Weekend in Vegas

It's been 19 months since I last called Las Vegas "home," and it's been a while since I've visited my parents in North Las Vegas. So last weekend, I took a road trip with my son to see them for the weekend. My mother, in all her Vegan Enthusiasm declared that she was taking me to my favorite place for dinner: Paymon's Mediterranean Cafe!

Check out the fresher looking website and menu pages

Let me just say one thing: I have never, in my life, tasted hummus like the creamy goodness they have at Paymon's. I could spend a lifetime trying to perfect my own recipe to imitate theirs, and still never quite achieve it! Because it is so hard for anyone's hummus to compare (store bought, restaurants, homemade) it makes me wonder if the Keebler Elves aren't in the kitchen sprinkling faery dust in the mix.

Baba Ganoush & Mojito!

My first order of business after sitting down was ordering a drink! Not sure that a Cuban Mojito is really the wisest thing to order while eating Greek Food, but boy was it tasty and well deserved after a 5-hour driving day. The mojito was definitely not the best one I've ever tasted, but it was deliciously sweet with just the right balance of mint. I will give it to them, though, that was probably the nicest mint I've had in a mojito in a long time (ever order one to see wilted or browning mint at the bottom of your drink? Yeah...).

My mother, who is Italian, has eggplant running through her veins, so it took very little convincing to get her to order a dish of baba ganoush for an appetizer. It is just as bitter and delicious as I remember it! "Bitter" being used in an affectionate way toward this often misunderstood berry. Without that characteristic tang of eggplant, baba ganoush can be too boring. There's a horrible baba ganoush sold at Whole Foods that uses mayonnaise: it is disgusting and an insult to the real thing. Go to Paymon's if you really want to know what this stuff is supposed to taste like!

Falamus Wrap w/Spicy Athens Fries

On to the entrees! Shockingly, everyone at the table ordered a vegetarian plate! I didn't even notice this until all the meals had been served and my father was happily chomping on his vegetable kabobs! I ordered my usual Falamus Wrap. My only complaint ever about this thing is that it could use twice as much hummus. I never use the dipping sauce they put on the side: used to be tahini, but on this particular night it looked like some sort of spicy mayo or yogurt based sauce. I wasn't going to take any chances. The falafel was cooked to perfection on this night - crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. I am still dreaming about my wrap... I wonder if they would ship to LA?

Eggplant Pita

My mother ordered the Eggplant Pita, filed with roasted red peppers and feta cheese. My father indulged in the roasted Vegetable Kabob! Although, I was a little shocked that he didn't touch his hummus (could it be that he actually doesn't like hummus? Is that possible??) he did finish every other bite on his plate! Good for me, though, he packed up the hummus and extra pita to take home, so I had a nice high protein breakfast the next morning before hopping in the car for my return trip to LA!

Vegetable Kabobs

My son also ate a vegetarian meal! Although, this isn't out of the ordinary, he really isn't a meat eater anyway. My mother has tried, as have other family members, to convince him to eat meats, but he always resists. I try to explain to everyone that kids eat what they see their parents modeling for them. Has he ever seen me, as his primary caretaker, eating meat? Nope. So although I don't find this unusual, he is starting to feel the social pressure of meat, and is holding his own gracefully. I always love his answer when someone says, "Why don't you eat meat? It's good for you!" His answer: "Who says I have to?"

I make it a point of visiting Paymon's every time I'm in Vegas, but that tends to make it more difficult for me to visit other places that everyone keeps telling me to try! So here's where you come in, Vegas Reader! Please, in the comments, tell me where I should go the next time I visit my parents in Las Vegas. I need variety, obviously, but I also need some inspiration.


Paymon's has 2 locations:

Maryland Parkway

Paymon's Mediterranean Cafe & Hookah Lounge
4147 So. Maryland Parkway
Las Vegas, NV 89119
Phone: (702) 731-6030   Option #1

W. Sahara Ave

Paymon's Mediterranean Cafe & Hookah Lounge
8380 W. Sahara Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89117
Phone: (702) 804-0293

(Maybe I can convince them to open a store here in Sherman Oaks??)

