Tonkatsu (you can sub if you like). All three varieties of the ramen cost around $7 and come with chasu (tender, roasted, fatty pork), scallions, kikurage (mushroom), takenoko (bamboo shoots), and scallions. You can then customize your ramen with little extras that include perfectly coddled egg, butter, more pork, and my personal favorite, Takana, or pickled mustard leaf. These don't cost a lot, so customize away. Be sure to add some of the fantastic accoutrement residing in your condiment tray such as pickled ginger strips and minced garlic.

You won't find much other than ramen on the menu, just a handful of appetizers and sides. Of these I've had the gyoza ($5.95), which were excellent one time but not cooked correctly another, and fried rice with takana. The fried rice is almost as good as the ramen, so if you aren't in the mood for soup, get this instead. Another plus is cheap beer ($2.50 for domestic).

I can't think of any other meal I'd rather enjoy on a cold day than a steaming bowl of hearty home-made soup, so I plan on going to Monta frequently this winter. If it continues to get even busier, however, I may be taking it to go in a perfectly packed parcel. I brought ramen home for Ian once and was amazed at the care put into ensuring the soup would be just as good at home as it is in the restaurant. The noodles were wrapped in their own little pouch, waiting to be cooked until they reached our stove, and all the other ingredients were individually wrapped to keep them in their peak state. Attention to detail really separates the boys from the (ra)men.

Monta

5030 Spring Mountain, Ste. 6

Las Vegas, NV 89146

(702) 367-4600

Food Ratings:

Miso Ramen: 9.5

Shoyu Ramen: 9

Tonkatsu Ramen: 8.5

Fried Rice: 9

Would I go back? OF COURSE

Ronald's Donuts

2010-10-03T14:09:00.000-07:00

Cupcakes have taken over the sweet scene lately, but donuts are still hot at Ronald's Donuts on Spring Mountain. This little family owned shop doesn't look like much from the outside (or inside), but it has been around FOREVER and has an outstanding reputation.

On my most recent visit I got a chocolate donut and an apple fritter. The dough of the former is light and fluffy, with nice yeast pockets and a chewy texture. The high gloss chocolate frosting barely coats the upper half, giving it just the right level of sweetness (if you love the sugar content of Krispy Kreme, Ronald's may not be the place for you). Their famous apple fritter is practically the size of a frisbee, and has a delicious, crisp caramalized exterior. The apple filling has more texture than most, and I love the homemade look.

The icing on the cake (or icing on the donut, rather) is that a dozen donuts will cost you less than $8 (cash only) and all of their selections are vegan. Even the cream filling is soy-based, so as far as donuts go this is about as healthy as you can get. I recommend taking a break from the cupcake craze when you next need to satisfy your sweet tooth and vacationing back to a time when donuts ruled as the go-to dessert for social gatherings . As far as I'm concerned, Ronald's has been the only off-Strip place in Vegas keeping donuts alive and well, so if you love holy desserts I suggest you make your way there soon.

Ronald's Donuts

4600 Spring Mountain

Las Vegas, NV 89102

Today's Food Ratings:

Chocolate Donut: 9

Apple Fritter: 9

Would I go back? WHEN MY NEPHEW STARTS HAVING SCHOOL PARTIES THEN I DEFINITELY WILL. THERE'S LIMITED MESS, RELATIVELY GOOD INGREDIENTS FOR SOMETHING SWEET, AND SUPPORTING SMALL VEGAS BUSINESSES IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW.

Nittaya's Secret Kitchen

2010-09-30T16:17:00.000-07:00

Nittaya's Secret Kitchen won't be a secret much longer, as this tiny neighborhood gem in Summerlin has a lot of potential. Tucked back in a small strip center off Lake Mead and Rampart, it is a little tricky to find, but is worth the search. They describe themselves as a Thai tapas restaurant, implying there may be some fusion going on, but in actuality you can just expect a lot of Thai appetizers - really good Thai appetizers - and some traditional favorites. Most things on the menu taste healthy and clean, and there are plenty of vegetarian dishes. The tofu preparations here are better than most, and the eggplant dishes aren't heavily saturated with oil as they often can be.

You can't leave without ordering the unique Spinach Salad ($9). This isn't really a salad at all, but rather a mound of lightly tempura battered spinach leaves that serve as chips for a tangy 'dip' made from ground chicken, whole cashews, cilantro, carrots, and onions. The leaves are delicate, yet pack a crunch, and the spicy, sweet, loose dip is like a meat-fortified salsa. Sounds a little strange, but it's to die for. The Chicken Ginger Salad is similar to the Spinach Salad, except the spinach is replaced with iceberg lettuce, you get a lot more chicken, and you have the addition of tender julienne ginger ($9).

Skip on the 'Shrimp in Pastry.' Though tasty, and dramatically presented, there is no pastry to be found (just wonton wrappers). The shrimp are overwhelmed by the cream cheese, and the jalapeno and leek don't come through enough. It's also a culinary no-no to put inedible items on a plate, i.e. pineapple rind (see below). What the 'Shrimp in Pastry' lacked in cohesion of flavors, the 'Thai Bouillabaise' made up for, though the mucky color was off-putting. They also use frozen green lip New Zealand mussels, an ingredient I feel there is no excuse for in good places. Though I loved the broth, that was the break in the 'make-or-break' of the Bouillabaise for me.

I love that they have outdoor seating with views of the mountains in the distance, but the best kept part of Nittaya's secret is that you can get a $25 dining certificate on restaurant.com for as little as $1 when you sign up for their email list. Although I'm annoyed by their almost daily notifications, the discount codes are incredible and I save about 80% off their regular restaurant certificate prices on any given day. Plus, it encourages me to try new restaurants I otherwise wouldn't, even if I do defeat the purpose of the discount entirely by over ordering. If you go to Nattaya's make sure you visit restaurant.com beforehand, even if you don't have a code, because it will still save you $15 as a visitor.

Finally, go knowing that the service at Nittaya's is slow. Your food arrives promptly once you order, but everything else seems to take forever. The staff is friendly enough to compensate for this shortcoming, though it is worth taking into consideration if you are short on time or don't particularly like to linger. Hopefully this is just part of their opening pains.

Note: Nittaya's is a good date place. It's dark and cozy inside and effort has been put into the decor.

Today's Food Ratings:

Spinach Salad: 9.5

Chicken Ginger Salad: 8

Shrimp in Pastry: 6.5

Basil Tofu: 7.5

Basil Eggplant: 7

Thai Bouillabaise: 7

Restaurant Rating: 7.5

Would I come back? THE SPINACH SALAD IS REASON ENOUGH TO DO SO, AND AS LONG AS THE RESTAURANT.COM DEALS GO ON, I'LL BE TRYING SOME NEW ITEMS AS WELL.

Nittaya's Secret Kitchen

2110 N. Rampart, Ste. 110

Las Vegas, NV 89128

Harold's Chicken & Fish

2010-09-29T20:55:00.003-07:00

After my trip to Savannah I developed a hankering for fried chicken. Maybe I'm one of the last Americans to do so, but even a health conscious animal lover can't deny the beauty of a crispy, juicy piece of deep-fried bird.

I won't say Harold's chicken can match that of Mrs. Wilkes, but for an operation in Vegas it deserves credit. Harold's is actually a small chain out of the hot dog capital, Chicago, so the success of this chicken shack is noteworthy. I had the 1/4 chicken white meat dinner that included a bone-in breast, wing (I know, that's not white meat), original sauce, crappy fries and a good coleslaw on top of two slices of white, grease-soaking sandwich bread ($5.72). Ian had the dark meat version ($5.23).

Harold's doesn't make anything until you order, so the chicken comes out at a temperature you can't consume immediately without burning your tongue and every other part of your mouth that has the misfortune of making contact with the meat (trust me on this one). The breast was great, but the wing and fries were unnecessary. Next time I will just order the chicken a la carte and get a side of coleslaw and sauce.

I took two desserts to go. One was banana pudding that was made with artificially flavored banana pudding mix and had no actual bananas. I've been spoiled by Mamma Ginny's (Ian's grandma) perfect banana pudding so I would give this version a failing grade. The lemon pound cake was better, though nothing to write home about. I'm sad to report that both of these desserts were brought in by a local baker. Oh well, I guess it's clear the only reason to come here is for the chicken (and maybe the fish, I'll let you know next time).

Harold's Chicken and Fish

4950 S. Rainbow

222-3378

Today's Food Ratings:

Chicken: 9

Fries: 5

Coleslaw: 8

Would I come back? I THINK I'M OVER FRIED CHICKEN FOR THE TIME BEING, BUT NEXT TIME I'M CRAVING IT AND DON'T WANT TO PAY BOUCHON PRICES, I WILL COME BACK FOR SURE.

Scallops

2010-09-23T16:40:00.000-07:00

We had unbelievable avocado-leaf crusted scallops at Mundo last night. I didn't take a picture, which makes me really sad because it was the best scallop dish we've had all year. The scallops themselves were huge and incredibly fresh (they get them in almost every day). Though you wouldn't be able to tell the crust was avocado leaf, the texture of the exterior was perfect. The rice underneath wasn't bad either, but we preferred the side of lime-y, creamy, and sweet Mexican street corn.

Hedary's

2010-09-20T09:11:00.000-07:00

Hedary's Mediterranean Restaurant on West Sahara does a large and affordable mezze that allows you to try most of their appetizer offerings ($25.95). Though not all the selections are dynamite, they're all fairly healthy and you can easily feed three or four people a satisfying meal with the twelve or so dishes. Stand outs include hummus, falafel, yogurts, baba ganoush, pickles and tabbouleh. Least impressive are the lentils and dolmades.

Hedary's

7365 W. Sahara

Unit K

Las Vegas, NV 89117

closed Sundays

Frugal Foodie on the Road: Savannah

2010-09-18T03:17:00.000-07:00

I got to spend last weekend in Savannah with two friends who live there, enjoying the delicacies of the South. We started out on Friday with an organized food tour of six Savannah culinary hot spots. After some sliders at Churchill's and mini cupcakes ('newborns') from 'Back in the Day Cafe' we stopped at the family owned Polk's Fresh Market, where I had my first tomato sandwich. I'd heard of them before but until I tasted one I never had the desire to try one. The Southern favorite is comprised of soft white sandwich bread, tomatoes, and mayonnaise, which sounds unappetizing. When each of the three components are of top notch quality, however, as they are at Polk's, the sandwich is like the 'peanut butter and jelly' of the South. I also had my first scuppernong at Polk's, a Southern grape with a thick skin and sour lychee flavor.

Angel's BBQ was the next stop, a place known as much for their award winning firey sauces as their pulled pork. I'd come back to this dive for a more substantial meal next time. Another stop was at Wright Square Cafe, a tiny place run by the chocolatier cousin of Michael Voltaggio, winner of last year's Top Chef. The French truffles and other creations were silky and rich, but chocolate is never my first pick on a hot day so I didn't try much. The final stop was at Lady and Son's, a now famous restaurant due to the fact it is owned by the Food Network's Southern queen, Paula Dean. Her collard greens were delicious, even though they were swimming in pure pork fat, but her fried chicken didn't hold a candle to that of Mrs. Wilke's (more about that later).
We somehow managed to make room for dinner at the newly opened Sugar Daddy's, a quaint downtown wine bar. Though everything we had was worth ordering again, the highlight was the mini Beef Wellington with grilled asparagus and horseradish cream sauce.
On Saturday we headed to the beach, but on the way we had to stop for a shrimp salad sandwich at Papa's and boiled peanuts at a roadside stand.
I just love the charm of roadside food stands.
Saturday night we went back downtown where we went to The Jinx to hear "Damien and the Shit-kickers," an outlaw country cover band. After dancing and drinking we were starving so we went to Vinnie Van Go Go's, a locals favorite. The seemingly normal pizza was much better than I expected it to be with a good dose of cornmeal crunch on the thin crust and a stand out marinara.
What trip to the south would be complete without chicken and waffles? Actually, despite going college in Virginia, this was my first chicken and waffles experience. The version at Loc's Chicken and Waffles was decent and cheap, but still not as good as Mrs. Wilke's fried chicken (coming up).
Sunday we headed to the lake with white wine spritzers. I flavored them with a fresh Georgia peach puree I made and some diced peaches. The peaches were so ripe and juicy! Needless to say, the scenic trip in Sara's boat was tons of fun.

Before heading back West they took me to Mrs. Wilke's, a place known far and wide for having some of the best Southern food around. The place was really put on the map after Obama's recent visit, so now the line extends around the block. Luckily, Kathryn has some juice so we were able to bypass everyone and go in through the back door. Seating and eating here are family style, so about 20 communal bowls of Southern favorites are placed on a table for ten, where refreshing sweet tea and an empty plate are waiting for you. It's all you can eat for $16, and, regardless of whether or not you show restraint, and you can't help but leave with the feeling you won't be able to eat for the rest of your life. I loved all the sides, like the buttery biscuits, buttery stuffing, buttery sweet potatoes, and buttery butter beans, but the show stopper was the fried chicken. The skin was as crispy as a cracklin' and the chicken itself was so juicy and tender you swear you would do the unfathomable to eat it again. My appreciation for the dish was renewed after tasting this creme de la creme of fried chicken.

Groupon: Rosemary's

2010-09-17T08:16:00.000-07:00

This weekend's deal at groupon.com is a great one, a $50 gift certificate to Rosemary's restaurant for $25. If you've never been you're missing out on one of Vegas' gems. It's is owned by Chef Michael Jordon, who studied under Emeril, and his wife Wendy, who was one of my teachers in culinary school. The food is sophisticated Southern so be sure to come with a big appetite. I love the brick chicken, the BBQ shrimp, and the wilted spinach salad, but everything is worth trying. Oh, and on Wednesdays ladies get 50% off food, which makes this an extra sweet deal if you go then.

Taqueria Los Parados

2010-09-16T16:42:00.000-07:00

This unassuming restaurant in the Food for Less parking lot on Sahara and Valley View has been around for two and a half years but I just found out about it a couple of weeks ago. This is noteworthy because it is only five minutes from my house. After my first bite into their taco al pastor I was terribly disheartened I'd never been to this authentic, inexpensive restaurant as it offers a LOT more than your average Mexican restaurant.

Taqueria Los Parados, meaning 'taco joint of the unemployed,' is probably named as such because the prices are affordable for everyone. Most tacos are only $1.19 and many of the more filling options range from just five to seven dollars. Besides the cheap factor, everything is made from scratch and the owner is omnipresent. She's from Guadalajara and has put a lot of love and thought into each dish, salsa, and drink. The horchata, for example, is not made from a mix and is not overly sweet. Many dishes seem to have a little something special that makes you say, 'Wow, why haven't I see this done elsewhere.'

It's hard to pick a favorite dish but I've got some contenders. One is the shrimp taco, which consists of corn tortillas topped with six sauteed shrimp (yes, I counted), crunchy cabbage, pico, and a spicy yet cooling crema ($2.75). The ingredient that really puts this taco over the edge is the toasted cheese crisp buried under the deconstructed slaw. It adds great texture and a punch of flavor that is undeniably unique. I also love the al pastor taco ($1.19). The pork is marinated in spices then cooked on a gyro rotisserie to give it that great caramelized exterior. The unique touch in this dish is the addition of ripe pineapple strips that add a touch of sweetness to complement the pork and diced onions. Finally, you can't go wrong with brocheta. It's a hodgepodge of grilled meat (I had chicken), peppers, onions, bacon, and oozy cheese served with flavorful homemade beans and saffron colored rice. Since it is served with tortillas I'm inclined to liken it to fajitas...times ten.

Truly everything I've had has been delicious. The lengua (tongue) taco was simple and splendid, as was the carne asada. If you've never had tongue I'd recommend trying it here. Even if you don't like it, and I doubt you won't, you've only lost a mere $1.19. The 'torta ahogada' with al pastor was also interesting ($5.75). It consisted of al pastor and their wonderful beans stuffed inside a french baquette that was then dunked in a vat of tomato sauce (hence the meaning, 'wet sandwich"). I'm not sure if I'd order this over other items, but it's certainly not something you see on a lot of menus and was definitely tasty.

Whatever you do, don't forget to visit the salsa bar. Each preparation is carefully balanced with clean flavors. I like to try every combination possible, but if you shy away from heat then use modestly. Make sure to get the authentic guacamole sauce. In Mexico guacamole isn't generally prepared chunky but is rather more like a sauce. I love the pourable consistency that allows me to get an avocado taste in every bite without adding a lot of bulk to my meal. This is a place that foodies should support, as it is a little slice of real Mexico smack dab in the middle of our city.

