Best Appetizer in Las Vegas

Recently I have had the opportunity to go to Las Vegas several times a year on business. Once of the best features of Las Vegas, that often gets overlooked, is the food. Las Vegas has some of the best culinary choices of any city in the world. I have eaten at many excellent restaurants and there is one appetizer that is a must have when ever I go to Las Vegas – the Truffled Potato Chips, Maytag Blue Cheese Sauce at the Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill in the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.

Modernizing the traditional “bar and grill” concept,  the Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill is approachable fine dining in a magnificent setting.  Situated in the bustling middle of the MGM Grand, the Bar & Grill is an open and fun restaurant. It’s filled with light wood tones, modern and comfortable tables and seating. The many glowing panels of colored glass lend a warm, and welcoming feel to the dining experience.

Executive Chef Scott Irestone takes the classic bar and grill menu to new heights using Wolfgang’s trademark standard of the finest, freshest ingredients. One of the signature appetizers is the Homemade Truffled Potato Chips with Maytag blue cheese. This is the best appetizer in Las Vegas!  This dish is a wonderful blend of freshly cooked plate of golden brown potato chips with a fragrant truffle and rich Maytag blue cheese.

I have read many other reviews that call this dish “a mess” or a “glorified lunch special”. This dish is a perfect “mess” that makes my “lunch special”! The crisp potato chips with the taste of blue cheese is nothing short of a simple, wonderful dish. When your travel plans take you to Las Vegas, stop by the MGM Grand and enjoy the best appetizer in Las Vegas!

Eat for under $20 in Maui

Everyone wants to score a first-rate Deal on the road. But deals can be difficult to come by in a tourist zone — especially one like Maui, where the cost of dining can be as breathtaking as the landscape. So we went to the people who know Maui best — its residents — and asked them for suggestions on how to eat well here on a budget.

Our local experts included Charmaine Tavares, the mayor of Maui; Bobby Santos, chef instructor of the Maui Culinary Academy; students at the academy; Bonnie Friedman, cookbook author; and Benita Brazier, of the Maui Office of Economic Development.

Their advice helped us develop this list of 10 great Maui meals for less than $20, our second in a series of occasional stories on getting the best value for your vacation dining dollar.

Bon appétit, or as they say in the islands: E mea ai maik’i.

(Note: Some of the restaurants take cash only, and some are hard to find; call first for hours and directions.)

1. CJ’S DELI & DINER

Price: $7.95 to $9.95

Scoping it out: Only $10 to spend? Stop at CJ’s Deli & Diner for what may be the best burger in Maui. For $9.95, our burger combo included half a pound of Angus beef (topped with caramelized Maui onions, cheese and bacon) a refillable soda and a heaping mound of wonderfully seasoned fries. The diner is cheerful and appealing and is just down the street from the über-expensive resorts at Kaanapali. “I opened this restaurant because I was tired of all the tourist traps,” says owner Christian Jorgensen, formerly executive chef at the Westin Maui. His menu includes more than burgers: Jorgensen’s comfort meals include entrees such as meatloaf ($8.50), pot roast ($9.95) and roast turkey ($8.95). And you can BYOB without a corkage fee. Other pluses: Order lunch to take on a picnic or the road to Hana, and CJ will lend you an ice chest.

We loved. . . everything, including CJ’s wickedly wonderful sweets, such as Road to Hana brownies or macadamia nut Hana bars.

We didn’t love. . . that the place is hard to find.

CJ’s Deli & Diner, Kaanapali Fairway Shops, 2580 Kekaa Drive, No. 120 (just off Honoapiilani Road); (808) 667-0968, www.cjsmaui.com.

2. ALOHA MIXED PLATE

Price: $6.25 to $13.95

Scoping it out: Lahaina, once a whaling capital, is now a tourist hub with restaurants crowding Front Street, the main drag. Many are chain eateries with high prices — hey, you might as well have stayed at home. So try something different: Aloha Mixed Plate. The funky ocean-side restaurant features plate lunches, an only-in-Hawaii cuisine that includes foods of many cultures. Typical dishes are teriyaki beef, kalua pork, poi, rice, macaroni salad and lomi lomi salmon, but finicky eaters can skip the local food and get a burger or salad. You’ll dine outdoors on paper plates, but the view is worth a million dollars, especially at sunset: tiki torches, lush vegetation, crashing surf and a flotilla of sailboats riding at anchor. Come around 8 p.m. and you’ll hear the music and dancing from the Old Lahaina Luau next door.