Yellowtail

Not wanting to give up on the restaurants at the Bellagio, Friand and I decided that we would give Yellowtail a go. We had passed it that morning on the way through the high end shopping gallery to the coffee bar, and thought the sushi menu looked promising.

As all us vegans know, sushi is probably the easiest, most reliable, and most satisfying of all the vegan options out there. You can order a vegetable roll and never have to utter the word "vegan" to any server, never have to worry about there being a capable & creative chef in the house, just order, eat & enjoy. After the disaster that was "Olives", we were looking forward to a simple, yet elegant meal.

Remember, "Sushi" refers to the RICE, not the fish. I always laugh when people say, "Vegan sushi? Give me a break!" Yup. Rice is vegan, folks.

We were seated and immediately greeted by our server, who directed my attention to the "Infusion" at the top of the cocktail menu. A delightfully sickeningly sweet martini style sake drink, with pineapple and vanilla flavorings. I'm not a froo-froo drink kind of girl, but this thing made my teeth chatter with sweetness, and let's face it: it prevented me from drinking too fast and too much. I can pound gin martinis like James Bond on shore leave, so this was a good move on my part!

Friand ordered the 7 course Omakase with the sake pairing. Any sushi lover, nee, any refined connoisseur should order this way at a sushi joint. Let the chef decide what the best dishes on the menu are that night, not you! I've rarely seen Friand order anything on his own when we've been out for sushi, he's always been delighted & amazed by the chef's own suggestions. This Omakase did not fail him. 6 different sakes for 6 dinner selections including a salad, sashimi and kobe beef, and one slice of green tea cake with a mocha shooter for dessert, kept the food & drink flowing at our table.

There are actually several items on the menu suitable for veg*ns including edamame, an array of salads, vegetable tempura, vegetable roll, wild mushrooms and eggplant skewers. I was overwhelmed with possibilities!

I began my meal with the vegetable roll. There was nothing out of the ordinary in that roll: cucumber, asparagus, carrot, avocado and pickled daikon, sprinkled with sesame seeds, but the rice had the perfect proportion of vinegar to make all the flavors pop instead of run together. I could not pass up the opportunity to try the eggplant, though. And when it arrived, my mouth was overwhelmed with taste bud ecstasy. Sweet, bitter, juicy and savory, the Japanese eggplant melted in my mouth.

I was thankful that there were a dozen pieces of eggplant on this plate, otherwise I may have freaked out and actually begged for more. It was probably enough for any normal person to be satisfied with this much food (8 vegetable roll slices and a dozen pieces of eggplant), but I was like a bottomless pit! The Omakase still flowing on Friand's side of the table, I needed to keep up. At this point, I was torn between ordering more eggplant or going for another sushi roll. That rice was too good to pass up, so bring me another veggie roll! This time, I had fun overdosing on wasabi and seeing how much I could slather on my sushi before my eyes started watering & flames shot out of the top of my head.

Yellowtail was a delightful and sophisticated way to round out our trip to Vegas this week. We both left a little tipsy, and a whole lot satisfied. I highly recommend making a reservation and brushing up on your chopstick technique. Come hungry!! This is a must visit restaurant at the Bellagio!!

Hours of Operation:

Dinner Daily Monday - Thursday 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Lounge open until 11:00 p.m.

• Friday - Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Lounge open until Midnight
• Reservations: Recommended by calling 866.259.7111 or 702.693.7223
• Location: Located by North Valet right off of Via Bellagio shops.

Las Vegas Vacation Deals

"Sensi" at the Bellagio

NEW REVIEW: We can't seem to stop eating at this place! To spread the blog-traffic-wealth around, I have posted the latest review of Sensi at the sister blog: The Valley Vegan Go check it out, leave a comment here and there, and let's get this place recognized by the greater vegan community as a premiere vegan destination in Vegas. I think they deserve it, and I am more than happy to shout their praises from the mountaintops!