Today's Food Ratings:

Shrimp Taco: 9

Brocheta: 9.5

Taco Al Pastor: 9.5

Taco Carne Asada: 8.5

Taco Lengua:9

Torta Ahogada: 8

Horchata: 9

Would I go back? I'LL BE GOING OFTEN NOW THAT I'VE DISCOVERED IT. IT TRULY PAINS ME I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT SOONER.

pictures: (above) brocheta de pollo, (below, from top to bottom) shrimp taco, carne asada and al pastor tacos, taco de lengua, horchata and salsas, torta ahogada

Miko's Sushi

2010-09-09T19:49:00.000-07:00

You’ll go gaga for the gyoza at Miko’s Izakaya Sushi and Tapanese restaurant on Blue Diamond and Windmill. The hospitable owner of the restaurant makes them herself, surprising you by using turkey rather than pork. I’m doubtful that turkey is traditionally used in gyoza, but Miko made me think otherwise, so I guarantee you won’t miss the oink one bit. The flavors of the meaty morsels were clean with mild accents of ginger and soy, and the chewy noodle exterior reminded me more of thick flat Chinese noodles than wonton wrappers. The friendly old man in her culinary team of four steamed and crisped them for me, then served them with a soy dipping sauce. I’ll be back for these very soon ($5).

The gyoza aren’t the only redeeming dish on the menu by any means. The thick slices of hamachi I ordered were expertly cut by the seasoned sushi chef (he’s worked in some noteworthy places and used to write a sushi blog) and imbued with that subtle, delicate flavor you want from your sashimi. Since I was by myself I loved that I could order it in a mini portion of it - three beautifully garnished perfect pieces ($5.25).

I completed my sampling with an order of lightly battered shrimp and vegetable tempura ($5) that were served with a dashi broth rivaling that of Raku. The portion was large for the price and the veggies accompanying the shrimp were prepared better than at other places offering the same thing.

Everything I had made me want to come back to try more of her creations, and it’s certainly a place you can eat well at on a budget. They offer half orders of all their rolls that start at $3.75, appetizer portions of many items, and, if you get there before seven, you can also take advantage of half price sake and Japanese beers on tap.

Miko’s
500 E. Windmill Lane, Ste. 165
s89123

Today’s Food Ratings:
Hamachi: 9.5
Gyoza: 9.5
Tempura: 8.5

Would I go back? EVEN THOUGH I DON’T LIVE NEARBY THIS NEIGHBORHOOD SPOT I’M SURE I’LL MAKE UP AN EXUSE TO COME BACK SOON.

Note: Miko’s is only open for dinner and closed on Monday’s. This is actually a great thing because with just one kitchen crew they can ensure consistency.

Dinner at Home: Lamb Chops, Roasted Cauliflower, and Tomato Salad

2010-09-02T08:33:00.000-07:00

Ian's grandma Minnie told me she missed my posts of our dinners at home, so here is the latest one we've made. Ian divided a rack of incredible New Zealand lamb in two parts and seared it on the stove. When the fat started to render he added fresh rosemary and oregano from my brother's garden, as well as some garlic. My personal Master of Meat finished it in the oven alongside my roasted cauliflower from the Farmer's Market in Brentwood until it was juicy and perfectly cooked, then sliced it into chops after letting it rest a good ten minutes.

The roasted cauliflower dish is so simple but so satisfying, and fairly healthy. I pre-heated the oven to 375 degrees and lined a cookie sheet with foil for easy clean up. I broke the cauliflower into 1 inch florets, spread them out in one layer on the sheet, and drizzled it all with olive oil, tossing to coat. After ten minutes in the oven I tossed it around again. It didn't take too long (maybe 10-15 minutes), and when it started to get brown I sprinkled it with Muenster cheese and broiled it a couple of minutes more. I've made it with Parmesean, too, and it's equally good (tip: adding salt towards the end of the process will help the florets to brown a little better).

We also had a salad made with heirloom tomatoes from the Farmer's Market that tasted like candy (go buy some before they're out of season!), cilantro and crunchy cucumber from my brother's garden, and slivers of red onion. The dressing was simply lemon juice and olive oil. Because the tomatoes were so juicy, a gazpacho like liquid developed at the bottom of the bowl and made for a nice snack the next day.

Have your cake and eat it, too!

2010-08-31T09:05:00.000-07:00

Today's deal at Groupon.com is a $20 gift certificate for $10 at Nothing Bundt Cakes. I've yet to meet a person who doesn't love these so if you have a birthday or special occasion coming up you might want to check it out.

Frugal Foodie on the Road: Los Angeles

2010-08-28T12:28:00.001-07:00

A weekend trip to the coast during summer is a refreshing respite from the desert, especially when it is accompanied by visits to fantastic (and cheap) restaurants. We started off with a short detour on the way into the city at Din Tai Fung in Arcadia, home of the best little dumplings this side of the Pacific ($7.25). These are the dumplings that make those at China Mama's look like child's play. We also tried some non-dumpling items, including the Shanghai rice cakes ($7.50). These were chewy discs that looked like sliced water chestnuts but tasted like Chinese gnocchi, accompanied by velvety chicken, leafy greens, and cabbage.

Another hit were the shrimp and pork wontons with spicy sauce ($7). We actually thought we were ordering soup, but ended up being thrilled with our mistake. I've had a very similar dish at Noodle Asia in the Venetian, but this version was much better.
My dad then wanted dessert so we ordered the sweet taro boobs, er buns ($3.60 for the pair). Gummy sweet poi filling in a bland bun isn't my idea of dessert, but it actually tasted a lot better than I thought it would.
Breakfasts were the meals that really stood out over the weekend. On Saturday we went to a little cafe on Main street in Santa Monica called Amelia's. We shared a huge breakfast torta with layers of egg, potato, spinach, mushrooms, cauliflower, and cheddar cheese wrapped in flaky pastry and topped with tomatoes, parmesan, and noteworthy pesto.
The blueberry polenta cake, just one of their many home baked creations, was light and not too sweet. For the torta, cake, french pressed tea, and an incredible vanilla latte with cinnamon, the meal cost less than $20.
The bike ride that we took along the beach after breakfast didn't burn enough calories to warrant the meal, so we decided to go the healthy route the next day by dining at a vegetarian friendly restaurant, Interim Cafe. Though the place is in our neighborhood and has been there for twenty years, we were surprised to have never heard of it before. The hippie who runs the place has created every dish on the menu. We loved umami burger ($9) that was topped with a sauce that tasted like cheese but was made from silken tofu, paprika, and sundried tomatoes, amongst about ten other ingredients. It was the most satisfying veggie burger I can remember having had. The green peach smoothie with peaches, apples, basil, cucumber, mint, ginger, and banana (and without added sugar) was also great.

The last stop before heading back was Tavern, a restaurant/larder in Brentwood. Though it's open all day, I've only ever been for their superb breakfasts. We shared butter crumbed eggs (poached eggs rolled in bread crumbs and briefly deep fried) over polenta with arugula and shaved cheese.
We also ordered one of their elegant pastries, the almond bundle. Even a French baker would be jealous of how well executed this was - crispy and flakey on the outside, sweet and soft on the inside. The meal, including two coffees, was $20.

HK Star

2010-08-21T18:06:00.000-07:00

If you like 'fish and chips', one of the only redeeming dishes to have emerged from English cuisine, than you will love the salt and pepper cod (or shrimp) at HK Star on Jones and Spring Mountain. HK Star is a Chinese seafood restaurant with a caffeteria-like feel tucked inconspicuously behind the more well known China Mama's. Though the ambience and several of their dishes leave something to be desired, there are some redeeming items on the menu.

Two such gems include the aforementioned 'salt and pepper cod' ($6.95 lunch, $9.95 dinner) and 'salt and pepper shrimp' ($6.95 lunch, $11.95 dinner). Both are lightly battered and deep fried, then tossed with hot chilies and crispy garlic bits. The 'salt' description rings true as well, though they have successfully managed to not go overboard with it. I couldn't pick a favorite between the two options, as the cod is flaky and moist and the shrimp are plump and snappy. These are certainly the best two items on the menu, and you won't miss the 'chips' at all.

The sauteed vegetables ($5.95 lunch, $7.95 dinner) come with a nice variety of mushrooms, one of which is kind of chewy and sponge like. After a google search I think I can call it 'snow fungus,' though I can't be entirely sure. Pass on the Kung Pao cod ($9.95) as the only flavors emerging from the blonde sauce come from the peanuts and MSG.

The scene is a hurried and the staff are not entirely friendly, but for the prices of those fried morsels I'm willing to tolerate a less than stellar overall experience. Come in with low expectations (with the exception of the salt and pepper selections) and you will leave satisfied.

Today's Food Ratings:

Salt and Pepper Cod: 9.5

Salt and Pepper Shrimp: 9.5

Sauteed Vegetables: 7.5

Kung Pao Cod: 5.5

Would I go back?: OH MY COD, YES, BUT NOT WITH ANYONE WHO FAVORS AMBIENCE AND SERVICE OVER FOOD (you know who you are).

HK Star

3400 S. Jones #15

Las Vegas, NV 89146

open 11AM to midnight every day

pictured above: salt and pepper shrimp

salt and pepper cod
bustling lunch crowd
sauteed veggies
kun pao cod

Island Style

2010-08-17T08:35:00.001-07:00

I don't particularly care for much Hawaiian food, it's a little heavy on the Spam for my taste, but Island Style on Sahara does the cuisine justice and serves it with as much hospitality as their friends across the Pacific. Better still, only one item on the menu is over $10 and you are generously showered with large portions of free appetizers.

We were given addictive boiled peanuts and kimchee, as well as pickled bean sprouts, cucumbers, and radishes, all before we even ordered. The peanuts were the highlight, with the shells enveloping the salty brine they were cooked in so you could enjoy it with your legume. Did I mention they were free?

As you may have surmised from the appetizers, Island Style serves "Fusion Korean Food and Island Style Loco Food." Though you may recognize most menu items, many will probably provide you with a learning experience, as they did for me. Don't worry, your uber friendly host will explain each item with big picture menus and photos on the wall so you aren't at a loss for what to order.

I passed on my favorite Korean dish, Bi Bim Bap, in favor of the Hot Spicy Beef soup ($9.90). This was served in a massive bowl filled to the brim with shredded beef, glass noodles, mushrooms, scallions, and egg simmered in a paprika broth (think Korean goulash). It was hot and spicy for sure, but not overwhelmingly so, and it kept growing on me sip after sip. Ian ordered the Meat Jun ($8.25), which we both agreed was even better. This dish consists of pounded beef marinated in a sweet and salty shoyu (soy) sauce, that is then coated in egg and pan fried (think paillard francese). It is served with rice, bland macaroni salad (a Hawaiian staple), and more of the incredible shoyu sauce. If you eat meat, get this.

We were honestly shocked by how good the food was as it was better than anything we had in Hawaii and there were actually some healthy items as well. The server, who I believe was the owner, couldn't have been more genuine, friendly, and competent. Even if the food wasn't good, we still might have gone back anyway just because of his hospitality. If you want to explore Hawaiian cuisine in Vegas, this is definitely the place to do it.

Island Style

3909 W. Sahara #1

Las Vegas, NV 89102

closed Sunday

Today's Food Ratings:

Meat Jun: 9

Hot Spicy Beef soup: 7.5

Peanuts: 10

Would I go back?A'I, E HELE MAI 'AI. ONO! (YES, COME EAT. IT'S DELICIOUS!) MY HAWAIIAN ISN'T AS GOOD AS THE FOOD, BUT IN A WORD, DEFINITELY.

Komol

2010-08-10T15:21:00.000-07:00

Komol is my new favorite Thai restaurant. Unfortunately, it is overshadowed by it's commercial center neighbor, Lotus of Siam, which is a shame. Not only do they have tons of vegetarian and gluten-free options, but the food is unique, addictive, and reasonably priced. Many dinner entrees are under $10, though I've been going earlier in the day when I sometimes take advantage of the $6.95 lunch specials.

The dish that intrigued me the most was the Herbal Salad ($9.95), a massive mound of chopped lemongrass, tofu, green and red onions, cashews, apples, carrots and coconut mixed with hot pepper and lime juice (strangely enough, the only herb in it is basil). It's a combination I've not seen elsewhere and it is executed perfectly. It's texturally complex, a little sweet, a lot healthy, and has a heck of a kick. These happen to be attributes I find incredibly appealing in a dish, so I rank this as one of the top salads in Vegas.

The Penang curry, which I've had with both plump shrimp ($8.95) and just vegetables ($7.95), is coco-nutty, filling, and AWESOME, but if you come here without getting the curry peanut sauce ($2.50) you've done yourself an incredible injustice. You can eat this on a salad with the lunch specials, or order it as the perfect accoutrement to the ultra healthy and ultra herbacious spring rolls ($4.50). Unfortunately, Ian's favorite Thai dish, larb, wasn't done as well as at our other favorite Thai places in town, but I felt redeemed by the home-made non-dairy coconut ice cream (should be labeled as sorbet). This was an interesting concoction that I couldn't get enough of, but then again I like weird stuff.

I can't vouch for every dish on the extensive menu, but I would feel comfortable venturing from my recommendations on your second visit.

P.S. This is an authentic Thai place so if you think you're a lover of level 10 heat, go for 6 or 7 instead.

Today's Food Ratings:

Penang Curry: 9

Herbal Salad: 9.5

Curry Peanut Sauce: 9.5

Spring Rolls: 7

Larb: 6.5

Home-made Coconut Ice Cream: 8.5

Would I go back? I'M THINKING ABOUT GOING TOMORROW... BESIDES THE FACT THAT I LOVE THE CHARM OF THEIR ENGRAVED WOODEN MENUS, PERSONALIZED PLATES AND (STAMPED) NAPKINS, THIS PLACE IS A FOODIE GEM. GREAT, HEALTHY, INEXPENSIVE FOOD IS HARD TO COME BY, AND KOMOL DOES IT INCREDIBLY WELL.

Peanut Sauce on lunch special salad
Penang Shrimp
menu
healthy Spring Rolls
Larb
Vegetable Penang
Coconut Ice Cream (minus the cream)

Good Beer

2010-08-08T15:56:00.000-07:00

Next time you're at Raku order this:

Cana

2010-08-06T16:09:00.000-07:00

I was recently rewarded with my first comped meal as a food blogger last week at Cana in Town Square. I was shocked at the offer of a $100 media credit (and grateful!), but after hanging up the phone I was worried they'd picked the wrong person for the job. I didn't want to go, not like it, and feel obligated to favorably review it, so I almost called back and refused. Almost.

When I initially noticed Cana a couple of months ago I was excited at the idea of a Firefly competitor (not because I don't like Firefly, but because we need more tapas restaurants). I was dissuaded from going, however, as I had read reviews that weren't entirely favorable, on top of which, the prices seemed high. I probably never would have gone without the offer, and luckily it ended up being much better than I had expected it would be. The manager was welcoming and omnipresent, the waitress was attentive and sweet, and the food was well-executed, for the most part. I could get used to this food writer thing...

Some items we ordered were done very well, and others needed some work. My favorite dishes were the Crispy Shrimp ($13) and the Beef Tenderloin Tiradito with avocado, red onion , and truffle mayo ($14). The shrimp came out hot, snappy, and crispy, which completely sold me. My only complaint was that the preparation didn't exude originality. Nobu in London was the first place I'd seen fried shrimp dressed this way (in a spicy aioli), and since then I've noticed the exact dish on quite a few menus. The Tenderloin Tiradito (AKA 'carpaccio') was slightly more unique, but I wish we'd been given a heavier dose of the wonderful truffle mayo.

The dates ($9) were also prepared well, though the ratio of dates to other ingredients (bacon, cheese, and almonds) was off, causing it to be too sweet and texturally amiss. The Mac and Cheese ($8) was boring, under-seasoned, and needed a more plentiful and browned panko crust, but with a little doctoring it was more than edible (mac n' cheese almost always is). The Cuban Sliders ($11) were somewhat misleading, and heavy, but the mini brioche buns were fresh and the burgers juicy. We finished with the addictive non-churro Churros ($7). If they had been advertised as fried, twisted cinnamon roll dough then the description would have been accurate (and equally exciting), but I hate being deceived so I was a little disappointed.

My overall opinion is that Cana is the perfect place to take your girlfriends when they come visit. Town Square is a more relaxing place to hang out than the Strip, and Cana fills the lite bite need there perfectly. I couldn't get over the fact that the dates were twice as expensive and only 2/3 as good as Firefly, but between three of us the bill still only came out to $109 with an adequate amount of drinks. Speaking of drinks, I recommend the Pisco Sour, a tart drink made with Pisco brandy. It packs more punch than their other drinks, and not many Vegas drink menus feature egg white foams (this addition tastes much better than it sounds).

Today's Food Ratings:

Crispy Shrimp: 8.5

Beef Tiradito: 7.5

Dates: 6.5

Sliders: 5.5

Mac n' Cheese: 5.5

Non-churro Churro: 8

Pisco Sour: 9

Would I go back? MAYBE. EVERYTHING WAS DONE FAIRLY WELL, BUT THE PRICES ARE HIGHER THAN WHAT I NORMALLY LIKE TO PAY FOR TAPAS AND THE MENU ISN'T TERRIBLY ORIGINAL. I DO APPRECIATE THE WONDERFUL HOSPITALITY, HOWEVER, AND WILL RECOMMEND CANA TO PEOPLE NOT WANTING TO GET OFF LVB.

