Around Town by Eileen Di Rocco |
Friends invited me to dine at the upscale N9NE Steakhouse at Palms over the weekend and it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
The champagne and caviar bar was tempting, but we passed, opting instead for appetizers and a glass of wine. The menu offered quite a variety, including shashimi, tuna tartare, wontons and pot stickers. But, my mouth watered when I noticed the calamari, fried crisp with banana peppers, fine herbs and lemon.
Although fried calamari is simple to prepare, if overcooked it becomes tough and rubbery, and it doesn’t take more than a brief moment to make it that way. The chefs at N9NE did not disappoint. The calamari was cooked to perfection – moist and tender – almost melting in your mouth.
The steaks, of course, are all prime aged and cooked at a blistering 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit to seal in the natural jus. You can order them prepared in a variety of ways with a choice of several different sauces. There are also more than a dozen sides to complement your entrée.
Wish I could tell you about the desserts, but after calamari, steak and two sides, I didn’t dare look at a dessert menu. Maybe next time.
SHOP TIL YOU DROP! The mail brought some excitement this week as I received an invitation to the Dec. 3 opening of Crystals, the 500,000 square foot retail shopping center at CityCenter.
If there is one thing this old girl loves to do it’s shop. Wonder how they knew?
Just walking through the place should be an experience. It was designed by world renowned architects Studio Daniel Libeskind and David Rockwell and promises to be breathtaking.
It will boast an array of high-end couture and luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Marni, Nanette Lepore, Mikimoto, H.Stern and Porsche Design.
Will give you a full report next month.
YUMMY GYROS: While running errands the other day I ran across a lunch spot I had forgotten about. It’s a small restaurant called the Fat Greek tucked a few doors away from Food 4 Less in the shopping center on the corner of Flamingo Road and Decatur Boulevard.
Its bright Mediterranean blue walls and white trim are fresh and inviting, the staff is friendly and the food is fabulous. They offer a nice variety of traditional Greek fare, but my favorite is the gyro pita. Yum!
A WIN-WIN PROPOSITION: If you’re looking for a bargain, and who isn’t these days, Honey Baked Ham is offering everyone in the hotel/casino industry a great special for the holidays. On Monday, Nov. 23, they will give you 20% off everything you buy. And, to make it an even sweeter deal, they will donate 5% of your total purchase to the Las Vegas Rescue Mission.
Not only do you get a delicious ham for Thanksgiving or Christmas (they keep well in the freezer, you know) at a nice discount, but you also help some folks down on their luck.
It’s just a one-day special so mark your calendar, and it’s only available at three stores. Here in Las Vegas you can go to 1112 South Rainbow Boulevard or 6331 Centennial Center Boulevard. If you live in Henderson go to the store at 1533 West Sunset Road. You simply need to show your hotel/casino ID to get the discount.
See you around town.
Watch every Tuesday for a brand new Around Town article.
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