David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2284
 | | 10/10/2004 10:31 PM |
| Yeah, somebody knocked me out, and then used my liver to process copious quantities of alcohol (or, so I'm told). I wouldn't know - I must've been unconscious the entire time because I don't remember any of it. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 10/11/2004 1:04 AM |
| my liver took a long time to recover from my trip to rum jungle i can tell you that much  | | | |
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2284
| | 10/11/2004 1:09 AM |
| Believe it or not, I ended up at Rum Jungle too (well, my liver had a stamp from it, at least)- one of the best club's I've ever seen! The women on the trapeze and the elevating drum people are cool!
I really liked Mandalay Bay and would stay there when I return. Did you make it to Morea (outdoor club by the pools?) That place was 3x as cool as I could ever hope to be.  | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 10/11/2004 1:11 AM |
| nope. i went to lunch at RJ on monday. i have stayed there before and would stay there again, but i am not a fan of their casino for some reason. i just can't put my finger on it. i am just not comfortable playing there  | | | |
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2284
| | 10/11/2004 1:18 AM |
| | Hmmm...well, to be honest, I didn't play any hands there either. My favorite place to play (3 card poker is my game) was The Flamingo. I don't really know why, maybe because I felt like it had a bit more nostalgia than the others? | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 10/11/2004 1:34 AM |
| | i love craps and for some reason i love playing at nyny or the mirage. who knows why???? | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15708
| | 10/11/2004 2:32 AM |
| I come from a family of long livers. My uncle had a liver 7.5 feet long  | | | |
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Zeke Boston
Grape Sorter
Posts:341
| | 10/11/2004 2:36 AM |
| I love craps at Ceasar's. All this Vegas talk is getting me psyched to go again. I have never stayed that long (6 days) and frankly, don't know how I'm gonna make it. The first few days are work related and I was somehow convinced to extend the trip a few days to include the wives (don't ask!)
I love Mandalay and my place of choice lately has been The Hotel. RJ is a great place but for some reason my neck aches the next day. I also love that vodka bar there. For this trip I will be staying at the new tower in the Venetian. I may change my Seablue to that new place in the Venetian. Thanks for the inside connection at Prime AI-I will definitely use it.
I hope the Yanks make the World Series because that will make for the ultimate trip! | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15708
| | 10/11/2004 2:40 AM |
| Craps is my one and only game. Other than counting cards you can play it so that the percentage in favor of the house gets below .05.
Haven't gambled in 25 years though. | | | |
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Rigga
Grape Sorter
Posts:288
| | 10/11/2004 10:31 PM |
| Zeke,
I wouldn't "bet" on it (re: the Yanks)  Vegas seems to be favoring the BoSox this year. Have fun in Vegas, you'll have to tell us all about it on the 30th! | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13660
| | 10/18/2004 1:05 PM |
| | Vegas is still someplace Mrs. TJ and I have been meaning to go to and see what all the fuss is about. We're no gamblers, but we are foodies, so I think we'd still have a good time. I'll have to remember to check in with all of you to see what's good whenever we decide to go. | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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rjs3
NJ
Barrel Filler
Posts:1124
| | 10/27/2004 5:12 PM |
| Just came back. Stayed in the Venezia Tower, but I think the look they are trying in the rooms is a bit crass. The room is very large, but I like Bellagio better.
The spa was excellent, but let's get to the restaurants.
Fri.
Bouchon - the sommelier from the French Laundry was there. Great Brasserie-style, comfort food. Had moules et frites - fantastic mussels and the best fries i've ever had. Others had salads, husband had a garlic soup and roast chicken that everyone agreed was the best chicked anyone had ever had. The skin was crispy, chicken inside was moist and juicy. One other had the salmon rillettes. Pretty good comfort food. We had a Merry Edwards Klopp Ranch '01 Pinot.
Sat.
Delmonico's - fantastic service and steaks, what more can I say. Out of 8 people, 7 had the bone-in-rib. It was juicy and meaty. Great sommelier. Pride '02 Merlot (never knew I liked Merlot) and the '02 Turley Estate Zin.
Sun.
Alize - Andre's restaurant at the top of the Palms hotel. The hotel looked really seedy! But I guess it's the new hot spot for those under 30. Fantastic view of all of Las Vegas. Food was superb - they have the most expensive entree I've ever seen - $60 for Dover Sole. Had a trout salad, others had various appetizers, Loup de Mer entree, husband had a phenomenal duck, starting with foie gras. Service and sommelier were excellent. Had a '95 Barnett Rattlesnake Hill Cab. Phenomenal - lots of fruit, lush, tannins were softened.
The last nite, Mon., we stayed in the hotel and at ate Puck's restaurant, Postrio. Service stunk. They forgot our salad and the entrees were lukewarm. The food was good, but the service took away from it. The Postrio coffee - with frangelico and baileys, topped with whipped cream, was great. Wouldn't go there again, though.
Can't wait to go back! | | | |
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Drew
Sammamish, WA
Wine Bottler
Posts:3077
| | 10/30/2004 12:04 AM |
| Killing me. I'm going 11/12-14.
