A Nice Surprise in Vegas - Coronado Café

December 26, 2011
Coronado Café, Las Vegas NV
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[Crunchy Noodles]
Garden Salad
Won Ton Soup
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This place always had a line up outside, even when we first stayed at South Point Hotel earlier in June. Mom always wanted to try it so we did. She was right, the cafe was great for the price they set. The dishes were very comforting and the environment more casual, more of a family feel than the rest of Vegas, which was a nice change.

The complimentary crunchy noodles were so good and very addicting that we finished it all and asked for a second portion. The dipping sauces were also good. I believe they had honey mustard, sweet chili, and one other sweet and tangy one.

I ordered a Garden Salad which is basically the worst salad I have had in a restaurant setting. However, for under $4, it really was expected. Two cherry tomatoes and one slice of cucumber. I had to order a second salad. It always puzzles me why lettuce and veggies are so expensive in restaurants. It makes no sense.

The Won Ton Soup was mediocre but it was also expected. I mean, it is won ton and soup and all the basic ingredients at a casual cafe. I was not expecting much but at least it was comfort food.

We also had Pad Thai and Pepper Steak, both of which were quite good for the level of the restaurant. Unfortunately, we got caught up in the food that I did not take pictures. Maybe next time! I know Mom wants to go back.

Red & Black in Vegas - Chocolate Raspberry Cake Pop

June 21, 2011

Starbucks, Las Vegas NV

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Chocolate Raspberry Cake Pop

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This was at the Starbucks in Luxor, by the 4A/B elevators near the front desk and lobby. We passed this one while walking from Mandalay Bay to Excalibur and I saw this delicious looking cake pop except it wasn't the regular kind. I can't remember the official name, but I've never seen it elsewhere, so it was a special treat for at least Vegas. It was delicious, needless to say. The cream inside and the chocolate was they best part. Mom enjoyed the raspberry though!

Last Night in Vegas - The Cheesecake Factory

December 30, 2011

The Cheesecake Factory, Las Vegas NV

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Luau Salad

Garlic Noodles with Shrimp

Skinnylicious Fresh Vegetable Salad

Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake

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Last night in Vegas, every restaurant was preparing for New Year's Eve dinner the next day. Apparently, people were not eating out since they knew the next day's dinner would be formal and huge. Thus, the line for The Cheesecake Factory was only 10 min. We debated all day long where to eat dinner, but the ratings for Rainforest Cafe were not good, and Wolfgang Puck was too pricey for similar dishes. So Cheesecake Factory again it was. And this time was even better.

Not to mention the whole wheat bread we specifically asked for - no sourdough needed! - Mom's Luau Salad was amazing. I urged her to try it since it had mango salsa and crisp wonton wrappers. None of us knew how delicious those two wrappers are! Crispy, huge, sweet and sour, on beds of lettuce, mango, carrots, and what have you. Besides the probably high-calorie dressing, I swear this is the best salad ever. Very refreshing but not too light that you don't feel full after. Very tasty. Very good. We all loved it!

I got my Fresh Vegetable Salad again. The same thing, very refreshing.

Dad decided on Garlic Noodles with Shrimp. This dish was actually quite disappointing. Dad wanted spaghetti, so we went with this. I knew from dining hall experience though that garlic noodles are not very flavourful. And I was right. It was very light. Mom ended up giving Dad some salad dressing since she had too much flavour on hers. There were only four shrimp, which is also very disappointing - it costs extra and they only give you four medium-sized ones. The asparagus, mushrooms, and peas were also not plentiful, unlike the usual Cheesecake Factory servings.

For dessert - have to have dessert! - we decided on Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake. We wanted something with layers of cheesecake and cake. It was this or Pineapple Upside-Down Cheesecake. I wanted pineapple but Mom and Dad both wanted chocolate so chocolate it was. Very delicious though. Dark chocolate makes it not too sweet, and the raspberry is always nice. The ganache on top is also dark chocolate so not sweet. It is quite hard - I assume that's how it should be? - but it was good. So was the fudge/cake parts. Loved it. Overall, a very good final dinner in Vegas. We will surely be going back the next time we are in Vegas!

