karin, Author at Small Barrels Magazine

Review of Mesa Grill – Caesars Palace, Las Vegas

January 28, 2019 By karin Leave a Comment

At Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill — At Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill

Looking for amazing, premium margaritas and delicious Southwestern fare? You must check out Mesa Grill in Caesar’s Palace. Owned by celebrity chef Bobby Flay, Mesa Grill is a definite bright spot in the imposing, cavernous casino. We’ve been on a number of occasions, always for lunch as it happens. Each time, Mesa Grill has more than delivered a great meal and experience, to the point that it’s become a must-do on our Vegas trips.

First and possibly foremost there is the margarita menu. As you can see, what sets this menu apart is the selection of tequilas that are offered. You really can’t go wrong choosing any of them – they are all top quality 100% Blue Agave tequilas. For us, it’s been a matter of coasting along with one of the server’s recommendations, or just selecting something we’ve never heard of or that looked interesting (or both).

This time around, I had the Partida Margarita. (Correction, I had two Partida Margaritas as I had nothing much planned afterward.) This beverage avoids the simple syrup, triple sec, cointreau, etc. and is sweetened only with agave nectar. I thought it was absolutely perfect and without the added sugary sweetness could fully enjoy the tequila and fresh lime.

THIS is chips and dip - Goat cheese Queso Fundido — THIS is chips and dip – Goat cheese Queso Fundido

We were here for lunch, but a leisurely one, so sharing a tantalizing appetizer seemed appropriate. Our server recommended the Queso Fundido, featuring melted, piping hot goat cheese and roasted peppers and a blistered serrano vinaigrette. Blue corn tortilla strips for dipping completed the dish.

For him – the smoked shrimp tacos with a tasty cabbage slaw, served with guacamole, a vibrant mango salsa, and a fresh tomatillo salsa. The shrimps were presented on skewers and served with grilled tortillas for assembly.

I chose another appetizer for lunch, and the portion was more than ample: the smoked chicken and black bean quesadilla. Topped with a beautiful guacamole, fried garlic slices, and garlic creme fraiche, it was an excellent and very filling choice.

Lunch dishes with fantastic fresh salsas

We’ve never ventured over here for dinner but based on several lunch visits, we’re sure it would be a fantastic option. Service is excellent, the food and flavours very appealing, and the quality of tequila and margarita selections truly unparalleled. Not a frugal option by any means (price, quantity), but well worth it.

I’d also like to note that we had absolutely no problem getting a table at lunch time on this recent visit – in fact, the restaurant was very quiet. Time of year was early December which could certainly be a factor. In the past, we have encountered a wait (still worth it!).

For more information about Mesa Grill, visit www.mesagrill.com

Review of Delmonico Steakhouse – Venetian, Las Vegas

January 26, 2019 By karin Leave a Comment

Delmonico Steakhouse is a longtime fixture of the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, and just a short and pleasant walk away from the Wynn where we stayed this time. While other restaurants in the Venetian have come and gone, this classic steakhouse owned by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse endures.

We’ve had the pleasure of dining here several times over the years and enjoyed our latest experience this past December, although some of its past magic seemed missing. It could be that we’ve been here a few too many times, have experienced better steakhouses, and that some of the novelty has worn off.

There is a slightly tired look to the decor, a spareness that may have been more fitting about fifteen years ago. Compared with the fresh, open and even whimsical decor characterizing most of the restaurants at the Wynn, Delmonico felt a bit drab and buttoned up – could use a bit of re-imagining. Note that we were not seated in the larger section of the dining room, whose low vaulted ceilings have always intrigued us and made us think of a Tuscan wine cellar. We were seated in a room that was rather square and dimly lit, but maybe also quieter than the main area where large groups seemed to have been assembled.

We started with Emeril’s New Orleans Barbecue Shrimp, apparently the most popular appetizer on the menu which we have never tried. Unfortunately, it didn’t set the best tone. Somewhat overcooked and the promised ‘New Orleans flavors’ a little lacking, even dated maybe? The rosemary biscuit was tasty.

