PEPPERMILL RESTAURANT - LAS VEGAS

PEPPERMILL

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 

The Peppermill is a good place for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  Huge portions, good service and above average food.  We enjoyed a breakfast here and were blown away by the size of the portions.  I did not even put a small dent in my eggs and hash browns.

PEPPERMILL RESTAURANT

PEPPERMILL RESTAURANT LAS VEGAS

INTERIOR WITH TREES

HUGE OMELET WITH HASH BROWNS

HASH BROWNS, SAUSAGE PATTIES AND EGGS

EGG, SLICE OF HAM AND HASH BROWNS

CARNEGIE DELI - MIRAGE HOTEL, LAS VEGAS

CARNEGIE DELI

MIRAGE HOTEL

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 

I love visiting the Carnegie Deli when I am in New York.  Was happy to be taken to the one in Las Vegas today for lunch.  We split a Turkey and Pastrami Sandwich with cole slaw on top.  This is a huge portion that easily served two of us.  You really need to eat these sandwiches with a knife and fork.  They are just too big.  My friend ordered a sandwich with an egg.  They put like an omelette in the sandwich.  He did not really care for it.  Enjoyed a nice slice of the best Cheesecake.  Carnegie Deli's is the best.

CARNEGIE DELI

CARNEGIE DELI IN THE MIRAGE HOTEL

EGG SANDWICH WITH CHEESE

GREAT CHEESECAKE AT CARNEGIE DELI

HOT N JUICY CRAWFISH - LAS VEGAS

HOT N JUICY CRAWFISH

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 

A trip to Las Vegas is no longer complete for me unless I eat at Hot N Juicy Crawfish.  If you like hot and spicy seafood, this is one of the best places on the planet to eat at.  Located in a strip mall in the Chinatown area off the Strip, Hot N Juicy serves up the best Crawfish West of New Orleans.  We arrived to find the place full as usual.  The waitresses worked quickly to clear tables and set up so our wait was minimal.  We were seated and given the bib.  Yes, you should wear the bib so the sauce does not get on your shirt.  We ordered two pounds of Crawfish with the "hot" level spice.  The "hot" is the perfect amount of heat without taking away from the flavor of the Crawfish.  The Crawfish comes out in a piping hot bag covered in one of the best spice mixtures I have ever eaten.  Each bag contains a potato and corn on the cob that are soaked in the hot spice.  This is the best corn you have ever tasted.  Sweet and delicious.  The Alaskan King Crab is also awesome here.  Large pieces of crab soaked in the spices.  This stuff is addicting.  You will get the sauce all over your hands and you will smell like the stuff for a day after but it is all worth it.  Simply one of the best places to eat when in Las Vegas.  

THIS IS A HUGE TASTE OF HAWAII FAVORITE

HOT N JUICY CRAWFISH

HOT N JUICY CRAWFISH IN LAS VEGAS IS A TASTE OF HAWAII FAVORITE!

BAGS OF SPICY CRUSTACEANS

LARGE ALASKAN KING CRAB LEG COVERED IS SAUCE

SOME OF THE BEST SPICY CRAWFISH ON THE PLANET

CORN IS SOAKED IN THE SPICY SAUCE - DELICIOUS!

NICE SIZE CRAWFISH IN THIS BAG

BAG AFTER BAG AND WE CANNOT STOP EATING

VIVA ELVIS - ARIA HOTEL, LAS VEGAS

VIVA ELVIS!
ARIA HOTEL AND RESORT
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 


How come I got a seat in the 2nd row center on a Friday night on the day of the show.  Well, it is because this show is not great.  Don't get me wrong, the actors and singers are fantastic.  First rate performance.  Problem is that Elvis did not need to be done by Cirque du Soleil.  Cirrque du Soleil does every show on the strip in Las Vegas.  There is only so much hand standing and trampoline jumping people you can take.  These are talented young men and woman with incredible bodies doing the same thing on every stage in Vegas.  I love the energy and talent, but c'mon this is Elvis music.  People want to hear the voice of Elvis, not a recreation of every other show on the strip.  The music here is excellent.  The delivery is second rate.  This is not the kind of tribute the King would have wanted.  It is full of cheesey crap that does not fit Elvis or his music.  This is a total hack job of Elvis.  While the performers are excellent, committed and talented, the content really sucks.  There comes a time when you need to say we have enough of Cirque du Soleil and let some other talented individuals run with this type of show.  I am done with Cirque du Soleil shows.  It is time for pure music or another type of entertainment.  UPDATE:  SHOW CLOSED!

JEAN GEORGES STEAKHOUSE - LAS VEGAS

JEAN GEORGES STEAKHOUSE

ARIA HOTEL, RESORT AND CASINO

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

I have always wanted to eat at a Jean Georges restaurant.  He is one of the most acclaimed chef's in the world.   Jean George Vongerichten is a heavyweight in the culinary field.  At Aria, Jean Georges  challenges the traditional American Steak Houses by adding a strong dose of energy and world class appeal to this stylish and contemporary experience.  I dined early before the crowds and was greeted and seated by a courteous hostess.  While my seat was a row table with people on the right and left, I was placed staring at the wall.  I chose the Chef's Tasting Menu for $85.  Compared to New York and Hawaii this was a super good deal for the price.  Started with a Tuna tartar dish.  Fresh Ahi Tuna on slices of Avocado with dices of radish.  This was excellent.  Light but tasty.  My second dish was a Terrain of Froi Gras served with a jalapeno and green apple relish and crsipy french bread.  Loved the pepper, apple and flavor of this dish.  Next came scallops on a bed of butternut squash spaghetti.  Perfect combination of flavor and texture here.  The main course which was filet of beef was most disappointing.  The meat had no taste and the Ponzi sauce that surrounded the filet should never have been on the plate.  Could not eat this dish.  Total lack of flavor.  The dessert saved the night.  A decedent chocolate volcano cake with vanilla ice cream.  This was a home run and perfect finish to an almost perfect meal.  If the steak could have held up, this would be a 10.

