Rosemary's: Las Vegas

For our 12th anniversary, Matt & I decided to finally check out Rosemary's Restaurant on West Sahara, owned by Chefs Wendy & Michael Jordan. Chef Wendy is an instructor at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary College where Matt is still currently a student.

As per our usual practice, we first checked out the online menu then called ahead to make a reservation specifically mentioning that there will be a vegan dining with the party. We were assured that "the vegan" would be taken care of.

Knowing that this restaurant would specialize in French-American cuisine, I did not have high hopes of eating from the menu, though I did have very high expectations that something creative and original would be made for me after talking to the chef. Looking over the menu, there were not any appetizers that could be made to be vegetarian, much less vegan. There are 3 vegetarian salads that could have the cheese removed, and only one vegetarian entree: Parmesan Tossed Angel Hair Pasta.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, our server assistant, Daniel, asked if there were any food allergies or specific dietary needs we wanted addressed (I'm just assuming that he had not been privy to the reservation book) so of course I told him that I was vegan. He assured me that our server, Katie, would discuss options with me when she arrived at the table. And she did! Even though she was very enthusiastic and helpful, she did not have many options to offer me.

The assistant returned with 4 rolls, placing 2 on my dish. Now, one thing you have to know about me is that I do still eat honey. I know that's not 100% vegan, but I do still eat it - this is an effect of me also following a "yogic diet" which encourages honey instead of white refined sugar. The rolls that were placed on my plate were "sweet rolls" with walnuts & drizzled with a fine layer of honey. Quite frankly, I could have been perfectly happy with the rolls and the Arugula Salad!!

The pre-appetizer, two slices of Riesling poached pear drizzled with port wine syrup - setting me up perfectly for the: Arugula, Endive & Radicchio Salad
Maytag Blue Cheese, Riesling Poached Pear, Toasted Hazelnuts & Port Wine Syrup
Wine: Dr. Loosen “Blue Slate” Riesling Beer: Pilsner Urquell

I asked that the bleu cheese be left off the plate, but I did pair the salad with the Dr. Loosen, a fine pairing! I don't normally like white wine, but this was worth it.

Katie returned from the kitchen with the news that they would make me a "vegetable platter" which to me sounded an awful lot like a bunch of unseasoned vegetables on a plate. She must have seen my apathy because she suggested that she would include a balsamic sauce on the veggies. Sure fine, but I saw that angel hair pasta was offered in the entrees, couldn't they make me that without the cheese? She assured me that they could absolutely make that for me.

It was good. A little nest of angel hair pasta with half of a red onion, 4 stalks of asparagus, red pepper & zucchini - all grilled. I had been specific in asking that none of the veggies would be prepared using butter, but I did not remember to ask what surface the veggies would be grilled on. As I ate my meal, I suddenly realized that there was a distinct possibility that my veggies were cooked on the same surface as other meats. Hm. A question I will not forget to ask again in the future. I have discovered that being a "dining-out-vegan" is a learning process - and right now, my stomach is a little uncomfortable, so I'm guessing that yes, my veggies shared a surface.

We won't talk about what Matt ordered because it was decidedly un-vegan, but he did order a Prix-Fixe and thoroughly enjoyed his 3-courses. At the end of the meal, they did give us a complimentary raspberry sorbet with "Happy 12th Anniversary" piped in chocolate on the plate. Unfortunately, they put a dab of créme chantilly on it, so I was only able to eat a couple bites of dairy free sorbet. That said, the sorbet was rich & creamy! A nice sweet finish to the meal.

In all... I'm giving Rosemary's 3 Sprouts for veg*options in proportion to the total price we paid for the meal ($133.58).

This "veg rating" does NOT diminish the fact that the menu is very creative and non-vegans would be completely satisfied with their menu options. I'm a bit disappointed that the kitchen was not more creative in making something that didn't involve a few vegetables thrown on to a plate, and that *I* had to be the one to suggest adding pasta.

I went into the evening with very high expectations and in the end can only say that I have had chefs at less expensive restaurants do more for me in the creativity department.

As a side note, we had originally planned to leave Rosemary's and travel the 2 blocks to The Red Velvet Cafe for dessert, but when we arrived there, we discovered that it had closed at 6pm! Foiled yet again in my attempt to dine there!

Eat at Rosemary's! It was a beautiful space, creative menu & and had kind courteous waitstaff. Maybe the more vegans who make reservations there and request better options, the more creativity we'll see from the kitchen. Just because we're vegan doesn't mean we don't LIKE food! I want to eat at all the "special" places, too.

8125 W. Sahara
Las Vegas, NV 89117

Tel:702.869.2251
Fax: 702.869.2283

Lunch (Mon-Fri): 11:30am-2:30pm

Dinner (Daily) 5:30pm - close

Reservations: Suggested though walk-ins welcome

How "Vegan" are Vegan Restaurants in LA?