We loved. . . the location and setting.

We didn’t love . . . the difficulty finding a parking space.

Aloha Mixed Plate, 1285 Front St., Lahaina (behind the Lahaina Cannery Mall); (808) 661-3322, www.alohamixedplate.com.

3. SUNRISE CAFE

Price: $5.95 to $9.95

Scoping it out: Sunrise Cafe is a day brightener. Tucked away on a side street in busy Lahaina, the diner offers breakfast specials for $5.95 each. At a resort hotel, you’d pay as much as $28 a person. This tiny, family-run restaurant has only 13 tables but is charming, with two shady covered patios for dining and people watching. It’s an easy stop on the way to the whale watching and snorkeling boats. Breakfast is served until 3 p.m., when the cafe closes for the day. After 11:30 a.m., appetizers, soups and sandwiches are added to the menu.

We loved . . . the eggs Benedict, the restaurant’s specialty.

We didn’t love . . . the cash-only policy. No credit cards.

Sunrise Cafe, 693 N. Front St., Lahaina (next to the Lahaina Library on Market Street); (808) 661-8558.

4. BA-LE FRENCH SANDWICHES & BAKERY

Price: $7.75 to $8.25

Scoping it out: This food court restaurant, with two locations in Maui (and 23 others in the state), may have an identity crisis. Is it Vietnamese, French or Hawaiian? It’s a little of each, with various dishes to complement the cultures. Visit here for pho (a Vietnamese soup), hot or cold noodle dishes, saimin and lunch plates featuring short ribs, teriyaki chicken and pork. Sandwiches are served on French-style baguettes. Pastries and puddings round out the offerings.

We loved . . . the fast service.

We didn’t love . . . the French bread, which was too hard.

4a: Ba-Le French Sandwiches & Bakery, 1221 Honoapiilani Road, Lahaina (in the Lahaina Cannery Mall); (808) 661-5566. Also, 4b: 270 Dairy Road, Kahului (in the Maui Marketplace); (808) 877-2400, www.ba-le.com.

5. SCOOPS

Price: $3.25 to $6.25

Scoping it out: Selling ice cream is the best job in the world, says Scoops’ owner Michael Martinelli, “because 99 out of 100 customers go away smiling.” After tasting Lappert’s Hawaii ice cream, we understand why. Lappert’s Hawaii ice cream, a boutique brand from Kauai that’s sold at Scoops, is creamy and delicious. Scoops, on the main drag in Lahaina, offers 32 flavors and is a granddaddy of ice cream stores: Martinelli has dished up frozen goodness almost every day for 22 years. His biggest seller is Kauai pie (Kona coffee ice cream laced with fudge and coconut) on a chocolate-dipped, nut-encrusted handmade waffle cone. Yes, we know, ice cream isn’t a meal. But sometimes nothing else tastes as good.

We loved . . . luscious ice cream on a hot night.

We didn’t love . . . the diminutive size of the scoop.

Scoops, 888 Front St., Lahaina; (808) 661-5632.

6. FISH MARKET Maui

Price: $8.99 to $12.99

Scoping it out: It’s easy to get hooked on the food at Fish Market Maui. If you want a great fish dinner without paying a fortune, this tiny Shop in a West Maui strip mall makes it easy. Owners Jim and Tricia Patch buy from local fisherman and resell to the public. Plan a condo picnic or beach-side barbecue and pick up ready-to-grill varieties such as opakapaka (Hawaiian pink snapper), mahi mahi, ono, wild salmon and striped marlin. Or phone ahead and ask them to cook it for you. The market also has a to-go counter with sandwiches, fish tacos and pizzas, including crab and avocado. And there’s a deli counter with delicacies such as lobster salad, poke (raw ahi salad) and smoked fish.

We loved . . . eating fish that just came off the boat.

