Las Vegas
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Isabell and I recently took a trip to Las Vegas with some friends. Las Vegas does not top my list of favorite travel destinations, as I am neither a big gambler nor one who loves to stay up until 4am. However, over the past few years Las Vegas has evolved into a place for top-class restaurants. So Bell and I decided we would go to Vegas not for the usual attractions, but so we could we what we do best: eat.
Here are a couple of highlights from our trip:
~ Breakfast at Bouchon, the famous younger sibling of Napa Valley's French Laundry. Renowned chef Thomas Keller offers an excellent breakfast menu - a true rarity in Vegas. The restaurant sits in a quiet courtyard area in The Venetian Towers. Bell and I didn't plan on going here... we sort of stumbled across the place. Needless to say it was a great find for two people looking to escape the noise of slot machines and eat a tasty breakfast.
~ Dinner at Delmonico Steakhouse, of chef Emeril Lagasse fame. To begin with the steaks were great, but not the best either of us has had. But two things did stand out: the wine list and the atmosphere.
The restaurant won a Wine Spectator "Grand Award" and that did not surprise me in the least when I saw the wine list was literally a book. It was fun to skim through the list and also refreshing to see that they were many wines that were approachable price-wise - rare for high-end steakhouses. But after a few minutes of browsing I decided to call upon the services of the sommelier, Paul Rakovich. Bell and I wanted to try something new and unique to go with our steaks and Paul did not disappoint. We had a 2004 Mas Doix Salanques, from Spain. The wine was inky, bold, and had a candy-like finish. It was excellent and more importantly, memorable.
The atmosphere of Delmonico is striking simple, yet elegant. Unlike most traditional steakhouses that are full of wood and brass, the restaurant had white walls, vaulted ceilings, and track lighting. It was a nice setting for our "big dinner" in Las Vegas.