EXCITING UPDATE DIRECTLY FROM GENERAL MANAGER JASON REIPLINGER:

Lisa,

I wanted to thank you again for your wonderful article featuring Sensi! Since that time we have had several requests for the now famed “vegan risotto” and this week we officially made it a menu item. I thought I would let you know how much we appreciate your kind words and take your input seriously. Many vegetarian and vegan guests have another wonderful option thanks to you and I believe in giving credit where it is due. I hope the next time you are in town you will come and enjoy the dish so we may be sure we are making it as well as you remember.

We sincerely appreciate your patronage.

Jason Reiplinger

General Manager

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It has been months since I moved from Vegas to LA, but the simple fact is that while my parents still live in Las Vegas, I will continue to visit Las Vegas on a regular basis. Therefore, I will maintain this blog for those times I eat an extraordinary meal in Vegas!! And this week... this was a visit to remember!!

Friand and I spent a wonderful week at The Bellagio. We went into this visit with expectations of eating elsewhere, but once we settled into the hyper-decadent fantasy world that is the Bellagio, we found ourselves loathe to leave. So we checked out the dining options the best way we knew how: walking through the casino and reading the posted menus. We were not thrilled with the options (Noodles, Jasmine, Le Cirque, Yellowtail, Olives) .... I know, I know! Most people would DIE for these places, but we just felt kind of "meh".

Being the chocolate fiend that I am, I told Friand that I wanted to show him (*cough*me*cough*) the

chocolate fountain at Jean-Phillipe. We stood at the chocolate fountain devising plans for breaking into the glass & lying under the pouring chocolate... marveled at the pastries and gorgeous chocolate creations in the cases. We left Jean-Phillipe & wondered what was beyond the bend in the hall. Any shopping? Any more restaurants? We have all the time in the world, let's go find out!!

And what did we find? This stone and water and glass creation that is Sensi. We were instantly drawn in by the design of the place, read the menu posted at the door & decided on the spot we would go in. There was one vegetarian item on the menu (Vegetable Pad Thai) but this place looked so fancy that I wasn't going to be afraid to ask for something special or off menu. This was a place I *knew* would deliver!

But... it was only 4:30pm. The restaurant didn't open until 5! So we left our name at the front desk & took a seat at the bar for appetizers & martinis. Again, only one vegetarian item on the bar menu, but that was fine with me! Vegetable Samosas! I wasn't entirely certain about the condiments it would come with, but I quickly learned (or rather was reminded) that "Raita" is a yogurt based sauce. The three samosas were accompanied by a mango chutney, raita, and a tomato puree that was out of this world! Friand took one for the team by eating the samosa that sat in the raita. The potato samosas were everything I love about Indian food: a balance of opposing forces: spicy/sweet, crunchy/soft, hot/cooling. They were little pillows from heaven!

At 5pm, we were seated in the dining room. One of the most breathtaking features of Sensi is the glassed in kitchen at the center of the dining room. Sleek & metallic, clean & functional, this kitchen is filled with staff that never looks hurried or hectic, who wipe up the counters at every opportunity, and who interact with each other in what appears friendly banter. I often joke that food tastes better when it's made with love, and this is true. Everyone in the kitchen zoo appears to enjoy their job and put their energy into creating artwork, and it is clear as day in the food that makes its way to the table.

Our server, Michael, took our order, and I informed him that I was vegan and of course asked if the Pad Thai was truly vegan. He said no, but that the chef would modify the dish to be sure that it was absolutely vegan for me. Of course I appreciated this assurance by Michael that my meal would be vegan. When my pad thai arrived it was a beautiful version of pad thai! Crushed peanuts, barely cooked mung bean sprouts, carrots, golden tofu, and a delicate and wonderfully salty sauce that hooked me at first bite. Being the bottomless pit that I surprisingly am, I ate every last bite of this dish. I thanked Michael profusely for his help, and we left the restaurant swearing that we would return the following evening.

This became our routine this week: drinks at 4:00 at the bar, dinner at 5:00 in the dining room. And of course everyone got to know us! One of the bartenders is from Ithaca, NY (where I went to Ithaca College) so we had a fun little conversation about our home towns in Western NY, made us wonderfully dry gin martinis and again served me samosas, this time, without the raita. Again, we moved to the dining room...