We didn’t love . . . the location, north of Kaanapali, which is too far for visitors staying in Kihei or Wailea.

Fish Market Maui, 3600 Lower Honoapiilani Road, Lahaina; (808) 665-9895.

7. HONOLUA STORE DELI

Price: All less than $7

Scoping it out: Kapalua is a pretty tony address. This resort community at the far end of West Maui is home to the swanky Ritz-Carlton Kapalua and other pricey digs. But it’s also home to the quaint Honolua Store, a fixture since 1929, when the area was part of a giant pineapple plantation. The store, which sells T-shirts and tourist necessities, has a new addition. In December, a deli was added; its takeout menu has quickly become so popular that locals and tourists line up outside before the 6 a.m. daily opening. Chef Romeo Arruiza, formerly of the Westin Kaanapali, offers a changing menu of lunch plates, pizzas and sandwiches. And you can walk out the door, with a beverage, for less than $10. Stop by for a picnic lunch if you go snorkeling at beautiful Kapalua Beach or drive the West Maui coast road. Or dine outside on the patio.

We loved . . . the fast, fresh, inexpensive local food.

We didn’t love . . . getting lost on Kapalua’s dead-end roads.

Honolua Store Deli, 502 Office Road, Lahaina; (808) 665-9109.

8. Maui CULINARY ACADEMY

Price: $5 to $8.50

Scoping it out: Where on Maui do you find the best food for the lowest prices? The winner, hands down, is Maui Culinary Academy, which operates seven specialty kitchens and a high-end restaurant at Maui Community College. The restaurants are part of the school’s food service program and offer a terrific place to eat breakfast or lunch if you’re lucky enough to visit the island during the school season. Sushi, seafood, pasta, salads — all beautifully prepared and presented — are available in the Paina Food Court daily. (It’s near the airport and is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.) “A lot of people think we aren’t open to the public,” says longtime chef instructor Bobby Santos. “We embrace the public. The busier we are, the more the students are going to learn.”

We loved. . . the choice, the taste, the prices.

We didn’t love. . . that it’s not open for dinner.

Maui Culinary Academy, Maui Community College, 310 W. Kaahumanu Ave., Kahului; (808) 984-3225, www.mauiculinary.com.

9. DA KITCHEN CAFE

Price: $6.75 to $13.95

Scoping it out: Ask a Maui resident about his or her favorite budget restaurant and the name that keeps popping up is Da Kitchen, which has two strip mall locations. (The main cafe is in Central Maui near the airport; an express version is in Kihei.) Da Kitchen is known for its plate lunches. It’s also known for huge portions. The teriyaki chicken plate has about 1 1/2 pounds of chicken, the kalua pork has about a pound of meat. “And at least 75% of our customers have no problem eating it all,” says Mariah Brown, who owns the cafes with Les Tomita. “He’s a big guy who likes to eat,” says Mariah of her business partner, “and he thinks we should serve big food.” That’s why their motto is “Home of da world’s biggest plate lunch.”

We loved. . . the tempura mahi mahi.

We didn’t love. . . the 30- to 40-minute wait in line for lunch or dinner at the Central Maui location.

Da Kitchen, Triangle Square, 425 Koloa St., No. 104, Kahului; (808) 871-7782, www.da-kitchen.com. Da Kitchen Express, Rainbow Mall, 2439 S. Kihei Road, No. A107, Kihei; (808) 875-7782.

10. BANGKOK CUISINE

Price: $7.50 to $17.50

Scoping it out: In some ways, this 11-table strip mall restaurant is amazing. Given the low prices, it’s amazing that the restaurant has cloth napkins, colorful sari tablecloths and bright tapestries on the wall. And there’s amazing food too. In fact, that’s the dish you should try: “The Amazing, your choice of chicken, beef or pork simmered in peanut curry sauce and coconut milk and served over steamed veggies” ($10.50). We loved it. Visit Bangkok Cuisine on the way to or from the airport or bound for Kmart or Costco.

We loved. . . the speedy service and eye appeal of the food.

We didn’t love. . . long lines on weekends.

Bangkok Cuisine, 395 Dairy Road, Kahului; (808) 893-0026.