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ChangeMe
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2098
| | 10/30/2004 3:21 AM |
| | TJ - I didn't bet a dime while I was there and I still had a blast. The restaurants and shopping alone are worth the trip. Not to mention being able to sit around the pool, probably on a "beach", getting a tan in the winter. | | | |
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Zeke Boston
Grape Sorter
Posts:341
| | 10/30/2004 5:06 AM |
| Wow rjs3- My trip was eeringly similar. I just got back today and also stayed at the new Venezia tower. I liked the hotel and casino alot but for the money and scene I like The Hotel at Mandalay alot better. I liked the concierge level, but the service lacked a bit.
It was a long trip of 6 nights but hey it's Vegas and there aren't too many other places I'd rather be.
Saturday-Delmonico's Had the usual bone-in rib eye. The wine was Martinelli Reserve Pinot. I wanted to try a couple of other bottles but the drug rep who sponsored it was having a heart attack over the wine list prices. great service. A Vegas staple.
Sunday, I took 15 of my staff to the HOB Foundation Room in Mandalay Bay. We had a private room and it was an overall very cool experience. Food was solid. Wine list was lacking. I got a Jaffurs Syrah and Caymus Conundrum. Great view. Fun place. This was followed by the Rum Jungle.
Monday-Prime at Bellagio. First time there. (Thanks anthony for the connection with Chad-it got us a seat near the fountains) We brought a few bottles with us. There was a $35 corkage and a two bottle limit. We went with the 1982 Lynch Bagesfollowed by a 2001 Phelps Insignia Incredible-Laube only gave this a 90??? (The 2002 Integrity was left for another time) The shellfish sampler was immense (as was the price) and the steaks were top notch. The truffled mash was incredible. Wine list prices were insane. I will be back.
Tuesday-Bouchon at Venetian. Every bit as good as the Yountville establishment. The chicken was outstanding. Wine list was less than desirable. Got a 2003 Melville Estate Pinot (eh).
Wednesday-Seablue at MGM. Great salad option where you can put up to 10 differernt ingredients into your salad. Great raw bar. I got the Kobe beef and scallop surf and turf. The Kobe was nothing special. I brought a Turley ?2001 Presenti and a 1999 Pavie for a $25/per corkage fee and bought a 2001 Martinelli Charles Chard (not good) off the menu. The service was amongst the best of the week.
Thursday was at Aureole in Mandalay. As usual, an outstanding food and wine experience. Can't go wrong at this place. Bought a 2001 Pegau Reservee CdP ($100) and a 2002 Amon Ra Barossa Shiraz($150). The Pegau was outstanding but the Amon Ra was from a different planet-Incredible.
Played golf at Bali Hai (great course if you can block out the jet engines) and TPC Canyons-This may be the best course I have played on so far at Vegas.
Had a 2000 Magari and a 2002 MP Shiraz 9 in the room, as well. The problem with drinking in the room is that the hotel has no decent stemware so you are doing the wine a diservice using the crappy glasses they offer.
There is a club in Treasure Island called Tangerine which must be checked out. Whoa!!!
Six nights in Vegas can be quite expensive, so if you can BYO a few nights it is the way to go. At least I was up in the gambling department as I feared after 6 days I would need to sell off some of my cellar. I will make a mental noted of Postrio. Puck's other place Lupo, I will never go back to. Chinois isn't so hot either.
I'm counting down the days until my return for March madness. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 10/30/2004 12:46 PM |
| zeke,
i am glad chad took care of you at prime. they have themselves a re-newed customer in me because of him. 6 days in vegas can be tiring, but like you said where else would you rather be. great sun, people, food, gambling and 24hr action is what brings me back time after time.
breakfast, gambling, pool & drinking, gambling, lunch, gambling, small nap, gambling, drinking, dinner & drinking then gambling gambling gambling...then right before your small nap (some call it sleep) you have breakfast again. i love that town | | | |
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DdB
Barrel Filler
Posts:1452
| | 10/31/2004 10:52 PM |
| Quote:
i love that town
Me too.
And Zeke - good call on The Hotel. Wife and I really like the room and the vibe there. | | | |
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rjs3
NJ
Barrel Filler
Posts:1124
| | 11/01/2004 5:36 PM |
| I think Puck is washed up and resting on his laurels. So many more innovative chefs and restaurants with great food AND service. We went to Picasso last time we were there and I really loved it, but wanted to try other places. I also wanted to try Renoir, but couldn't get in.
I agree about the shopping as well. It's phenomenal. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15708
| | 11/02/2004 4:14 PM |
| Quote:
I also wanted to try Renoir, but couldn't get in.
This is my new "must go" place. We loved it! The chow is very similar in style to Picaso. Nice people. | | | |
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rjs3
NJ
Barrel Filler
Posts:1124
| | 11/02/2004 5:15 PM |
| I did notice that everyone in Vegas was nice. Even in the very upscale stores and restaurants. I guess you never know which customer has won the jackpot, even if they don't look the part.
BTW, the wine list at both Alize and Delmonicos is unbelievable. I would definitely add Alize to the "must" list. | | | |
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