Published over at Quarrygirl.com is this recent post:

Operation Pancake: Undercover Investigation at Vegan Restaurants in LA

An independent investigation to see if the vegan food at supposedly vegan restaurants is truly vegan.

After all our diligence in reading labels at the grocery store, preparing fresh vegan food at home, our ethical choice to avoid all animal products in our food, all our efforts to be "vegan" can be wasted with just one trip to a restaurant. The point of The Vegas Vegan is to aid in your dining out experience, so please read this article to learn more.

Excerpts from the article:

...During the meeting, Mr. Wishbone outlined an ambitious plan that would enable us to test for common non-vegan ingredients (eggs, casein [a component of milk], and shellfish) in a multitude of menu items from local vegan restaurants. The plan would be a logistical, financial and time-sucking nightmare but, if done properly, and to scientific testing standards, it would be a ground-breaking and highly reliable indicator of just how “pure” food from vegan restaurants really is.

...a key requirement of this operation was that all the selected and tested restaurants should offer only an all-vegan menu, so there could be no question about cross-contamination from cooking implements (kitchen dishes, pans, knives etc.). So, we set about choosing a variety of restaurants in the LA area. Initially, we targeted 20, and were able to obtain food from 17.

...We cannot stress enough how many precautions were taken to ensure that the food was tested under the most stringent conditions. Indeed, our testing standards met or exceeded the standards of the California Retail Food Code, sections 113982, 113984 and 113986.

...The testing kits that Mr. Wishbone was to obtain could positively identify three common non-vegan allergens (hen’s egg, milk protein (casein), shell-fish), and were highly sensitive (down to parts per million, which explains our intense focus on process and hygiene), so we targeted food items that contained vegan “cheese”, vegan “fish” (including shellfish and non-shellfish), creamy sauces, breads and stuff that had an expanded, sweet, crispy or bubbly texture (often created using eggs as binders in the cooking process).

Read the full article for more specific results:

The Winners
Of the 17 restaurants, 10 had a completely negative score for shellfish, casein and egg. Vegans should note that we were unable to test for whey ingredients with these tests, and just because they passed our tests doesn’t mean they will be vegan for you.

The Suspect
One restaurant, Pure Luck, was singled out as suspect because it had a POSITIVE reading on one test for one menu item, the Baja Fish Taco. While testing a clear negative for shellfish and egg content, the taco did register as positive for casein.

The Losers
Five restaurants were in this category. These restaurants are all Vegan Thai in style, and have many common food items between their menus. In all cases, the HIGH readings were for egg content, and with two restaurants both also testing POSITIVE for casein. The Conclusion Following such consistent results, it is perhaps wise for vegans to avoid meat substitutes in vegan Thai establishments, sticking instead to tofu and seitan derived ingredients.

The Big Time Loser
The last restaurant on our list, Green Leaves Vegan, stands out as being the only one tested where a food item registered OVERLOAD.

Please read to the end of the article, which goes on to outline why "fake" or "veggie" meats may not be vegan, and why "vegan restaurants" aren't necessarily catering to actual vegans, but to people who just want to eat "vegan" food. And read the follow-up post.

It's our responsibility as vegans to protect our own choices, but this vegan is also concerned with protecting her health. Trace amounts of casein may seem harmless on the surface, but I know that even a small amount of it in my food can make me sick.

The Vegas Vegan reminds you that you should always ask your server or even ask to speak to the chef if you have any concerns about any ingredients in your food. Ask before you order, call ahead before you even arrive at the restaurant, just be sure that you know what you're eating. Personally, I avoid ordering items that I am not 100% certain about. For instance, I never order anything with aioli because, even though it's only supposed to be made with garlic & olive oil, there is a good chance it contains egg or other ingredients that could contain egg or dairy.



List of Restaurants tested in Operation Pancake:

Food, Inc.

From Ashley at Magnolia Pictures:

"On Friday, July 3rd, Food Inc. will be opening in Las Vegas. Due to the film's messages about the importance of purchasing local, sustainable foods and the dangers of the industrialization of food, we think that your site's audience would strongly identify with "Food, Inc."

One concept I support, across the board, is healthy eating. Healthy foods in our schools, healthy foods available by food stamps, healthy choices in our grocery stores and more local, sustainable, slow foods. I do not eat meat, but I do care deeply about what my family & friends eat. If I can help just one person make a more compassionate or conscious choice when it comes to their food, then my work on this earth is done.

