Nacho Daddy Downtown Vegas Spring 2014

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Nacho Daddy is perhaps the greatest idea in the history of culinary invention.  Take any food concept you love, deconstruct and recreate the experience then remove the bread and replace it with a bed crispy, salty tortilla chips.  You don’t need Will Hunting to tell you that the answer to that equation equals exquisite dining.

Buffalo chicken, cheeseburger, spicy shrimp, Filet Minion… yeah, I know.  Take a second to collect yourself.  Okay, lets proceed…TO BREAKFAST!  Chorizo, chicken fried steak…okay, enough.  I can’t stand it.  It’s amazing.  Just go to the audio.

Vegas Mate - N/A

Mark - 5/5

Alastair & Keren - 4/5

Beatles LOVE @Mirage Spring 2014

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Calling Beatles LOVE by Cirque Du Soleil the best show in Vegas is a bit misleading because it implies two things. First, that its supremacy is even up for debate and second, that this statement could in someway be an opinion. Beatles LOVE is neither. The only item that could be mused about, for entertainment purposes only, mind you, is whether or not it is the greatest show in the history of ever.  I would reiterate that the answer is clearly yes but to do so would be tantamount to calling you an idiot and we don't have idiots that listen to our show. Or at least, you demonstrate your willingness to be less of an idiot by listening to this show.  So now that that is out of the way, lets proceed.

Cirques 5^th show in the Vegas market and their first using music from an individual artist showcasing their catalog and in some cases, their history, setup shop at the Mirage in 2009 and was an instant success.  So much so that it became the template for every cirque show that came after it until the touring show Zarkana replaced the failed Viva Elvis show.  The show is in the round, complete with sensory immersion from the speakers in the seats head rests to video screen to the stage that transforms right in front of you during the show.  It’s an experience be had from the die hard to the most casual Beatles fan.

The Production

      Location - The Mirage

• If you walk into the main entrance, past the atrium, its straight ahead, in the back of the property, past the cages and poker room

Run Time is approximately 90 minutes

Performances 2 nightly, Thursday – Monday 7 & 9:30 pm, dark on Tues & Wed

Tickets will run you between $50-$200

      Theatre is in the round and seating has built in surround sound speakers in the headrests

• The lobby and gift shop are a must see especially for fans of the band.
• They also have a gaming area just outside where you can gamble and enjoy the music of the Beatles.

      Promotions

• They do offer a VIP experience which includes an exclusive look at the inner workings of the show, VIP seating, a 45 minute backstage tour, a gift bag with a commemorative program and an exclusive Cirque insider access gift for the reasonable price of $250

      Theme/Music

• While at first glance, there appears to be something of storyline about love, war & innocence.  However, Cirque has shared that there is, at least a small thematic sub-text, that is this being the band’s last concert.
• The show is comprised of elements from 130 individual commercially released & demo recordings of Beatles songs remastered and mashed up by original producer Sir George Martin and his son Giles
• All of the music comes from the original master tracks except for a strings addition to an alternate take of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” however even that was written and conduced by George Martin.
• The band was very much involved with the development & evolution of the show.  Since George and John aren’t with us anymore, those that spent their lives with them represented their voices during the creative process.

Vegas Mate Rating – 4/5 chips

Mark & Keren Rating – 5/5 chips

Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino Fall 2013

Located somewhere between luxury and value, Monte Carlo is a property with an identity issue.  Originally conceived as another Vegas themed resort, this one paying homage to her namesake in Europe, Monte Carlo offers the less affluent a chance to experience and enjoy luxury.  However the properties theme does not accurately reflect her energy.

The properties classic architecture can be enjoyed by the pool via the lazy river.  Beautiful chandeliers and stained glass ceilings resided over low to mid-limit gaming tables and fine dining can be enjoyed 50 feet away from a fast food court.  The Monte Carlo concept is almost the definition of an oxymoron, but in a good way.

Monte Carlo is fun.  It isn’t the kind of place you think of in “must do” or “you have to try” conversations.  It isn’t a destination nor does it offer anything exceptionally unique, its just fun.  Monte Carlo is like a well run McDonald’s or any popular fast food chain that offers good food at a good price.  Monte Carlo offers Vegas fun for those that don’t want to stay at Circus Circus the lowest tier properties but can’t afford to stay at the Mirage or Caesars Palace.

Serendipity3 @Caesars Palace Summer 2012

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As Vegas grew in popularity and air travel became the primary means of transportation for those visiting Las Vegas, the need for large parking lots taking up vast amounts of real estate became an impractical use of space.  Multi levelled parking garages replaced them and the challenge then became, what do we do with all this space.  Some properties expanded their hotel casinos right up to the strip; many were simply destroyed and replaced.  Properties like Caesars & Bally’s chose to repurpose the areas with varying degrees of success.

Caesars never really had the option of moving the property closer to the strip.  The long drive up to the Porte casher is part of the ambience.  The famous fountains are iconic and could never be moved so redevelopment was pretty much the only choice.  While some would argue they still haven’t made proper use of that strip frontage, Caesars will tell you it’s a work in progress.  A major piece in the puzzle is Serendipity 3

Dining, right on the strip, in the elements has become the hot new trend and Caesars was one of the early adaptors.  Serendipity 3 is a restaurant made famous by their original location in NY opened back in 1954.  Their signature dish is the frozen hot chocolate that First Lady Jackie O loved so much she requested the recipe so she serve it at a party.  The owner declined to acquiesce to her request but did offered to come to the party and make it for her.  Today, they sell the recipe in the gift shop.  Offering way more than sweets, the common theme you will notice at Serendipity 3 is unique takes on familiar dishes as well as portion size.  Bother are excessive, in a good way, regardless if you order from the takeout window or choose to sit and eat. 

Vegas Mate Rating - 4/5 chips

Mark Rates - 4/5 chips 
Keren Rates - 3/5 chips

Planet Dailies @Planet Hollywood Fall 2013

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Every property in Vegas has a coffee shop, its part of the blueprints of a hotel & casino.  Slots here, craps table there and coffee shop around the corner.  As with everything in Vegas, quality varies from one property to the other.  But if you’re tired of the decadent dining surrounding you in Vegas, it’s the one place you can be sure to get a simple meal of eggs and bacon for breakfast or a club sandwich for lunch.

Enter Planet Dailies, the coffee shop at Planet Hollywood.  At first glance you get the impression something is different here.  Not only is the space modern and sheik but it very much fits in with the property surrounding it.  The space showcase warm colours, wood furnishings and surrounds you with 48 flat screen TVs with programing consisting of movie previews, celebrity news and various accident-prone blooper entertainments.  But who cares about all that, how’s the food.

Why bother doing what everyone else does?  Why not attempt to rethink the standards and elevate them to a new plateau.  It is Vegas, blur the lines.  At Planet Dailies, the French toast is dipped in a crème Brule batter, the BLT is topped with two poached eggs and angus hamburgers are served on a bed of rice, topped with an egg and covered in gravy.  Good luck deciding what you want to try 1^st here and once you do that, good luck trying to not order it every time you go back.  Rest assured that, almost without exception, no matter what you order, you are going to love it.

Recommendations

Mark  - Creme Brulee French Toast and the Loco Moco

Keren - Corned Beef Hash and Steak Eggs Benedict

Vegas Mate Rating - 3/5 Chips

Mark and Keren Rating - 5/5 Chips