Dates
Pisco Sour
Crispy Shrimp
Mac n' Cheese
Cuban Sliders
non-churro Churros

70% off at Restaurant.com

2010-08-06T07:57:00.000-07:00

This weekend you can get 70% off all purchases at Restaurant.com by entering the code SAVE at checkout. Most of their dining certificates cost $10 for $25 worth of food (and sometimes alcohol) so this is a great time to buy. I've purchased certificates for Mundo, India Palace, Cajun Crawfish (a new Hot n' Juicy), and Austin's Steakhouse, as well as several other newer restaurants. Not only do you get the 70% off, but with your purchase they'll also give you a $10 credit to use on their site. This only lasts until Monday night so be sure not to forget about it before then!

En Sushi and Robata Grill

2010-08-04T09:19:00.000-07:00

If you live on the East side of town and don't feel like driving to Raku, then I recommend going to En Sushi and Robata Grill instead to get your Japanese fix. I have only been once since it is all the way in Anthem , so I can't give the most complete review, but I will say everything we had was above par and the space was superior to that of most neighborhood restaurants.

En's decor is clean and modern - definitely a place suitable to take a date. The staff was all friendly, though there weren't quite enough of them. Despite the fact it took a little while to get out the food, the waitress was attentive and everything from the grill came out hot.

The robata items didn't have the intense charred flavor of those at Raku, but they were good nonetheless. The corn stuffed with sweet potato ($2.50) was on the mushy side, but the other vegetables were crispy (the shishito peppers were especially good, $1.25). I'm glad the chef of both Raku and En, Mitsuo Endo, has created a robata trend that is being followed by a lot of Japanese restaurants, but the way the robata is used at Raku showcases the cooking method better than any other, including En (I was just in Raku last night marveling out how they could get so much flavor into a cherry tomato that looked like it had been on the grill for all of two seconds). En also makes their own tofu, but sadly they were out of it when we were there so I couldn't say how their version compares to that of its sister restaurant.

One thing you can't get at Raku, however, is sushi, so if that is what you are after to complement your robata craving then come here instead. The Yellowtail Lover ($12) was a successful roll prepared with thick slices of hamachi and a creamy spicy filling complemented by the acidity of a spicy garlic ponzu. The individual pieces were sized appropriately, and it was better than most rolls I've had. Anyone who likes Sushi Fever will be happy with the creative Americanized sushi menu here.

P.S. They don't have a website so their address is: 2540 Anthem Village Dr. 89052

Today's Food Ratings:

Asparagus ($2.25): 7

Peppers: 8

Sea bass ($4): 6.5

Corn with Potato: 6.5

Yellowtail Lover: 8.5

Would I go back? IF I LIVED IN ANTHEM I WOULD COME ALL THE TIME. THEY EVEN HAVE A BONUS CARD SO IN ADDITION TO REASONABLE PRICES YOU ARE REWARDED FOR EACH RETURNING VISIT WITH A FREE FOOD ITEM.

50% off Sliders

2010-08-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

Today's deal at Groupon is a $10 certificate at Slidin' Thru for $5. I highly recommend you find your way to this fun food truck when it's in your area. You can follow Ric on Twitter to see where he'll be and when!

Rich Chicken, Poor Chicken

2010-07-28T10:21:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite comfort foods, and probably one of yours, is roast chicken with potatoes. I've had two excellent versions lately, one at Spago in the Forum shops and one at Sedona in the Northwest.

Sedona is the only restaurant I've ever worked in and I wouldn't have gone back or recommended it until just recently because I didn't care for the old chef. My old sous chef took over a couple of months ago, however, and the food is now much better. The one dish that really stands out is the roast chicken on the lunch menu for $12. It is served on a bed of fingerling potatoes, fennel, and radicchio and is accompanied by a rosemary and worcestershire vinaigrette. The chicken is cooked 'sous vide' (in a bag) to keep it moist and juicy and then is either roasted at extremely high heat or pan-fried to give it a crackly skin. At $12 it is a bargain for what it is, especially because it also comes with soup or salad.

The roast chicken at Spago is slightly better only because the chicken is of a bit better quality and the potato puree under it rivals that of Joel Robuchon (read: lots and lots of butter). I am such a fan of Mr. Puck because of dishes like these. There's nothing pretentious about this chicken, just a great piece of bird with a perfect jus and veggies. At $21 it's about twice the price of the one at Sedona but it's worth every penny, especially since you also get a 20% discount for being local (limited time only).

I highly recommend either of these dishes when you next get a hankering for chicken that isn't boring.

Sedona Roast Chicken (above)

Spago Roast Chicken (left)
(below) A picture of another beautiful bird at Puck's Postrio in the Venetian. This was a special for mother's day this year.

Groupon: Agave

2010-07-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

Today's Groupon is for Agave Mexican restaurant in Summerlin. For $20 you get $40 worth of food and drinks. I've been there many times and have found that the food is consistent and good (try the nachos and fajitas) and the margaritas are top notch.

The Un-frugal Foodie: Martorano's

2010-07-27T10:07:00.000-07:00

Muscle man Steve Martorano serves overpriced East Coast Italian food at his restaurant in the Rio, where we dined with our foodie friends on Sunday evening. Although nothing we had was bad and everything was well-seasoned, I still left with a bad taste in my mouth due to the prices and the atmosphere. Let me give you a mental picture: disco balls, neon lights, over-sized outdoor garbage cans in the bathroom, and blaring music only turned off so you can watch an equally loud scene from the original Ocean's Eleven on one of six flat screens. The light/video/music show is all orchestrated by DJ Martorano himself, who spends more time annoying his customers with noise than paying attention to their food.

His menu is as beefy as his arms, so I would advise vegetarians to stay away. I actually give him credit for his unabashed use of meat, which he prepares well. Since we were a group of four and didn't feel like eating a ton of food, we ordered a bunch of appetizers to split. Their meatball, which they are famous for, is light with balanced meatball elements. It is served with tasty marinara and excellent ricotta, though these features can't justify the $14 price tag (or $18 if you want a microscopic salad to go with it as we realized after the fact).

We then ordered pigs feet, a dish I would say was the highlight of the meal because I don't generally eat pigs feet and they seemed to be prepared well. But it's also possible my enjoyment was due to the abundance of that San Marzano marinara or the relatively inexpensive price ($10). The feet themselves were not terribly meaty, but the accompanying rolled pig skin stuffed with pork was quite enjoyable (if eaten only a few bites at a time) and tasted like thick, chewy pasta (if pasta was pure fat).

Other above average options included; the eggplant stack, which was crispy but heavy, and not served hot ($19); the gnocchi side, which was light enough but not terribly interesting ($14); and the hot peppers stuffed with veal that I enjoyed, but felt had a bit too much crushed red pepper ($18). He also offers an interesting take on carbonara, which he sent to our table gratis because we are locals (Always tell restaurants on the Strip you are local when making a reservation. They usually do a little something extra for you). I can best describe his preparation as spaghetti (though the waitress called it buccatini) tossed in a white bean hummus. The flavor was fine but it had an off-putting mouth feel, and was not worth the $24 price listed. I'm not sure how he can get away with these prices for dishes that are essentially superior preparations of adulterated versions of real Italian food...

That being said, I've never been afraid of writing a review but due to how large and in charge this chef is I'm really hoping he never reads this. Ian agrees, so if he does, I'd like him to know that Ian thought the restaurant was nothing short of extraordinary and will be highly recommending it to everyone he knows.

P.S. Don't let the waitress talk you into a specialty cocktail. They taste worse than a melted tropical concoction from Fat Tuesdays. And, if you still want to come, do so before 7:30 or you won't even be able to have a conversation with yourself. I'd like to leave you with an excerpt from his own website:

"Guests can dine on Italian-American food while watching his favorite movies and listening to classic R&B and classic rock on a sound system that rivals that of South Beach’s hottest clubs. This rare talent has allowed him to create an ambiance that attracts a clientele that ranges from a local, sexy, hip crowd to entertainment’s hottest celebrities. This family-run business is the only venue that has managed to create a modern and cool atmosphere while maintaining that welcome-to-the-family vibe."

Seriously?

Tonight's Food Ratings (remember, value is taken into consideration):

Meatball: 6

Pigs Feet: 8

Eggplant Stack: 4.5

Gnocchi with White Sauce: 5

Stuffed Peppers: 5.5

Carbonara: 4.5

Would I go back? IF THE PRICES DROP IN HALF, MOST LIKELY. BUT I'D STILL COME RIGHT WHEN THEY OPEN.

Pigs Feet
Gnocchi
Eggplant Stack

Pancakes!

2010-07-21T07:58:00.000-07:00

Du Par's downtown and Silk Road on the Strip are two totally different restaurants. One is ordinary and predictable, the other is hip and refined. What do they have in common? Great pancakes. I don't usually order pancakes when going out for breakfast on account of the carb and sugar content, but I am certainly a fan and have been feasting on them lately because of these restaurants.

Du Par's is a better than average chain diner restaurant at The Golden Gate, a place that prides itself on being the oldest hotel in Vegas (they claim to have had the first telephone number in the city) and 'home to the 99 cent shrimp cocktail' (which is now $1.99). Although Du Par's bakes all its pastries in house daily (you can watch this process on a TV outside) and pays more attention to vegetables than similar places, the only real reason to come here is for the pancakes ($7.75 for a short stack, $2.50 for one). There's nothing fancy about them, but they're f'***ing delicious without any bells or whistles, save for the homemade preserves available in strawberry, peach, or boysenberry. They must use some combination of baking soda, baking powder, and carbonated water because they puff up into a spongy, kind of chewy consistency that is light yet hearty, and absolutely irresistible. Butter is definitely involved because they even manage to get a little crispiness around the edges. Yum!

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Silk Road, a funky place in Vdara that would have found a welcome place at a Ritz Carlton on the Jetson's. They used to be open for dinner but due to heavy competition from their City Center neighbors' restaurants you can now only dine here for breakfast and lunch. Unlike Du Par's there are plenty of reasons besides the pancakes for dining here, but for the purpose of this review we'll concentrate on Silk Road's blueberry ricotta interpretation of this breakfast favorite. These were unusually executed and plated so beautifully that they deserve an award for bringing fine dining elements to the first meal of the day. The pancakes ($14) were more cake-like than those at Du Pars and had been baked in mini pans, giving them a crispy exterior all the way around. It seemed very French. Accompaniments included orange blossom syrup, honeycomb butter, whipped cream, fresh blueberries and, my favorite, candied rose petals. We also ordered a turkey hash that was excellent and ethereal ham and cheese beignets served with an Indian tomato chutney (sounds weird but trust me, they're fantastic). Silk Road does for breakfast what Steve Wynn did for Vegas - making it better by pushing the envelope and inundating it with class. All I have to say is move over Payard's....

Though you pay through the nose at Silk Road (let me mention that I passed on the $10 coffee) the atmosphere and menu undoubtedly make it stand out much more than Du Pars. This is a place to take your friends from out of town, and Du Pars is a place to go on a lazy weekend morning. Bottom line, both have really good pancakes. You get more bang for your buck at Du Pars but Silk Road will offer you the most interesting breakfast you've probably ever had.

Honeycomb Butter and Orange Blossom Syrup

Breakfast Beignets

Interior of Silk Road

Private dining room

Baking TV at Du Pars

Ian by a replica of the first telephone in Vegas

Slidin' Thru

2010-07-18T20:01:00.000-07:00

Slidin' Thru owner Ric describes his 'Slider Truck' as 'Vegas’ first and only premier mobile restaurant, serving gourmet sliders made from the freshest ingredients.' Using social networking platforms like Twitter and Facebook he is able to let his customers know where he'll be parking for lunch that day, or if there has been a last minute change to the schedule because he's been booted from his post. His truck has already become the talk of the town and he's only been open since Spring, so plan on a line when you come. His colorful comic strip ride is fun to look at while you wait, but if you try to stay out of the sun when its 100 degrees out, I'd suggest coming after summer. At one point Ian and I had been semi serious about starting our own food truck, but the realization we would be in a confined space with limited AC and a flat top in the middle of summer stopped us dead in our tracks. I give Ric and his crew major points for facing this challenge, so I suppose the least we can do is wait a few minutes for a few of his tasty creations.

The day I faced the heat I tried the Pep Pep, the Yaya, and the Pulled Porkie, of which the latter was my favorite. The pork was tender and not shredded to death, and the tangy, spicy barbecue sauce bathed it well. The caramelized jalapeno was a nice touch. The Pep Pep was good but ordinary, something like an In-n-Out Burger with a special sauce moving more in the direction of tartar than Russian. The Yaya, a Greek inspired slider with feta, red onion, tomato, and taziki felt healthier than it was on account of the sharpness from the white wine vinaigrette dressing the lettuce. The flavors are great, but perhaps lamb for the meat instead of angus would have been better.

I can understand the constraints on using more expensive proteins, however, because his sliders are very affordable. You can get one for $3, two for $5, or three for $7. I would be willing to try any of his other sliders, but next time will pass on the limp sweet potato fries, $3. They're tossed with cinnamon and sugar, which I believe would make for a better seasoning if the sugar were replaced with salt. The sweet potatoes offer all the sugar you need, and if that's still not enough then you can munch on the whimsical fun pack of skittles Ric puts alongside your sliders.

It seems the young people starting unique food businesses in Vegas are favoring burgers. I'd much rather have these businesses than not, but it would be great if someone could come out with something a little different. Hopefully this is just the beginning of the food truck trend in Vegas and the next mobile chefs will explore other possibilities for fun, fast food. I have no doubt that Slidin' Thru will be able to hold onto the burger market for years to come, but there is still plenty of room for mobile catering growth. I look forward to seeing what kind of food truck comes next!

Today's Food Ratings:

Pulled Porkie: 8.5

Yaya: 8

Pep Pep: 7

Sweet Potato Fries: 5.5

Would I go back? ABSOLUTELY (BUT PROBABLY NOT UNTIL THE WEATHER COOLS DOWN)

Pulled Porkie

Yaya

Pep Pep

Cruise to Europe

2010-07-14T09:36:00.000-07:00

I'm back from the Mediterranean and before I get back into blogging for the benefit of Vegas diners I'd like to share some of the wonderful foods I ate on the trip.

We started the cruise in Athens, where I had a spanakopita that trumped all others. It had layer upon layer of flaky filo and the filling was made from fresh spinach and authentic feta. (O Platanos Taverna at 4 Diogenes)

Jacque Pepin was responsible for creating the dining experience on our ship, the MS Nautica. Not all the food was amazing, but this perfectly executed consomme was a highlight. It is incredibly difficult to give a broth so much flavor while maintaining its clarity. I also loved the added crunch from the julienne of leeks and carrots, and preferred these to the unneccesary chicken quenelles.

After Greece and Turkey we headed to Italy, a country I had the pleasure of living in and eating throughout during my junior year of college. In Portofino we enjoyed a fantastic sea urchin pasta at Il Guarancino, an open air restuarant on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

Though my Italian was rustier than I had hoped, I was still able to communicate enough to land us at the best restaurant of the trip. This was in Livorno, a port town not on the agenda of most tourists. This second meal overlooking the sea was absolutely amazing, which was no surprise since we were the only non-Italians there and every table was full within fifteen minutes of their opening time. We had a tender octopus salad that reminded me exactly of one I had the home of my Italian roommate, which was followed by a baby gnocchi pasta with mussels in a pesto cream sauce. I had to restrain myself from consuming the entirety of the latter to save room for the mixed grill of langostines, squid, and shrimp that perfectly highlighted the inherent flavors of the impossibly fresh seafood. I will go out of my way completely to eat at this restaurant again. L'Ostricaio is unforgettable.

In Livorno we also went to a market where we had a snack of parma prociutto, baguette, and REAL pesto. I loved watching Ian discover why creamy pesto from the Ligurian sea is better than any other. It is said that the breeze that comes in from the sea and the terroir of the land make the basil incomparable to any other. Sadly after consuming it you can't truly enjoy pesto elsewhere.

Though the best pesto and pasta come from Italy, the best desserts come from France. These stewed figs with caramel ice cream at Chez Feraud in Aix in Provence were to die for.

Last stop - Barcelona. This particular plate of pata negra ham had us swooning. It was twice as good and half the price of the plate offered at Juian Serrano in Aria. (Can Majo in Barcelonetta)

The most unique thing we had on the trip was a plate of sea barnacles, which look like mini dragon claws. These are the sexiest things you can pull off a shipwreck, and you pay for the experience. You rip the 'fingers' open to pull out the meat, and then crack the little 'nail' like a crab claw to enjoy the tender part you see my dad holding up. (Botafumeiro on Gran de Gracia)

We couldn't leave Spain without paella, and this version (at the same restaurant we had the barnacles) was exceptional. It had the important crusty layer at the bottom of the pan, the ingredients were of excellent quality, the flavor was rich, and the texture was creamy.

Sorry!

