Vegas Brunch Fav: MESA GRILL

mesa grill
Bobby Flay’s  MESA GRILL  Las Vegas

shrimp corn tamale, mesa grill

When the JetBlue flight touches down at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas, many people get that familiar tingly feeling. Excitement, adrenaline, gonna win big this time! But our thrill comes not only from fantasizing about hitting the $10 million MegaBucks jackpot (although that’s part of it). Our unique-to-Vegas sensation is mainly about hitting the Culinary Jackpot.

We agonize over our restaurant reservations well in advance of the trip, painstakingly coordinating visits to hot new Chefs, old favorite Chefs with new venues, various cuisines and locations. This time, my brother Don imposed a requirement – we could not eat anywhere we had previously eaten. Except, of course, Mon Ami Gabi @ Paris, because it’s our favorite spot for al fresco breakfast and the bar is our afternoon hangout for drinking vin gris and enjoying the Bellagio Fountains.

Another trip to Vegas, another trip to culinary heaven. Thanks to Don’s edict, this recent journey introduced us to Andre’s @ Monte Carlo, the bar at Michel Richard’s new Central @ Caesar’s, Bradley Ogden @ Caesar’s, Sirio @ Aria.

And brunch at Bobby Flay’s MESA GRILL @ Caesar’s:

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Gastronomic Wonderland!


Come join me, my friends, in a Gastronomic Wonderland!


Hello my fellow foodies, bons vivants, gastronomes, gourmets, connoisseurs of the finest food and wine! To celebrate the end of a tasty 2010 and to welcome in a delicious 2011, come travel with us to Las Vegas this last weekend of the year and experience some of world’s best food created by renowned chefs, served in breathtaking ambiance with superlative service. Vegas, it’s a food lovers dream-come-true, a gastronomic wonderland!

An Invitation to Taste With The Eyes:

Twist – Pierre Gagnier
Comme Ca – David Myers
Jaleo – José  Andrés
Osteria del Circo – Egidiana & Sirio Maccioni
Mon Ami Gabi – Gabino Sotelino

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Las Vegas Libations!


KIWI-TINI @ tommy bahama’s
Town Square Las Vegas

Is it possible to visit Las Vegas and not indulge in food and drink? As foodies, we LOVE Vegas. This past weekend we dined at the BEST of the BEST – Alain Ducasse, Pierre Gagnier, and Joel Robuchon among others. We were obviously leaning French this trip!  Is there a city where one can find so many of the world’s top chefs? It’s Vegas, baby!

In addition to dining at the crème de la crème, how about some just plain ol’ fun? On the patio at Tommy Bahama’s…in the open air bar at Mon Ami Gabi with views of the strip…relaxing on the couches at Morels with their unmatched cheese bar…high atop the strip at Mix with views from the 64th floor…and at Red Square where we contemplated purchasing the requisite bottle of vodka, to don fur coats and enjoy the beverage in the vodka vault at minus 5 degrees. Alas, as we had dinner reservations later that night at Joel Robuchon at 9 PM, so we sipped a glass of Veuve instead. Maybe next time?

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tapas & sherry @ julian serrano


stuffed piquillo peppers/ goat cheese/ mushrooms

Las Vegas

On this night we sat at the bar at Julian Serrano in the Aria Resort & Casino. Color, food, people, energy! Serrano wanted his eponymous restaurant to offer flexibility and comfort to all guests; from a quick bite to a long meal, small bites to larger portions, and what he calls economics – spend a little or spend a lot, he’s serving Spanish foods of his homeland with an International flair…

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David Burke Las Vegas

Chicken Club
grilled chicken paillard, smoked bacon, lemon aioli

Pretzel Crusted Crab Cake
mango, poppy seed honey

Classic “Caesar” Salad
lemon, anchovy, garlic, French toast croutons, grilled shrimp

Happy to share!

We fell in love with David Burke in New Jersey. So for my mother’s Las Vegas 75th Birthday Weekend we were excited to take her to lunch at his restaurant in The Venetian. Again, we were totally impressed with the food, the service, and the ambiance.
I’m excited about the new camera I bought last month, a Canon EOS Rebel XS. I think there is a distinct difference between these photos and the ones I took at Fromagerie. Working with this camera is turning out to be a terrific learning experience. The only drawback is that it is quite cumbersome to lug around Vegas, especially when trying to maneuver my big purse at the blackjack tables! But that didn’t stop me from bringing it to restaurants Guy Savoy and Alex. So please stay tuned for more fabulous Vegas food!