Michael was our server yet again and was pleasant in his welcoming of us back. This time, though, he was confident in telling me he would speak to the chef about making me something other than pad thai if I wanted. Of course I *wanted*! I am not at all afraid of allowing a chef to do what they do best: create food art. If the chef is willing & creative enough to take the time to make me something off menu, I will ALWAYS be open to trying it! Michael returned to tell me that the chef would modify an already existing scallop dish to be vegan. Yes please!!!

What arrived was a gorgeous representation of this chef's abilities: perfectly stir fried tofu & vegetables (shiitake mushrooms, snow peas, green & white asparagus, lemon grass, green onio

n, tofu, jasmine rice) in a sweet & salty sauce that did not intrude on the natural flavors of the veggies. But tonight... we were ready for dessert!! I ordered the sorbet. You're given the choice of 3 flavors, so I paired the raspberry, blood orange and coconut. I should have just ordered 3 scoops of coconut -- it was the creamiest, most insane coconut sorbet I've ever had. In fact, it was so creamy, it may as well have been coconut milk ice cream!! It was almost as if someone was asked to make a dessert to explain to a blind person what coconut was and this is what appeared.... I could write an epic poem about this coconut sorbet... that's how good it was.

Thursday evening, our third visit to Sensi, began the same as always: at the bar with martinis and samosas. This time, we barely had to order, our bartender knew what we wanted as soon as we walked in the door. Of course, we were happy to sit there & suck down food & drinks! At 5pm, our cue to eat, we were greeted by Michael who showed us to a seat next to the glassed in kitchen. We were then informed that the chef had our entire meal planned for us! Friand was at least given the chance to order his main course, but otherwise we were given appetizers predetermined by the chef!

For my appetizer, I was sent a delicious asian noodle salad presented in an iced water

droplet. Sounds cool, doesn't it?! It was!! Cold noodles with a light sesame and soy coating, tofu, lemon grass and green onion, in a size that only angered my hunger. I love love love when an appetizer truly excites my stomach for the rest of the meal rather than filling me up. A perfect portion to be sure.

But my meal.... oh my meal.... This was love in a dish. Completely off menu, I was presented with risotto - chanterelle mushrooms, more lemon grass, fava beans, English peas, saffron, and the mack daddy of all mushrooms: morrel.

Three words: oh.my.god.

This may be the best risotto I have ever had in my life. Hear that? IN-MY-LIFE!!! I tried very very hard to not suck this risotto in as fast as I could. I had to learn to savor each bite, it was difficult, but I found a way to do it.

After our main courses were finished, the waiter asked if we were going to have dessert - because the chef, again, had something in mind for us.

Well bring it on, I say!! And out came two fantastic desserts! I'm not sure if what Friand was served was on the menu, but he was given a beautiful presentation of fresh tapioca, a mango lassi "shooter" and a scoop of that unreal coconut sorbet. And me? Fresh berries, with a strawberry reduction sauce, and the chef's choice of lemon & mango sorbets. And don't forget the edible flowers!! I'm not a girl who just likes to receive flowers, I like to EAT the flowers!!! nom nom nom

If you have been to the Bellagio and not discovered Sensi yet, it is a must eat place! Understated & elegant, the food is beautifully presented, but comes with such craft & skill anyone can appreciate the talent behind that glass cage!

Sensi gets 5 Sprouts, but really, it should be in a category of its own!

Thank you to everyone who made our 3 trips to Sensi memorable! We will (I repeat: WILL) return to Sensi on our next visit to Vegas. And you will (I repeat: WILL) go there when on The Strip!

Reservations:
Suggested by calling 866.259.7111 or 702.693.7223

Location:
Within the Via Bellagio shopping promenade.

• Executive Chef:
  Martin Heierling
• Cuisine:
  Simply prepared Italian, Asian, Grilled and Seafood classic

Las Vegas Vacation Deals

Rick Moonen's RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay

Tucked away at Mandalay Bay is this wonderful restaurant by Rick Moonen: RM Seafood Perhaps you were a fan of Top Chef: Las Vegas and remember the episode of Restaurant Wars took place here? If you haven't experienced this place, then you have no idea what you're missing!