2010-07-03T04:02:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry I haven't posted anything recently but I am on a big family cruise in the Mediterranean expanding my taste buds. I'll have lots of fabulous meals to post when I get back in about a week, as well as reviews on Slider Truck, Du-pars, and EK bistro as well as some Crystals restaurants inlcluding Wolfgang's Pizzeria and Todd English's P.U.B. Thanks for your patience!

New cooking show (for dogs)!

2010-06-24T20:28:00.000-07:00

Ian and I just posted the pilot of our new online series on YouTube, "Cooking for Canines," where we share recipes for homemade dog food and treats . If you are interested in eating/cooking dog food as well as people food (they can absolutely overlap!), then check it out. Maybe if the Food Network can introduce a second cooking channel to cable, the Dog Food Network is in our future... Ruff!

Discounts on the Strip

2010-06-24T16:06:00.000-07:00

Both Mario Batali and Wolfgang Puck are currently offering 20% off the bill for locals. Puck's promotion is going on through the end of summer, according to an ad in Seven magazine, but Batali's is ongoing. Other Strip restaurants may be offering similar deals so be sure to ask next time you go.

McCormick and Schmick's

2010-06-22T07:58:00.000-07:00

McCormick and Schmick's in the Howard Hughes Center isn't the kind of place you'd normally associate with frugality, but their happy hour menu is priced for the seafood lover on a budget. At their bar from 3:30-6:30 and 9:30-11 Monday through Friday you can feast on an assortment of finger foods ranging from $1.95 to $4.95, as long as you meet their $3.50 minimum beverage purchase per person. A half pound cheeseburger is just $2.95, but if you are coming here you should probably try some of their underwater offerings. We started with Blackened Fish Tacos ($3.95) which were perfectly adequate for the price, but unfortunately not blackened as advertised. There wasn't a ton of fish either, and the tortillas took up most of the space on the plate, but that is to be expected. On the other hand the calamari tentacles with sherry aioli, or Spider Fries ($3.95), were one of the better values on the menu and were surprisingly tender and plump. We also ordered one of the two healthy items on the menu, the Grilled Artichoke with sundried tomato aioli ($4.95). The presentation was appealing, but unfortunately it didn't taste as good as it looked. It was a bit bland and under seasoned, but at least it was green and wasn't deep fried. Other offerings include Beer Battered Mushrooms ($1.95), Fried Cod Sliders ($3.95), and Chefs Choice Oysters (three for $4.95). The menu changes regularly, but at any give time there are around fifteen options. On Wednesdays you can get $1.00 oysters and a mini Shrimp Boil for $3.95, so I'd like to come back to take advantage of that.

The drink specials are pretty good, too, depending on the day. We went on Hoppy Thursdays, when domestic light beer on draft is available for $2.95 (only a real bargain if you're comparing it to the Strip), but I would recommend going on Tuesday Tini night when all martinis are only $5. On Sundays you can try their adorable martini flights from 5:00-10:00, but unfortunately you won't get to try any of their food at a discount.

There are a lot of happy hours around town, but McCormick and Schmick's is definitely one of the better ones. The bar is sophisticated and intimate, and there is an outdoor patio in case the weather is ever forgiving enough during the happy hour time of day. Basically, you won't leave hungry or broke, and you won't have to sit in a fast food restaurant to accomplish that feat.

Food Ratings:
Grilled Artichoke: 5
Spider Fries: 7.5
Blackened Fish Tacos: 5.5

Would I go back?: YES. DINNER FOR TWO WITH DRINKS FOR UNDER $20 IN A NICE SPACE IS WORTH GOING BACK TO.

Frugal Foodie on the Road: Stockton?

2010-06-19T20:29:00.000-07:00

Tonight I tested how far I'll go for a good meal. I happen to be in Stockton, CA on business right now, sitting in my hotel room after a dinner out alone. Earlier, when I was looking for a place to eat I came across a Vietnamese restaurant with fantastic reviews, Le Kim's, and took the five minute walk to try it out. Sadly, they were closed (who is closed on Saturday night?), so I had to make the short trek back to my hotel.

I'd been warned several times that downtown Stockton isn't a place you want to meander through after dark, so I had to find another good restaurant ASAP. I asked the concierge, and she inquired as to how I was traveling. When I said I was walking she looked at her watch and said, "You should be OK." Hmmm... I didn't like her suggestions anyway (I searched out reviews once I got back to my room), but I did find a Mexican restaurant, Xochimilco, that was approximately twelve minutes away. I hurried. I hurried even faster after a crazy lady chatted me up about the weather and my hair.

Then I found my google map wasn't accurate and had to stop to ask a security guard how to get there. I also asked when it wouldn't be safe to walk alone and he responded "Where are you from? Don't you know that Stockton sucks (he really said that). The good thing is that the police station is right down there, but I'd eat fast (he really said that, too)." Never mind, I knew I was close so I persevered, committing to my journey and forgetting about the perfectly safe restaurant in the hotel.

Finally, I arrived at Xochimilco and was rewarded with an incredible chile verde that was not verde at all as it was braised in a light and flavorful tomato-based broth. The pork was tender and the rice soaked up the red liquid, giving it the texture of what could be called a Mexican risotto when mixed with some of the creamy, cheesy beans. An added bonus on the plate was a wedge of quesadilla, a thoughtful touch that should be replicated by all Mexican restaurants (sorry this isn't visible in my picture).

I finished quickly and headed back to the hotel, chasing the sun as it descended. I don't usually fear walking alone as I consider myself a fairly alert person amongst strangers, but I don't think I'll walk around downtown Stockton at night again. And if anyone tells my mom I ever did, you'd better be the one watching out

Putting aside my adventure, the food in Stockton is actually pretty good. I ate at a Vietnamese restaurant yesterday and had a crispy crunchy fried shrimp dish laced with loads of cilantro and garlic and served with a tart lime sauce that was pretty darn addictive (below). I especially loved how they put the extra sauce over the rice rather than serve it dry. Why not?

P.S. If you're wondering why I was headed to another Vietnamese restaurant again tonight, I would have to say it's because I'm not sure if I have a sense of what I'm in the mood for anymore. Point me in the direction of good food and I'll make myself in the mood for anything!

Bachi Burger

2010-06-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

If the off-Strip food scene of Las Vegas is destined to emulate the original neighborhood restaurants that make up the great American food cities, then Bachi Burger is one of the quirky places that will help pave the way. With Asian-inspired burgers, house-made Japanese pickles, and boba milk teas alongside delicate salads, truffle fries, and Portugese donuts, it appears the chef is a bit scatter-brained, but almost all of his creations are well-balanced and skillfully executed.

The juicy burgers are served on grilled sweet rolls - a unique approach. The more creative burgers are better than the plain versions, though I wasn't crazy about 'The Crusty Crab.' The sweet chutney was quite tasty, but there wasn't enough textural complexity so the soft crab cake and soft bun ended up tasting mushy in tandem. I really enjoyed 'Kiki's Burger' with sautéed Shiitake & Eryngi mushrooms, caramelized bacon and sweet onion marmalade, gruyere cheese, and a garlic chili aioli on the side ($8, pictured above), as well as 'The Lonely Bird,' made from ground chicken and turkey topped with herb pesto, lettuce, tomato, and onion ($7.50). I'm not sure about soy alongside pesto (soy is in all the burgers), but the patty was juicier than most beefless burgers I've had.

The salads are light and fresh, though they are a little too upscale for a burger joint and therefore fairly expensive for their size. The oriental chicken salad with organic jidori chicken breast was my favorite ($9), but maybe that's just because it went better with the theme of the restaurant. I love the Japanese pickles that change regularly, and for $3 they make the perfect amuse. The garlic butter and truffle edamame ($3) and crispy sweet potato fries with yuzu citrus aioli ($4) are worth ordering, but pass on the shrimp toasts which are more interesting on paper than on a plate.

Once Bachi Burger refines a few of their menu items and improves the vibe of the space, I believe it will become very successful. The prices are right and you won't find food like it elsewhere in Vegas, so it's on my list of recommended restaurants.

Food Ratings:
Kiki's Burger: 8.5
The Lonely Bird: 8
Crusty Crab: 6.5
Truffle Edamame: 7.5
Sweet Potato Fries: 9
Shrimp Toasts: 4
Beet Salad: 7.5
Oriental Chicken Salad: 8
Cobb Salad: 7.5

Restaurant Rating: 7

Would I go back?: DEFINITELY. I'M NOT A FAN OF THE CAFETERIA LIKE SPACE BUT THE FOOD IS CREATIVE AND FRUGAL!

The Lonely Bird
Beet Salad
Cobb Salad
Oriental Chicken Salad
Japanese Pickles
The Crusty Crab
Sweet Potato Fries
Truffle Edamame
Shrimp Toasts

Farmer's Market Scores

2010-06-10T14:33:00.000-07:00

There were some real finds today at the Molto Vegas Farmer's Market. I purchased the massive truffle in the picture above for just $22 and was THRILLED to see real Porcini mushrooms (below left). The only time I've run into fresh porcini mushrooms outside of Italy is at the Ferry Building Farmer's Market in San Francisco. They were $8/quarter pound, which I was more than happy to pay, and they some bluefoot mushrooms for $6/quarter pound as well (below right). I also purchased some unique veggies, sweet as sugar strawberries, and ripe peaches. I know I've said it before but I insist you come to this farmer's market as soon and as often as possible!

$2 Lobster

2010-06-08T17:13:00.001-07:00

After a disappointing lunch at Tinoco's (not worthy of its own review as it was neither frugal nor exciting), Ian spotted an incredibly unique food vending machine at The Vegas Club Hotel downtown. I've never stepped foot inside this deteriorating hotel in my 27 years as a native Las Vegan, and won't likely come again, but I do have to give them personality points for putting in a lobster arcade game called The Lobster Zone. It doesn't require the same set of skills generally used to catch lobster, but I'm betting it's even more difficult based on my own frustrating experiences trying to grab at cheap stuffed animals. The slogan on the front is "You catch 'em, we cook 'em," but good luck. The price of $2 per play isn't bad if you manage to grab one of the poor unsuspecting creatures within thirty seconds of depositing your cash and manipulating the claw, but unfortunately their are no consolation prizes (I was thinking a shrimp would be nice) and based on what an employee says in this local video, not many people win. If we hadn't just eaten and if the lobsters had been larger, I might have played, yet there was still something unsettling about it. If monkfish is referred to as the 'poor man's lobster,' then the crustaceans in The Lobster Zone must be the 'cheap, drunk Vegas tourist's lobster,' because I'm not sure who else would actually attempt catch one. I suppose it gets one closer to catching their own food than they otherwise would be, but when neither the animal nor hunter have much of a chance of winning, it just seems cruel for everyone involved. Anyhow, if you're really on a budget give it a whirl, and let me know how it goes. My bet, however, is that you're better of going to Red Lobster for the money, where you're also rewarded with delicious free cheddar biscuits!

Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill

2010-06-07T11:18:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you combine home-made potato chips, Maytag blue cheese sauce, and truffle oil? Nothing short of a miracle. This is one of the best potato dishes in Vegas, and one could easily make it a meal (albeit an unhealthy one), so it is worth the $12 price tag. Even Ian, who doesn't like blue cheese, goes gaga for the crispy French nachos. Ingenious combinations like these have made Wolfgang Puck one of the most innovative chefs in America (did you know he invented the California roll?).

We also ordered the steamed black mussels with chorizo, white wine, garlic, grilled sourdough, fries, and smoked paprika béarnaise ($27). We thought this was pricey until it came to the table in an over sized cast iron pot with a mound of as many mussels as could possibly fit. The mussels were purged of their sand, plump, meaty, and coated with the well-balanced spicy sauce flavored by the high quality chorizo. Did we need the crusty bread and the fries? Absolutely. The fries were thin, crispy, and served in a cone, as they should be, and the paprika béarnaise was a unique and spicy version of the traditional steak accompaniment. I loved how the excess ran off the bread and into the pot, adding a new dimension to the flavors already going on in the broth. I ordered a salad, as well, which was very good, but totally unnecessary since we couldn't finish more than two thirds of the mussels between the two of us. Therefore, I classify the mussels as a frugal dish since a seafood entree for two of this quality with a couple of sides for under $30 is a good value. Splurge if you want the chips (and I highly suggest you get them unless you're on a diet) but you'll leave plenty full even if you don't.

Today's Food Ratings:
Mussels: 9
Truffled Potato Chips: 9.5

Restaurant Rating: 8.5

Would we go back? OTHER THAN DEALING WITH THE PAIN OF PARKING AT THE MGM WE WOULD COME BACK HERE FREQUENTLY

Free Food! (Almost)

2010-06-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

Today's deal on Groupon.com is a $30 gift certificate for $10 at Ichabod's Lounge on East Flamingo. I wouldn't normally go out of my way to eat at a gaming bar but the reviews on Yelp are positive, a $10 lunch for two is hard to come by, and Milton is getting neutered right by there on Tuesday.

Poor little guy doesn't even know what's coming!

Parma 3

2010-06-03T22:50:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Ian ordered an incredibly dissapointing dish at Parma. This was a special of the day - a soggy chicken cutlet drenched in sauce with way too much cheese on top (that wasn't the official description but should have been). Additionaly, the pasta on the side was overcooked and underseasoned. Luckily, my pasta fagiole soup was as delicious as ever and the waitress was wonderful. I thought I should report seeing as how I've raved about our other experiences there....

Chocolate

2010-06-03T12:04:00.000-07:00

Today's deal at Groupon.com is a chocolate facial at Ondo Aesthetics for $39 (regular price is $95) . I'm not sure if it would be heavenly and yummy or kind of gross, but I bought one anyway. After all, cacoa has the highest level of antioxidants of any known food or beverage.

Four Kegs

2010-05-31T21:00:00.000-07:00

I can't think of a more Americanized version of an Italian dish than stromboli, so it is only appropriate that the Four Kegs, a humble sports bar, would have the best version in Vegas. After hearing about these strombolis on one of our favorite Food Network shows, 'Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives,' Ian and I decided to visit this hole in the wall located in the same shopping center as Full Ho. Upon entering this particular dive we were shocked at the popularity, but upon discovering that draft beer was only $2.50/pint we immediately solved the first part of the puzzle, +2.

Next came the salad ($1.75). It was a watery mess of iceberg and iceberg, which was so bad I couldn't bring myself to take a picture, -1. At least it was fresh? At this point, we were hoping that something redeeming could come out of the kitchen. We were then hit with the Cajun fries ($2.95), which, seeing how there was nothing Cajun about them, should have been described as vegetarian chicken wings. I love Frank's Red Hot and ranch dressing just as much as the next Mid-Westerner (I feel I can pass judgement on the use of these ingredients because Ian is from Missouri and I've spent ample time perfecting my Velveeta cheese dip making abilities) but soggy fries just don't cut the mustard, -1.

Finally the stromboli ($8.49) arrived. Stroboli, believe it or not, is also the name of an island off the coast of Sicily, which is a noteworthy place because of its continuous and patterned volcanic eruptions over the last 20,000 years. The stromboli at the Four Kegs isn't quite as miraculous, but was an explosion of tastiness nonetheless. The exterior was crispy and browned, and the filling was appropriately cheesy, meaty, and saucy. Is it hard to make something taste good with these components? Not really, but the expertly constructed crust and price makes this dish a winner. The technique of Mario is to be commended, because he is able to thoroughly cook every bit of the crust without burning it or leaving a trace of doughiness. This is a feat most bakers in the States would have a hard time accomplishing. We only finished half of it, but I give it a solid +5.

At a +5 overall rating, I will label the Four Kegs as a cheap place to get a filling and above average meal, but stick with the Stromboli and beer. I promise you'll leave happy if you follow those words of advice.

Today's Food Ratings:
Cajun (or not) Fries: 4.5
Salad: 2.5
Stromboli: 8

Restaurant Rating: 5

Would I go back?: IF I WERE PREPARING TO AUDITION FOR 'THE BIGGEST LOSER' I WOULD COME HERE EVERY DAY.

Farmer's Market Dinners

2010-05-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

This week I made two dinners with vegetables from the Molto Farmer's Market, which is by far the best farmer's market in Vegas. They have a huge variety of interesting vegetables you won't find elsewhere, as well as other artisanal foods. Unfortunately, it only goes on from 11-1 on Thursdays and is inconveniently located at the South end of Dean Martin.

The first dish I made was buccatini with Tuscan kale and morel mushrooms ($6 per 1/4 lb.) in a cream sauce. We added some yogurt to the sauce to lighten it up a bit, which worked surprisingly well. The Tuscan kale was something I hadn't come across before, and the small leaves made it perfect for a pasta dish.

The second dinner I made was a spinach, feta, and caramelized onion frittata. The spinach was wild and included purple leaves. Very pretty! I wish I could have purchased some of the Quail Hollow farm fresh eggs at the market but all of them were spoken for.

