A Quick and Tasty Visit to Vegas

What better place to stop for your anniversary? No question. Vegas, baby!  Due to our limited available time in Las Vegas we decided to try the Oasis Las Vegas RV Resort instead of the Motorcoach Resort where we normally stay. The Oasis has very long pull-thru sites so dropping our car trailer is not necessary. We were pleased with the resort.

We arrived, hooked up and hopped in the car for lunch at Olives, Todd English’s Bellagio Restaurant where we’ve eaten many times before. We are delighted to say that it’s as tasty as ever. A glass of wine and their bread with olives and tapenade came out first.

Then we enjoyed their crispy calamari with peppers, srirachi aioli and marinara and a flatbread of the day (fresh mozzarella, ripe red and yellow tomatoes and basil):

Delicious.

For dinner on our 25th anniversary (!) we choose Sage in the new Aria, Shawn McClain’s contemporary American yet global influenced showcase restaurant emphasizing seasonal and sustainable ingredients. Too sophisticated and too dark for photos but it was an amazing meal. A very dry martini started the night off right and we choose the Chef’s Special Multi Course Tasting Menu with wine pairings. First was the amuse bouche then the yellowtail crudo with trumpet mushroom, truffle and pine nuts. The next course was their famous foie gras custard brulee with salted brioche (magnificent) followed by the maine lobster gnocchi with mascarpone and spinach. Then came the alaskan halibut with white asparagus and peas followed by my personal favorite, his 48 hour beef belly which just melted in your mouth. Dessert and another glass of wine finished the meal. All the wine pairings were inspired. A wonderful evening.

A burger in paradise? Naturally. The next day for lunch we headed to Hubert Keller’s acclaimed Burger Bar which is located in the Mandalay Place mall between the Mandalay Bay and the Luxor. The restaurant is all dark wood and was jammed for lunch. You can make up your own burger here with beef, buffalo, chicken and veggie options along with choice of bun and lots of toppings that range from cheeses and vegetables to fried egg, fois gras, lobster and truffles. We had the Black Jack Burger with angus beef, jack cheese and tapenade and Hubert’s favorite burger which is buffalo with caramelized onions, spinach and blue cheese on a ciabatta roll:

We walked the Strip, we shopped, we people watched and soon we were hungry again. For dinner it was Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich’s Enoteca Otto in the Venetian’s Piazza. It’s a happening scene in this area of the Grand Canal Shoppes with street performers and music. Such a fun atmosphere marries well with their huge wine list and house made salumi, vegetables and salads for antipasti before a rich pasta dinner. We picked an italian red wine, a combo plate of cured meats and several vegetable sides with the eggplant caponata being the standout.

Couldn’t pass on the pasta. We had house sausage and broccoli rabe gemelli and pork belly rigatoni which was out of this world good:

Then we finished with the best dessert ever – dark chocolate copette – chocolate cake, gelato, meringue:

Too soon we had to leave Las Vegas behind but the memories will linger until we can return!