the trip was great except for the losing of money at the tables. the weatherwas great and unseasonably hot for the time. i know one record was broken and maybe another. it was 113 one day. i love that weather out there. well onto the important stuff. when i get time all tasting notes will be in proper area.
the first dinner i had was at prime in the bellagio. as some of you know you have heard me wax very poetically about this place. we were able to get a table near the patio so we could watch the fountains. my dinner here was pretty simple but exceptional. i started with a glass of 97 tresor to get warmed up. we ordered a bottle of 99 cing cepage. not too bad of a price at $136. just a salad for me because my favorite app was not in season yet. for dinner i ordered a filet with truffled mashed potatoes and asparagus. for those who have had the chance to dine there, you know all about the sauces. they bring a selection of sauces that is just unreal. i can't remember what they were but trust me they are worth it. with dessert i had a glass of 77 taylor port. it was sort of a chocolate cake with chocolate sauce filling. just right with the port.
the next dinner was at delmonico in the venetian. this is a emeril restaurant. this was my first time there and it was a memory to last a lifetime. the service was perfect and the food was to die for. to start i ordered a glass of 99 trefethen cab at the bar. once seated i began to read the wine list, all 70 pages. wow what a list. wow what prices. well after about 15 minutes i decided on a 99 hartwell sld cab. for $190 this was a bargain on the list. tonight i started with the grilled shrimp with cajun barbecue sauce, absolutly delicious. for dinner i ordered a dry aged strip steak with creamed spinach, smashed cajun potatoes and garlic mushrooms for my wife. the food was just perfect. the steaks are covered with a slight cajun spice and grilled to perfection. dessert was unreal. i had a peanut butter cake and my wife had a fudge cake that almost needed a steak knife to cut through. i ordered a 85 graham port to pair with the dessert.
the third dinner was back at delmonico again. not much more to say except i got the filet this time and ordered a 00 viader so as not to overpower the filet. dinner was perfect as was before but this time i had no room for dessert.
on a side note i went up to the rio to the wine cellar. what a complete wast of time. tastings were poor and the prices extreme. they wanted more for a glass of wine then i have paid for a whole bottle in my cellar.
all in all it was a great trip and i can't wait to go back. maybe in september for the offline
