Mardi Gras! Carnaval! Samba!

Happy Mardi Gras!

In the spirit of Mardi Gras- and the New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl win- we stopped by Emeril Lagasses's Table 10 at the Venetian. And what else would you order for lunch except a bowl of gumbo and an Abita to wash it down?

The gumbo of the day included Bison meat (no seafood in this one). There was plenty of andouille sausage to give it that cajun feel. The roux was thick and delicious. The main disappointment was the lack of heat. Luckily they give you a bottle of Tabasco to add your own. Needless to say, we added a lot. It would've been preferable to have the heat already there, but not everything can be as perfect as a Saints' win.

Before the decadence ends, it seemed only fitting to go on a gelato tour of Las Vegas. Each casino could supply it's own tasting tour of Italy's favorite dessert. We stuck to the Jean-Philipe at the Bellagio with the world's largest chocolate fountain and Cocolini's at the Venetian. Even if it isn't as good as you remember from that first trip to Italy, they are both good. And you can't go wrong with gelato. It's always a perfect finish to any meal. Luckily there are more meals to be had and more gelato places to try!

Have a great Mardi Gras celebration, and let us know what you are doing to celebrate.

Happy New Year!

Officially the Year of the Tiger has begun. Every casino in Vegas went all out decorating for Chinese New Year. This tiger was at the Venetian, but the Bellagio, Wynn and Caesar's were equally decked out.

In that spirit, 3 Good Eggs stopped at Beijing Noodle No. 9 at Caesar's Palace to ring in the new year with traditional Chinese food. As can be expected at a restaurant in Las Vegas, showmanship seemed to reign supreme. The decor at Beijing Noodle No. 9 was up for debate - somewhere between the milk bar in a Clockwork Orange and the inside of a greeting card. The white cutout silhouettes accented with splashes of red and a tankful of orange goldfish at the entrance leave you feeling a little disoriented. The best thing to do is to bury yourself in the menu.

We tried the Kung Pao chicken (a favorite of our waiter), the handmade noodles with sliced pork & mushrooms, steamed vegetables & rice, and the duck. Unfortunately, for all the promises of authentic Northern Chinese food, we were left disappointed. Truthfully the waiter was right and the Kung Pao chicken was the tastiest dish. The duck was full of bones, so while it tasted okay picking through the bones left it a tedious task more than an enjoyable meal. The handmade noodles themselves were delicious (and fun to watch them make them in the front of the restaurant), but the overall dish lacked any great flavor. The Kung Pao chicken was good, but it was no more exciting than any ordinary take out Chinese anywhere.

Overall it was disappointing given that we were told it would be an authentic Northern style Chinese restaurant. Many of the waitstaff are from China and said the food was delicious. Sadly, in the end, we would've been better off at PF Chang's at Bally. The decorations in the casinos kept us in the new year's spirit though.

Happy Year of the Tiger!

Viva Las Vegas!

Say Vegas and people think of smoke-filled casinos, strip joints and various levels of debauchery. And while plenty of these can be easily found (or find you), Vegas has also become an oasis for fine dining. Chefs from around the world have brought outposts to this once little desert town. Nobu is here. Il Mulino. Bradley Ogden. Spago. Le Cirque.

This week we will visit various places- both high end and low end- to discover the cuisine Vegas has to offer in between the time spent at the craps tables.

Any suggestions from Vegas lovers? Don't be shy.