Fine dining in Las Vegas

Mar 1 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

Tony Larner discovers that eating out in Las Vegas is no gamble

VEGAS is full of dreamers, yet they’re unlikely to get a wink of sleep thanks to the temptation of 24-hour casinos and the optimism of a big win sometime during the early hours.

After an adrenaline-pumped four-day trip to the gambling Mecca, taking in fine dining and pulsating poker, I was as exhausted as I’d ever been.

Thankfully, I was guest of Bmi and in its award-winning Business Class for the return flight. It boasts its own chef and seats that transform into flatbeds at the push of a button.

I may not have won a fortune in the casinos, but as I settled down for some sleep I thought I had really hit the jackpot.

Our journey had begun at Manchester Airport four days earlier. Once in Vegas, we stayed at two of the best hotels on the Strip – the spectacular Mandalay Bay and the five-star Wynn.

The rooms were more like playboy suites, with huge flatscreen HD TVs covering entire walls and windows offering breathtaking views of the neon-blazing Strip.

And, of course, both hotels boasted sprawling casino floors where I was able to try my hand at No Limit Texas Hold ’Em poker.

But gambling was not the reason for our trip – fine dining was.

Vegas is fast gaining a reputation for its Michelin-starred chefs and quality restaurants and so we tried a dizzying array of eateries during our short stay.

Our first evening saw us enjoy dinner at TAO Asian Bistro, sited at the spectacular Venetian hotel where fake gondoliers sail down fake canals singing O Sole Mio.

This is one the hottest dining spots in town offering great food, including spicy meats, succulent king prawns and the freshest of fish.

Next morning we breakfasted at Payard Patisserie & Bistro at Caesars Palace. A top tip here: try the blueberry muffins. You won’t be disappointed.

A quick spa treatment and then lunch followed at Diablo’s Cantina where spicy hot Mexican dishes were washed down by tequila cocktails that blew my socks off!

An afternoon of sightseeing around the Strip whetted my appetite for dinner at Strip House at Planet Hollywood.

I plumped for a prime cut of beef charred to perfection, accompanied by side dishes of black truffle creamed spinach, goose fat potatoes, and creamed corn with pancetta.

Delicious – but I was defeated by the calorific 24-tiered chocolate cake that followed.

Over the next couple of days, meals followed at the Bouchon (Venetian) which offers delicious French bistro fare, and at the Tuscany Kitchen (Bellagio) with a full chef’s presentation.

Highlight of the trip for me was a Dine Around Tour of Wynn, which began with appetisers at Daniel Boulud Brasserie.

It is set on the magnificent Lake Of Dreams where a giant frog appears at selected times to serenade you. Weird but wonderful.

Our main course was at Wing Lei, which offers dramatic decor, while executive Chef Richard Chen blends a masterful mix of refined Cantonese, Shanghai and Szechwan cooking styles.

Our penultimate day began with breakfast at Carnival World Buffet at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casinos.

This is recognised as the best buffet in Vegas, with 300 hot and cold dishes prepared fresh daily. I really pigged out, enjoying a Full English, curry, a few cold meats and lots of American coffee.

Still full from breakfast, we later enjoyed evening dinner at Le Cirque at the Bellagio, hosted by charismatic Restaurateur Sirio Maccioni.

The modern French cuisine was as spectacular as the Bellagio fountain display that was switched on especially for our party after the meal.

Our last night culminated with a visit to the amazing “O” by Cirque du Soleil and I ended my Vegas experience with a final visit to the poker room.

And, after a lot of ups and downs, I actually ended up a winner at the tables!.

Tony Larner stayed at the Mandalay Bay and Wynn hotels in Las Vegas, www.mandalaybay.com and www.wynnlasvegas.com.

Bmi currently flies direct from Manchester to Las Vegas three times a week. Flights depart on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday from Manchester Airport Terminal 3. The business cabin features both an onboard chef and flat beds.

Fares start from £589 in economy (return including taxes) for travel in March, May, June, August, September and October. For further information or to book, visit www.flybmi.com or call the long haul reservations centre on 0870 60 70 222.