Dining on The Las Vegas Strip is difficult for vegans, but RM does make a fantastic vegetarian sushi if you ask your server. There is a "Seasonal Veggie" roll on the menu, but be sure to remind your server that you do not eat any fish whatsoever to ensure that there aren't any hidden treats like fish flakes or crab meat (sometimes considered "vegetarian" by traditional sushi chefs!).

From Las Vegas Weekly: Moonen, who wrote the terrific Fish Without a Doubt, a home cook’s survival guide full of techniques and recipes for all manner of sea creatures, is a champion of sustainable seafood; or, in other words, fish that are caught in an environmentally sound, socially responsible manner, and which are not in danger of being fished out, like the dreaded Chilean sea bass, aka the Patagonian toothfish

I've had the pleasure of dining at rm 3 times, and each time the vegetable sushi is unique and creative. The size is also manageable - sometimes sushi chefs pack a veggie roll so full it barely fits in your mouth! I'm not complaining: it just means they are actually excited about the fresh ingredients they have on hand & want to show them off. I'm all for it.

The experience of dining at rm is worth the trip in and of itself! The decor is clean & sophisticated - really makes dining out feel "special" which, let's face it, if I want to eat in a restaurant that looks like my own comfy kitchen, then I'll just eat at home! I want to be wowed when I go out to eat!

There are a few other items on the menu that are lacto-vegetarian (*) or can easily be converted to vegan:

• Edamame (vegan)
  
• RM baby lettuce & wild herbs salad (most likely vegan but ask about the dressing)
  
• Grilled eggplant & hallumi cheese panini (*)
• Asparagus mascarpone ravioli (*)
• Heirloom tomatoes (ask to remove the sopressata)
• Marinated beets & watermelon
• Bib lettuce & wild herbs (again, ask about the dressing)

Check out the dessert menu (all menus on the website are downloadable pdfs) and you'll find a lacto-vegetarian paradise. Vegans on the other hand...may want to ask about the banana spring rolls for an exact ingredient list. It says on the menu that there is a caramel-passion fruit sauce - can they just top it with a passion fruit reduction instead? Or nothing? Who knows. I haven't asked. I always go for the teas as a nice ending to my sushi.

In all, rm is worth the experience, and it is nice that the sushi chef is willing to put together a pretty and delicious veggie roll. Being a seafood restaurant, though, the choices are inherently limited. Although... one of their incredible Mojitos will make you forget all about that!



Located in the entrance to Mandalay Place
Between The House of Blues and the Lion King Theatre

3930 Las Vegas Blvd. So.
Las Vegas, NV 89119
702-632-9300

Las Vegas Vacation Deals

Border Grill

Today I had the pleasure of dining at Border Grill at Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip. Regular readers of this blog know that I avoid dining on the Strip as much as possible, but today, was a wonderful exception!

According to the website, Chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, Food Network’s “Too Hot Tamales”, want to "spice up your day" and they certainly spiced up ours!

At the hostess stand, we perused the menu - I noticed right away several dishes that could be made to be vegetarian or vegan, but my friend made a point of telling the hostess that I am a vegan and would I be taken care of? She assured us that the chef was able to make anything on the menu vegetarian and if we spoke to the server, there would be no problem in creating a vegan dish. Woo hoo! Show me to the table!!

We were treated to chips and 3 types of salsa: chipotle, tomato & tomatillo. Each had their unique charm, and it was difficult to decide which I liked better. The chipotle was smokey and dark, the tomato was sweet and smooth, and the tomatillo was cool and citrusy. We pretty much devoured it all - stopping just short of licking the monkey dishes.

Time to order... When I told the server I was vegan and what would he suggest I order, he immediately jumped enthusiasitcally to my aid. He pointed to several dishes that could have the meat and cheeses removed, but said that the chef usually makes black bean tacos (this is an off-menu item and many of us vegans are used to eating off-menu!) with 2 types of rice (green & red) and pico de gallo served with warm home-made soft corn tortillas. The server assured me that the rice and black beans were 100% veg*n, no lard. My friend ordered Chile Relleno (roasted poblano pepper • manchego • panela • cotija cheeses • roja salsa • tomatillo salsa • rice • black beans) which I am now realizing is vegetarian!

