Las Vegas, NV - August 14 -17, 2010
Bless me, Father, for I have sinned …
For these and all the food sins of my past life, I am truly sorry … maybe …
So about all those Vegas food pics ...
I really did have high hopes for my Sin City foodie post but as the horribly overused phrase goes,” What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” … including my pathetic brain which is, in fact, still there enjoying the mile long buffets and ridiculous crepes at Paris Hotel and not here, on the East Coast, where I need it to write this post.
I was so caught up in the complete wonderment of the adult playground that is Las Vegas, NV, that I barely took any pictures and have even fewer memories thanks to the “Let’s try all the great looking drinks in Vegas and see which one wins the “Best, Awesome, Best Tasting Drink” Award (Yes, I am aware there are two Best’s, just go with the flow.)
I did, however, have some senses about me twice. Yup, four days and two moments of sensefullness (the opposite of senselessness?) and that is when we visited TAO (insert heavenly chorus here) and the Boulder Dam Brewing Company (insert Irish beer drinking song here). TAO will be featured in this post, Boulder Dam Brewing Company in the next which gives me time to make sense of the yard long adult beverages, freaky clowns, gliding monorails and strobe lights still having a rave in my head.
First, TAO.
Oh, TAO.
With your Tiger Lily cocktail, a worthy Best Awesome Best Tasting Drink contender made of Absolut Kurant, Chambord, and Pineapple Juice (Calgon, take me away!) and the platefull of specialty sushi rolls like Shrimp Tempura with Curry Sauce. Tao does not discriminate. Tao borrows tastefully from other ethnic cuisines and hires some internet ordained minister/Elvis to legitimize the marriage between Asian and Indian flavors at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in this ridiculous roll o’ sushi.
Or maybe you’re looking to go more traditional. The TAO Angry Dragon Roll with Eel & Kabayaki Sauce (no idea what that is but again, just go with the flow, it feels good) is just delicious. Round off the sushi plate with a Fried Soft Shell Crab and Shiso Roll with Yuzu Mayonaise and you might as well bring out the welcome party at the Pearly Gates because I am dead. Death by sushi. What a wonderful way to go.
I was so caught up in the complete wonderment of the adult playground that is Las Vegas, NV, that I barely took any pictures and have even fewer memories thanks to the “Let’s try all the great looking drinks in Vegas and see which one wins the “Best, Awesome, Best Tasting Drink” Award (Yes, I am aware there are two Best’s, just go with the flow.)
I did, however, have some senses about me twice. Yup, four days and two moments of sensefullness (the opposite of senselessness?) and that is when we visited TAO (insert heavenly chorus here) and the Boulder Dam Brewing Company (insert Irish beer drinking song here). TAO will be featured in this post, Boulder Dam Brewing Company in the next which gives me time to make sense of the yard long adult beverages, freaky clowns, gliding monorails and strobe lights still having a rave in my head.
First, TAO.
Oh, TAO.
With your Tiger Lily cocktail, a worthy Best Awesome Best Tasting Drink contender made of Absolut Kurant, Chambord, and Pineapple Juice (Calgon, take me away!) and the platefull of specialty sushi rolls like Shrimp Tempura with Curry Sauce. Tao does not discriminate. Tao borrows tastefully from other ethnic cuisines and hires some internet ordained minister/Elvis to legitimize the marriage between Asian and Indian flavors at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in this ridiculous roll o’ sushi.
Or maybe you’re looking to go more traditional. The TAO Angry Dragon Roll with Eel & Kabayaki Sauce (no idea what that is but again, just go with the flow, it feels good) is just delicious. Round off the sushi plate with a Fried Soft Shell Crab and Shiso Roll with Yuzu Mayonaise and you might as well bring out the welcome party at the Pearly Gates because I am dead. Death by sushi. What a wonderful way to go.
From whence the untamed Colorado River doth flowed, now stands a mighty dam (and mighty good tasting BEER)
So the Boulder Dam Brewing Company is only about, oh, 30 miles off the strip, BUT if you’re a travel junkie like me and need to get out and see as many sites in a given area that you can possibly cram into a 4 day trip, you will undoubtedly find yourself at the Hoover Dam … preferably standing on the dam … with one foot in Nevada and the other in Arizona … cool.
Fun Fact: Hoover Dam, before it was named Hoover Dam for and by President Hoover, was initially named Boulder Dam. Now remember me when you’re on Jeopardy! and you get that question right during Double Jeopardy like the clutch player you are and you win the show to the applause of senior citizens everywhere because of me. Deal?
The Boulder Dam Brewing Company has your regular brew restaurant fare but I wasn’t quite that interested in food since our early morning buffet breakfast at The Spice Market in Planet Hollywood. Seriously, 3 of the 5 people in the car (myself included) were in such a self-induced high caloric hibernation snoring away in the back seat that driving straight into the Hoover Dam (originally named Boulder Dam, remember?) would likely fail to awaken. Really, let’s be honest here, Vegas is about eating, eating, drinking, eating, WALKING, maybe dancing and SLEEPING.
In a pool cabana.
On the monorail.
On the dock of TI waiting for the lame Siren’s show.
Anyways, I digress.
The Boulder Dam Brewing Company offers a sort of beer flight so you can try 6 different beers including a Shandy (see, Irish beer drinking music makes sense.) If you’re like me and never had a Shandy, it’s one part pilsner, one part lemonade and all parts awesome. Try one. Today. Do it.
The rest of Boulder Dam Brewing Company’s in-house brews are quite tasty and a bit hoppy if you’re into that. I nibbled on a large Bavarian pretzel that partnered nicely with the rest of my liquid lunch.
Don’t judge.
Liquid lunches can be nutritious.
There are nutrients in beer.
Studies have found that women who drink beer daily have improved mental health.
Boom goes the dynamite.
Ah, Vegas. From what I can remember, you were a pretty awesome destination and I have a shiny $1 chip from the Excalibur for the first person that can find my brain and give it a one way ticket back to the east coast and reality, thankyouverymuch.
