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Vegas (Food) Trip: 10 Spots Worth Trying in Sin City

September 27, 2011 by chelness

“What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” — NOT! Because everything is still in my ass.

From massive buffets and best dessert places on the strip to after hour hangover “hole-in-the-wall” type of places off the strip, here are ten foodie spots definitely worth visiting on your next trip to Las Vegas:

La Creperie

This is tiny crepe place in the heart of The Paris Hotel. No fuss menu – choose between sweet or savory, both with great selections! This place is great for something quick. The crepes are $10.

La Creperie Paris Las Vegas 3655 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89136 Neighborhood: The Strip

Serendipity 3

This place has shorter wait time than the one in New York City. They have a dine-in area, and an express/to-go window. The Frrrozen Hot Chocolate is $10 (a little overpriced than Dunkin’ Donuts) but definitely worth it! Almost did not make it for the last cup but I did, and that’s the best part.

Serendipity 3 3570 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89109 Neighborhood: The Strip

Grand Lux Cafe

This upscale version of Cheesecake Factory has a wide, and I mean WIDE selection of food, generous portioning, and affordable pricing. Really awesome Lemon Chicken Piccata (pictured below) which is what I always get.

Grand Lux Cafe The Venetian 3355 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89109 Neighborhood: The Strip

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville

Fun place! The cafe is adorned with fishing boats, reels, and has this “Florida” feel to it. There was also a local band playing covers of 90′s hits and a dancefloor. Tip: Never leave without ordering a Margarita!

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville 3555 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89109 Neighborhood: The Strip

Orchids Garden

Three words: Dimsum. All. Day. Also “Voted Best Dimsum in Las Vegas” – Yelp

Orchids Garden 5485 W Sahara Ave Las Vegas, NV 89146 Neighborhood: West Side

In-N-Out Burger

Two words: Order everything ANIMAL STYLE.

In-N-Out Burger 2900 W Sahara Ave Las Vegas, NV 89136 Neighborhood: Westside

Jollibee

The #1 Filipino Fast Food. They got deals like 2 buckets of the famous “chicken joy” for $10 on certain days. MUST!

Jollibee 3890 S Maryland Pkwy, Ste 137 Las Vegas, NV 89109 Neighborhood: East Side

Kusina ni Lorraine

Filipino Buffet. I literally left with a headache and palpitations because I O.D.’d on the “all you can eat” chicharon bulaklak (below).

Kusina ni Lorraine 3507 S Maryland Pkwy Las Vegas, NV 89169 Neighborhood: Eastside

Studio B Buffet

The best buffet in Las Vegas located at the M Resort. It must be the ALL YOU CAN DRINK BEER and/or WINE with your meal. Also, the crab legs are amazingly fresh and delicious, and the prime rib is tender and oh so good! Not to mention the massive smorgasbord of desserts!

Studio B Buffet The M Resort 12300 Las Vegas Blvd Henderson, NV 89044 Neighborhood: Southeast

Coronado Cafe

The picture says it all. These prices are worth staying up late/waking up early for!

Coronado Cafe South Point Hotel and Casino 9777 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89183 Neighborhood: Southeast

Pho Kim Long

A hangover spot off the strip where all the drunk people come after midnight! The wait to get a table was short and the food came pretty quickly. The crispy salt and pepper pork chop is a MUST, but there are a lot of other choices on the menu, including other Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine. The prices are very affordable.

Pho Kim Long 4029 Spring Mountain Rd Las Vegas, NV 89102 Neighborhood: Chinatown

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Making Delectable Healthy Meals for Your Family

August 20, 2011 by chelness

Eating junk food may be a common pastime, but consistently eating the wrong foods can lead to health complications later. You may wonder why so many healthy meals tend to taste like cardboard and find it difficult to find nutritious foods that you like. This does not always have to be the case, if you use a little creativity.

You don’t need to spend more time in the kitchen, and you don’t need specialized culinary training. You just need to change a few things. Below are some ways to liven up meals that are nutritious.

1.    Get to Know Your Spices Better

There are more options to seasoning your food other than salt and pepper. Ground onion, chipotle powder, and variations of garlic can liven up any meal.

Let’s say you like chicken and potatoes. You could try broiling or baking these food products, instead of deep-frying them. Marinate the chicken in any seasoning such as jerk, southwestern, or teriyaki. Fries are delicious, but they are starchy and often cooked in too much oil, including butter or margarine. When you make fries, try to minimize the oil you use and try healthy oils like canola and olive. Oven-cooked fries are a good alternative for those watching their waistline. Cover raw, sliced potatoes in healthy oil, sprinkle on your favorite seasoning, and bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. The fries you end up with will be good for you and taste great.

2.    Decrease Your Portions

Many times our eyes are bigger than our stomach, which can lead to weight gain and wasted food. There is no need for that “stuffed” feeling. Get into the habit of measuring your food as well as taking time between bites. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that the longer you chew, the less you eat.

There is no need to starve yourself. Just enjoy your food, and push the plate away when you are full.

3.    Be the Master of Your Kitchen

By cooking at home, you are in control of your portions. Restaurants tend to use plates larger than most used at home. Some even use platters that are much wider in size. By using small plates, you can measure how much food will be eaten. It does not hurt to eat at home on a weekend instead of dining out. Also, learn to use color for visual aesthetic and health benefits. Adding vegetables that are green, red, or orange will not only guarantee that you are getting more vitamins like Vitamin C and beta-carotene, but it will also guarantee that you are getting less fat and carbohydrates. Go online to find out which vegetables and fruits contain the nutrients you and your family may be missing out on. A good way to integrate more veggies is with meatless entrees. This Eggplant Parmigiana recipe is a perfect example of a healthy, meatless entree. Cook meals at home, and you’ll save money and get healthy!