My black bean tacos were to die for because of the simplicity! I love eating foods where I can identify in one tasting and name all the ingredients in English, not in chemistry terms. Simple and delicious.

With the help, confidence & knowledge of the hostess and the server, and the ease with which the chef whipped me up something as delicious as these tacos, I am happy to give Border Grill 5 sprouts and recommend that if you are on the Strip and looking for Mexican food, visit Mandalay Bay for this hidden treat located over the lazy river & along the way to the Shark Reef.

Become a fan of Border Grill on facebook

Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89119
phone: 702.632.7403 fax: 702.632.6945

Executive Chef - Mike Minor
General Manager - Kent Harman

Las Vegas Vacation Deals

Hugo's Restaurant, Los Angeles, CA

Hi. My name is Lisa & I'm a Hugo's addict.

Any guesses as to how many times The Vegas Vegan has dined at Hugo's....? I think 10 times in the last 5 months. It might even be more...

The best thing about Hugo's is the fact that I can find something different to eat every time. With so many choices, I refuse to limit myself to one favorite dish. Considering the limitations of other restaurant menus, it would be irresponsible of me not to take advantage of Hugo's menu!!

• Use their handy guide to find the right dish for you:

- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Gluten-Free
() - Can be Vegan
() - Can be Vegetarian
() - Can be Gluten-Free

My favorite items so far have been the creative pancakes they have! In November, they featured a Sweet Potato Pancake on their specials menu - served with spiced agave nectar & bananas. I have been dreaming about those pancakes for weeks, so imagine my excitement when I saw this month's special:

Gluten-Free Energy Pancakes
Our gluten-free, vegan pancakes blended with our energy granola which features pumpkin seeds, quinoa, almonds, shredded coconut, cashew nuts, sunflower seeds, puffed rice, dried cherries & cranberries, cinnamon & maple syrup. Topped with sliced bananas and served with spiced agave syrup.

I admit, I have never eaten gluten-free pancakes before! They were delicious & if I didn't know better, I wouldn't have known they were gluten-free. They were crunchy & sweet, and now I am dreaming about these...

Indian Frankies ()

Frankies are the quintessential Mumbai (Bombay) street food. They are the Indian version of wraps. Ours contains Indian spiced roasted vegetables with leafy greens and peas blended with our Tika masala sauce and wrapped in a Ezekiel sprouted grain tortilla. Served with cilantro-mint chutney, plain yogurt and a jicama cucumber salad with orange segments and cherry tomatoes.

Avocado-Hummus Wrap

Spinach tortilla wrapped around avocado, tomato, cucumber, hemp hummus & sunflower sprouts with a drizzle of sesame-ginger dressing.

The Very Green Protein Burrito Our most nutrient rich and delicious burrito ever. Filled with green organic lentils, roasted garlic, steamed leafy greens, guacamole and green rice. Wrapped in a spinach flour tortilla and topped with an avocado-tomatillo sauce and mozarella or vegan cheese. Choice of organic mixed greens or crispy fries.

Two other dishes I've had recently were off of the Specials menu:
Portabella Mushroom stew
Moroccan Vegetable stew

And I certainly need to try the green juice at some point (though I admit to being a vegan who is deathly afraid of green liquids!)

They make a wonderful soy latte as well - although I needed to add 3 packs of Sugar in the Raw - and drew me a beautiful leaf design in the foam. Be still my heart...


GO TO HUGO's!!! (oh, and Hugo's: hire me for advertising!!)


I give Hugo's 5 Sprouts, although this place is in a class all it's own.

• Become a fan of Hugo's on facebook

TWO LOCATIONS:
12851 Riverside Drive
Studio City, CA 91607
(818) 761-8985

8401 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(323) 654-3993

Typhoon

Another trip to Los Angeles, this time found me dining with a friend at: Typhoon. Located at the Santa Monica Airport, this was the site of yet another memorable meal in LA! Labeled: "LA's Premiere Pan-Asian Restaurant" on their website. Granted this is the only Pan-Asian restaurant I've been to in LA, I have it from a reliable source that this is indeed the best!

