Las Vegas: I’ve lived and gone to hell

Travel, Wine Tourism, and Restaurants Forum
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First, a PSA: On the road to Las Vegas, 10 minutes off of US 93, we found the Dolan Springs Trading Post. A native American woman welcomed us; the Post is a joint venture between 7 tribes, but with artisans from 38 tribes represented. A very wide variety of craftwork, some outstanding, at prices less than half those at the South Rim, for work at least as good. Quite a few Estate pieces are also scattered throughout the shop. It’s in a run-down location 1.5 hours from Las Vegas but if you are nearby and have interest you are unlikely to find better quality or prices.

We got to the Park MGM and left for Jaleo, where we had a truly outstanding dinner. We shared tomato bread. Her one-bite brik sobrasada was apparently wonderful. Our ‘ounce’ of Serrano ham was probably closer to 3 ounces, top quality, perfectly presented. The classic tortilla (potato omelet) was very good, but not special in the context of the entire meal. The escalivada Catalana was simply the best ratatouille of my life, and Eileen agreed. With a subtle sherry dressing, the whole dish was beyond amazing. I never eat dessert but could not resist the flan, accompanied by an orange cream, which was also at the absolute apex.
I had a glass of Cava, Raventos i Blanc, lovely, with a nice balance of age and freshness. Eileen had a glass of 2015 Ontañon Reserva, deeply classic. I was interested in a few btg reds I had not tried, but was too involved with the food to pay attention to something new, so went with another classic, a profound glass of 2017 Marques de Murrieta Reserva.

Neither of us had ever been in a casino, our images were formed by James Bond movies. The clangor and lights of the electric machinery that greeted us was not what we had in mind and our total wagers for the trip were zero.

I have a genial hatred of James Dolan for what he’s done to the Knicks, but that has turned around and if Sphere was his idea, he’s forgiven for his multitude of sins and stupidities. This is the best large music venue I’ve seen and Dead & Company were wonderful, I’ll write more in the Dead thread.

I’m glad I got to Las Vegas, although I hated the garishness, the glare, the cost, the heat and the architecture. I’ll never go back.

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Never pass up an opportunity to eat Jose Andres’ flan! It is a great, simple recipe which I make regularly.

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Another Jose Andres restaurant in Vegas, Bazaar Meat, is very good as well.

But, yes, Las Vegas (and the Strip) has to be one of the strangest places on Earth.

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At my old job, I would have needed to spend a week in Vegas every year and that was the proverbial straw that broke this camel’s back.

NoMad Library was surprisingly serviceable, though, and I’m glad the NoMad chicken continues to live on there.