The Divine Dish

Dinner at Julian Serrano las Vegas

Posted on Nov 07, 2011 under Archives | No Comment

Julian Serrano at Aria offers classic Spanish fare including tapas, paella and fresh seafood.  Located just off Aria’s lobby, the bright open restaurant showcases Madrid born (and Bellagio’s Picasso) chef Julian Serrano’s many (over 50) delicious small plates.

I visited for lunch while staying at Aria.  I sampled many delicious small plates – below are pictures of my tasting menu.

I started with a golden and red beet salad with frisee, citrus slices, beet syrup and dehydrated orange.

Next came a duo of two of the restaurant’s signature “new tapas,” a tuna-raspberry skewer with ahi tuna, molecular raspberry, wasabi and sesame seeds and a lobster pineapple skewer with lobster tail, molecular pineapple and sesame oil.

Next came my favorite course, a warm plate of crispy Spanish chicken croquetas, golden on the outside with chicken and a creamy bechamel sauce on the inside.  These were both delicious and satisfying.

Next was a perfectly cooked buttery seared scallop with romesco sauce.

One of Serrano’s specialties is their lobster gazpacho, served chilled with big pieces of lobster.

A tasty beef and cheese dish followed featuring prime tenderloin topped with melted cheese, pecans and honey.

My last course was the star of the lunch, Serrano’s signature Paella.  The restaurant serves four variations on the classic dish.  I had the mixed version, with lobster, mussels, chicken, chorizo, vegetables and saffron rice.  This dish is huge.  It was so tasty that I took the leftovers with me on the plane home.

I highly recommend stopping by Julian Serrano for tapas or to sample some of the eateries larger plates.  Located in the casino level at Aria Resort, 3730 South Las Vegas Boulevard, reservations recommended at www.smartervegas.com.

Dinner at Joel Robuchon, MGM Grand, Las Vegas

Posted on Nov 01, 2011 under Archives | No Comment

Multiple award-winning chef Joel Robuchon offers classic French cuisine at his upscale Joel Robuchon restaurant in the MGM Grand.

Considered by many to be the greatest living chef, I was anxious to finally taste the cooking legend’s menu.  The cost had prohibited me from dining at the famous eatery since I began reporting on food in Las Vegas.  I finally got a press invite and jumped at the chance to enjoy some of the best food in the world.

The elegant restaurant has 17-foot ceilings, a black and purple color scheme, a huge Swarovski chandelier and seating for 42.  There is also a small more intimate charming adjacent garden dining area that seats 12.

Diners can choose from two prix fixe tasting menus (one large sixteen course menu and one smaller six course menu) as well as the option to order off of the a la carte menu.  My friend Jodi and I opted for the six course tasting menu as we had to leave for the Elvis Cirque show and had a two hour dinner limit.  If you want to indulge in the large sixteen course tasting menu, I recommend leaving at least four hours to be able to thoroughly enjoy the atmosphere and each course.

All of the courses were extremely refined.  The plating was exquisite.  We found ourselves staring at the artwork of our plates for long periods of time before diving in with utensils to taste each course.  The cuisine was subtle yet so deeply flavored that the taste of each course stayed with us long after we left.  Here is what we enjoyed at Robuchon:

We could spend the evening sampling all the goodies on the extensive bread cart, but limited our selections to two each.

After a taste of the fluffy rosemary rolls, I also had some olive and parmesan bread.

We were served a smoking amuse of an emulsion of blood orange on a wild berry gelee.

Jodi ordered a lobster salad with melon and artichoke.

I had the foie gras and violet artichoke salad with gold leaf.

Next came a mushroom and veal ravioli course cooked in broth with white truffles.

Our next course was homemade spaghetti topped with a soft poached egg and shaved white truffles.

Jodi ordered a halibut with braised vegetables.

I ordered the beef ribeye with wasabi spinach and a bell pepper medley.

The cheese cart showcased dozens of cheeses from all over the world.

We ordered a raspberry parfait with vanilla bean ice cream and a bavarois and cookie crunch inside a dark chocolate sphere for dessert.

We were also given an nice assortment of truffles and homemade marshmallows to take home.

Joel Robuchon is the perfect restaurant to celebrate a special occasion.  Located at 3799 South Las Vegas Boulevard inside the MGM Grand, reservations can be made by visiting www.smartervegas.com.

Weekend in Old Town Temecula

Posted on Oct 13, 2011 under Archives | No Comment

I recently attended a press FAM trip sponsored by the Temecula Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau highlighting Old Town Temecula.