The menu at Typhoon is varied & eclectic, very original, and with plenty of choices for any hungry vegan!

It's hard to say if the potsticker and spring roll wrappers use any egg whites, sometimes that is the case with those papers. You may want to ask your server to find out for you if you plan on ordering one of these items. I did not order an appetizer, so obviously I did not ask!

You will find plenty of vegetable dishes, noodles, rice, soups. But remember, always ask about the base of each soup and sauce, and of course keep in mind that in Thai cuisine, "basil" may include shrimp. Your more adventurous friends may be interested to hear there are all sorts of insects on the menu.

I enjoyed the deep fried tofu - crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside. It is not served with veggies, but all it took was one simple question and my tofu was dressed up with some beautiful broccoli.

Grab your chopsticks and bring an empty stomach because you could sit here for hours, watching the planes take off & land, while grazing through several courses of this amazing food.

3221 Donald Douglas Loop South • 2nd Floor
Santa Monica, CA - 90405

Tel: 310.390.6565 - Fax: 310.390.8032

Cafe Bleu at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts

Tonight we dined at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary College Las Vegas. Of course, French cuisine doesn't include much in the way of vegetarian or vegan meals, but thanks to expensive education, open-minded professors and a personal sense of adventure, I came away with one of the most creative veg*n meals I have ever eaten!

Cafe Bleu, the restaurant at the college, is open to the public. Reservations are encouraged -- the window of operation is very small:
Tuesday-Friday
lunch service: 11am-12:30pm
dinner service: 6:00-7:30pm

I do not dine with fear, I dine with an open mind. But tonight, I knew that I was in good hands. Chef Carlos Fernandez was put to the challenge of making me a vegan meal in a decidedly un-vegan environment, and he succeeded! He served me a wonderful eggplant rollatini stuffed with crumbled tofu, diced zuchini, summer squash, roasted red pepper, shallots & garlic, sitting on a bed of pan seared/roasted yukon potatoes, garnished with tomato, herbs, champagne & shallot ragu, accompanied by a roasted red pepper sauce (made by creaming tofu in a food processor).

I would just like to say that Rosemary's needs to take note: veg*n dining does not equal vegetables piled on a plate. Just because I'm vegan doesn't mean that I don't appreciate good food.

If you plan on dining at Cafe Bleu, make your reservations & specify your dietary needs. Cafe Bleu is a classroom and the culinary students are there to learn. You may not be served the exact same dish that I was, but you may be pleased with the creation you'll receive if you challenge them to be creative!

• Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas
• 1451 Center Crossing Road | Las Vegas, NV 89144
• Class Information:
  1.888.551.8222
• All Other Inquiries:
  1.702.365.7690
• 
  

Las Vegas Vacation Deals

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

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Mezzo Bistro Italiano: Visit #2

There are some restaurants that you have to visit again and again - maybe because you liked your meal so much you can't live without eating it again, maybe it's because you wish you were able to try another item off the menu, or maybe, like Mezzo, it's because the people there take such pride in their business that customers feel like welcome guests.

Since our first visit to Mezzo Bistro Italiano on our anniversary in July,
we have been dreaming of our next visit. We don't eat out as much as we used to, so when we go out nowadays, it has to be to somewhere special. And that "somewhere special" is definitely Mezzo Bistro Italiano.

Tonight, we were able to bring along my parents & my brother. My mother is half Roman half Sicilian, so our family knows Italian food. Will my mom like the food? She's not exactly a "foodie" but she knows Italian.

This time, Matt took Chef Marc's advice & called to make the reservation a day ahead - specifically mentioning that his wife is a vegan. Chef got right on it! And today, around 2pm, Matt received a call from Chef listing the ingredients of the Pasta Primavera "vegan special" they were going to make for me tonight. This is personal attention to the utmost degree: a specially prepared off-menu dish AND a phone call to confirm? Wow.

Upon arrival, again I was treated to a warm greeting and told that I was going to enjoy the Pasta Primavera: homemade orecchiette, cauliflower, red, yellow & green roasted peppers, green beans, spinach and carrots with olive oil & garlic, black pepper, sea salt and basil. I WISH I had taken a picture of this beautiful creation because it truly looked like a piece of art. So colorful. And the vegetables perfectly cooked, not mushy steamed pieces of grey matter. The garlic was not overpowering, and there was plenty of oil for dipping the fresh bread.