Having said all this, the steak, wine, bourbon selection and overall service was excellent. And let’s get to the wine. Apparently boasting over 2,300 selections, the wine list at Delmonico was indeed impressive and studded with rare finds. We wanted something big – make that huge – to go with our steak. With some guidance from the knowledgeable sommelier, we selected the 2008 Schrder Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon (one of their last bottles, apparently).

The wine had a dark, velvety red-black color, with deep dark fruit flavors, like cherry and blackberry. It opened up in the decanter as the evening wore on, and we sipped it slowly, savoring and enjoying. It may well be the first and last time we will ever have this rare, elegant, and bold wine. A perfect match for the rich beef and hearty steakhouse sides.

For him – the 20 oz. bone-in ribeye, and for me the 9oz. filet mignon, both topped with a generous pat of herbed butter. Beautifully cooked, but oh so much food. (Speaking of fifteen years ago, our appetites are not perhaps what they once were…)

Classic sides, served family style, included buttered fresh asparagus and sauteed garlic mushrooms (very good and garlicky.)

Lovely sides, buttered fresh asparagus and sauteed garlic mushrooms

No, we didn’t finish every morsel of our meal but we did enjoy it. And the bourbon list that came out afterward was more than impressive, listing page after page of different bourbons…

Have not seen the likes of this before! I was content to finish the last sips of the Schrader cab, but for my partner – a glass of Pappy Van Winkle – Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B. The smell, deep color, and full-bodied taste was exactly what he was looking for. His theory is you need to grab this whenever you see it, and those occasions have been few and far between. An impressive bourbon menu for the whiskey lover!

Pappy Van Winkle - Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B — Pappy Van Winkle – Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B

Last but not least, we move on to dessert. Emeril’s Banana Cream Pie has been something of a legend in our fond recollections of past Delmonico experiences. The mounds of chocolate shavings and generous drizzle of rich caramel sauce have loomed large in our minds over the years. It’s funny, it was certainly tasty, but not as unique and wonderful as we remembered – of course, it could be a matter of letting good things grow better in your mind.

Emeril’s Banana Cream Pie

Though it didn’t quite match the past experiences of our memories, Delmonico Steakhouse has much for you to enjoy – excellent steak, stellar wine selection, great service and an amazing selection of bourbons.

For more information about Delmonico Steakhouse at the Venetian, Las Vegas, visit www.venetian.com

Review of Lakeside Seafood Restaurant at Wynn Las Vegas

January 25, 2019 By karin Leave a Comment

An elegant seafood feast at Lakeside Seafood, Wynn Las Vegas

We dined at Lakeside Seafood at the Wynn on the first night of our trip (December 9, 2018). We had originally reserved a table for 9:30pm. However, travel and check in had gone so smoothly, and we were ready to get things rolling. It was not a problem whatsoever to change our reservation to 8:30 owing to the rather slow time of year.

So…a pleasant stroll through the casino and a trip down the hotel’s unique winding escalator at the edge of the lobby brought us to the lovely, comfortable Lakeside Seafood restaurant with its wall of windows overlooking the Lake of Dreams.

View of restaurant and Lake of Dreams performance — View of restaurant and Lake of Dreams light-and-image performance

We had the option of eating outdoors right on the lake and had we known how mild it really felt outside, we may have done it. But we opted to stay inside and were quite pleased. The dining room has a warm, comfortable ambience and there were very few people there that evening. Besides the view of the lake with its dancing pop art light show, there’s something whimsical about the restaurant, like a friendly, coral-toned underwater lair from a Bond film.;)

Cocktails to begin, including a very dry martini (Chopin) with blue cheese stuffed olives, and a glass of champagne for me.

Martini at Lakeside, with Chopin and Blue Cheese Olives

Rather famished from a day of travel, we dove right in with a classic shrimp cocktail and a tasty assortment of breads.

As you’d expect, the menu specializes in seafood featuring king crab, a selection of live lobster from around the world (Maine, Scottish – depending on availability) and other market fresh fish (halibut, salmon), and several Hawaiian specialties. There are the requisite ‘turf’ entrees – a nice selection of steaks and a chicken breast option as well.