A quick scan around The Official Food, Inc., Movie Site brings us a quick overview on the issues presented in the film. Issues that concern all of us. And don't forget to visit the blog: Hungry For Change

Read more:
vegan.com
Digging Through The Dirt

Vosges Haut Chocolate

Vosges Haut Chocolat

Nestled discreetly in the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace is a specialty chocolate shop. From the outside, it looks like a jewelry store and on the inside... little drops of heaven are displayed in glass cases as if they were indeed jewels!

No trip to Caesar's is complete without a visit to this gourmet chocolate shop. You'll be pleased to discover that many of the items are vegan! The staff behind the counter are very helpful in pointing out items that are suitable for all kinds of tastes & desires.

I don't have to remind you that all truffles contain ganache, a mixture of chocolate & cream, so vegans will have to skip these treats. I had tasted many of the truffles while still a lacto-vegetarian and can attest to the absolute deliciousness of the Aztec, Tellegio Cheese, Black Pearl, and several that I don't remember the names to: white chocolate + kalamata olive, and the violet flower.

For vegans, feel free to partake in the many chocolate bars; read the ingredient labels carefully as a few of the dark chocolate items may contain dairy.

Sit down at the drink bar and indulge in one (or all!) of the drinking chocolates: La Parisienne, Blanca & Aztec. As your barista what the non-dairy options are AND you'll discover they offer soy, almond and rice milk! Personally, I love the Blanca with almond milk, and the other two with rice milk. Each drink is served either hot or over ice depending. Though I highly recommend the Aztec hot for maximum enjoyment of the spices!

So when in Vegas, be sure to check out Vosges, located on the first floor of the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace. From Las Vegas Blvd., use the main entrance of the shops - it's directly behind the curving escalators & fountains.

Las Vegas – Caesars Palace
3500 Las Vegas Blvd South (street level)
Forum Shops, Suite R04
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Ring: 702.836.9866
Hours: Sun-Thurs. 10-11, Fri-Sat. 10-midnight

Calling All Vegan Bloggers!

Do you live in Las Vegas?

Will you or someone you know be visiting Las Vegas soon?

Have you been to Las Vegas recently?

More important, are you a Vegan or Vegetarian who ate food here???


If you answered yes to any of those questions, then please consider being a guest blogger here at The Vegas Vegan!

Indicate in the comment section that you'd like to do this and we'll get you up & running on the blog!

Spread the word: Veg*n food can be found just about anywhere in Las Vegas!!

**Specifically I am looking for people who have been to The Red Velvet Cafe and Ronald's Donuts.

The Vegas Vegan is on facebook!

Now you can join the facebook community of vegans & vegetarians who enjoy a good meal out on the town!

Swap recipes, restaurant reviews, and online resources for successful veg*n dining.

Living the life of an ethical vegan isn't difficult or scary when you're surrounded by supportive, like-minded people!!

Sushi Zen

If you Google "Sushi Zen Las Vegas" you'll read some horrifying reviews of this Sushi bar. But, like everything else in life, don't believe everything you read. Sushi Zen is some of the most fun sushi we've had in ages.

In the last 6 months, we have been to Sushi Zen on Craig Rd. at least once a month. I'll be the first to point out that sushi is a delicious and easy way to get a great vegan meal. I'd never liked "fish" sushi in the past, but I love vegetable sushi. I love the ocean flavor of the seaweed, and being the carb-eating monster that I am, I could eat sushi rice by the barrel.

One of the best features of visiting a sushi bar is the pleasure of speaking directly to the chef. The two chefs on Craig Rd. know me by sight and hardly even wait for me to open my mouth before they build my rolls! Chef personally makes me a roll with pickled potato root, avacado, zuchinni, carrot, asparagus, shitake mushroom, microgreens, daikon, cucumber and tofu. Fantastic!!

The last time I sat at the bar to eat my sushi, the man next to me commented that my vegetable roll looked more appetizing than his and that he would be trying this the next time around! I'm not looking to convert everyone to veganism, just to spread the word that veggies are not just colorful to look at. Sushi is an art, it's not "raw fish" as some people like to point out to me. ("How can you eat sushi? Isn't that raw fish?") In fact, the word "sushi" refers to the rice itself combined with the vinegar.

They are generous with their wasabi here and the pickled ginger is crisp & spicy. And nothing makes me feel tough like testing my tolerance level of wasabi!!

Sushi Zen is receiving 5 sprouts for their awesome sushi and service. As always, Sushi is one of the easiest ways to go vegan!


Sushi Zen
4210 West Craig Rd.
North Las Vegas, NV
702-893-2488

Please Note:

Sushi can have "hidden" fish, even in the vegetable rolls. When you order a veggie roll, ask the chef or server exactly what will be in it. There have been a couple of incidents where fish flakes, crab sticks or omelette is added. Word to the wise: just like any other restaurant, ask for verification of any questionable ingredients.