Everyone in our party tonight enjoyed their meal. To read the full menu, go to the Mezzo Bistro Italiano homepage and download the pdf file. My father & brother both had the Tuscan Pork Tenderloin, my mother had the Tuscan Country Dish (with wild boar ragu), Matt had Chicken Piccata. Obviously, no one else in my family is vegan... but Andrew, is what you would call a "semi-vegetarian". Or maybe lacto-pollo-vegetarian would be the more proper term since he eats dairy & chicken. I asked our waiter what there was for kids and he listed off quite a few choices including spaghetti & marinara sauce, chicken fingers, and intriguingly he said "we make a fantastic macaroni & cheese to order." Andrew perked right up: "I'll have that!!" He loved it! It was probably more of an Alfredo sauce, though I obviously didn't try it. Andrew couldn't get enough of it! He ate about half of it, the rest is in a box in our refrigerator.

As for the rest of us... we stopped stuffing our faces at about the point we would have begun licking the plates. We do have some standards of behavior.

Again, an amazing meal from one of the best kept secrets in Vegas. Thank you Chef, for another great night out. And thank you for placing my first babbling review on your website!!

Grazi.



MEZZO BISTRO ITALIANO:

Mezzo Bistro Italiano
4275 N. Rancho Rd.
Las Vegas NV
702.944.8880
Las Vegas Review Journal

Las Vegas Vacation Deals

Vegas Vegan Travels East

And there they go! The Vegas Vegan and child take to the skies on July 15th for a week long visit with family & friends on the east coast.

First stop: Albany, NY, to visit her one and only brother.

My brother was kind enough to purchase foods that I could eat: soy milk, Cheerios, fresh fruit, rice, broccoli, and even a trip to the store to indulge in some soy ice cream!

The problem came on Thursday morning when my brother suggested we go to the Saratoga County Fair. I didn't panic: before we left his house, I helped myself to a banana & a small bowl of cereal expecting that I would not find anything suitable to eat at the fair.

So where is a vegan going to find actual vegan food at a county fair? Just follow the big sign that says "Vegetarian Gyros" to a trailer with a guy making....gyros... After a quick ingredient check with the cook behind the grill, he proceeded to show me that the flat top grill was only used for bread & vegetables, the open flame was for the meats. (I'm not sure I 100% believed him, but I did not get sick after this meal, so I'm guessing he was telling the truth) He built me a beautiful gyro with green & yellow zucchini, broccoli & cauliflower, tomatoes, peppers & onions, cooked with olive oil & wine, served in a soft-grilled pita. He held the masterpiece in his hand before asking me: "The sauce has yogurt in it, do you want that or extra oil?" Be still my heart... I'll take the oil please.

Mediterranean carnival food:

After NY, we rented a car & drove to Williamstown, MA, to spend 3 days with my in-laws. The main even would be my husband's cousin's wedding. This had me the worried: would I find anything to eat??? Turns out, I had nothing to worry about!

Hors d'oeuvres were served, and I stood away from the food. Chicken satay, spring rolls, and various other animal related finger foods were circulating among the guests. One waitress walked up carrying a tray of corn cakes. "Do you know what's in these? I'm vegan and I'm just worried about eating something that isn't appro...-"

"Don't worry! I'll ask the chef what we have for you!" And off she trotted to the kitchen tent to confer with the chef. From this point on, I kid you not, I had my own personal server. She would make a line straight from the kitchen to me with the corn cakes (which turned out to be completely vegan - no eggs, either!) and samosas. Yumm-O! As we were finding our seats, she approached me with a plate. It had a pile of tomato/watermelon salad. "The chef wanted me to send this to you because the one that everyone else will be served will have feta cheese."

The buffet was vegan friendly! Sauteed vegetables and couscous were yummy and satisfying! The wedding was catered by Mezze, so if you're ever in the Berkshires looking for great food, check them out!

Mezze catering:
Read the entire account here!