karin, Author at Small Barrels Magazine

Review of Cipriani – Wynn Las Vegas

May 21, 2019 By karin Leave a Comment

We dined at the brand new Cipriani this past December, a fine dining establishment at Wynn Las Vegas. Open just a few weeks in the new Wynn Plaza Shops area of the resort, the experience was a treat from start to finish. If there were any complaints to register, it was that there may have been too many good things, namely too many attentive servers checking in on us, too many rich dishes to sample together on the recommendation of our server. But if these are the sorts of kinks Cipriani shows in its opening weeks, we believe things will only get better from here on out…

On to cocktails:

Bellini - The Original! — Bellini – The Original!

So let’s start with the Bellini. Cipriani has a great origin story to boast – Giuseppe Cipriani Sr. was the inventor of this famous bevvy. Made with white peach pureé and prosecco, it was absolutely refreshing way for me to begin the meal. For him – a dry and bracing Frozen Martini served in a shot glass that lives in the freezer.

Cipriani Menu - Ask for Guidance — Cipriani Menu – Ask for Guidance

As you can see above, the menu is very full. It presented a bit of a puzzle when it came to assembling a meal. Our server was very knowledgeable and helped us navigate, making some great recommendations. Although in the end, we found the particular combination of dishes to be too much and too heavy and rich. (This may be in part due to the fact that it was the final evening of our holiday, capping several nights of dining indulgence- but something to keep in mind.)

Carpaccio "alla Cipriani" — Carpaccio “alla Cipriani”

With a plan to share everything, we began with the delectable beef carpaccio, another legendary Cipriani original, named after Vittore Carpaccio, the Italian painter who apparently used the striking red colour in his art that is characteristic of the dish.

Salad - Burrata "alla Mediterranea" — Salad – Burrata “alla Mediterranea”

The salad was decadent and delicious – and huge, as pictured above. Split in two, it was still a very generous portion. The tomatoes were gem-like, ruby-red, and delicious – a treat at this time of year.

We indulged in the 2014 Gaja Barbaresco, knowing the elegant nebbiolo would be a beautiful match for the luscious flavours in the rich Italian dishes. It was everything we had hoped for – big, rich and spicy, full of flavor, and yet silky.

Cipriani's Extra Virgin Olive Oil — Cipriani’s own Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Risotto with Mushrooms and White Truffle from Alba

There was a bit of delay in the preparation of the risotto dish, due to a break down of communication between wait staff and the kitchen. We love to linger over a great dinner, but this delay did stretch out the time between courses a little beyond the comfortable zone, with no fewer than six difference servers checking in on us to see if we were ‘okay’. A bit much perhaps, but once again due to those ‘opening weeks jitters’ of this very new restaurant. I’d fully expect that by now these kinks have been ironed out. And the risotto was delicious.

Being in season, we added the white truffle from alba to the risotto and the following dish, the Uovo in Ravioli (Egg in Ravioli). Every paper-thin slice was well worth it.

The Uovo in Raviolo was deliciousness itself, but I recall that it was here that I hit my wall in terms of the richness of the dishes. Burrata, risotto, and then this decadent dish while all outstanding felt very heavy at this point. They were all so good, it was hard to practice restraint knowing what was coming next (such problems, I know…). On a return visit, I’d take out at least one of these three opening numbers, and insert a greener salad. Having said this, if the menu contained any missteps, they were certainly tasty.

We ended our meal with another rich, delicious dish, but this time in beef form, a melt-in-your-mouth sliced Wagyu steak to share. I would have enjoyed it more had I not so thoroughly enjoyed the previous dishes. We both ended up leaving more than a bit behind, which felt like a shame. There was certainly no room for dessert.

Overall, this is a place we’d return to. The food was decadent and delicious, the service was attentive, and the decor comfortable and interesting (designed with a glamorous nautical theme in mind, meant to evoke a yacht.) Any detractions here were due to the newness of the establishment, our own unfamiliarity with the dishes on the menu (now cured!), and perhaps that we chose Cipriani to cap an already full week of food and wine. Do certainly consider making a reservation when you’re next in Vegas.

For more information on Cipriani at Wynn Las Vegas, visit www.wynnlasvegas.com

Review of Terrace Pointe Café – Wynn Las Vegas

May 16, 2019 By karin Leave a Comment

Perfectly spicy Caesar at Terrace Pointe Cafe — Perfectly spicy Wynn Signature Bloody Mary at Terrace Pointe Café

The Terrace Pointe Café is a casual dining option at The Wynn. Open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., it’s a great spot for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or maybe an indulgent afternoon drink or dessert. Though casual, the interior is quite elegantly decorated, with the fresh and somewhat whimsical colors you see all over the Wynn hotel. There’s great natural lighting, and spacious, comfortable seating both indoors and out.

On our recent visit, we were fortunate to have great weather for sitting outside on the patio that overlooks the hotel’s beautiful pool. Plenty of umbrellas made it comfortable on a very sunny day. We weren’t faced with a wait of any kind to be seated as the restaurant is quite large. Having said that, we found very little to be busy in Vegas in early December – so factor in time of year if you’re visiting.

Arriving at around noon, we were offered a choice of breakfast or lunch menus, and looked at both for good measure. There’s an extensive list of selections as you might expect, with hearty brunch choices like Crispy Fried Chicken and Waffles, massive omelettes stuffed with goodies like half an avocado and bacon (served with a salsa that I wished I could have purchased!), a rich sounding Croissant French Toast, and a selection of different eggs benedict.

Sandwiches and salads also abound, and as you’ll find at other Wynn dining locations, there are a number of Hawaiian-inspired options (poke bowls), smoothies and fresh juice bar selections, and a full vegan menu. Lighter calorie meals are also flagged throughout the menu. (Can’t comment – didn’t eat those.)

The service was great both times we dined here on our trip – friendly, attentive, and well-paced. Prices hover around the $20 mark (US) for most plates – we found the portions to be more than generous, and well-prepared.

Note to Blood Mary/ Caesar lovers – we ate here to kick off our first full day in Vegas, and maybe it was just that beginning-of-the-vacation magic but the Wynn Signature Bloody Mary I sipped on was absolute savory/spicy heaven, one of the best I’ve ever had.

If you’re staying at the Wynn, or just hanging out at the Wynn casino on the earlier side of the day, consider relaxing poolside with a meal (or Bloody Mary!) at the Terrace Point Café.

For more information or to view the full Terrace Point Café menu, visit www.wynnlasvegas.com

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