The unique selection of gorgeous vegetables at the Molto market inspires me to cook in a way supermarket produce does not. Plus, you don't have to worry about the presence of pesticides, waxes, or GMO's and it's much less expensive than Whole Foods. I highly recommend you include it as stop in your next grocery run, even if you have to leave work to do it. Just remember to go on the early side for the best selection. It's becoming quite popular!

Twitter

2010-05-28T10:39:00.000-07:00

I'm now on Twitter. Follow me for meal updates and restaurant recommendations at http://twitter.com/frugalfoodielv.

Oh, and if you visit my blog regularly please become an official 'follower.' I'd like to know who my readers are. Thanks!

The Coffee Cup

2010-05-26T19:56:00.000-07:00

How far are you willing to drive for great waffles and $5 mimosas? Personally, I wouldn't drive more than thirty minutes, which luckily is just about the amount of time it takes for me to get to The Coffee Cup in Boulder City. The Coffee Cup is an ancient breakfast place located on the city's main drag that attracts local residents like flies. It's one of those really homey places where the kitschy decor tells the story of the owner's life and waitresses know you by name (not mine, however, since I only go there a few times a year). There is usually a wait when you go, but if you are willing to sit at the bar you can often poach a couple of seats within a few minutes, even on a Saturday.

I started coming to The Coffee Cup because Ian lived on the outskirts of Henderson when he first moved to town (apparently looking at a map to see that our culinary school was located in Summerlin never occurred to him) and it became a sentimental sort of spot. I wouldn't have insisted that we continue to go, however, if the waffles ($4.50) weren't so good. You can pick from a variety of fun fillings ($0.70 each), which are bundled up in a crispy, subtly sweet baked shell. I've tried several combinations, but my top recommendations are granola, peanut butter, and banana and bacon and chocolate chip. Washing it down with a huge $5 mimosa makes for the perfect weekend breakfast. The rest of the food isn't that great, much to Ian's chagrin, but it's all cheap and tasty. Last time he had the papas con chile verde ($6.75) which were mostly generic but showed a touch of creativity. Not bad for the price, but not worth the drive.

If you've never been to Boulder City and you're a waffle enthusiast, you should definitely make the trip. Besides hosting art walks and other community events, Boulder City is unique and charming because it is one of the only two cities in Nevada where gambling is illegal. It was established as a home base for the construction workers of the Hoover Dam, and was recently rated one of the top 25 best places to retire by Money magazine, so it has certainly stood the test of time. My guess is that this is partially due to the waffles and mimosas at The Coffee Cup!

Today's Food Ratings:
Waffle: 8.5
Papas con Chile Verde: 5.5

Would I go back? DEFINITELY, IT'S LIKE A MINI BREAKFAST VACATION.

Groupon

2010-05-25T12:08:00.000-07:00

Groupon.com is a great website that offers daily discounts at different local businesses, many of which are restaurants. Generally the restaurant discounts are 50% or more, so it's a wonderful way to try new restaurants without spending a bunch of money. Today's deal is for Bar + Bistro, located in the Arts Factory building. I haven't been too impressed with a lot of their food (they're still new so I won't judge harshly), and it's overpriced, but the veggie lasagna is authentic and delicious.

The Un-frugal Foodie: Zine

2010-05-21T08:12:00.000-07:00

On the same trip to the Palazzo where I ate at Canyon Ranch Cafe, my mom and I had dinner at Zine, an upscale Asian restaurant labeled one of the ten best in America by Chinese Restaurant News. Chef Simon To, the recipient of the blue ribbon award from my alma mater (can you say that about culinary school?), Le Cordon Bleu, has created a menu bursting with excellent renditions of the more popular items you find on Cantonese, Vietnamese, and other Eastern menus throughout the valley. I would like to try everything on his menu, however, due to the extraordinarily high prices you pay for these renditions, dining here is more of a luxury than feasting on similar versions elsewhere.

Between the two of us, we ordered four items. The amount of food was more than enough, but surprisingly, we didn't leave stuffed - a definite plus. We started with the Rare Filet Mignon and Beef Ball Pho ($18), a version of the traditional Vietnamese soup consisting of a flavorful broth, rice noodles, and a variety of vegetables, which usually contains either meat or seafood. The filet was ultra tender, the broth was rich, and the rice noodles weren't over-saturated with liquid. My only regret was that we hadn't ordered the version of the soup without the beef balls, not because they were bad, but because the filet was so wonderful. A traditional pho Vietnamese pho is probably not likely to include filet, however, so this pho is a therefore a particularly indulgent one and the hefty price tag confirms this.

We then moved on to the steamed Shanghainese pork dumplings ($9.25), which for the record, are the absolute best I've had in town. China Mama on Spring Mountain has been reviewed as having the closest version to those of the incredibly popular Din Tai Fung in Arcadia, but Zine puts those to shame. At China Mama, the technique just isn't down. The dumplings fall apart at the bottom because they are too thin, releasing the coveted broth prematurely, and the crimping at the top is inconsistent and often sloppy. Zine is the only place I've seen that can compare to Din Tai Fung, however, they don't have the great variety of options, a sad yet understandable difference. Unfortunately, they also cost twice as much, but for a Strip restaurant I'd expect nothing less. If I put myself on a food budget, which I really need to get around to doing one of these days, I'd order these alone and wouldn't need much else.

We finished with some dishes from the "Chef's Special" section, all of which end in $0.80. I think this is supposed to make the consumer lucky at the casino tables outside the restaurant. We had the sauteed vegetables ($16.80), which were impeccably dressed in a light garlic sauce and cooked beautifully. The little pearl mushrooms were a welcome and unique variation, however, I was hoping for Chinese broccoli rather than regular broccoli. The Honey Glazed Walnut Prawns ($28.80), a personal favorite, could have come out hotter but were delicious nonetheless. The dish consists of extra large prawns that have been lightly battered and fried and tossed with a mayonnaise based sweet sauce and, of course, honey glazed walnuts. Sounds healthy doesn't it? I found the quality of this comparable to same dish at Ping Pang Pong in the Gold Coast, but due to the fact they cost double at Zine, Ping Pang Pong wins my walnut prawn competition.

Other than the prices, there was nothing about Zine that would make me not go back. Each dish we had was skillfully prepared and well-balanced, so if you see a dish on the menu you've enjoyed elsewhere in Vegas, chances are it will be better here. Just don't forget to eat the lucky dishes so your gambling habit might pay off and cover the cost of your meal.

Tonight's Food Ratings:
Filet and Beef Ball Pho: 8.5
Steamed Shanghainese Dumplings: 9.5
Sauteed Vegetables: 8
Honey Glazed Walnut Prawns: 7.5

Would I go back? ABSOLUTELY, BUT NOT ANYTIME SOON IF I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF. THANKS MOM!

Dinner at Home: Eggplant Parmesan

2010-05-14T16:54:00.000-07:00

Last week my parents came over for a vegetarian dinner of eggplant parm and shaved asparagus salad. I really liked the technique I read in Cooks Illustrated because it didn't allow the eggplant to soak up so much oil and left it with a crunchy outer coating. You start by tossing slices of eggplant with salt and placing them over a collander for 30-45 minutes to drain. When a fair amount of liquid has accumulated at the bottom of the bowl remove the eggplant and pat/squeeze completely dry between two layers of paper towels. Then, working in batches, toss the slices in a large plastic bag with seasoned flour, shake off the excess, dip in an eggwash, and then coat each side with homemade bread crumbs seasoned with lots of grated parmiggiano reggiano. Put them on a wire rack over a cookie sheet (to catch loose crumbs) so the bottoms don't get soggy. While doing this, have two sheet pans preheating in a 425 degree oven. Remove the sheet pans when you have finished all the eggplant slices and spread a few tablespoons of vegetable oil evenly on each (olive oil has a lower smoking point and can't hold up to the high cooking temperature). Place the eggplant in one layer on each pan, and bake for about thirty minutes (switch placement of the sheet pans after 10 minutes and flip eggplant slices after 20). This method gave the eggplant a fantastic crunch and made it much healthier. When you take the egglant slices out of the oven you layer them in casserole with tomato sauce, mozzarella and parmesan cheese, starting with your sauce at the bottom (this can be made very simply by simmering crushed San Marzano tomatoes with olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper for about 45 minutes). When you get to the top layer of eggplant, just put a little bit of sauce in the middle of each round so that you still have some of the crunchy coating exposed when you put it back in the oven to melt the cheese. If I hadn't slightly oversalted my sauce it would have been near perfect, but it was still really good.

For the salad, I shaved raw asparagus with a vegetable peeler and tossed it with halved baby tomoatoes, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt and pepper. This was really easy and made for a great 'almost summer' salad. I used purple asparagus since it was available, which emphasized the individual ribbons by adding another hint of color.

Dessert was a tasting platter of Biscoff cookies, leftover carrot cake, apple slices, and peanut M&M's.

Tonight's Food Rating: 8

Canyon Ranch Cafe

2010-05-12T18:52:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago my mom and I spent the night at the Palazzo, attached to which is the mega-spa Canyon Ranch. Since I'd had a leftover gift certificate from the spa with a measly $30 remaining on it (measly because a 50 min. massage is at least $150 with tip) I decided to go downstairs and have a healthy breakfast, while she enjoyed the toasted bagel and cream cheese ($4) she sent me down to a hotel coffee shop to get for her as she got ready. I sat at the counter reading the Vogue magazine I tried to conceal as I waited for the mushroom frittata ($14) I ordered. When it arrived, I was in love with the presentation. I have a weakness for dishes/kitchenware/anything that is manufactured in miniature proportions, so the little cast iron ramekin filled with puffed golden brown eggs that were studded with mushrooms immediately pleased my eyes. Then I took a bite. Not only were the eggs as hard as rocks but they were completely devoid of flavor and the accompanying potatoes were terribly undercooked. Being the high maintenance woman I am (when it comes to food), I sent it back and tried my Vegas luck with the breakfast relleno ($13). This was a poblano pepper stuffed with organic eggs and chorizo topped with low-fat cheese over polenta. This was much better, however, no matter how hard I tried to like it (and I really did try), after a few initial piping hot bites the flavor started to take a turn for the worse and I was reminded of its uber-heathiness. I enjoy healthy food, in fact I love it, but I don't believe in eating something healthy if you don't think it tastes great, or if it is over-priced. So, I consumed my two small cups of decent fresh fruit dressed in lemon juice, asked for the check, and headed back to the room to share my mom's more satisfying bagel.

TIP: The spa isn't worth going to either, unless it is a really slow day. It is huge in order to accommodate herds of people, so if you go on a crowded day you don't get the serene spa experience you are hoping for.

Today's Food Rating:

Frittata: 3

Breakfast Relleno: 5

Restaurant Rating: 5

Would I go back? NOT EVEN WITH A GIFT CARD (nice presentation, though)

Strip Burger

2010-05-10T09:13:00.000-07:00

Strip Burger is the indoor/outdoor burger joint attached to the Fashion Show mall on the Strip side. I went with Brian, Maggie, and the kids (Cole and Gabby) on a lazy Saturday afternoon because we had a $100 gift certificate to use up. Since the prices are reasonable, we had the freedom to over order, so I feel I had enough of a sampling to justify giving a review after one meal.

We started with three milkshakes, which obviously were a hit with the kids. The chocolate and strawberry were both good, but nobody really cared for the vanilla. It isn't too hard to blend ice cream with milk so no points were scored for this indulgent first course. Brian and I each had beer to go with our milkshake (bad timing) and Maggie had a margarita shaken in one mason jar and served in another. The presentation was cute but because the drink tasted worse than a manufactured drink from a machine at Fat Tuesday's, all points were lost.

Disappointingly, the burgers weren't that great either. We had their self-proclaimed famous blue cheese burger ($9.95) and the hickory burger ($9.95). The meat itself was alright, but they hadn't considered using a necessary moisture barrier between the meat and the bun. A juicy burger cooked on a flat top is bound to drip, so the best method for preventing this is to first set the patty on a paper towel after cooking to absorb the excess liquid, and then use some other ingredient (or ingredients) to form a layer between the meat and the bun so as to prevent the bun from getting soggy, such as lettuce, onions, etc. Despite their half-assed attempts and misleading picture on their website (follow link above), the bottom half of the bun still turned into a thin mush. The flavor of the meat and toppings were OK, but not good enough to compensate for the burger's shortcomings, so overall they weren't terribly successful.

We also ordered the "atomic fries" ($4.75) which weren't atomic at all, though it is still hard not to make fried potatoes tasty with the addition of processed nacho cheese and green chilies. I wouldn't order them again, but shamefully we still consumed most of what was in the basket.
The highlight of the meal was another side, fried pickles ($3.95). I had my hesitations but I am always intrigued by interesting fried things so we tried them out. The were crunchy, vinegary, and salty, and were served with a ranch dipping sauce. I could have had these and the chocolate shake and been very pleased with my lunch.

Despite the mediocrity of the meal, the prices were still quite reasonable for a casual Strip lunch and I can see why the place is usually busy. Gourmands on a food tour of Vegas certainly wouldn't eat here, but if you have friends in town on a budget that don't want to venture off the Strip, this is certainly a place a recommend. It's hard to find a sit down restaurant with such a prime location elsewhere that would cost you anything less than twice as much.

Today's Food Ratings:
Blue Cheese Burger: 6
Hickory Burger: 6
Fried Pickles: 8.5
Atomic Fries: 6
Milkshakes: 8.5 (except for the vanilla one)
Margarita: 4.5

Restaurant Rating: 6.5

Would I go back? Maybe if friends were in town and we were at the mall. The salads actually looked pretty good so I might try one of those next time to balance out the fried pickles.

Project Dinner Table: UNCE Orchards

2010-05-05T08:22:00.000-07:00

On April 24th Project Dinner Table hosted its first dinner in the series of seven at UNCE Orchards. Each event features a unique local venue, a guest chef, a guest charity, local artisans, and some form of entertainment. At this inaugural dinner, Chef Roy Ellamar from Sensi at the Bellagio prepared the five course meal for the 125 people sitting at a long family style table running the length of the West side of the orchard. Prior to dinner we were given educational tours of the orchard as we sipped on champagne and interesting drink shooters that included frozen micheladas (a take on a Mexican beverage made with beer, lime, and sometimes bloody mary ingredients) and tomato "champagne." When the dinner bell rang we all gathered around and took our seats to enjoy the lavish and beautifully presented feast crafted from local and sustainable ingredients. Each dish was paired with a different beer from Widmer micro-brewery, which was a fun and tasty change from wine.

We started with the "Chilled Riverbend Farms Green Garlic Soup" topped with a horseradish croquette wrapped in Bar 10 Beef Carpaccio. I loved the presentation and the little croquette was light and flavorful. With the exception of this appetizer, every course was served family style, which not only strengthened the connection between us and our stranger neighbors, but also allowed the food to remain in its ideal state (no waiting for the kitchen staff to plate 125 times) and conserved water by limiting the number of dishes that needed to be done. The first of these was the "Quail Hollow Farms Harvest Salad" with sweet and spicy Niman Ranch Bacon and Kochu Jang vinaigrette (Kochu Jang is a Korean chili paste) that was deliciously hot and unusual. The chunks of bacon provided the fat to cut through the tangy dressing and crunchy soybeans served as Asian croutons. I could have eaten platefuls of this!

Our first main course was "Wild Raised Cypress Island Salmon" with summer corn succotash, sweet and slow pork belly, and smoked Hy-Desert tomato vinaigrette. The freshly shucked corn was sweet and the pork belly incredibly addictive so I had to restrain myself from taking more than my fair share. It was adorned with what I believe were blossoming basil stems, and these garnishes added a whimsical touch. Our second main course was a "Grass Fed Beef Duet" which included Pitch Black Ale braised Bar 10 beef and grape vine grilled Piedmontese beef with a Gilcrease Orchard charred vegetable salad. Both preparations of the beef tasted fantastic and were cooked incredibly well. The rich and intensely flavored sauce on the braised beef was perfectly juxtaposed with the simply prepared, sauce-free Piedmontese beef, so the dish didn't feel too heavy.

Finally, we were presented with three different kinds of dessert; a sugar coated donut with coffee caramel sauce that tasted like the best breakfast treat you've ever had; a chocolate bar that tasted like the best kit kat you've ever had; and a citrus panna cotta-like pot de creme made from local goat milk that tasted like the best orange creamsicle you've ever had. These were irresistible and were served with Colorado River Roasters organic coffee. By this point, I was thoroughly impressed.

The whole experience was really very fun. I loved eating local foods from producers I never knew existed and I loved that everyone around us was excited to be a part of this new movement in Las Vegas. The welcoming environment was casual, yet still refined, so everyone was immediately friendly and felt comfortable talking about all the delicious foods we were consuming. The dishes could easily have been served in any upscale Strip restaurant, yet because they were served family style they were not at all pretentious. This made it taste even better, as there is something magical about dining al fresco while eating from mounds of glorious food, without having to be in a restaurant. I highly suggest attending at least one of these dinners soon, as I'm sure sometime in the near future tickets are going to be hard to come by.

