Just lovely.

Pre-Scarpetta, I couldn’t even remember the last time Anthony & I dressed up for a meal. So I was really excited to have a nice dinner date, & break in some heels I haven’t worn since I bought them in April.

The dining room was far more gorgeous than the outside of the restaurant leads you to think. Elegant & chic- with window seats overlooking the Bellagio fountains. Very much a romantic atmosphere, most tables were set for 2.

Our server started us out with an array of different breads, accompanied by mascarpone butter, an eggplant tomato caponata & citrus olive oil. I often tend to judge a meal as soon as the bread (or chips… etc) arrives to the table. First impressions are crucial! If you ever dine at Scarpetta, dig for the warm stromboli loaf in your bread basket first! It pairs really wonderfully with the caponata, but also stands strong on its own. You definitely want to eat this bread while its hot- because its stuffed with layers of salami & mozzarella. YUM!

My first course was Braised Short Ribs of Beef over a farro risotto. The beef was immensely tender & alive with flavor. It had a very thin slice of parmesan resting on top of it, just barely melted. Nice touch! I loved how hearty the risotto was- this is nothing my Mom would have ever prepared for me…but somehow the risotto tasted home-y. I didn’t even have time to identify all the vegetables that were in this dish, because I was far too busy stuffing my face. Between bites of the short ribs, I had a few pieces of raw yellowtail. Incredibly fresh, with such great flavor. Unknown to me at the time, it was adorn with almost microscopic red onions (GROSS)…but I ate each piece very willingly- despite my hatred for onions.

For my main course I had the Aged Sirloin of Beef. It was served with wild mushrooms, potato gnocchi & barolo ragu. Everything on the plate was exceedingly juicy & robust, without being overwhelming. The gnocchi was a great equalizer to the sirloin and the ragu. This dish was really unforgettable, hats off to Scott Conant.

Dessert was very simple! Coconut Panna Cotta served with coconut sorbetto, pineapples & guava soup, ofcourse this is my pick- being a true Hawaiian & all. I could have done without the crushed pineapples, I felt like they interfered with the guava coconut vibe I had going. I had mentally prepared myself for the guava soup to be too sweet, but fortunately, I was incorrect. In addition to that, I was thrilled with how smooth the panna cotta was. Each bite was like silk!

In short, I LOVED Scarpetta. 4 stars!

[My dog, Molly Brown, ate the cord for my camera to upload pics…stay tuned for those]

Great seafood restaurants are a rarity here in the desert, but I feel like at Aquaknox I’ve found a gem!

The atmosphere is very elegant, with a bit of a nautical twist. Each table adorned in white linen, and garnished with blue goblets & wine glasses. My boyfriend & I were celebrating an anniversary that evening, so we were ideally seated in a booth that was intimate, as well as comfortable.

Service, unquestionably superior. I would expect nothing less from a restaurant of such high stature. Allen, our server- was very accommodating. He executed very wonderful suggestions, that MADE our experience.

To start out, we got a vase full of long crispy bread sticks & a house smoked salmon dip. Let me tell you that if it weren’t socially unacceptable…I would have licked the dish that the salmon dip came in, no problem. Needless to say, it was excellent, & I crave it daily.

Next up to bat- Crab Cake & Lobster Bisque. Being a previous resident of New England & a connoisseur of food- I feel like a have a very firm palate when it comes to a few things, crab cakes & lobster bisque included. The Crab Cake was incredible, beautifully seasoned & served over a citrus flavored bed of corn relish. As for the Lobster Bisque, it wasn’t too creamy- just perfect. It was really comforting & nostalgic to have some good New England food, without the 5 hour long flight.

Seafood Plateau- Overwhelmingly fresh, standard assortment (oysters, oyster shooters, clams, mussels, lobster, crab claws, prawns). The ponzu oyster shooters…to die for! I was also a big fan of the champagne vinegar sauce that came with the oysters. Also, probably the biggest prawns I have ever seen. Very impressive!

John Dory was my main course. Excellent suggestion from our server, Allen! Unlike any other fish I have ever had. It was sauteed on one side only, giving it an ambidextrous texture. I loved the crunch from the sauteed side, but the soft side exposed its sweetness, & also gave it a buttery finish. John Dory definitely tasted like fish, which was admirable to say the least. A lot of times, when seafood is over prepared, it loses that oceanic taste. Frankly, I would like my fish to taste like fish. The lobster succotash & sweet corn broth that it was served over was also delightful. It did a great job of complimenting the fish, without overshadowing it, with its bold flavors.

Now, at this point- being a girl of 5’4”/95 lbs, I’m surprised that I wasn’t already stuffed & in a food coma. But, there really is always room for dessert. Apple Tarte Tatin- sweet savory apple chunks, covered in caramel served beside a salted caramel ice cream. I thought the salted caramel ice cream to be very inventive & appropriate!!! Creme Brulee- my one true dessert staple. I enjoyed the vanilla beans that were tucked under the custard, it made for a very yummy last bite.

Aquaknox was a great success! I look forward to making this our new go-to venue for seafood. The food exceeded my expectations, & the service was right on point.

I’ve found the best tamales in Las Vegas! Dona Maria’s Tamales on LVB & Charleston/Teneya & Cheyenne. Either location is a bit of a hike for me, but the juice is worth the squeeze!

The corn masa encrusting each tamale just melts in your mouth. Very moist, & delicious. Most places have the corn masa to filling ratio all wrong, but I really think this place knows what they are doing. Normally I inch around the tamales second skin, respectably, in order to get to the gold- but this time…I almost cleared my plate, & ate the husk!

Dona Maria’s offers 4 different kinds of tamales. Red (pulled pork, mild sauce), Green (shredded chicken, hot sauce), Cheese (Monterrey Jack, green chiles), & Sweet (pineapples, raisins). If you ever plan on making a trip, it wouldn’t hurt to sample them all. My boyfriend & I ordered 1 tamale to share as an appetizer, shortly after the first few bites, we ordered 1 more of EACH. What could be better than a tamale flight?

Firefly- I LOVE tapas & I have heard so many things about Firefly. Both negative & positive, I really want to go so I can form my own opinion on it.

MIX- When I’m looking for somewhere to dine, great food is an obvious aspect I’m concerned with…but so is atmosphere! I’m drawn to MIX because of the extravagant decor & the view, in addition to the seemingly creative menu. I must note that Barramundi is my favorite cooked fish in the entire world, its also very rare & MIX has it on their menu.

Life, in general- could not get any easier. I am so in love.

It feels so good to be HOME.