The Divine Dish

Dinner at Gordon Ramsay Steak, Paris Las Vegas

Posted on Jul 02, 2012 under Archives, Las Vegas | No Comment

Celeb chef Gordon Ramsay pays tribute to his home country of England both in menu items and atmosphere at his new steakhouse located in Paris.  Diners enter through a “chunnel” emulating the passageway from England to France and the two-story dining room’s main focus is a dangling neon art sculpture representing the chef’s movements while creating his signature Beef Wellington.

The restaurant accommodates 200 guests who can choose to dine at the bar, lounge, chef’s table or main room.  Drinks can be perused via an iPad digital menu provided for each table.

I visited a few weeks ago for an article for The Daily Meal and invited my good friend Joni to tag along.  I chose my standard dirty martini which came with a nice surprise of bacon at the end of my olive, Joni chose a strawberry cosmo.

Joni chose the traditional Caesar salad which came with a nice surprise – a Scottish egg, and I selected the market green salad with butter lettuce, crispy pancetta, blue cheese, tomato raisins and green goddess dressing.

For the main course, an array of raw beef in various cuts is presented tableside.  Each is dry aged for at least 28 days in a Himalayan salt room and hand selected by Pat LaFrieda.

We both chose the ribeye which was perfectly cooked.

Other menu offerings include seafood and Ramsay’s infamous Beef Wellington.  We chose fire roasted corn  with chile and lime and a huge baked potato for our sides, others menu sides include a mushroom tart, sautéed spinach, mac and cheese and other steakhouse standards.

Before our dessert course came out we were presented with three chocolate and liquor dipped spoons which paired well with our coffee.

The standout dessert is Ramsay’s Sticky Toffee Pudding, which Joni ordered, and consisted of a sweet pudding cake, brown sugar toffee and brown butter ice cream, delicious.

A dedicated chocoholic, I ordered the chocolate layers, a rich chocolate cake with passion fruit ganache  layers and coffee ice cream.

The next time you find yourself in Sin City hankering for a traditional steak, head over to Chef Ramsay’s new digs.   Located at 3655 South Las Vegas Boulevard, reservations at 702/946-7000.

Dinner at Center Cut, Flamingo Las Vegas

Posted on Jun 26, 2012 under Archives, Las Vegas | No Comment

The Flamingo turned its old Burger Joint into Center Cut, an upscale modern steakhouse. Located across from the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat and adjacent to Tropical Breeze Café, the venue accommodates up to 172 guests including the bar, lounge, restaurant and private dining room. The black and white décor with pink accents provides a classic Vegas atmosphere while several plasma screens throughout the restaurant showcasing photo montages from the 1940’s to present day. These images pay homage to the 66 years Flamingo has been at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip.  Guests can choose to sit in the open dining room or opt for an intimate private curtained booth.  I recently visited Center Cut for a tasting menu provided by Chef Ian Delph, here is what I sampled:

I started off with a perfect dirty martini.  Next came one of Center Cuts appetizer favorites – a  trio bacon satay that includes cayenne peppered, blue cheese cured, and natural Applewood bacon served on top a pink Himalayan salt rock.

Anyone who loves bacon will appreciate this appetizer.  Very rich in flavor and a great way to start off a nice steak dinner.

Next, Chef Delph sent out a killer lobster bisque. Hands down the best lobster bisque I have ever tasted with creme fraiche, sherry and chive oil and big lobster chunks.  I could eat a vat of this bisque.

Meat entrees include a 20 ounce ribeye, 24 ounce porterhouse and 28 ounce Tomahawk, all sourced from Aspen Ridge Farms in Colorado.  I opted for the 8 ounce filet with shrimp.  It came with a nice caramelized onion and a delicious popover.

The filet was perfectly cooked and each bite melted in my mouth.  The popovers at Center Cut are addictive.

My steak also came with a number of sauces to choose from including red wine, bernaise, blue cheese, dijon peppercorn and cc steak sauce.

Center cut offers traditional steakhouse sides, I chose the pink mashed potatoes and jalapeno bacon creamed corn.  Both delicious.