The Un-frugal Foodie: Mastro's Ocean Club

2010-05-04T09:15:00.000-07:00

Sometimes couples don't get along and during a little spat with my hubby a couple of weeks ago I did something I knew would really make him mad, I went to a great restaurant without him. I hit up Mastro's Ocean Club, the UFO shaped eatery located in the new Crystal's mall at City Center. A friend on Yelp had written a very positive review, and others had confirmed, so I thought I would try it out. As I was by myself, it was difficult to be frugal, but I did a fairly good job at sifting through the menu and picking a few options that were completely satisfying and didn't break the bank.

It was tempting to fill up on the bread basket filled with pretzel and rye bread sticks, Parmesan crackers, and teardrop sourdough boules, but I restrained myself and saved room for a half order of the Spicy Mambo Salad ($7.99) and the Sauteed Shrimp appetizer ($18.95, pictured above). Everything at Mastro's is fairly expensive, so these dishes were a great way to test their quality without spending a ton. The Spicy Mambo Salad was essentially a Caesar salad with horseradish in the dressing, and being a huge fan of horseradish, I very much enjoyed it. I always ask for light dressing (or dressing on the side) in less expensive restaurants because more expensive restaurants generally know how to dress a salad properly, and Mastro's was no exception. If anything, the salad bordered on verge of being under-dressed, so if you are a fan of heavy salad dressing, I would ask for extra. The sauteed shrimp were nothing less than wonderful, and hit the spot for my seafood craving. The huge shrimp were cooked just right (see tip) and served over a broth that tasted like a lobster bisque reduction rich with butter. The cheesy garlic bread croutons absorbed this liquid on one end, but remained crunchy at the other, providing some textural contrast. It was fun to dip all the different kinds of bread from the basket in the sauce as well to see how they each paired differently. Overall it was a really successful dish, and because the shrimp were so plump and the sauce so rich, it was certainly enough for my entree. One item that I might have tried as a side had I been with someone, however, was the lobster mashed potatoes - they looked fantastic. I wasn't too disheartened by not getting them, as I still had a terrific meal that was plenty filling.

I wanted to order their signature butter cake dessert, but because it was $14 and I was full by that point, I decided to pass. I'm sure it's enough for two to three people so maybe next time I go and I'm not by myself I'll splurge and get it. Besides, I didn't need the sugar as I walked away with sweet revenge. Ian was really sad he missed the experience and promised never to upset me again (well, at least the first part of that sentence is true!).

Tip: To tell if a shrimp is cooked well before even cutting into it, follow this rule of thumb: If it is shaped like a "u," as in a raw shrimp, it is undercooked. If it is shaped like a "c," that means it is cooked, and if it is curled up to the point of looking like an "o," than sadly, it is overcooked.

Tonight's Food Ratings:
Spicy Mambo Salad: 8
Sauteed Shrimp Appetizer: 9.5

Restaurant Rating: 9

WOULD I GO BACK? YES, FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION

Snaps in The Cannery

2010-05-01T09:26:00.000-07:00

Ian and I had a booth at the Silver State Kennel Club dog show, which took place all the way out on East Flamingo and Boulder Highway. Before setting up we need to grab some grub so we headed into the Cannery after reading positive remarks about their Mexican restaurant. Sadly, Casa Cocina (doesn't that just mean 'house of kitchen'?) is only open for dinner so we went to Snaps, their diner. Well, as you may have guessed the meal was pretty dull, but the highlight was the chicken soup. It was made from scratch, had a lot of flavor, and was well-seasoned. Most suprisingly, the egg noodles (someone in the kitchen knows the right noodles to use for chicken soup) were perfectly cooked without an inkling of sogginess. Had I ordered a bowl rather than a cup and passed on the sorry excuse for parmesan onion rings and cafeteria side salad I would have been quite happy. Just a little FYI in case you find yourself in the East Side Cannery and need something snappy....

Pepe's Tacos

2010-04-26T08:28:00.000-07:00

Pepe's Tacos is a Mexican fast food restaurant with three locations around town. Ian and I happened to go the one on Boulder Highway since we had a booth that weekend at the Silver State Kennel Club dog show way out in Dog Fanciers Park. At one point it received accolades from the Review Journal's 'Best of Las Vegas,' but it must have been awhile ago since no date is attached to the awards seal on their menu. We shared the Super Burrito ($4.75) with asada (chopped grilled steak), but with any of their taco, burrito, and gordita options you can also choose from al pastor (marinated pork cooked like a gyro, I had a sample and it was very good), carnitas (deep fired pork), lengua (tongue), pollo (you can figure that one out), cabeza (beef head), buche (pork), chicharron (pork skin), chile verde (pork in spicy green salsa), or birria (marinated goat meat). Goat is actually leaner than chicken and is supposedly the new other white meat, which I only know because someone once tried to sell me a goat farm. It's difficult to find in America, but it is actually the number one consumed meat in the rest of the world. Anyhow, I probably should have tried it but didn't. I was happy with the steak option, however, and we also ordered a soft taco with chicken ($1.45), which was also very good. I saw someone order a bowl of menudo (tripe) which was served in a broth that looked incredibly rich and delicious, but I am not personally a fan of tripe so I'm not sure if I'd venture to try it. They have a colorful little accoutrement bar with spicy marinated carrots and onions, a few kinds of salsa, and chopped onions tossed with cilantro. These add to the meal tremendously allow you to cater to your own preferences. The prices on everything are really low, and you'd have a hard time leaving without feeling utterly stuffed if you spent ten dollars. Our meal for two was just $6.20, so Pepe's Tacos receives the Frugal Foodie seal of approval, even if they aren't technically part of 'The Best of Las Vegas' anymore.

Today's Food Ratings:
Super Burrito: 7.5
Chicken Taco: 7.5

Restaurant Rating: 4 (quick friendly service and clean, yet still a fast food place)

Would I go back? I WOULD

Project Dinner Table

2010-04-22T17:20:00.000-07:00

This Saturday 'Project Dinner Table' hosts its first dinner!

"The idea is simple enough…re-connect with the dinner table, bring back meaningful conversation and feed ourselves with local goodness. This is what the small collaborative group called the “Kitchen Cabinet” has set out to share with others.

Project Dinner Table is a series of seven dinners where we gather in unique locations. You will dine at one long white tablecloth dinner table that seats at least one hundred and twenty five people. We will be served family style, six courses of seasonal and inspired cuisine prepared by a celebrated Chef utilizing local and regional purveyors. The mission is about local artisans, building community and giving back.

We will gather and it will be an awesome experience. Be part of something cool and join us on the adventure."

Gina Gavan ~ Founder & Spoon Bender, Project Dinner Table

As a member of the kitchen cabinet, I'm really looking forward to the first dinner prepared by chef Roy Ellamar of Sensi at the Bellagio! Tickets are $225 per couple, which isn't super frugal, but considering you'll be helping Junior Achievement and partaking in a novel and much needed food movement in our valley, the price is absolutely justified. Tickets are running out so if you want to be a part of the inaugural feast, you should purchase them soon. Of course, I'll be reviewing dinner #1 on my blog, so come back to find out more about "Project Dinner Table!"

For tickets and more information visit projectdinnertable.com

Chianti Cafe

2010-04-22T07:29:00.000-07:00

Chianti cafe is located across from our favorite specialty pet retailer, Scraps 4 Pets, off Village Center Circle in Summerlin. After delivering an order Ian and I headed there for a quick bite, as we had been there once before and thought it to be alright. It's not a place worth going out of your way for, but if in the area you can get a better than average lunch at a reasonable price. In fact, they publicize their lunch menu as "everything under $10," so you're pretty much forced to be frugal. If you have been there before, I'd like to let you know it has recently changed management. Apparently the restaurant was going downhill before they did, so if you had a bad experience you might want to try it again.

My Greca salad ($7.95) was quite enjoyable, and a touch unique. It was tossed with a creamy garlic dressing rather than a vinaigrette, which was a nice change, and the feta cheese was not of your standard supermarket variety. This cheese was soft and mild, which made me think it was a sheep's milk feta from France or Bulgaria. Feta cheeses from these countries generally have a creamier texture and a lower salt content. If you like the taste of a stronger feta, you probably would prefer feta from Greece, Israel, or America, as these are tangier and saltier (FYI, most feta is made from sheep's milk or goat's milk but many American feta cheeses are made with cow's milk). The cheese on this salad could have used a little more feta flavor for my liking, but was of good quality nonetheless and you do get some brininess from the kalamata olives.

Ian had the pastrami sandwich ($9.95) which was tasty but not delivered as promised. Instead of fries it came with a good version of basil mashed potatoes (I still would have preferred fries) and instead of the more appropriate rye bread listed in the description it was served on a soft hoagie. Additionally, the presentation was pretty sloppy (see photo below) as mustard was EVERYWHERE around the outside. There was too much mustard inside the sandwich as well, and it would have benefited from the use of whole grain or deli mustard rather than yellow. I still liked it as the pastrami itself was tender and delicious, but with a little improvement it would have been great.

Overall, it was a good lunch at a reasonable price, but not a real find by any means. It's just your average neighborhood Italian eatery in a nice area.

Tip: They have happy hour specials on drinks and appetizers from 4-6:30PM Monday through Friday.

Today's Food Ratings:
Greca Salad: 7.5
Pastrami Sandwich: 7

Restaurant Rating: 6.75

Would we go back?: HARD TO SAY. I'M NOT RULING IT OUT BUT I WOULDN'T JUMP AT THE CHANCE

The Un-frugal Foodie: Carnevino

2010-04-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we celebrated our first anniversary at a restaurant we've been wanting to try for quite sometime, Mario Batali's Carnevino in the Palazzo. Before I go into anything else, I must say the steak we had outranked any other in our history of eating steaks, and if you love steaks, I beg you to try it at least once in your lifetime (more about that later). Now we can start from the beginning. I've eaten at Carnevino a couple of times in the lounge area where I've ordered from the less expensive bar menu, and have been thoroughly impressed (they have a better fancy burger than Bradley Ogden, if you ask me). If you want to try their food without paying for the whole experience (meaning, you get a view of the casino from the bar and no tablecloths or amuse bouche) then I would suggest coming here. In the dining room, however, the understated decor is reminiscent of a simple yet sophisticated Italian country villa, and the general aura is relaxed and welcoming. I mostly appreciated the quality and beauty of the chairs, an essential component most restaurateurs overlook in favor of more 'show-stopping' elements, such as a dramatic ceiling or unusual pieces of art on the walls. At Carnevino the primary interests are comfort and food, and I'll take that over a fancy chandelier any day.

Every person on the waitstaff was friendly and knowledgeable and the managers were gracious and accommodating. Because it was our anniversary we each received a complimentary glass of Bastianich's own Brut upon arrival (normally $14 a pop), but more notably, because we are locals, we received 15 % off our entire bill. I believe Batali is the only chef thus far to offer such a discount on a regular basis, and he should be commended for it. After our free champagne, we started shelling out the cash. Ian started with a fancy bottle of Friska beer for $14 that was so incredible and smooth I found it hard to believe it was Italian (let's face it, Italians aren't known for their beer making abilities). Perhaps the Italians can't get motivated enough to brew beer unless they can charge a fortune for it, but in any case, Ian and I agreed it was worth every penny. The second bottle was, too. I had a glass of rose from Bastianch's and Batali's own vineyard for a measly $10 (the least expensive on the menu), and it was quite good, though I preferred the Brut. With my entree I had a glass of a full bodied red called "Aragone" from Tuscany at the recommendation of the manager, who was gracious enough (yet again) to charge me the same price as the rose, rather than the $22 listed, just because he wanted me to have it and I didn't want to spend that much. How refreshingly Italian! The wine was the perfect match for our perfect steak, which I hope you are getting excited to read about.

For an appetizer we ordered the pappardelle with 'porcini trifolati,' or cooked porcini mushrooms($22). Porcini mushrooms are my favorite mushroom. They are generally large and have a sponge-like underside rather than gills, giving them a kind of chewy yet slippery texture. Their flavor is fantastic, though they are still more similar in taste to an ordinary mushroom than everyone's favorite fungus, the truffle. When I saw porcini I got incredibly excited because the only place I have seen fresh porcini mushrooms in the states is at the Ferry Building farmer's market in San Francisco. While living in Italy they could be found everywhere in the Fall, even at road stands, and I frequently ordered this exact dish whenever I could. Needless to say I was truly disappointed when the dish came out full of shitakes and other varieties of mushrooms, with nothing like the porcinis I know and love. The waiter had said a woman farmer picks mushrooms just for the restaurant (of course I had checked to make sure they were offering the real deal before I ordered), which may be true, but if so she's picking the wrong kinds for this dish as it appears on the menu. If the menu had just said 'pappardelle with mushrooms' I would have been completely satisfied, as the pasta was beautifully home-made and tossed in a light yet buttery sauce. Sadly, this misrepresentation showed up more than once on the menu. Our spinach side was supposed to have cherry peppers to give a kick, yet didn't, and our 'spring peas with pancetta' turned out to be snow peas. I only wanted the latter because it is difficult to find fresh peas and time consuming to shuck them, so I thought it would be worth the $9. The snowpeas were at least cooked well, and I won't say these sides were terribly overpriced since it is a fine dining restaurant, but they could have used a little work and more accurate wording.

Now, let's move onto the steak, the showstopper of the meal. By this point you know that I try to be frugal when dining, but as a self-proclaimed foodie I am also willing to pay big money for something novel and ridiculously good. That something today was the 240 day dry-aged steak that cost $100 an inch, which is a more than you pay per inch for a David Yurman bracelet, and even some Cartier bracelets. Being somewhat frugal, we ordered the minimum of one inch in the form of a ribeye. This was definitely enough to share with all the rest of the food, but we don't eat that much at one sitting so a regular grown man would probably want his own. Dry-aging of beef is basically the controlled rotting of the exterior of the meat in a cold environment that results in the formation of a skin, or pellicle, that is then removed prior to cooking. It is an expensive process and therefore results in better, but less frugal, cuts of meat. Most well-marbled high grade meat is dry-aged for some amount of time as it dramatically enhances and concentrates the flavor, but this time can range from a few weeks to about the 240 days given the riserva steak here (we were told the slaughter date for our beef was circa early August, 2009). A second manager prepared it for us tableside by skillfully slicing it on a wooden board and drizzling it with the chef's recommendation of a little olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. We ordered the horseradish black pepper zabaglione as an accompanying sauce, but despite its ethereal qualities, it was utterly unnecessary and almost felt like a sin to use on this particular piece of meat. The inherent flavors of the steak were not powerful enough to stand up to it, and only by eating the steak alone could you truly appreciate the process and time required to create such a masterpiece. The waitstaff described the flavor as earthy, but for me it was as if the aroma you get when you first walk into a fabulous cheese store (such as Murray's in the West Village) found its way into the meat and then ultimately into your mouth in a subtle yet obvious way. Combine that with the intensely flavored juices of the best quality steak you can buy and the result is unlike anything you've had before. As I continued to analyze the complexity of flavors twinkling in my mouth I looked over at Ian and saw teardrops welling in his eyes. When he noticed I was looking at him he said, "I'll cry over meat, I don't give a f*#!." I was hoping he was tearing up over how happy he felt to be married to me, but no, it was the steak he was feeling such a fondness for. I really wasn't hurt at all because I felt the same, and in all fairness, you can't have a steak like that everyday for the rest of your life. A moment of silence in gratitude was well-deserved, and we haven't stopped thinking about it since.

Some other tidbits to mention about the meal came before it even started. The cheese puffs, which were similar to a gourgere, came as an amuse. They were salty and crisp on the outside but light and soft on the inside, and we agreed they were better than the gourgeres served around the corner at Cut (or at least those we received on our last visit there). The bread was accompanied by high quality room temperature butter (we feel this shows the chef cares about your spreading pleasure) as well as whipped lard fom cured pork belly. This was truly unique and though the whipping action resulted in a fibrous appearace, the mouth feel was smooth. We loved it and I for one was pleased to find out that it is lower in saturated fat than butter. I'm still not quite sure how that's possible but that's what the waiter claimed. I'll take it with a grain of salt, so to speak, due to the discrepencies over menu descriptions I mentioned earlier.

As far as Strip restaurants go, I would be more inclined to come back here rather than try some of the other celebrity chef restaurants I haven't yet been to. Usually you don't get what you pay for, but I felt the prices charged here were deserved. To boot, the service and ambiance were top notch without being stuffy. If you are looking for a special occassion place, Carnevino is now on my list of top ten Strip resturants.

Tonight's Food Ratings:
Pappardelle: 9
240 day dry-aged steak: 10 (a Frugal Foodie first!)
Snowpeas: 8
Spinach: 7.5

Restaurant Rating: 9.5

Would we go back? IF WE FOUND $100 ON THE GROUND WE'D BE BACK THERE TONIGHT ORDERING THAT STEAK.

P.S. Batali comes from a long line of meat men, so even though Carnevino is relatively new, the chef's knowledge and experience working with steak is not. I have a picture with Mario Batali on my bio page taken a couple of years ago in New York, in case you haven't yet seen the man behind the magical meat.

