| Marilyn Anderson & Dennis Lanning’s ROMANCE ON THE ROAD Eats, Treats, and Feats LAS VEGAS, NEVADA One of the great things about Las Vegas, is you can do it up expensively or you can do it on the cheap, and either way, have a sensational time. It used to be, people went to Vegas primarily to gamble. Neither Dennis nor I like to gamble, but we always enjoy the unbridled decadence and fun of the city. There are wonderful restaurants, thrilling shows, acres of shopping, exploring the glitzy hotels, and many other exciting opportunities to keep you very busy and very giddy. In today’s economy many of the luxurious hotels are practically giving away rooms… in fact, some are giving them away! Hint: If you register for a Players Card (even if you’re not a big gambler), some hotels will offer you a free room for several days when you return the next time!
Much better than gambling was the opportunity to eat some fabulous meals and watch some extraordinary entertainment. The Mandalay Bay Hotel has ten signature restaurants, eight casual restaurants, and four “quick eats.” So where do you want to eat, Marilyn? We decided on MIX, and found our way to their hidden elevator that sweeps you up to the top floor of the We were seated next to the window, where we looked out at the Vegas landscape, watching the teeny little people below scurrying across the freezing cold streets to their next adventure. Did we mention it snowed in Las Vegas the day before! Speaking of adventures, the food at Mix is an adventure in good taste. We loved each and every dish and want to share the yummy details. At the table, we were treated to a variety of artisanal breads served with butter and peanut butter. That is, regular butter with peanuts in it, not the peanut butter your mother gave you!
We shared the entrees of Monkfish over Celery Puree and Diver Scallops in a Sea of Clam Chowder Broth. The kitchen’s skill, under the tutelage of Alain Ducasse, was amply demonstrated by the perfect timing and taste of all the seafood. We relished every morsel, contrasting their flavors and preparations to near perfection. Usually we share one dessert, but this time we each indulged in our personal favorites. Dennis ordered the Chocolate Soufflé with Homemade Pistachio Ice Cream. Ooh la la! So sweet, so good. Marilyn went with a Caramel Sundae with Peanuts which she liked, but she also tried a taste of Dennis’s soufflé. Who could resist that? Practically rolling out of Mix, we headed to the Venetian Hotel for the BLUE MAN GROUP. This show has been running for years, with touring companies all over the globe. We had never seen it before so we went with eager anticipation. For a sheer entertainment experience, this laugh-out-loud, pulsating piece of theatre Exhausted, we finally went back to our room at the Wynn where, with the beds turned down and a peppermint awaiting us, we quickly fell asleep anticipating another day of fun and food. Question: Why do hotels put candy on the bed, which you climb into after brushing your teeth? They should give it to you in the elevator on the way up!
Boulud, coupled with rising star Wesley Holten, has created a modern brasserie with a compelling combination of simple dishes, done extraordinary well. The restaurant is located overlooking the Lake of Dreams, which enhances the entire dining experience. We sat cozily together, facing a lighted lake surrounded by foliage, flooded in ever-changing colored lights and with a large movie screen behind a waterfall. The scene is surreal as every half-hour you are treated to a different show of special effects, music and lights. We sat entranced. First, there were ’70’s style Goldfingeresque women’s silhouettes dancing on the screen to disco music. A half-hour later, we were entertained by two huge flowers dancing above the waterfall, opening and closing in time to the music and changing colors. While one was opening, the other was pointing… almost like a man and woman tantalizing each other. Marilyn’s favorite was a huge frog above the waterfall, opening and closing his big eyes and jauntily croaking out “What a Wonderful World” in Louis Armstrong’s voice. During dinner we saw five of these little shows outside, which tells you how much we were enjoying our time inside. At the beginning of our meal, our waiter Michael treated us to a champagne and an amuse bouché. Next, we shared an appetizer of Fruits de Mer, a bountiful assortment of clams, oysters, lobster, prawns, crab, mussels, tuna tartare and ceviche that was large enough for four or five people. Gradually polishing that off, we ordered our entrees and told Michael not to hurry. We were enjoying the wine and show too much to rush things. Marilyn had the Skate Grenoubles. A delectable, moist and flaky broiled fish served with grapes, mini-croutons, and capers over roasted cauliflower and mashed potatoes. Dennis ordered the Crispy Duck Confit accompanied by red cabbage, quince and fois gras croutons, which were more like delicately fried croquettes, but extremely light and sweet.
Did we mention the bread assortment that came with the meal? Along with a French and sour dough, there was raisin bread, fig bread and date and pistachio bread. Carbo-ecstasy! As if the cheese plate wasn’t enough, Michael proudly brought us a dessert plate, too! Our absolute favorite was the Four Beignets with a Light Chocolate Filling. We also had the Floating Island of Meringue with Anise Sauce and Four Mini pastries. Michael, enough already! Our waiter Michael was not only gracious and welcoming, but completely knowledgeable about the origin and preparation of all the food, the other restaurants in Las Vegas, and even the weather around the country! He was charming and helpful – the consummate professional rarely found these days.
We’ve seen all kinds of magic and illusionist shows over the years, but this is about the most unusual. Criss is an illusionist who became popular from his A&E television show, “Mind Freak,” which struck a chord with the MTV generation. We hadn’t heard of him, but there’s no question, the fan-filled audience knew him, and knew him well. The moment he came onstage, there were endearing cheers from all over the room, and many fans sent presents up to him on stage. It turned out that it was his birthday. The BELIEVE show is hard to believe… exactly what an illusionist wants! It’s all Goth and dark imagery, with his themes coming to life, somehow, onstage. He excels at There aren’t as many illusions as one might expect, but there is no shortage of great musical production and terrific dancing, providing an exciting visual feast for the eyes and ears. It is dark and brooding with loud, pulsating rhythms. Unique, imaginative, and supremely fun to watch! Mature folks enjoy it even though it’s geared to a youthful crowd that totally “gets” it. At the end of this performance, Criss was the one surprised, when his girlfriend Holly Madison, his mother, and the owner of the Luxor brought out a giant birthday cake. Criss emotionally addressed the audience in a heartwarming way, urging everyone to “Never give up on your dreams.” “Never accept negativity or naysayers,” he continued, as he gave what seemed-to-be truly genuine thanks to everyone, especially to the owner of the Luxor for helping him realize his dream. It was a special part of the show that perhaps not every audience will see, but not knowing of Criss Angel before, we BELIEVE now. So ended our stay in Las Vegas! Cut short by the first snow in Las Vegas in 30 years, which closed the El Cajon Pass, our two-and-a-half fun and food-filled days will be remembered fondly. But you can be sure, we’ll return there soon to eat, drink and play. And don’t forget, “What happens in Vegas… we share with you!” |