SOURCE: LA TIMES

A Culinary Crossroads

Once known for its all-you-can-eat buffets and bargain shrimp cocktails, Las Vegas has transformed itself into a top culinary destination. Within a decade, Las Vegas has redefined the culinary and wine experience by offering the most comprehensive collection of celebrity chefs and world-class restaurants, more Master Sommeliers than any other city in the world and more wine sold per capita than in any other destination.

Las Vegas’ credibility as one of the globe’s centers for fine dining grew even more when, in 2008, it became the fourth U.S. city to be profiled by the authors of the Michelin Guide, the prestigious restaurant and lodging guidebook. For more than a century, the Michelin Guide has provided reviews of restaurants and lodging and its one- to three-star rating system is regarded as the most discriminating in the world. This year, the Michelin Guide Las Vegas 2009 features 140 restaurants and 32 hotels.

Bon Appétit magazine, a leading authority in the culinary world, cemented Las Vegas’ place among U.S. dining capitals by declaring the destination as one of the nation’s top five restaurant cities. In fact, the publication has partnered with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, and Las Vegas resorts, to host an annual epicurean event called Vegas Uncork’d. This four-day event in May provides an intimate connection with legendary chefs, along with grand tastings of their delectable creations.

Las Vegas continues to be recognized year after year for its quality restaurants. In 2009, two restaurants were honored with a five-star rating by Mobil Travel Guide, Alex at Wynn Las Vegas and Joël Robuchon at The Mansion at MGM Grand. Recently, AAA announced their Five Diamond Award-winners for 2009, considered one of the most prestigious recognitions that a restaurant can achieve. AAA Five Diamond Award-winning restaurants include Alex at Wynn Las Vegas (fourth consecutive year), Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand (third consecutive year), Le Cirque at Bellagio (sixth consecutive year), Picasso at Bellagio (eighth consecutive year) and first-time winner Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace. AAA rates nearly 60,000 restaurants and lodgings each year throughout all 50 states, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, providing the broadest coverage of any U.S. rating system, both geographically and by number of properties rated. Of those, only 103 resorts and 59 restaurants earned the highly coveted AAA Five Diamond rating for 2009.

As the dining scene continues to evolve in Las Vegas, new restaurants continue to open nearly every month, providing unique experiences for repeat visitors. Some of the many new restaurants in 2009 include the following:

In keeping with the culinary standards set by Wynn Las Vegas, Encore introduces a new all-star team of chefs to the dining family, each of whom is in their kitchens cooking dinner every night. Five signature restaurants pair these master chefs with personally prepared gourmet fare. Sinatra is a salute to Ol’ Blue Eyes. Chef Theo Schoenegger’s modern Italian cuisine riffs with Sinatra tunes as guests revisit the entertainer’s legendary charisma. A surprise awaits at Switch, Chef Marc Poidevin’s French-inspired seafood and steakhouse. Diners can appreciate the art collection by Columbian artist Fernando Botero at Botero Steak while sampling Chef Mark LoRusso’s modern cuisine. Society Café Encore was designed with the whimsical era of Oscar Wilde in mind, to match the imaginative cooking of Chef Kim Canteenwalla. Turn a corner in the casino and come face to face with a 27-foot crystal dragon, mounted at Wazuzu, where rising star Chef Jet Tila serves up pan-Asian cuisine.

M Resort Spa Casino has opened nine restaurants. Studio B, the resort’s show kitchen buffet, integrates a state-of-the-art restaurant with a live-action cooking studio. At Marinelli’s guests can enjoy authentic Italian dishes in the stylish restaurant or overlooking the Villaggio Del Sole. Terzetto combines great charcoal-grilled steak and seafood with an even better social atmosphere. Gracing the summit of the M Resort, Veloce Cibo combines an extensive menu of appetizers, entrees, sushi, sashimi and nigiri with satisfying desserts and a range of hand-crafted cocktails. Red Cup Café, a 1920′s art-deco inspired 24-hour gathering spot, is the place for hand-prepared American classics. The Hostile Grape is known as the cellar and tasting room with an attitude. Baby Cakes, a European-inspired pastisserie offers an impressive assortment of confections including pastries, cakes, chocolates, cannolis, and a variety of coffees. Adjacent to the race and sports book, guests can order by the numbers at Vig Deli with an extensive menu that includes hot dogs, burgers, BBQ, sandwiches and hand-tossed pizza. A casual outdoor dining experience, Piazza Grille is a sun-soaked Mediterranean-style experience.