We were definitely there for the seafood and could not get our minds off the idea of oven-roasted Prime Cut King Crab legs. On the advice of our knowledgeable server, we ordered a pound and a half serving to share. Now, we enjoy a hearty meal and were a bit worried this portion might not do it – but this was honestly more than enough. That’s because it was virtually all meat – succulent, tender, sweet crab meat that deserved the term Prime. The platter was served with a selection of three butters for dipping and dunking – classic drawn butter, a fresh and surprising yuzu-basil butter, and finally a spicy harissa butter. They were all phenomenal when paired with the luscious crab legs – really outstanding!

A beautiful golden-hued,lemony-buttery California Chardonnay made the perfect pairing for this delicious meal, the 2014 Paul Hobbs Chardonnay.

Cheers, we're in Vegas! — Cheers, we’re in Vegas!

I love this photo – the wine was such a beautiful golden color and this captures it. Almost as fun to look at as it was to drink…

Sides are served family style. We indulged in rich accompaniments, Yukon Whipped Potatoes and Black Truffle Creamed Spinach (heavenly). Also pictured below are the trio of dipping butters that accompanied the crab.

Black Truffle Creamed Spinach and a trio of dipping butters

Our dinner at Lakeside Seafood was relaxed, delicious, indulgent, and very memorable. It was the first dinner of our Vegas getaway, and though in some ways the simplest, possibly the best of them all. The highlight of course was the absolutely perfect prime cut king crab legs, because where else are you getting that? I highly recommend Lakeside for seafood lovers who find themselves in Vegas.

For more information about Lakeside Seafood at Wynn Las Vegas, visit www.wynnlasvegas.com

Review of Wynn Las Vegas Hotel and Resort – Las Vegas, Nevada

January 18, 2019 By karin Leave a Comment

We spent four nights at Wynn Las Vegas Hotel and Resort this past December (early in the month – a sort of pre-Christmas Christmas vacation). Located on the north side of the strip, pretty much at the edge of things, you’ll find a bit more ‘calm and space’ at this luxury hotel property. Bordered by man-made lakes, water features, and lush greenery, it’s a lovely space and more serene than many of the other Vegas properties. All this is not to say that you’re out of the action – you’re right beside the Palazzo and Venetian complex and their restaurants, shows, and myriad attractions and right across from the sprawling Fashion Show Mall for all your high and low end shopping needs. But you can find a bit of peace when you need it, both inside and out. It was one of the reasons we chose to stay here in the first place.

We arrived early on a Sunday evening, greeted by gorgeous Christmas decorations in the hotel lobby – indoor landscaping, really.

Luscious Golden Poinsettias, grown exclusively for the Wynn Hotel, were everywhere.

In our opinion, it is by far the prettiest lobby on the strip, with lots of natural light, greenery, and this past December, a magical holiday feel – not something you’d necessarily expect from a casino.

The casino itself is also very inviting, not so cavernous as compared to those at the other hotels. Rich red carpets with bright, bold designs, highly polished marble floors, and lots of warm overhead lighting enhance the casino experience – or even just your walk to restaurants and other activities.

Upon arrival, we were upgraded from our basic king room to a higher floor (24th) and a corner location with two floor-to-ceiling window views of the strip. We’d stayed here before, and this earlier time in December was clearly a slow time in Vegas – certainly worked out for us!

As you can see, the room itself was very spacious – lots of breathing room. Minimal but very tasteful decor, and everything seemed fresh and new and in tip top shape.

We had a huge luxury bathroom complete with gorgeous marble tile, his-and-her sinks, water closet, a massive soaker tub, and separate glass-enclosed shower. Plenty of room to spread out and relax.

We pre-arranged to have a fruit and cheese plate and bottle of wine delivered upon arrival, one of several optional add-ons when booking the room. A very nice touch – recommended!

Our room was fantastic, and Wynn has so much to do within its own massive walls there’s little need to venture elsewhere. In fact, if we’d been staying elsewhere, we would have surely ended up at the Wynn anyway many times for dinners, lunches, and shopping. Fine dining highlights include Lakeside Seafood, with views of the Lake of Dreams and its wonderfully quirky light shows, and the positively phenomenal Costa di Mare, an award-winning Italian and Mediterranean restaurant featuring mind-blowing tasting menus and impeccable service. A new shopping wing is also opening up in stages, featuring high end shops and designers we haven’t yet seen elsewhere on the strip. When it’s in full swing, it will be certainly be a a luxury shopping destination. And of course, there’s Le Reve, the Wynn’s stunning fantasy show featuring breathtaking acrobatics on dry land and water.

