Hitting The Las Vegas Culinary Jackpot

tagliatelle con il primo tartufo bianco
tagliatelle con il primo tartufo bianco @ sirio
tagliatelle pasta with fresh shaved first of the season white truffles

We’ve been hitting The Las Vegas Culinary Jackpot, big time! A week ago I shared what is now our absolute favorite spot for Brunch in Vegas – Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill @ Caesar’s. Among many other items, the Yucatan Style Grouper with Blue Crab Succotash Sauce is brilliant. Our epicurean bonanza did not stop at Mesa Grill, though.

Thanks to my brother’s edict that we try new restaurants, on this trip we hit the mother lode. To our immense delight, we re-discovered Las Vegas’ first celebrity chef, the charming André Rochat. It was with fond memories of escargots and duck à l’orange enjoyed at André’s in Downtown Vegas decades ago that we made our dinner reservations.

“In the 1980s, it was a whole different city. We were the only freestanding gourmet restaurant in town. We were very busy, very busy, sometimes with a line at the door,” said Rochat, who was raised in a small town outside Lyon, France. (Read more about our favorite Las Vegas legend here).

André’s @ Monte Carlo reflects the original old-world Downtown Vegas charm and combines it with new-world breathtaking aqua décor and warm, personalized service plus the Chef’s years of talent and hospitality. We were so blown-away by our experience we are certain that foodies coming to Vegas to meet the hottest new Chefs will be even more impressed to meet the town’s hottest old Chef!

Our Short List of Recent Vegas Favorites

Breakfast – Mon Ami Gabi @ Paris
“al fresco on the Strip, open at 7 am, enjoy breakfast with plenty of coffee then go play blackjack”

Dealer – Paul from Thailand @ Paris
“he’s the best and we’re all 21 winners”

Brunch – Mesa Grill @ Caesar’s
“yucatan grouper”

Lunch – Mon Ami Gabi @ Paris
“mussels mariniére and french baguette for sopping up the sauce”

Bar – Michel Richard’s Central @ Caesar’s
“great beers, sip champagne by-the-glass, people-watching”

Pasta – Sirio’s @ Aria
tagliatelle pasta with fresh shaved first of the season white truffles
“get the large order $89 and share, it’s worth every cent dollar”

Dinner – André’s @ Monte Carlo
“our highest recommendation, bar none”

MON AMI GABI @ PARIS

 mon ami gabi mussels
moules mariniére
white wine and herbs

Mon Ami Gabi is that charming French bistro that offers al fresco dining on the Strip.

mon ami gabui rosé, chateau de campuget
Chateau de Campuget Costieres de Nimes Tradition Rosé 2010

Dry Rosé from the Rhone. Syrah 70%, Grenache noir 30%. The wine’s color is an intense peony pink. Raspberry aromas. Lively and well-balanced, with just a tad more body than some other popular rosés. Nice long fruity finish. Drinking pink wine in the sun on the Strip, it doesn’t get much better…

mon ami gabi bellagio fountains
Sunshine, Bellagio fountain show, people-watching on the Strip where the action is…
all from Mon Ami Gabi patio.

mon ami gabi, professional waiter

Always impressed with the level of service at Mon Ami Gabi.
Crisp, Knowledgeable, Friendly, Professional, Engaging.
We see many of the same waiters year after year.

ANDRÉ’S @ MONTE CARLO

Andre's ipad wine list

andré’s ipad wine list
award-winning wine list that boasts more than 1,500 selections

PAN-SEARED DUCK FOIE GRAS, Andre's las Vegas

pan-seared duck foie gras
caramelized apple, five-spice crème anglaise, port wine reduction

Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir 2008
Sokol Blosser 2008 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir

 Complex and layered, with black cherry, berry, and earthy minerality, it has concentration and depth without being heavy. There’s wonderful structure and texture, with soft, supple tannins. An all-around delightful Oregon Pinot Noir. It’s deep flavors yet lighter body paired beautifully with many of André’s refined dishes.

Fall Truffle Risotto, Andre's Las Vegas
fall truffle risotto
duck confit, english pea, vialone nano

Andre's Dover Sole
imported dover sole
choice of sauce: sautéed véronique, grenobloise or amandine

Berkshire Pork Belly, Andre's Las Vegas
berkshire pork belly
caramelized onion custard, truffle jus

HEIRLOOM VEGETABLE TART, Andre's Las Vegas
heirloom vegetable tart
seared asparagus, tomato, goat cheese

andré's carrot cake & walnut souffle
carrot & walnut cake soufflé…

carrot & walnut cake souffle, cream cheese sauce
with cream cheese sauce!

andré's tasting menu
thank you for joining us!
ANDRÉ

andré's dining room and chef andré

Chef Rochat gives his personal stamp of approval to each plate before it leaves the kitchen. In this photo he is exiting the kitchen to come over to our table. It was a pleasure and an honor to meet the Chef. Thank you Chef, for a most extraordinary experience!