P. F. ZHANG's - P. F. Chang's

December 29, 2011

P. F. Chang's, Las Vegas NV

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Double Pan-Fried Noodles

Kung Pao Chicken

Stir-Fried Eggplant

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This is Mommy's restaurant. The last name matches. Then we realize the initials is Mommy and Daddy combined. Huh. Nice job. Dad first suggested going here for Chinese food made by non-Chinese. Surprisingly, it is quite decent. Not authentic, but delicious all the same.

The Double Pan-Fried Noodles - it took Mommy and I quite a while before we figured out it was the equivalent of 两面黄 - were a bit on the salty side. We asked for veggies and shrimp and they only charged us for one of them... unless we got less than usual. But the menu had said specifically that two ingredients would cost more. That was nice. The shrimp were tender and really good. The crispy parts of the noodles were also good. Just a little salty.

The Kung Pao Chicken was not exactly superb, just mediocre. It was more like fried chicken cubes rather than stir-fried mini cubes. The sauce was a bit on the sweet side, not spicy enough. The peanuts were good though.

The Stir-Fried Eggplant was my favourite dish, not just because I love eggplant. The garlic sauce was nice and sweet, and the eggplant was fried slightly so the dish was generally pretty good. As long as the sauce is good, and that there is enough sauce on the plate, the dish will be good.

Overall, very decent Chinese food for Vegas. This was the one near the strip, not the one in Planet Hollywood. We decided it would be more quiet and a more relaxing atmosphere, more spaced out. Finally acceptable Chinese food by non-Chinese chefs!

Cheesyliciousness - The Cheesecake Factory

December 28, 2011

The Cheesecake Factory, Las Vegas NV

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Herb Crusted Filet of Salmon

Skinnylicious Fresh Vegetable Salad

Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta

Low Carb Cheesecake with Strawberries

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Our second time at this particular Cheesecake Factory and again, we were not disappointed. We went a bit early, for Vegas anyways. Thus, t

here was only a 30 minute wait. Mom and I passed some time at Express. I found a shirt I liked only to find that it was $19.99 instead of $9.99. Going back to the restaurant empty handed, we were led upstairs. The setting was much more quiet and with the straw lawn chairs, the setting was more casual. It was nice all the same.

Mom saw the picture for the Herb Crusted Fillet of Salmon on the menu and it looked delicious. Only, she was surprised to see only one piece of fish - the photo she saw was for catering. Regardless, the food was still good. A few more pieces of asparagus would have been better, and the salmon was decent. The mashed potatoes were good, but there was too much we just couldn't finish it.

I decided to go with a refreshing Skinnylicious Fresh Vegetable Salad. Apples, beets, asparagus, green beans, and edamame never fails to please me. Dressing on th

e side was also a good idea. The pomegranate vinaigrette did not taste like pomegranate, just sour. There was plenty of lettuce though so refreshing it certainly was.

Dad, not feeling up to a lot of meat, decided to go with the Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta, which was actually delicious. The sweet and spicy chipotle sauce was grea

t! The pasta was not overcooked, and the tortilla strips added a nice texture to the dish. The only downside was that there was not much veggies in the plate. The pasta was great though.

Finally, you can't go to The Cheesecake Factory without eating cheesecake. I wanted to try the original - after all, it's traditional and therefore must be good! Their low carb option was even better. Mom did not enjoy it as much since it was too creamy and rich, just a big slice of

cheesecake, but the strawberries were nice. Although, I was disappointed that they were not glazed like the ones on the non-low carb slices. The few pieces in the glass bowl just did not do it for me. It was not the best cheesecake ever, so I guess traditional is not always good.

To everyone's delight, though, their whole wheat bread is always delicious. Slightly sweetened somehow, very rich, whole wheat flavors... we took some to go for breakfast the next day. Mom and I have a soft spot for it, that's for sure! Overall though, the price is decent, much more worth it than many other casual dining restaurants.

