We recently spent 4 amazingly flavorful days in Las Vegas and have decided to do a write up for those seeking adventurous and delicious eating! Did you know that there’s actually MORE to Vegas than gambling and pulling all-nighters at the casino?? Yep. Vegas is one of my most favorite adult timeouts loaded with artistically designed cuisine I didn’t have to make myself.
I love food, but not just any and all food…. chef crafted food….and so does my husband, and Vegas has some of the best. This blog details our delicious and unforgettable food-cation! If you’re a foodie like us, maybe you’ll find this video useful in planning your next visit! And if not, perhaps you’ll consider opening up your palate and sampling some of the best restaurants Vegas has to offer. Side note: I did also do a narrated video on youtube for those who like to watch helpful videos, here it is!
LAVO
Our first stop on our food-adventure was LAVO at the Venetian. Go to their website, you’ll see why I booked this place. It is Italian food and hand-crafted cocktails. Vegas always does such a great job with ambiance, and LAVO was no exception. We walked into an eclectic space with unique lantern-esque light fixtures and a trickling water feature that spans the entire wall above a seating area by the bar. The menu covered everything, from charred octopus and roasted beet salad (my husband’s favorite) to the anticipated pasta dish and traditional steaks and chops. I ordered the sea bass, flavorful as always, with a chickpea and tomato puree and fried portobello mushrooms. Nate ordered the Branzino…another favorite of ours. You can do family style here which makes it more fun to pass around these amazing dishes to sample and share. This experience was excellent.
Julian Serrano Tapas
On to Julian Serrano Tapas at the Aria. The website promotes small plates, big flavors. Agreed. Chef Julian Serrano infuses his spanish background into all of the menu options. I did some research on his accomplishments, he is a two-time winner of the prestigious james beard foundation award and the executive chef of Picasso at Bellagio.
He is a native of Madrid, one of our most favorite places in Spain. Nate and I have fond memories of spending time in Spain so whenever we get a chance to eat authentic Spanish cuisine, we take it. This restaurant greets you with vibrant colors obviously reminiscent of Spanish culture. We decided to order sangria (of course!) and a few tapas to try. The octopus was my favorite… it was fresh, grilled, and the texture was perfect. The filet tapas was served with delicious thick sauce and saffron honey… and the branzino was perfectly cooked and smothered in a tomato confit with sherry vinegar. It had all the smells, and all the flavor. Not an octopus fan? Try it before you deny it!! Eat here…It was amazing.
Chica
Chica at The Venetian was date night! A passionate night deserves to start with a passionate menu. Chica has locations in Miami, Aspen, and Vegas, lucky for us. They promote a menu that is a celebration of latin flavors… sounds perfect!
Chef Lorena Garcia opened Chica in 2017 and we hope it’s around many years to come. With influences from Peru, Brazil and Argentina, this menu was impossible to say no to. I was so excited about our food journey thru latin america, I wore a bright red sequin dress… I was ready for an amazing night. We started with Peruvian Ceviche…. excellent. I then ordered the Mussels which were drenched in a chorizo coconut broth. I’m not ashamed to say that I practically licked the bowl. Nate ordered their signature Baby Back Ribs Al Pastor, known as the smoke show…. and here you’ll see why. The meat literally dissolves in your mouth, so much flavor, and such a creative presentation.
And for dessert? A cheesecake formed into the shape of an ear of corn! A culinary experience that I can’t wait to go back to!!!
I have a tremendous amount of appreciation for the culinary arts. Chef prepared food is something that I find so exciting and adventurous. It’s not every day that we eat like this… we are raising 4 kiddos that wouldn’t touch all of this flavor with a 10 ft. pole… they just aren’t ready yet. So for us to be on a trip to Vegas with every night open for the chef experience….well, we took full advantage, we ordered some crazy unique dishes, and we laughed into our wine glasses knowing that we didn’t have to eat plain cheese pizza that week… it was food bliss. When I tell people I love Las Vegas, they always say “oh, do you gamble?” No. I make dinner reservations. For me, Vegas is one of those places where you’ll find the absolute best entertainment, the absolute best hotels, and the absolute best chef dining experiences.
We hope this blog inspires you to make some upcoming dinner reservations the next time you visit Las Vegas. I am already planning the next one…
Eat adventurously….Heather and Nate
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