BRADLEY OGDEN @ CAESAR’S PALACE

bradley ogden duo of foie gras with strawberries
duo of foie gras with strawberries

bradley ogden duo of foie gras with strawberries
hot: seared foie gras with strawberry jam, spice cake, licorice gastrique
cold: terrine of foie gras with strawberry gelée

bar at bradley ogden las vegas
to my brother’s delight, the foie gras is served on the bar menu @ Bradley Ogden
(we hear that this restaurant will be closing soon)

SIRIO RISTORANTE @ ARIA
bar sirio

bar and wine room

tartara di ricciola, sirio
 tartara di ricciola
yellowtail tartare, avocado, artichokes, asparagus salad, champagne vinaigrette

sirio pantry display kitchen

The bright and colorful pantry display at the far end of the dining room attracts diners to watch the the preparation of cold items, including the yellowtail tartare (above). The pantry features Italian olive oil and vinegars, charcuteries, cheese, mixed antipasto salads and iced seafood.

FritturA MistA Sirio
frittura mista
calamari, bay scallop, shrimp, seasonal vegetables with spicy tomato sauce

tagliatelle con il primo tartufo bianco

tagliatelle con il primo tartufo bianco
be sure to share

Castellare Chianti Classico Riserva 2007

Castellare Chianti Classico Riserva 2007

A terrific expression of Chianti, pairing very well with many of Sirio’s main courses. Aromas of cherries and plums. Bright red in color.  Fresh and fruity with bright red cherry, red currant and pomegranate flavors. A hint of oak. A long silky finish and hints of candied orange peel and flowers. Excellent value.

BrAnZino di orBetello Con sCAMpo Arrostiti
branzino di orbetello con scampo arrostiti
branzino & langoustine, heirloom cherry tomato guazzetto, garlic ciabatta crouton

ossoBuCo sirio
ossobuco
braised veal shank, garden vegetables, saffron risotto

Filetto di MAnZo, sirio
filetto di manzo
grilled prime beef tenderloin, brandy-green peppercorn sauce,
asparagus gratin with béarnaise sauce, roasted seasonal potatoes

MICHEL RICHARD’S CENTRAL @ CAESAR’S PALACE

michel richard's bar central

Central’s two-sided bar opens to the Caesar’s Palace lobby. From the choice of color, to the grand design, to the translucent bar, this is an energizing place to have a drink. Our bartender was excited to tell us about Richard’s eclectic draught-beer selections.

michel richard's bar central
The bright electric wrap-around bar is made of onyx.

michel richard's bar central

Over-sized mirrors give the already huge space, seating up to 300, an expansive feel. We can’t speak for the food, but we were definitely impressed with the ambiance, bar service, and variety of choices of beer, sparking, and wine by the glass. Take a break from gaming or browsing the Forum Shops at Central’s Bar.

MON AMI GABI BREAKFAST @ PARIS
mon ami gabi breakfast

Bonjour Las Vegas!

 Se Réveiller! Sometime between 7 and 8 AM.

mon ami gabi breakfast

frisée & bacon salad, soft-poached egg, croutons

mon ami gabi breakfast, spinach & green vegetable egg white omelette
spinach & green vegetable egg white omelette

mon ami gabi breakfast

Bonjour. Bonne chance. Bon appétit!


With the utmost gratitude and love to my fellow bons vivants – my brother and sister-in-law. Thank you. Looking forward to our January trip, preliminarily dubbed “The Las Vegas French Tour,” where we will dine at only at Vegas’ French restaurants. You can bet we will be back at André’s, tout de suite.

Dear Readers – We would love to hear about your favorite Vegas restaurants and chefs. And Don, Kristy, and I would especially appreciate your recommendation for our upcoming Las Vegas French Tour.

Merci Beaucoup,
Lori Lynn

13 thoughts on “Hitting The Las Vegas Culinary Jackpot”

  1. Fabulous! You DID hit the culinary jackpot…and we hit the blog reading jackpot! Thanks SO much for sharing this one – it was great!

  2. I’m not a gambler, so I’m unlikely to visit Vegas, but I hit the vicarious jackpot by stopping here today. Some of these meals are truly works of artistry. That tagliatelle and truffles grabbed me at the get-go. Thanks for sharing your dining excursion, LL.

  3. OMG you certainly ate well in Vegas! I’m drooling over that tagliatelle with white truffles. I’m too broke to have it this year (2 out of town+1 out of country weddings to go to!)

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