Satisfy Those Cravings - Hard Rock Cafe

December 27, 2011

Hard Rock Cafe, Las Vegas NV

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Hard Rock Nachos

Cobb Salad

Hickory-Smoked Bar-B-Que Duo Combo

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After seeing Hard Rock first in Los Angeles, then in Orlando, Philadelphia, and Vegas, we just had to give it a try. The music is not particularly what any of us listens to but regardless, the atmosphere is quite unique - a twist on the traditional restaurant setting, that's for sure!

Mom was craving nachos for two days. So, to satisfy her taste buds, she ordered the nachos - I loved the cheese and jalapenos! So spicy, so nice. I prefer lots of cheese but Mom and Dad seemed to prefer the crispy, un-cheesed chips. The cheese made it soggy after a while but I liked it that way. Salsa was good but I was never a big fan of sour cream.

I had the Cobb Salad and boy it was huge! Just a regular salad, nothing too fancy. It was not bad but there was nothing remarkable.

Dad's hickory-smoked bbq duo of ribs and chicken was, on the other hand, great. I loved the bbq sauce. It was amazing. The ranchero beans that came with it was heavenly for me. I haven't had traditional beans like that for so long! They remind me of our early immigration days, back in my first elementary, and then the canned beans I used to get from Superstore. The ribs were so tender and perfectly done.

I don't think we'll go back to Hard Rock, just because their menu does not offer a lot of variety. Cheesecake Factory is definitely better in their selections. Not a bad dinner, though.

Merry Christmas - Hugo's Cellar

December 25, 2011

Hugo's Cellar, Las Vegas NV

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New York Strip Char-Broiled Steak

Salmon Sauce Nantua

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After landing in Vegas, renting a car, checking in, and driving to downtown Las Vegas, thanks to Yelp, we decided to give Hugo's Cellar a try in the Four Seasons Hotel. It was Christmas so I did not want some casual diner, like the one beside Hugo's which had open seating. $8 mediocre chicken was just not my kind of Christmas.

We discover though that the menu came in set dinners so considering there was no way I can eat a whole meal myself, we decided with two entrees. The perfect amount actually. Yeah, it was a little awkward but again, it's not our problem the restaurant did not allow for individual dishes.

Dad had a New York Strip Steak and Mom and I ha

d the Salmon Sauce Nantua (crab sauce with shrimp). I personally prefer medium rare steak, not medium well. The salmon was nicely done, though. The sauce was flavoured very well and grilled salmon is always nice as long as the seasoning and flavouring is done right.

I was kind of disappointed that the sides were all very similar. I do not usually eat mashed or baked potatoes, but I did have the stuffed tomato. The white asparagus was also a new veggie for me but I like it a lot. It had more of a entree side feel than the green asparagus, maybe because it was just thicker.

They also had crisps in the bread basket. Those were good. The butter was in a rose shape. Very pretty. The dessert was dark chocolate dipped strawberries, milk chocolate dipped dried apricots, and white chocolate dipped figs. Needless to say, being a fan of white chocolate and figs, that was my favourite. The strawberries were huge and sweet too. Mom and I also got a red rose each. A very merry Christmas in Vegas!

A Taste of Sweet Italy - Tiramisu Cheesecake

June 21, 2011

The Cheesecake Factory, Las Vegas NV

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Tiramisu Cheesecake

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So I have decided to turn this blog into a food diary. Sounds delicious yes? Seeing friends' posts of scrumptious platters on Facebook often makes my stomach growl. To save the rest from the same fate, instead of Facebook, I shall turn to my old Blogger. Well, here begins one tasty journey... with a slice of Tiramisu Cheesecake.

Mascarpone cheese in a cake sounds nice already. Add more cheese and it turns into a delicate slice of cheesecake. After sampling the Red Velvet and White Chocolate ones in Hawaii a few months earlier, this time, Mom and I decided to go to Italy. Why not? We had pasta for dinner so it was only fitting to end an Italian meal with Italian sweetness.

Sweetness it is. And creamy and smooth. I went light on the whip but the light hint coffee and cocoa, and cheese of course, was just about perfect.