Chef Delph came out to greet me and we had a nice conversation about food, the Las Vegas steakhouse scene, and his cooking philosophy.

Next came a lovely dessert course with a creme brulee tart and chocolate dipped biscotti.  Yum.

Center Cut is my new favorite steakhouse on the Strip and Chef Delph is one of the most talented new chefs in Vegas.  Next time you visit Sin City, make sure to stop by Center Cut for a traditional steakhouse experience.

Located at 3555 South Las Vegas Boulevard, reservations at 702/784-8821.

Tasting Dinner at Table 10, Palazzo, Las Vegas

Posted on Jun 21, 2012 under Archives, Las Vegas | No Comment

While I was in Vegas for the launch of the new Carnivale summer series of events at the Venetian and Palazzo, the nice folks at Palazzo also set me up with a dinner at Emeril Lagasse’s  eatery Table 10.  The restaurant is named after the table in New Orleans where the Food Network star began planning his restaurant empire.  The French Quarter iron gates at the entrance lend a New Orleans vibe, and the round metal-crafted center bar, glass enclosed wine cellar and display cases full of pantry supplies and chef’s jackets provide a casual upscale environment.

The menu features a roadmap of flavors, including the seafood and andouille gumbo or the Cuban pork sandwich.  Diners are welcome  at the food bar for a front row view of the big exhibition kitchen, at the Center Bar in the middle of all the floor action, or at a variety of indoor and outdoor tables.

I sampled a nice variety of dishes starting with a lovely fresh grilled nectarine salad over spinach with parmesan cheese.

Second course was a duo of buttery succulent seared scallops over a truffle corn puree and topped with a bacon onion marmalade.   Delicious.

My main dish was a nice Colorado filet mignon with crushed Wiser Farm heirloom potatoes and a beurre fondue, topped with a very tasty heap of roasted beef marrow.  I loved this dish. My waitress also brought out some tasty candied North County Farm bacon.  Very rich and very satisfying.

For dessert I received a huge platter of a bunch of lovely sweet homey cakes, pies and tarts.

Table 10 is located in the Shoppes at Palazzo, 3327 Las Vegas Boulevard, 702/607-6363.

Carnevale Opens at Venetian and Palazzo, Las Vegas

Posted on Jun 12, 2012 under Archives, Las Vegas | No Comment

Last night marked the official opening of Carnevale, the Venetian and Palazzo’s new summer event featuring three months of classic Italian festivities, including new experiences, entertainment, art, music and wine until Sept. 9.

A celebration of discovery, taste and fun, Carnevale is themed on the myriad of summer festivals that grace the small villages and towns of Italy throughout summer.

Last night’s grand opening launch at the front plaza of Venetian offered a  preview all facets of the season-long Italian-inspired celebration, including stilt performers,  speed painter Salvador Live!, who created unique and awe-inspiring masterpieces to the beat of music while breakdancing and interacting with the crowd, a  performance by violin trio Alizma,  Carnavale “lighted” characters that mingled with visitors and Carnevale-inspired food and beverage offerings.

The event also marked the debut of The Venetian’s spectacular outdoor light show on the iconic clock tower and colorful parade which will now wind its way through the property nightly.

Each month Carnivale will portray a different theme representing a various aspect of Italy, inviting guests to come back to experience all the new experiences and magic at Palazzo and Venetian.

Throughout June, both resorts will be transformed into an art gallery with 3D chalk artists, glassblowers, potters, living art installations and an interactive Art Walk. All demonstrations will take place in The Palazzo Waterfall Atrium & Gardens daily from 1-6 p.m. and select art work will be available for purchase to take the magic of Carnevale home.

A “Passaporto di Carnevale” will be included with select suite packages offered throughout Carnevale with special discounts and entertainment specials as well as retail offers from The Grand Canal Shoppes and The Shoppes at The Palazzo.   In July Carnevale will focus on music, in August wine and food.  To make reservations, visit www.palazzo.com or www.venetian.com.