Written by Guest Blogger, Sean Kennedy

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Bobby Flay’s Burger Palace

August 4, 2011 by chelness

Ever heard of Bobby Flay? Yup, the critically-acclaimed chef/restaurateur, award-winning cookbook author and television personality. Well now you have, and this is his burger palace.

I recently paid a visit to my Aunt in Hackensack, NJ, and she kept insisting that we eat dinner at this place that their family always go to. She mentioned a place called BBP and how good their burgers are. As soon as I walked in and saw that “Bobby” actually stood for Bobby Flay… all her raving started making sense to me.

Bobby’s Burger Palace (BBP) presents 10 signature burgers inspired by Chef Bobby Flay’s extensive travels throughout America. The place has great interiors — lively colors, and playful ambiance. The one piece lighting that goes entirely through the dining area and the wall fixtures of food pornography is a feast for the eyes. And of course, who doesn’t love Bobby?!

I’m not really a “burger aficionado”, but I figured I might as well be. After blogging about Smashburger and Zinburger, and having a handful of readers try these joints and actually like it, people have now been asking me what’s next in line on my burger adventures. I think I just found one that’s worthy of being talked about.

To be honest, there was really nothing special about the burgers, except for the fancy presentation. But the best thing I liked about the food was the SAUCES. They have everything from “Fry Sauce”, to “Burger Sauce”, and “Sweet Potato Fry Sauce”. They all tastes immaculate!

All in all, I loved my experience at Bobby’s Burger Palace, in fact, this was the first time I really enjoyed “Burger sauce” and “Fry Sauce” and now I am hooked!

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Red Mango Frozen Yogurt – Treat Yourself Well!

May 5, 2011 by chelness

I was not a fan of yogurt until someone decided to add flavor, freeze, and load it with toppings! Now I usually like mine chocolate, with lots and lots of Mochi!

Originating in California, which then expanded to New York , Utah, Washington and Nevada, Red Mango is a frozen yogurt and smoothie brand known for its all-natural frozen yogurt, fresh fruit smoothies, yogurt parfaits, and probiotic iced teas. There are now more than 100 locations in 25 states in the U.S.

We are now regulars.

Red Mango is now my best bet for a healthy dessert option! Not only do they use 100% all natural, nonfat & lowfat, kosher, and gluten-free frozen yogurt fortified with probiotics, but they were aloso the first frozen yogurt store to be certified by the National Yogurt Association with the Live & Active Cultures seal, indicating the use of real yogurt.

You can choose from Original, Pomegranate, Madagascar Vanilla, and a rotating variety of seasonal or specialty flavors topped with fruits like strawberries, mango, blueberries, and pineapple, or “fun and crunchy” items like fruity pebbles, graham cracker, mochi and more!

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Irish for a Day

March 19, 2011 by chelness

Aside from the extremely gorgeous Colin Farrell and the extremely hideous Leprechaun, I really don’t know anything else Irish. The closest I’ve done as far as celebrating St. Patrick’s Day was going to an Irish pub with friends, or simply staying home eating a bowl of Lucky Charms in my clover-leaf printed pajamas.

So for this year, I decided to actually celebrate St. Patty’s day with friends and learn more about the Irish culture. No, I did not gallivant in Hoboken, and Irish Pub-hopped and got drunk wearing a green “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” shirt like the rest of the kids(?) my age! To be honest, I’ve outgrown that kind of partying pretty early in my life (considering the number of saints we pay tribute to in the Philippines, something to this nature is already considered an every day affair). Instead, I opted for a quiet Irish-inspired meal with my fellow Asian/non-Irish friends.

Part of our meal was 10 lbs of corned beef, slow-cooked to tender perfection, partnered with boiled potatoes cut in half as the staple. I just realized that this type of meal inspired the way we eat our traditional Filipino corned beef. I’m talking about the one that usually comes from a can — labeled “Purefoods” or “Argentina”, which we usually cook with diced potatoes. The diced potatoes is not our staple, but is cooked as a “rekado” or part of the ingredients used for the corned beef. Rice is still our staple. Another proof that Asians don’t believe in low-carb diets!

What I also realized after seeing boiled cabbage to this smorgasbord of a meal is that this whole Irish dinner is in fact reminiscent of of our traditional “Bulalo” dish – which consist of beef brisket (sometimes bone with the marrow), potatoes, cabbage, and string beans, all brought to a boil and eaten with, of course, rice. We could certainly have “Bulalo” for breakfast if we do get any leftovers.

Of course, our meal wouldn’t be complete without the Irish Soda Bread and Guinness Beer. It appears that Wegmans Supermarket makes the most delicious Irish soda bread, with generous amounts of raisins, and not hard or plain like the usual ones you find elsewhere. As for Guinness, there’s not much to say except, well, it’s Guinness! (Even our dog loved it. Oops..)

Our first attempt to celebrate St. Patty’s Day turned out to be a good time. It’s fun to wear green, while having good food, great company, and a good ole time. I don’t see why being Irish for a day can’t be a yearly affair for non-Irish folks like us… Ay?!

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