JEAN GEORGES STEAKHOUSE AT THE ARIA

TUNA TARTAR

TERRAIN OF FROI GRAS

SCALLOPS

FILET OF BEEF

CHOCOLATE VOLCANO CAKE WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM

JULIAN SERRANO - LAS VEGAS

JULIAN SERRANO

ARIA HOTEL

LAS VEGES, NEVADA 

Julian Serrano is a James Beard and Best Chef in America Award winning Chef.  At Aria, Serrano is introducing guests to small plates of his native Spanish fare in a high energy location just off the lobby and Casino of the hotel.  There are dozens of small plates to choose from.  Prices range from $3 to $17.  There are soups, salads, seafood, steak, vegetarian and speciality Paellas.  I trusted the waiter who was gracious and efficient to help me make a few selections.  Started with the tuna-raspberry skewer | ahi tuna | “molecular” raspberry | wasabi | sesame seed  $14.  Four small blocks of Tuna topped with the raspberry.  Simply delicious.  I could only eat three with everything else.  Second course was the octopus | cachelo potatoes | spanish paprika $12.  Six nice slices of octopus laying atop potatoes sprinkled with Spanish Paprika.  This was good.  The octopus was cooked nicely.  Finished the meal with beef and cheese | prime tenderloin | cheese | honey | pecans $17.  This steak was cooked to perfection and perched atop a perfectly cooked piece of buttered and toasted bread.  Excellent dish.  There are so many dishes to choose from here.  Wish I could have fit in a few more.  This is quality food served quickly by professionals who seem to want to do a great job.  Enjoyed my meal here quite a bid and would return in a heart beat. Visit their website to see full menu: http://www.arialasvegas.com/dining/julian-serrano.aspx
Click link below for another post on Julian Serrano;
http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2014/10/julian-serrano-tapas-las-vegas-nevada.html

FRESH AHI TUNA WITH RASPBERRY

JULIAN SERRANO AT THE ARIA RESORT IN LAS VEGAS

COLORFUL AND COMFORTABLE

OCTOPUS WITH POTATO

BEEF TENDERLOIN WITH CHEESE

ARIA RESORT AND CASINO - LAS VEGAS

ARIA RESORT AND CASINO

LAS VEGAS,  NEVADA

We got a great group rate with one of our suppliers which allowed me to stay at the new Aria in Las Vegas.  Wow....this place is the bomb.  Beautiful rooms, great check in experience.  So far so good at the Aria.  The rooms are large and very comfortable.  The key system is unique in that you do not use a key or swipe a card.  You simply place your card in front of your door and it opens.  When you enter the room, the drapery automatically opens, music comes on and the lighting is set.  At your bedside there is a control panel that allows you to adjust temperature, open/close drapes, operate all lighting and control the entertainment system.  The desk area features an audio/visual panel that allows you to hook up or charge anything.  What a system.  The mini bar is stocked filled with beverages and snacks.  It is one of those systems that charges your room if the item is moved. 

Click links below to view more posts on Aria;

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2023/10/aria-resort-casino-las-vegas-nv.html

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2022/03/aria-resort-casino.html

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2016/05/aria-sky-suites.html

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2015/09/aria-sky-suites.html

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2011/07/aria-hotel-and-casino-las-vegas.html

AUDIO VISUAL PANEL IN EACH GUEST ROOM

HAWAIIAN AIRLINES AIRBUS - FIRST CLASS

NEW AIRBUS A330

HAWAIIAN AIRLINES
HONOLULU TO MAINLAND

FIRST CLASS CABIN WITH ENTERTAINMENT CENTER

Cashed in 70,000 Hawaiian Airlines miles to get First Class Upgrade.  This was almost double the advertised miles amount.  It is amazing how they manipulate the miles system when you go to actually cash them in.  Anyway, the service on this flight was one of the best ever.  Flight attendant was fantastic.  Always smiling, always providing a high level of service and actually taking time to thank us all for flying Hawaiian.  Thing was, she meant it. You could really see that this girl gets her job.  Oh...if all flight attendants could be like her.  Enjoyed the new Airbus A330.  While the First Class seats don't recline as far as I like, it was a nice ride.  The food was amazing.  Provided by the Hali'Maile General Store on Maui.  Chef Bev Gannon offers five selections.  You are able to choose three.  I went with the Char Sui Duck Breast served with Fried Rice, Shrimp Salad and Joe's Meatloaf.  I don't know who Joe is, but his meatloaf was delicious.  The entire meal and service were top notch.  Hawaiian Airlines is #1 in my book.

FIRST CLASS MENU - IT IS GOOD!

SHRIMP SALAD, CHAR SUI DUCK BREAST AND MEATLOAF