Pappardelle

Sliced 240 day dry-aged steak

Butter and Lard

"Spring Peas," AKA snow peas, apparently

Sauteed Spinach

Cheese puff

Friska beer

custom cuttlery - very cool

The Un-frugal Foodie: Julian Serrano

2010-04-20T08:45:00.000-07:00

After visiting the restaurant with friends, my mom thought Ian and I should try Julian Serrano's new restaurant in Aria. My mom's cousin Kerry, her daughter Hannah, and my dad also came, so we got to try a lot of different items from their mostly tapas menu. The restaurant is called Julian Serrano, and the prices certainly reflect the chef's arrogance as much as the name. Everything was great, but if I had to come up with a sixth taste (besides sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami) it would be 'value,' because the value of a dish, or lack thereof, seems to make things taste different to me. When you order here you are hoping for dishes that are so unique and wonderful that the prices are justified, yet when the food comes out of the kitchen it becomes evident your expectations were too high and disappointment is inevitable. Take for example the imported Spanish 'pata negra' ham, described on the menu as 'the most delicious ham in the world' for $35. Obviously this is a ridiculously bold and definitive statement for anyone to make about a single meat, however, hopeful me fell for the marketing and ordered it anyways (thanks for indulging me, dad). While the ham was certainly lovely, and I can't say I specifically remember ever eating another that I found better, it was still a meager portion of ham for $35 and I've had comparable before (the curing of meats throughout Europe is an art form, and I've been lucky enough to experience this first hand).

The combination of small portions and hefty prices is bound to result in continued disappointment as you make your way through the menu. The scallop (pictured above) was done about as well as any other, but $12 for one of them is just too much to ask. The mushroom risotto ($10) was creamy but slightly underdone and the salmon with truffle ($12) was just so so. Definitely pass on the avocado canneloni ($10) which I found to be texturally amiss and void of any redeeming flavor. The almond stuffed dates ($8) were alright, but not only are the dates at Firefly a better value, they taste better as well. These dates had a panko bread coating that was unnecessary and bulky, which took focus away from the dates themselves, and the accompanying spicy sauce didn't pair well with them at all. The cheese plate ($14) included cana de cabra (soft goat milk cheese), aged manchego, and soft sheep milk extremedura, and was served with a fruit compote and soft toasty bread. Each cheese was complex, and it's hard not to love cheese, but I don't know if anyone other than the producers can really take credit for making a fine cheese plate. The piquillo peppers were delightful, with an oozy cheese center that was far more sophisitcated than that of Firefly, but was not worth the $10.

The good news is that I found the least expensive dishes to be some of the best anyway. The open-faced Pan Manchego ($8) was a wonderful Spanish take on a grilled cheese, and the beet salad ($10) was not only an architectural gem but a well-balanced and colorful creation. The steamed mussels ($9) were plump and the broth was something special, though it was frustrating to capture the broth in the shells because of the pot used to serve them. In addition to tasting better than most of the other dishes, this was also the best value on the menu. If you order these items I think you'll be happier with your experience and your bill.

Tip: I noticed from the menu pictures taken by another blogger that prices were $3-5 less in December of last year. If you do want to go here I would suggest you hurry, before they become even more absurd.

Today's Food Ratings:
Since there are so many items and I've told you what I found to be the best, I'm just going to give an average: 7

Restaurant Rating: 7 (The decor is funky but who wants to look out at the Aria check-in desk while you're eating. They should have put the buffet here.)

WOULD I GO BACK? PROBABLY NOT. NOTHING STOOD OUT ENOUGH FOR ME TO WANT TO GO BACK.

'most delicious ham in the world' - their words, not mine
Mushroom Risotto
Beet Salad
Avocado Canneloni
Pan Manchego
Cheese Plate
Steamed Mussels
Stuffed Dates
Stuffed Piquillo Peppers
Truffle Salmon
Almond cake - so, so

Yunnan Garden

2010-04-19T08:44:00.000-07:00

A cuisine that has recently started appearing on the Vegas food scene is Chinese Szechuan, and one of the first restaurants to start serving it was Yunnan Garden. Szechuan cooking is much spicier than food from other regions of China, yet traditionally, Szechuan cooking was not as pungent or as hot as it is today. The use of chilies has really only become part of the cuisine for the last 200 years when the hot pepper was introduced to China from South America. The Szechuan region is very humid, and since peppers have an internal cooling effect, the new ingredient caught on. Though there is a sweating effect from the food, I don't find Szechuan cuisine I've had to be as hot in the mouth as what I've had at Indian or Thai restaurants, so if you prefer not to feel the burn you don't have to avoid this cuisine that sounds spicier than it is.

Today I dined with Azurde, whose new office is conveniently located in the heart of Chinatown. We bypassed the plethora of really frugal $4.99 and $5.99 lunch specials in favor of Yunnan Garden because I had been there before and knew we'd have a good meal. The first dish that came to us was the least impressive and least expensive, the Dan Dan Noodle ($5.95). It consisted of a sweet and overly salty sauce underneath a mound of noodles sprinkled with peanuts. You mix the noodles and sauce to combine, which you can somewhat do in a way that caters to your own preference for heavy or light dressing. The next dish to arrive was #156, sauteed seasonal vegetables with garlic sauce ($7.85, I'm not an expert on Chinese vegetables, but after looking at some pictures online I think what we had was Choy Sum). Though this generic 'seasonal vegetable' dish appears on most Chinese menus, you aren't quite sure what exactly what you'll be getting, and the degree of expertise used to prepare it can vary dramatically. This version was fantastic, with perfectly cooked vegetables, a light sauce that barely coated them, and excellent flavor. It's hard to tell where the flavor is coming from since there is barely any color, but I'm guessing there might be some MSG in there somewhere, judging by how shiny it was (Anthony Bourdain claims food gets glossier the further West you move due to the use of this magical ingredient. MSG produces a sensation on the tongue which can only be described as umami). Other than the fact that children and pregnant women should stay away from it, I'm not averse to the use of MSG. It's a pretty remarkable ingredient that can really add to a dish, however, it should be consumed in moderation and is usually considered culinary cheating. If the vegetables didn't have MSG, the Fish Fillet in Spicy House Special Sauce ($10.25, #57) that was our entree almost certainly did (see how shiny it is above). I was totally willing to risk consuming the controversial ingredient, however, because the dish was great and a fantastic deal; the plate could easily have served four people with hearty appetites. Though seafood is not an integral part of Szechuan food, freshwater fish is, and there is an abundance of it on Yunnan's menu. This fish was flaky and moist, and the sauce was pungent, spicy, and rich with the color of chilies. I loved the use of crunchy fried soy beans on top and the bed of incredibly fresh soy bean sprouts underneath, but it was a bit oily. Despite the oil, I didn't feel stuffed, and despite the possible health risks, I would order it again.

It's a little difficult to get your bearings when ordering at Yunnan Garden as the choices are numerous and the descriptions vague, but everything coming out of the kitchen looked pretty good. Don't count on much help deciphering from the waitstaff, but if you stick to your personal preferences you should be fine. Just remember, don't bring the kids and leave the pregnant ladies at home. (Note: Many restaurants -not just Chinese- use MSG, and it is also present in a lot of processed snack foods because of its addictive qualities. I'm not trying to single out Yunnan Garden as a culprit.)

Tip: The restaurant is difficult to find. The best way I can direct you is to go to the far back side of the one story strip mall between Valley View and Arville on the south side of Spring Mountain. It's part of that same set of buildings.

Today's Food Ratings:
Dan Dan Noodles: 5
Seasonal Vegetables with garlic sauce: 9
Fish Fillet in Spicy House Special Sauce: 8.25

Restaurant Rating: 6

Would I go back? SURE, THEY SERVE ATTRACTIVE FOOD AT ATTRACTIVE PRICES.

Mama Maria's

2010-04-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

If you are willing to drive distances to try out a great hole in the wall, then put Mama Maria's on your list of places to try. A guy making funnel cakes at the Silver State Kennel Club dog show told me about this place a few weeks ago and I'd been wanting to go since. We finally made the trip way out to the Northeast and were rewarded with fantastic food, reasonable prices, and friendly service.

After debating between several items, we decided to order the chile verde, enchiladas verdes, and a chile relleno a la carte. The chile verde ($8.50) consisted of tender pieces of slow cooked pork bathed in a tangy tomatillo sauce, and was served with a side of fluffy rice and refried beans that tasted identical to those we had at a little lobster village in Mexico. The pork (pictured above) was fork tender and I loved the large meaty chunks, but I would have preferred it to have a few more hot chiles. The chile relleno ($5.50 a la carte) was also worth the trip and we even thought it was better than that of Vega's Cafe, which previously held our number one spot for this dish. Rather than a white sauce, this was served with a perfectly executed red tomato-based sauce. The batter was thicker and had a good amount of egg, and there wasn't a superfluous amount of cheese in the center. The combination of these two factors pleased me because it resulted in more protein, less fat, and a more interesting flavor combination. It just felt like a more balanced dish than the other chile rellenos I've had. The enchiladas verdes ($8.99) were the least impressive dish, but still better than enchiladas at most other restaurants. I appreciated how the green sauce for these was different than the chile verde sauce used for the pork, because it showed me that each dish is thought of independently. Ian commented on the skill used to prepare the sauces here as they weren't broken (culinary term meaning the fat and acids haven't separated from one another), and I agreed. Even though the food here could be equated with awesome home cooking, the skill level necessary to prepare each of these is probably underrated in the eyes of the consumer. I really wanted the tres leches cake since that is on my top five list of favorite desserts (the best I've had is at Cuba Cuba in Richmond, VA), but sadly they were out so we settled for the flan ($2.50). This turned out not to be sad at all, because despite the weird presentation (see below, and yes, those are plastic covered toothpicks in the cherries), the flan itself was creamy and the caramelized sugar syrup was toasty and rich. Plus, it was the perfect size. If you don't want to try the desserts here, however, you can go to the shop next door to get homemade ice creams and popsicles, which are also inexpensive.

Though I've only been once, it seems like the food here would be fairly consistent since it's run by a couple from Guadalajara who manage the restaurant and do all the cooking, just like at Vega's cafe. Adding to the charm is the old fashioned diner wheel system for reading restaurant tickets, a refreshing sight in a country whose restaurants are filled with P.O.S (point of sale) systems. Plus, it's always great to support a Mom and Pop kind of place!

Tip: They have a happy hour from 2PM to 5PM with two for one drinks and half price select appetizers and entrees.

Today's Food Ratings:
Chile verde: 8.75
Chille relleno: 9
Enchiladas verdes: 8

Restaurant Rating: 6

WOULD WE GO BACK? DESPITE THE DRIVE, A DEFINITE YES

Chille Relleno

Enchiladas Verdes

Flan

Tiny Food Window

Shuseki update

2010-04-14T21:14:00.000-07:00

Ian and I went back to Shuseki yesterday and though the experience was still good, and certainly frugal, I feel the need to apologize for my premature rave review of the spicy pork miso ramen. The broth just wasn't as flavorful this time, and the sesame seeds had all but disappeared. I wouldn't discourage anyone from ordering it, as it still possessed some of the same wonderful qualities, however, I feel as if I was too favorable initially. There was definitely a different chef in the kitchen. I guess that is why a critic should test a restaurant, and the same dish at a restaurant, more than once before reviewing. Local chef Jet Tila described this in a way I love. In his Las Vegas Weekly food blog he writes "Eating at any interesting restaurant is like a new relationship, not a one-night stand. You have to go back at least two or three times to really start to get it." I suppose the last time the restaurant was on it's best behavior and put a little more effort into making a good first impression. I normally report after at least a couple of experiences, but sometimes I get so excited about an experience my patience is tried. For that, I apologize. I can't promise I won't continue to do so, but I do promise to be a bit more careful in the future.
Besides the ramen, we did try a unique dish that my father recommended after his visit, the Chikuwa Garlic, or garlic squid (pictured above). This was a version of calamari that was ultra tender and submerged in seasoned panko crumbs. Some bites were too salty due to the abundance of crumbs, yet the overall texture was soft without being mushy, and I'd never had anything quite like it. At $4.99 it's definitely worth a try, just don't hold me responsible if it doesn't call you ever again.

Ambrosia Cafe

2010-04-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

Ambrosia Cafe is a decent and reasonable Mediterranean restaurant in the Southwest, just South of the 215 on Jones. I was on the way to go drop off food for Penelope and pay her a visit in her new home when I saw this fairly new restaurant and decided to stop in. I'm a little wary of a place that serves Philly cheese steaks, ribs, and falafel, and even more wary when the latter is spelled 'felafel' on their menu, but I was hungry and they had some reasonable lunch specials. Considering my first impression, I was actually quite pleased with my lunch. I ordered the 'felafel' sandwich plate ($6.99) which came with a good version of tabbouleh and an undressed salad. I realized after eating half the sandwich that I should put that little salad inside, since the weird (or to be kind, interesting) combination of falafel, hummus, pickle, and peperoncini needed a little color and a touch more crunch. The falafel itself was beautifully browned and flavorful, but could have used a bit more kick. The hummus was fine, yet fairly standard, and the tabbouleh salad was properly done with lots of lemon juice. After the hummus and tabbouleh at Sunnin in Los Angeles, however, I am finding it difficult not to draw comparisons and become slightly disappointed in these two items elsewhere. The portion of lentil soup ($3.99) was huge, but I'm not sure it is supposed to be, judging by the way the waitress had to move at the pace of a snail to avoid spilling any of it over onto the plate. I appreciated her care, but unfortunately by the time it got to me it wasn't super hot anymore. It had a pleasant hint of curry that I enjoyed, but needed salt and a probably a more flavorful stock. It definitely improved once I doctored the leftovers back home later that day. I wasn't terribly impressed with my lunch, yet it was better than I'd expected so I was content. This isn't a place you would go out of your way for, but if I lived in the neighborhood I wouldn't mind its presence and would most likely frequent it on occasion (they also deliver).

Today's Food Ratings:
'Felafel' Sandwich plate: 6.5
Lentil Soup: 5.5 (6.5 after doctoring)

Restaurant Rating: 5

Would I go back? NOT LIKELY ANYTIME SOON

Nozomi

2010-04-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Nozomi is a hole in the wall Japanese restaurant and sushi bar located in the same shopping center as the Omelet House on Charleston just East of Rancho. I have been going to this spot for as long as I can remember, and it may have even been the first place I ever had sushi. It also may have been one of the first sushi restaurants in Las Vegas, however, back then it was run by sushi chef Roy and was called Kifune. The interior hasn't changed much in 22 years, so it's a comforting place to eat for me. In my visits to Nozomi I have found the sushi to generally be very good, sometimes excellent, and sometimes not so good. One time Ian and I went there and they had the sushi bar cooler set at too low a temperature so the fish began to freeze, which caused the cell walls to break and destroyed the texture. The horror! Anyhow, that only happened once and every other time I've been pretty happy with my overall experience.

After sampling many different items on the menu I have settled on a favorite, and that is the Chuckster Salad, pictured above ($14). This salad is unique from anything I've had elsewhere, and because a lot of care has gone into the selection of the individual components the end result is a success. The first time I ordered it I thought, "Wow, what a clever way to use the extra pieces of fish you can't use for sushi or sashimi," but after watching them prepare it I saw that this was not an economical way to use leftovers, but rather a special dish in and of itself. The salad starts with chunks of freshly cut fish, including yellowtail, salmon, and tuna. I'll agree that these are your garden variety species that you can get anywhere, but they are certainly fresh here and their growing popularity makes this salad pallet pleasing to even the novice sushi eater. To these hearty bite-sized pieces the chef adds shredded daikon radish, sweet pickled cucumbers, and tempura "crunchies," all of which add perfect counter textures to the fish. That's pretty much all there is to it, with the exception of a delicious creamy dressing and garnish of daikon radish sprouts. If you are looking for a low carb alternative to your ordinary rolls, this is the perfect choice.

On this visit, we also tried something new that we will definitely order again, the Shrimp Wraps ($9). These reminded me of the Japanese version of Koong Sarong at Lotus of Siam. Instead of bacon, however, these have a filling of cream cheese. They are also wrapped in wonton wrappers rather than egg roll wrappers, and are served with a sweet hot wasabi sauce rather than sweet chili sauce. The dish is executed well and even though it is simple, the flavors go together wonderfully. Between the Chuckster Salad and the Shrimp Wraps we were satiated and pleased. Even more pleasing was that both items totaled $23, not bad for a Frugal Foodie dinner. I won't make the claim that Nozomi is the best sushi restaurant in town, but it is a charming place and these dishes are both worth going for.

