Santa Claus

For Christmas this year, I got some great stuff. Santa brought me a whole army of items to keep me warm through the NY winter (and just in time too as the blizzard began striking this afternoon and isn't scheduled to end for nearly 24 hours!) I got my first pair of Uggs for toasty feet, wonder warmers and cashmere gloves/mittens for toasty hands, furry earmuffs, a giant scarf, sweaters, leggings, and lots of other goodies. Perhaps though, the best gift Santa brought me was a family holiday. We don't often manage to get very many of the clan together. It was a special treat this year to have my father and his brother, as well as all of their kids, celebrating Christmas. Sadly, I didn't think to snap a photo of everyone, or even just of the cousins, but I did manage to get a pic of Alanna and Daddy:

Thanksgiving 2010

This year Danny and I are thankful for Arissa. We had a Swiss-tacular weekend with lots of play and love. We're already counting the days till she comes to visit again at Christmas break.

Lots of playing...we love Prospect Park!

Sit. Speak. Good Girl! xxxooo

We even played ball in the house (shhh!) We also ate pizza and ice cream, but don't tell!

And of course we did lots of lazing around...my perfect couch potato!

Not sure who is more in love...

Bartolotta Risorante di Mare

The final stop on our self-made Michelin restaurant tour was Bartolotta at the Wynn Hotel. Once again, we opted for the chef's menu, which in this case doesn't have a printed menu because it changes daily based on what fresh seafood has arrived from the Mediterranean. You can see the spread in the pictures below. We got to sit outside and enjoy the lake, which really did almost make it feel like we were back in the Med.

Le Cirque Las Vegas

On our continuing journey of Michelin starred restaurants, our next stop was Le Cirque. Perhaps we were foolish to begin at Robuchon, because as nice as every other restaurant was, there is a reason he is the only 3-star restaurant in town. In any case, Le Cirque also offered a tasting menu, which of course, Danny had to experience. Below is the menu and our photos:

Dégustation Menu:

Amuse-Bouche

Lobster Salad "Le Cirque"

Sautéed Foie Gras
Raisin Brioche, Nashi Pear, Candied Cherry & Rhubarb Gastrique

Or

Risotto - Supplement $24
with Fresh Summer Truffles

~~~

Paupiette of Sea Bass
with Braised Leeks & Pinot Noir Sauce

Yuzu Glazed Duck
Turnips & Confit, "Pralin" Reduction

Or

Australian Wagyu "Kobe" Beef Strip Loin

~~~

Pre-Dessert

Dessert Fantasy
Mignardises and Gourmandises

Next stop...Bartolotta Risorante di Mare....

I Love Brunch!

Mon Ami Gabi - The Paris Hotel, Las Vegas

Seriously, the best waffles and french toast I've ever had. Clinton Street still takes the pancake prize, but if there was a Mon Ami Gabi in NY, we'd have quite a decision to make each weekend!

And did you see how gorgeous that fresh fruit appetizer is? It came with an incredible mint syrup...yum, yum, yum!

Joel Robuchon - Las Vegas

Yeah, yeah...I should have titled this post, "Better late than never." I know.

Danny and I went to Las Vegas back on Memorial Day weekend. We stayed in THE Hotel at the Mandalay Bay. It was wonderful and definitely worth staying in again. The only real downside is that it is far enough at the end of the strip that it's necessary to take a cab to most of the great restaurants, which as you know, is why we went to Vegas in the first place.

These photos are from Joel Robuchon (the 3 Michelin star location, not L'Atelier which is also great, but only holds 1 star.) I ordered an entree and dessert, while Danny opted for the 16-course tasting menu, which also comes with bread, an amuse bouche, and chocolate confections, making it really a 19-course meal. Here is the menu, right off of the MGM Grand website:

Sixteen Course Degustation Menu $385/Person

• Le Caviar
  en infusion de corail anisé, en surprise
  Caviar on a fennel cream served as a surprise
• Le Foie Gras
  en duo mêlé de pomme ratte comme un carpaccio aux copeaux de truffe blanche
  Carpaccio of foie gras and potatoes, covered with white truffle shavings
• Les Champignons
  une fine feuille croustillante aux cèpes en gondole, une royale tremblotante au cappuccino de persil plat, thé de matsutakés au gingembre
  Crispy toast topped with cèpes mushroom, trembling parsley royal and ginger matsutake tea
• La Grenouille
  la cuisse en fritot à la purée aillée et au coulis de cresson
  Crispy frog leg, garlic and watercress coulis
• Les Crustacés
  le homard rôti au curry et fines graines de chou-fleur, la langoustine truffée et cuite en ravioli, l'oursin, zéphyr lacté d'un nuage tout moka
  Roasted lobster on cauliflower with green curry, truffled langoustine ravioli with chopped cabbage, delicate flan of sea urchin with mocha foam
• La Châtaigne
  dans un fin velouté soyeux sur un voile virtuel de lard fumé
  Chestnut velouté with smoked lardons foam
• L'Os à Moelle
  garni d'un ragoût de légumes aux éclats de maïs épicé
  Bone marrow and vegetable ragout with corn and spices
• Le Bar
  poêlé à la citronnelle avec une étuvée de jeunes poireaux
  Pan fried sea bass with lemongrass emulsion and stewed baby leeks
• Le Veau
  en côte au plat avec un jus gras et escorté de taglierinis de légumes au pistou
  Sautéed veal chop with natural jus and vegetable taglierinis flavored with pesto
• Les Racines et Pousses d'Ici
  maraîchères, mêlées de couleurs de saison à l'huile d'argan en tagine
  Fall root and sprout vegetables with Argan oil
• L'Ananas
  infusé aux saveurs des Iles en coque meringuée
  Fresh pineapple inside a crunchy meringue, finished with an exotic fruit cocktail
• Le Café
  glacé, frappé, sur un crémeux de chocolat grand cru
  Coffee ice cream, dark chocolate ganache and tahitian vanilla
• Le Moka - Le Thé
  escortés de mignardises

Don't worry - we ate it all and it was DELICIOUS. We thought it might be hard to follow up a meal that amazing, but we did. More posts about more incredible restaurants await...