This mouthwatering TruffledMushroom Pappardelle is a delightful pasta dish that features wide, flat, fresh pappardelle noodles paired with a savory-creamy-herby mushroom sauce where a drizzle of white truffle oil enhances the earthy mushroom flavors.
We are fortunate that our local Las Vegas Italian restaurant sells fresh house-made pasta to go, including pappardelle, fettuccine, spaghetti alla chitarra, and gnocchi. I am more than happy to promote Prosecco in Las Vegas for their imported cheeses including Burrata di Puglia and excellent fresh pasta.
Burrata di Puglia with Celery Root,
Black Truffle, and Hazelnuts
A most memorable meal high atop the Las Vegas skyline inspired me to re-create this amazing burrata salad. We all loved how the earthy raw celery root, the toasty crunchy hazelnuts, and baby kale, chard and spinach dressed with a captivating black truffle vinaigrette paired with the luscious ball of burrata. It was unique and brilliant.
The breathtaking Vetri Cucina is located on the 56th floor of the Palms Casino Resort with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer panoramic views of the Las Vegas Strip.
Chef Marc Vetri hails from Philadelphia but has spent a good deal of time immersed in the soulful cooking of Northern Italy. He is known for his authentic, handcrafted, innovative style of Italian cuisine.
House Salumi Board – 24 mo Prosciutto di Parma & House Made Salumi with Seasonal Accompaniments
Burrata di Puglia with Celery Root, Black Truffle, and Hazelnuts
Spinach Gnocchi with Brown Butter and Ricotta Salata
Grilled Swordfish with White Beans, Dandelion Greens, and Citrus Butter
Grilled Wagyu Bavette with Bagna Cauda and Crispy Sunchokes
Lime Cheesecake with Gingersnap Pecan Crust and Toasted Meringue
A fantastic seasonal Strawberry Watermelon Salad paired so well with our Memorial Day BBQ of grilled Tri-Tip au Jus and Corn on the Cob, it would be excellent on Flag Day or the 4th of July or really any day for a cookout this summer! ☀️
This salad was inspired by one of the dishes we enjoyed last month at Primal Steakhouse Las Vegas. It was quite a celebration at Primal where they set things on fire and employ lots of smoke in their cocktails and dishes. 🔥
Their Watermelon Salad was surpringly fresh and delightful, a perfect counterbalance to all the rich smoky foods including bone marrow shanks, bacony seared scallops, four cheese lobster mac, smoked NY steak, and more.
The service was super-fun and super-friendly. The themed atmosphere was charmingly mysterious and medieval. Guests are fully encouraged to unsheathe and pose with the assorment of swords from a coat of arms hanging on the wall, as well as take pics wearing helmets fashioned from the middle ages!
Themed restaurants unfortunately can vary widely in the quality of their food. This one impressed us by offering delicious upscale food and entertaining service, as well as a unique and memorable dining experience.
And while our dessert crème brûlée was set ablaze, the server handed me a heavy 4-foot-sword to heave into the air while all the folks in the dining room sang “happy birthday” and finished with “off with his head!”
A delightful dinner at Michael Mina’s Bardot Brasserie in the Aria Las Vegas served as the inspiration for this dish. But alas, with no snails on hand, I decided to try a monkfish version of Escargots de Bourgogne instead.
Et voilà, it exceeded our expectations!
The flesh of monkfish is dense, meaty, and succulent, with a sweet flavor. It has a firm texture that holds up well to baking at high heat in garlic butter, making it a perfect substitute for snails in this escargots-style recipe.
Monkfish, also known as lotte in French cuisine, is a unique-looking fish found in both the Atlantic and Mediterranean. It’s known for its rather unattractive appearance, with a large, flat head, tapering body, and a wide mouth filled with sharp teeth.
Despite its unappealing looks, monkfish is prized for its delicious, firm flesh, often compared to lobster or scallops in taste and texture. It’s also a sustainable seafood choice, as monkfish populations are relatively abundant and well-managed.
Seared Sea Scallops, Crispy Prosciutto
Smoky Chickpeas with Spinach
The inspiration for this super dish comes from another Las Vegas restaurant, this time, Superfrico at The Cosmopolitan.
Their current menu serves roasted sea scallops with cannellini beans, smoked butter, and prosciutto. A past menu served the scallops with chickpeas, Calabrian chile, and kale. Here, with a nod to both the old and new menus, I heat the chickpeas with a smoked paprika butter, then add baby spinach to wilt.
The pan-seared buttery sea scallops have a rich, sweet flavor. Prosciutto brings savory salty notes and when cooked, it develops a delightful crunch while retaining its intense umami taste. Nutty, earthy, and slightly creamy chickpeas are paired with tender garlicky spinach where the paprika butter adds complexity, depth, and an alluring smokiness. It is one tasty Vegas-style dish that comes together in minutes with very little prep!
Monkfish Cargot (Escargots-Style)