Tonight's Food Ratings:
Chuckster Salad: 9
Shrimp Wraps: 8

Restaurant Rating: 6.75

Would I go back? PROXIMITY + PRICE + CHUCKSTER = DEFINITELY

Firefly

2010-04-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

Though Firefly has been around for awhile and many people have been at some point or another, I'd still like to write a review for those who aren't familiar with it. Firefly is a Spanish tapas restaurant that has just opened a second location in the Plaza Hotel at the West end of Fremont Street. The food here is reasonably priced, fairly consistent, always tasty, and it is the perfect spot for a light bite with a neon view. I wish there were more tapas restaurants in town, as I believe they are the wave of the future in dining. People don't want heavy, expensive entrees anymore. The blossoming pallets of the American foodie public demand a sampling of a chef's talents. People are beginning to realize that the first three bites of any dish are the most rewarding and not much is needed beyond them. After the first three you stop analyzing flavors, interest in the dish begins to fade, and taste buds begin to get bored. This is the reason why tasting menus are so popular. The problem with tasting menus, however, is that they are too expensive, don't allow for personal preferences, and generally contain more courses than are comfortable to eat. In contrast, a tapas menu allows people to pick their poison, and their personal ration of that poison, so they walk away satisfied and ready to get on with the rest of their evening. In this respect, Firefly is on the right track.

Where they are on the wrong track is with the service. I have never had a good experience with servers here as it always takes forever to place an order, or to grab your waiter anytime thereafter. It is just poorly managed. On this particular night my brother and I sat at the bar and it took us a good ten minutes to order a drink, even though the bartender was right there. He decided it would be best to finish up the drink order for a party of ten before making our two little drinks, one of which was a bottle of beer. Isn't that the first rule of any service industry? Prioritize the people in front of you before those out of sight, especially when their requests are quick. After he was done chitchatting with the servers standing around waiting for him to finish drinks rather than tending to their tables, he eventually got around to us. He didn't even look at us while taking our food order but just stood in front of the computer as we shouted it to him and he entered it in. I wish this weren't indicative of the regular service at Firefly but that's pretty much how it's been for me every time.

Once you do grab your waiter's attention, the food generally comes out quickly and you generally get what you ordered. Plus, it's really tasty so you begin to forget about the people who brought it to you. The first thing we had were the bacon-wrapped, almond stuffed dates ($4) in red wine reduction with bleu cheese crumbles, which I have to get every time I come. They are sweet, savory, crunchy, and squishy, which makes for a happy mouth (even my brother who is allergic to nuts orders them and simply removes the almond). I especially like that they are not too large to consume in a single bite. The dates were followed by the stuffed peppers, mac n' cheese, steak skewers, and roasted eggplant cannoli. The peppers ($7.50) were OK, but the more satisfying vegetarian option was the eggplant ($5), not only because of price but because the cheese inside was creamy and herbaceous rather than somewhat tough and bland. They come with the same yummy tomato sauce so you won't miss anything with the eggplant. The steak skewers ($7.50) are a good deal, and the accompanying sauces are good, but the presentation needs some work. Finally, you can't go wrong with the mac n' cheese ($8). It's one of the more expensive tapas options but the portion is fairly large and it's baked to an appetizing golden brown. The cheese can be a little gritty on occasion but it's still hard to go wrong with cheese and pasta. Another favorite we didn't order tonight are the sliders with fried onions and spicy aoli. They are filling but delicious!

All in all, Firefly is a perfectly frugal place to get good versions of your favorite foods. Nothing will blow your mind but you will leave content in the fact that you haven't spent a fortune and your belly doesn't feel as stuffed as the dates. Oh, and well drinks are only $5, which actually is pretty mind blowing come to think of it.

Tonight's Food Ratings:
Stuffed Dates: 8.5
Stuffed Peppers: 6
Steak skewers: 7
Mac n' Cheese: 7.5
Roasted Eggplant Cannoli: 7.5

Restaurant Rating: 7

Would I go back? YES, WE NEED MORE RESTAURANTS LIKE THIS

Tip: If taking a date request a table that overlooks Fremont Street for a truly unique experience.

Mac n' Cheese
Roasted Eggplant Cannoli
Steak Skewers
Stuffed Peppers

The Un-Frugal Foodie: Postrio

2010-04-08T23:25:00.000-07:00

Last week Ian and I went with my dad to Postrio, a Wolfgang Puck restaurant in the Venetian. The entire decor and the menu have both recently been remodeled, changing the vibe to an upscale bar and sophisticated grill. This has made a world of difference (I was never impressed with the restaurant prior to this change)! This was our second time coming back, and while everything is very good, a few items particularly stood out.

The Korobuta pork schnitzel with Austrian potatoes and whole grain mustard sauce that my dad ordered was fantastic (Ian and I had it last time), and is one of Puck's personal comfort foods so worth trying. The pork is pounded thinly and lightly pan fried, and rests on a bed of lemon and herb dressed fingerlings. It is also served with a cooling cucumber yogurt sauce and mini sald of teardrop tomatoes. There is nothing wrong with this dish at all, and I can't imagine it being any better in Puck's home country. There was nothing wrong with Ian's dish either, which unfortunately was only a special for the evening. This was a large portion of two perfectly roasted quail served on a bed of fluffy gnocchi and freshly shucked spring peas, bathed in a rich and intensely flavored reduction. This should become a permanet fixture on the menu because it really was amazing. My entree of steamed black mussels with white wine, garlic, grilled sourdough lavishly spread with bernaise was very good, but somewhat disappointing in comparison to the version at his restaurant, Spago, in Beverly Hills. At Spago the mussels were petite and sweet, making it unique from other versions of steamed mussels, and the bernaise was prepared with a bit more skill. It's hard for me to evaluate the mussels here without thinking of the mussels there, so while the comparison was fun, I'd order something else next time.

The appetizers we had were good but I wasn't nearly as impressed with those as I was with the entrees. We had the mesquite grilled steak skewers with creamy celery salad and house made steak sauce, and the charcuterie plate with grilled bread, artisan cheese, and marinated olives. The former was good but didn't taste terribly original (the little salad was the best part) and the latter was missing a sweet element and could have used some work on the presentation. I understood from a business perspective that they were trying to make it look like a huge portion, but I prefer something that looks a little less like a deli tray when I order charcuterie.

I forgot to write down the prices, and they aren't showing up online (I hate when restaurants hide this), but I can assure you Postrio is pricey. My advice would be to skip on the apps (or at least those that we got), get an entree, and limit your drinks if you want to experience the restaurant without breaking the bank. Oh, and eat lots of bread - it's fantastic.

Tonight's Food Ratings:
Korobuta Pork Schnitzel: 9.5
Quail Special: 9.5
Mussels: 8
Charcuterie: 7
Steak Skewers: 7

Restaurant Rating: 8.5

Tip: Make a reservation and request a table on the "patio" for good people watching and a great view of the faux St. Mark's Square.
Quail special
Charcuterie platter
Mussels
How cute is this?!

Los Tacos

2010-04-07T08:45:00.000-07:00

Los Tacos is a popular Mexican fast food restaurant on East Charleston between Maryland Pkwy and Eastern. I was first told about it by my sister-in-law Maggie and have been eating there ever since because it is good, cheap, and refreshing in that there are actually some healthy options. They even have freshly shucked oysters, which simultaneously grossed me out and intrigued me on my first visit. Judging by how crowded the place was, I could tell they had the turnover necessary to serve fresh seafood, but I chose shrimp instead (on a later visit I had the oysters, which were certainly fresh but of too large a variety for me to enjoy without copious amounts of hot sauce).

Although I always eat some of what Ian gets each time we go, I stick with what I had that first time, the tostada di camaron (shrimp tostada, $4.24), because it is as delicious as it is light. It consists of a freshly fried corn tortilla (that's the tostada) topped with fresh shrimp ceviche and their finely chopped house pico (I add sliced avocado for an additional $0.85 because it is always perfectly ripe and adds a creamy component). It is served with a juicy lime that I squeeze until only the pulp remains, and I like to top it all off with a few dashes of hot sauce to give it a kick. It is satisfying and unchanging, like everything else on the menu, but unique because it's hard to believe you're in a fast food place.

The burritos are probably the best thing you can get if you want something more filling, which you can have stuffed with either pork (al pastor), steak (asada), shredded chicken (pollo), or beef head (cabeza). The cabeza is actually really flavorful but it is also rich and somewhat of an acquired taste. We tried it once and enjoyed it but have not ordered it since. This time Ian opted for two chicken soft tacos ($3/each), which were also great but messy. Their chicken is incredibly tender and they go through the extra step of grilling the inner corn tortilla of each taco before stuffing it which gives it a nice toasty flavor and melts the cheese (traditional tacos come with two corn tortillas because the idea is that you pick up the inner tortilla and eat it first, allowing the filling that escapes from it to fall onto the second tortilla so you can have another taco). You can opt to add extras such as sour cream (crema), salsa, cheese, but each one will cost you $0.45. You can also add avocado ($0.85) or rice and beans ($2). They ask you if you want everything when you order ($1.50), but if you agree know that this just includes cheese, avocado, and sour cream. These little extras can add up and make your meal not quite so frugal, and it's a little frustrating they charge $0.75 for a cup of water, but you'll still be able to enjoy a great meal for a good price.

Today's Food Rating:
Shrimp Tostada: 8.5
Chicken Tacos: 7.5 (I like the burritos better)

Would I go back? SI SENOR

Bar + Bistro

2010-04-05T21:24:00.000-07:00

Thursday night was opening night for Bar + Bistro, an Italian restaurant that took the the place of Paymon's in the Arts Factory building. I heard about the opening from my yoga teacher (whose studio is also located there) but I didn't know anything except that it opened the next night and I wanted to try it right away. Since I didn't have the name of the restaurant and therefore couldn't call, we didn't realize that the entire first weekend was by invitation only since all food was being comped. I was blown away by their hospitality as they found us a table anyway and invited us to come in and eat for free! Maybe it's because I speak Italian, or because Ian told them about my food blog, but either way we were stoked and grateful. We didn't want to be too greedy since they had been so generous, so we ordered a couple of salads and shared an entree (ok, so we did order the most expensive salad and the most expensive entree).

Although there is definitely still room for improvement, I thought they did a fantastic job for their very first night. The service was friendly and attentive, which was especially amazing considering the place was packed, and the food came out in a reasonable amount of time. The Venetian Salad ($10) and Lobster Salad ($16) were good, but extremely similar to one another. They were heavy on the bitter leaves for my taste (loads of radicchio and Belgian endive) but they were well dressed and everything was fresh. Unfortunately I thought the price tags normally attached to the these salads were a little hefty considering they aren't on the strip, and because parts of the crustacean were tough. Our entree was the seafood risotto paella (redundant wording or interesting approach?), which had lots of fresh fish, calamari, shrimp and not so fresh mussels (unfortunately the mussels were New Zealand green lip mussels which are previously frozen). The risotto itself was cooked to the appropriate consistency and creamy in texture, and the flavor of saffron came through adequately. The portion ($26) was certainly enough for sharing, but of course that depends on your appetite.

We did pay for alcohol, which was no big deal considering you can get a great glass of wine for $7, just $1 more than the beer (I had the house pinot grigio and it was wonderful). It is unusual that imported and domestic beers are the same price and that cocktails are just a few dollars more, and even though I don't think this would bother the majority of people, the pricing structure is off.

It's really difficult to rate a place on it's first night, but I give them a lot of credit for how they performed. Hospitality, which comes naturally to the Italians, was definitely something they excelled at, and the food was very good, needing only minor tweaking. The one hindrance I forsee affecting their future is food pricing. I just don't think new restaurants can charge this much anymore, because people aren't willing to risk the money on something they aren't sure will be good. I'm also concerned about their having dinner hours, since no restaurant in this location has had great luck outside of serving lunch (lunch service starts May 1st and they are currently open for regular dinner service). I think there is potential, however, and I look forward to coming back and trying out some other items on the menu. I will keep you posted on my future outings.

I have decided not to rate the dishes this time since I don't think it's fair to attach a number to each dish on their first night, but I will give them a 10 for hospitality, no holds barred.

India Masala

2010-04-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago Ian and I went to a festival celebrating Indian culture and food at the county building. While there, we sampled food from several Indian restaurants around town, and were most pleased with what we had at the booth of India Masala, which is permanently located in the Riviera. For the first time we had dosa, a lentil and rice pancake/crepe that is a typical dish of Southern India (the last picture shows this first experience). We happened to pick up a postcard offering 25% off our check so we decided to head to the Riviera to see what else was being offered.

It's no surprise that the Riviera is on its last legs, and ranks up there with Circus Circus as being the most rundown hotel on the strip. We certainly worked up an appetite as we made the looooong walk from the parking garage to the food court (next time I'd valet in the front of the casino). No, we weren't expecting Indian Masala to be a semi-fast food restaurant, but as it turns out, it was. The prices aren't really justified considering this, but the food is really good and it was packed with more Indians and convention attendees than any other tenant's space when we were there (see below), so we figured it was safe to stay. We had to wait about in line for five minutes and then another ten minutes or so for our food, which was a bit frustrating, but I felt rewarded when I got my dosa. Today I opted for one stuffed with spinach, the palak dosa ($7.99), but you can also choose from a filling of chickpeas (chole), potatoes (masala), or no filling at all (plain). It is served with what I learned to be the traditional accompaniments, sambar (a vegetable soup) and coconut chutney (imagine a thick and textured almond milk). There is also a third side that I can best describe as a pureed and spiced red bell pepper spread. The dosa is flavorful enough on its own, but the sauces add another dimension and were very much enjoyed. The dosa itself is delicate, with a browned, crisp exterior and a soft, lightly chewy interior. You can get a better idea of the textural difference when you order it plain, but the filling makes it a meal. I must say it's a dish that's growing on me, and I'd bear the pain of walking through that casino to enjoy another one day. Ian was less thrilled with his dish, but it seems to me that the emphasis here is on lesser known Southern Indian cuisine so chicken vindaloo ($11.99) might not have been the best option. This vindaloo was flavorful but not nearly hot enough for Ian who asked them to make it as spicy as possible. The larger problem was the color of the sauce, which was reminiscent of an artificially colored sweet and sour. The color should have been deeper and darker had it been a result of the spices. Things that don't look natural probably aren't, so we'll just say this color most likely wasn't derived from where it should have been.

If you are interested in trying a new kind of Indian dish that isn't available everywhere, I would definitely recommend coming here for the dosa (did I mention it's gluten-free and Vegan? Not a huge deal to me but it is becoming so for a lot of people). I'd be willing to try a few other things but I think what I had was the most reasonably priced for you what you get, and certainly the most unique.

Today's dish ratings:
Dosa: 8.5
Chicken Vindaloo: 6.5

Restaurant Rating: 3 (you can't really call it a restaurant so I'm not sure if this is fair or not)

Tip: beers at La Salsa across the food court are only $2, making the overall meal a better value.
Electric Chicken Vindaloo
Line outside
Dosa interior
Sambar
Dosa from Indian festival

Penang

2010-03-31T10:06:00.000-07:00

Last week my dad and I went to get a snack at Penang, the Malaysian restaurant located in the same shopping center as Shuseki and Hue Thai. Malaysian cuisine is the result of the convergence of many cultures, including those of China, India, Eurasia, and Nyonya, as well as the indigenous people of Borneo. The country's unique historical heritage has thus resulted in producing an exotic cuisine heavily laden with aromatic herbs, roots, and spices.

I had eaten at Penang a couple of times prior to this visit and everything was pretty good. I most enjoyed the roti canai ($3.50) and kang kung ($9.95) so that is what we ordered, in addition to chicken and beef satay skewers ($6.95). The roti canai (pictured above) is a fry bread served with a beef and potato curry dipping sauce. I love the presentation of what is essentially a pancake formed into a pillow, because as you make your first tear, a burst of steam emerges from within and fills your nostrils with fragrant goodness. The curry dipping sauce is flavored well from the beef and myriad of spices, which combine to give it a sweet (but not sugary) taste. The value is terrific to boot. To balance out the fried roti canai, a vegetable is recommended. I love the kang kung, an Asian green that looks like like long strands of tubular baby spinach. Here you can order it with spicy shrimp paste or dried shrimp, but I love it simply sauteed with garlic. It's a nice change from the standard vegetables on most American menus. I know it seems kind of pricey for a vegetable, but you do get a large portion and sadly eating healthily often costs more. My recommendation would be to go during lunch hours, Monday through Friday, to take advantage of their specials, which include kang kung for half the price as well as numerous other items from their lengthy menu. The satay here aren't as good as they should be, considering the fact they are a Malaysian specialty and recommended dish at Penang. They are charred nicely and have a good, caramelized flavor, but the meats aren't of great quality. The chicken satays are made from thigh meat (a tender yet fatty cut) that was somewhat dried out from the cooking in this case,, and the beef was a bit tough, so I don't think I'll be ordering this again. I will say the peanut sauce was tasty, but a touch on the oily side.

If you haven't tried Malaysian food this is a great place to have your first experience, so grab hold of their neon orange chopsticks and enjoy!

Today's dish ratings:
Roti Canai: 9
Kang Kung: 8
Satay: 6.5

Restaurant Rating: 6.5

Would I go back? YES, BUT I'LL COME BACK FOR THE LUNCH SPECIALS.