Old Town Temecula is an eclectic blend of the past and the present where over 120 years of history is on display.  The 12 block area that houses the Old Town district is full of live entertainment, shopping, dining, specialty food stores and wine bars in a hodgepodge of original homes and commercial buildings constructed from 1882 to 1936.

Visitors can choose from a variety of places to stay in Temecula, from humble to quaint, budget to boutique, and laid-back to luxury.  I stayed at the Temecula Creek Inn, which provided easy access to wineries, championship golf courses, the local Pechango Casino and Old Town.   The 130 rustic guest rooms are designed in a wine country palette and offer views from the patios  of the 27 hole golf course.  Set on 350 acres against a backdrop of the San Jacinto Mountains, the resort features tennis courts, golf courses, a heated swimming pool, and two restaurants.

Before the FAM trip began, I headed out to Palumbo restaurant (41925 Fifth Street).

Offering a Southern Italian menu and a variety of local Temecula wines, I sampled a few of the house specialties.

My favorite was the Jalapeno chicken, a nice piece of juicy breaded and pan fried chicken topped with a garlic, sun dried tomato and jalapeno sauce.  It was served with pasta and vegetables.

The next morning all of the writers met at the Temecula Visitors Center, where we were greeted by the friendly staff.  Here you can find all the info you will need to find shopping, dining and wine tasting details for your trip.

We were given a map to visit some specialty boutiques, wine bars and restaurants in Old Town.  The first stop was the small Chili Gourmet, offering all types of hot sauces.

I headed off to the main street of Old Town and stumbled upon Quilter’s Coop, a large quilting shop with a variety of beautiful quilts and sewing fabrics.

I especially liked the timely Halloween quilt.

Next the writers gathered at the Lorimar Wine Tasting Room to sample local wines and tasty appetizers supplied by Soro’s restaurant.

Next I wandered across the street to the Temecula Olive Oil Company to taste some local olive oils.

The large store had an impressive array of olive oil and products made from olive oil – lotions, shampoos, soups and many other things to choose from.

Other interesting food shops included the Lavender Company and the Temecula Valley Cheese Shop.

Next the writers gathered at the Tesoro Winery to taste more local wines and some lovely appetizers from Palumbo Ristorante.

I met Tom and Laura Plant, locals who produce a great wine site called WINEormous.  They pointed out some other favorite spots for locals to hang out.  I particularly liked the Collective, a premium wine lounge showcasing wines from boutique wineries around the Temecula Valley.  Their upstairs patio is a great place to chill out with some good wine.

Next we headed over to Sweet Lumpy’s to have some barbecue.

The barbecue here was great, offering all the traditional sides.   On Friday nights, the restaurant also hosts local bands.  We were lucky enough to be there when the Silver Beatles, a Fab Four tribute band, was jamming.

Next we headed over to Villa de Calabro Winery and Olive Oil Company for dessert.

Whether you’re looking to do some local wine tasting, try an adventurous balloon ride, or just peruse the many restaurants and boutiques of Old Town, Temecula is a great weekend getaway about an hour and a half from LA.  For restaurants, local events and activities and wineries, go to www.temeculacbv.com.

The Taste Fashion Bites Brunch on Rodeo Drive

Posted on Sep 05, 2011 under Archives | No Comment

Last Sunday my friend Chris and I attended The Taste, a four day food festival sponsored by the LA Times and Food & Wine magazine.  Here are some pictures from the Fashion Bites Brunch presented by Ciroc vodka and Infiniti.  The event stretched for three blocks up and down Rodeo Drive.

Over fifty restaurants, exhibitors and wineries attended all hosting booths with food and beverage samples.  Here are pictures of some of the tasty food and drinks that we tried:

Factor’s Deli had bagels with salmon, red onion and tomato.

Greenleaf had tasty organic granola with yogurt.

Locando del Lago had a variety of dishes including squash carpaccio, soup, and focaccia.

Breadbar had a great tomato quiche.

Cake Mamas offered a nice variety of cupcakes.

The Farm offered a yummy braised pork belly and egg dish.

The Sprinkles truck was on hand to provide a variety of tasty cupcakes.

Fig and Olive had some tasty sandwiches.

Napa Valley Grille offered some refreshing gazpacho.

Green & Blacks chocolates were a crowd favorite offering a dozen varieties of chocolates.

Studio City’s Sweet Butter had our fave of the day, a creamy mushroom soup.

Pure Cheesecake had delicious cheesecake samples.