Memorial Day weekend is first and foremost a time to honor and remember the men and women who gave their lives serving our country. It is a day of gratitude, reflection, and gathering together with family and friends while appreciating the freedoms their sacrifice made possible.
Across the country, the holiday weekend also marks the unofficial beginning of summer — pool season, grilling season, cold drinks al fresco and the simple delicious snacks everyone reaches for all afternoon long.
At my house, one of those snacks is almost always popcorn.
Not plain buttered popcorn, but big bowls of freshly popped popcorn tossed with bold seasonings. Every summer I rotate between three favorite versions: Mexican Chile Lime Popcorn with Tajín and Cotija cheese; Italian Herb Popcorn with Parmesan, garlic, and Italian seasoning; and spicy-buttery Buffalo Popcorn with just enough heat to keep everyone reaching back into the bowl.
Lunch at Estiatorio Milos was one of those meals where every dish felt simple at first glance, yet somehow absolutely perfect once it hit the table. A high-end Greek seafood restaurant located in The Venetian Resort on the Las Vegas Strip, founded by chef Costas Spiliadis, it is widely considered one of North America’s finest Greek dining establishments, known for its emphasis on pristine, fresh ingredients and authentic Mediterranean preparations.
We shared taramosalata with warm pita and crudité, a Greek salad with vine-ripened heirloom tomatoes and feta, slow-cooked gigantes, grilled jumbo prawns, chargrilled octopus with Santorini fava, sautéed diver scallops, and a beautiful sepia dish with fresh Mediterranean cuttlefish and black ink risotto.
The cuttlefish especially stayed with me afterward. I wanted to recreate that same Mediterranean combination of seafood, olive oil, lemon, and black rice at home, but since fresh cuttlefish wasn’t available, I decided to make my own version using grilled squid instead.
Grilled Squid with Black Rice, Two Ways
The squid turned out so tender and lightly smoky from the grill that I ended up making two variations. The first version was sliced into strips and paired with grilled chiles. For the second version, I sliced the grilled squid into rings and tossed it generously with fresh parsley and basil before serving it over black rice. To echo some of the briny depth of the restaurant’s black ink risotto, I cooked the rice in clam juice, which gave the dish an even deeper seafood flavor.
Squid worked beautifully here as a substitute for cuttlefish because the preparation is so simple and seafood-focused. While cuttlefish is slightly meatier and richer, grilled squid brings a similarly clean Mediterranean flavor and silky, succulent texture.
Rack of lamb already feels a little special, but cutting it into double chops makes it easier to cook, serve, and eat. The thicker chops stay juicy in the center while giving you more browned edges and more of that crisp Parmesan-herb crust in every bite.
The Dijon, Parmesan, and herb coating adds a lot of flavor and texture without taking away from the lamb itself. The mustard gives the crust a little tang, while the panko and Parmesan turn golden and crisp in the oven.
I served the chops with roasted fennel, carrots, and shallots since they become sweet and caramelized as they roast and pair really well with the savory lamb. Altogether, it’s one of those dinners that sounds elegant but still feels warm and approachable.
Japanese Chicken Wing Rice is one of those deeply satisfying one-pot meals where the rice becomes just as important as the main protein. As the soy-ginger marinated chicken wings cook over the rice in the donabe, all of the savory juices drip down into the grains below, creating layers of flavor throughout the pot.
The wings stay juicy while the rice absorbs the marinade, dashi, garlic, and ginger as everything cooks together gently under the lid. A final drizzle of toasted sesame oil, fresh scallions, and a dusting of sansho pepper brighten the dish just before serving.
Served straight from the donabe at the table, Japanese Chicken Wing Rice feels both rustic and special at the same time.
My new donabe (Japanese clay pot) matches my backsplash! 😀
This is Part II of a two-part series inspired by Art of the Grill at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. In Part I, I shared the Fontainebleau Tomato Burrata Salad. Here, I’m featuring my interpretation of Chef Patrick Munster’s Grilled Mahi Mahi Tacos with Mojo Marinade and Avocado Taco Sauce.
The Signature Series at Fontainebleau Las Vegas is an ongoing collection of immersive classes and culinary experiences led by the resort’s chefs, beverage specialists, wellness experts, and creative teams.
We have attended several events so far and have been consistently impressed by the quality, organization, and expertise behind each one.
Mojo (pronounced MOH-hoh) marinade has roots in Cuban cooking, where citrus, garlic, olive oil, and herbs are used to bring brightness and depth to grilled meats and seafood. Variations of mojo are found throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, often centered around sour orange and lime for their fresh, tangy flavor.
For grilled mahi mahi tacos, this style of marinade is especially fitting because the citrus and garlic enhance the fish’s clean, mild flavor while the olive oil helps keep the fillets moist over high heat. The lightly smoky poblano and fresh cilantro add another layer that works beautifully with cool, creamy avocado sauce and a crisp shredded napa cabbage, creating tacos that balance char, acidity, creaminess, and crunch in every bite.
