Umami and Elle had a quick jaunt to Vegas for a Duran Duran concert at the Hard Rock and "Frozen Fury XIV," an NHL pre-season game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Colorado Avalanche. Oh, and there was food, too!
Fix - Pork Prime Rib
Umami had the Pork Prime Rib ($41) with Carmelized Onion and Apple Bread Pudding at Fix (in the Bellagio). It's two beautiful ribs, with a thin layer of fat, wrapped in bacon, that's cooked to just the right tenderness to preserve the essence of pork flavor (and juices). Umami's never even heard of such a thing before, but now will visit when he can. After all, you always get a beef prime rib, but when have you ever had pork?
Fix - Seabass
Elle's Seabass with Risotto, Baby Shrimp, Lobster Broth ($44) was very good. The fish was nicely crisped on top, and the risotto appropriately creamy. But because neither Umami nor Elle eat a lot of red meat, the Seabass paled in comparison to the sheer decadence of the Pork Prime Rib.
Simon (front) and John (left rear)
Duran Duran was playing The Joint, which is the concert venue at the Hard Rock. Umami and Elle were in standing in the pit, maybe twenty feet from the stage.
Simon and John
Umami's favorite Duran Duran song is "Come Undone" . . .
. . . which they played!
Joe's Bloody Mary
Umami's been to Joe's Seafood Prime Steak and Stone Crab many times, but has never tried their Blood Mary. It's a thick, hearty drink. Love the shrimp and cocktail olive garnish!
Todd English's Olives is in the Bellagio, in the long shopping corridor called Via Bellagio. Umami's always wanted to try it . . .
Olives - Breads, Olives, and Two Tapenades (Green and Black Olives)
Olives - Chilean Sea Bass w Risotto and Scallops
Olives -Wild Mushroom Fettucine
Olives - Panna Cotta
Really, a fine meal. Olives' Sea Bass was a stronger dish that Fix's, with a richer risotto and scallops. The fettucine appears to be a smallish dish, but is intense and loaded with umami.
Elle had never seen a live hockey game, so was excited to see Frozen Fury XIV, an NHL preseason game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Colorado Avalanche.
Warmups
It basically serves as a home game for the Kings, as their jersey-clad fans drive up for the weekend. Unfortunately, the Kings went down two early in the first period and never really got into the game. But there was a fight in the stands and then a big fight on ice late in third period, so Elle got the full NHL experience. Good fun.
Finally, breakfast at Bouchon, another regular stop for Umami.
Roast Chicken and Waffles
Roasted chicken, bacon and chive waffles, Tahitian vanilla bean butter, maple syrup (for the waffles), sauce chasseur (for the chicken). The waitress explained that the sauce chasseur was like a brown gravy, and, in true local style, Umami wasted no time in deboning the chicken and pouring the sauce all over it . . . soooo good.
So that was Duran Duran in Vegas 2011, a quick, but very fun trip. Visited some old favorites and, maybe, found some new ones (Hello, pork prime rib!).
Fix
Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South
866.259.7111 or 702.693.8865
Joe's Seafood Prime Steak & Stone Crab
Forum Shops @ Caesars (Las Vegas Blvd End, Street Level)
3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 792-9222
JoesLVCS@leye.com www.joes.net/las-vegas
Todd English's Olives
Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South
866.259.7111 or 702.693.8865
Frozen Fury XV
No date or venue yet . . . but Umami wants to go!
Bouchon
The Venetian Resort-Hotel-CasinoVenezia Tower (to the right as you face the registration desk)
3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702.414.6200
Reservations can also be made online through OPEN TABLE.
Duran Duran? Are they still around? :)
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