For a relaxing, luxurious Las Vegas trip still minutes from all the action, we definitely recommend choosing Wynn Las Vegas.

For more information about Wynn Las Vegas, visit www.wynnlasvegas.com

Review of 2013 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Stardust Heaven- at the Post Hotel, Lake Louise, Alberta

January 16, 2019 By karin Leave a Comment

We wanted a wine with a massive personality, and maximum impact. Can’t go wrong then choosing a California Cabernet Sauvignon with a name inspired by “Ziggy Stardust” and “Stairway to Heaven”.

Selected from the Post Hotel’s renowned wine cellar, this bottle of 2013 Stardust Heaven was a great way to toast the last evening of our Rocky Mountain holiday, and a great (if sometimes quirky) companion for the Tasting Menu in which we decided to indulge. If you’re not going to do a wine pairing experience, there will always be moments when food and wine clash just a little – so you might as well do as we did and make it a standout wine in its own right.

The 2013 Cliff Lede Stardust Heaven is just that – a standout characterized by an inky purple colour (for rock royalty?), bold blackberry and dark berry flavors, as well as earthy licorice notes. And you’ve just got to love the spirit and the story behind it, and all the Cliff Lede “Rock Blocks” wines – the various vineyard blocks are named after class rock tunes by The Who, Pink Floyd, and in the case of our bottle here, Bowie and Zeppelin.

We enjoyed every morsel of the tasting menu, described below, but we don’t apologize for letting Stardust Heaven strut its stuff across the stage and literally steal the show…

Here’s a run down of the fabulous menu (even if it did play back up at times as we sipped our wine…):

Last day of vacation, so we went out with a bang, knowing we were in for the Post’s generous portions and intriguing flavors. We’ve sampled several tasting menus crafted by Chef Hans Sauter in the past – this was one of our favourites.

Duck Breast with Maple Whiskey Ice Cream

Delicate slices of smoked duck breast served with a whiskey ice cream began the feast. It looked gorgeous and the duck was perfect. The ice cream was not perhaps my favourite, but I could appreciate the composition of flavors with the whiskey being a nice match for the smoked meat.

The prawns on the other hand look fairly simple, but the dish was a standout – really, really delicious. Tender and meaty, the prawns’ terrific flavor was beautifully enhanced by the thyme vinaigrette. And the tender, toasty quesadilla with creamy avocado made the dish complete. Easily our favourite course!

The main course was the pork tenderloin and tagliatelle with a rich and creamy porcini mushroom sauce. This is a plate to satisfy a cold-weather craving. I consider this dish “vintage Post Hotel” with its hearty sauce and tender, buttery homemade noodles. While this particular pork tenderloin and tagliatelle dish doesn’t generally appear on the menu, if you’re looking for something similar choose either the veal tenderloin with creamy morel sauce on homemade Spinach fettuccini, or the beef tenderloin “stroganoff” with homemade egg tagliatelle (both dishes have been regular features at the Post for years – with good cause).

Another view of a scrumptious take on a cheese course! — Goat Cheese Mousseline with Plum Compote

This dish – the Goat Cheese Mousseline with Plum Compote – was an unexpected treat. A tangy, creamy, savory dollop of cheese mixed and melded gorgeously with a deeply-flavored plum compote. If I hadn’t been so full, and if there wasn’t an actual dessert course to come, I would have had two. Delish!

Yes, there was dessert – a rich, moist carrot cake thickly laden with cream cheese icing (the reason to eat carrot cake?) – and this is the second time in recent posts that I’ve neglected to grab a photo. My reason is a pretty good one, I think. It was basically the last evening the Post Hotel’s dining room would be open before the five-week closure between Canadian Thanksgiving and ski season. We noticed another couple- fellow port aficionados- nearby. It seemed natural to pull our chairs together, and toast a beautiful meal in a beautiful place together. So, no photo, but great conversation.

A massive wine, a tasty, multi-course feast and lovely new friends – great end to a great vacation!

For more information on dining at the Post Hotel or to view a dinner menu, please visit www.posthotel.com