ARIA, the resort casino at CityCenter, has named the chefs set to oversee its culinary offerings. Sirio Maccioni will introduce “Sirio”, featuring Italian favorites. Michael Mina will head up “American Fish”, featuring refined American Cuisine. Julian Serrano will offer a more casual concept featuring innovative interpretations of Spanish fare. Jean-Georges Vongerichten will add Jean Georges Steakhouse to the mix. The Light Group will unveil an edgy American dim sum style concept. Jean-Philippe Maury will open JP Patisserie featuring a variety of breakfast pastries, sandwiches and desserts. These well-known chefs who run acclaimed eateries at Bellagio, The Mirage, MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay, will be joined by Masayoshi Takayama, the world-renowned chef of the famed Masa in New York City and Shawn McClain, celebrated executive chef and partner at three of Chicago’s top restaurants. ARIA also will be home to Blossom, a classic Chinese restaurant; Lemongrass, a modern Thai restaurant; Café Centro, serving three meals each day; and The Buffet, a contemporary take on the standard.

Caesars Palace has opened two new restaurants featuring authentic cuisine from the many regions of mainland China. Beijing Noodle No. 9 is a stunningly designed casual restaurant serving signature hand-pulled noodles, authentic Shanghai-style soup dumplings, braised and roasted meats and live-to-table seafood and fish. Sea Harbour is an authentic Cantonese-style fine seafood restaurant.

NOBHILL TAVERN by Michael Mina at MGM Grand infuses a new concept into the ever-evolving Las Vegas dining transformation. Tavern cuisine, an innovative drink menu that pays homage to classic cocktails, and an expansive lounge area where guests can relax while listening to a music selection of popular songs from a variety of genres make up the NOBHILL TAVERN experience. The menu affords guests the opportunity to enjoy Michael Mina’s signature trio concept.

Bar Louie, a casual neighborhood restaurant and bar, has opened a location at Town Square. The popular Chicago-based chain is known for its signature sandwiches, uniquely prepared appetizers, inventive pizzas and specialty cocktails. The 6,500-square-foot space seats more than 200 and features design elements characteristic of all Bar Louie locations. The venue, which is the 49th in the nation, is open for lunch, dinner and late-night dining.

Combining the bold flavors of Southern Brazil with the generous spirit of Texas, Texas de Brazil has opened at Town Square Las Vegas. The Las Vegas location marks the restaurant’s 14th worldwide. For the fixed price of $44.99, guests can enjoy tantalizing cuts of meats, appetizers, soups, salads, gourmet chesses and a variety of sides served tableside. Texas de Brazil offers guests a truly unique Brazilian experience, complete with sword carrying Gauchos (a.k.a. Brazilian cowboys), who roam the dining area serving various delectable cuts and types of meat. Complimenting the meal, Texas de Brazil also offers an extensive wine list, signature cocktails, an assortment of desserts and hand-rolled cigars.

Celebrity Chefs
Historically, major hotel-casinos featured “gourmet rooms” in order to cater to high rollers’ tastes. Each restaurant created an ambience designed to transport diners to a world far away from the action of the casinos. However, by the late ’90s, high-end eateries became the rage with their appeal extending beyond just high rollers. Las Vegas hotels recruited some of the top chefs in the world to open and run restaurants inside their properties. Today, Las Vegas has the most comprehensive collection of the world’s top chefs and television icons. Continuing to satisfy Las Vegas visitors’ appetites, they include – in alphabetical order:

Paul Bartolotta (Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare at Wynn Las Vegas)
Mario Batali (B & B Ristorante and Enoteca San Marco at The Venetian)
Daniel Boulud (Daniel Boulud at Wynn Las Vegas)
David Burke (David Burke athe Venetian)
Kim Canteenwalla (Society Café at Encore)
Tom Colicchio (Craftsteak at MGM Grand)
Alain Ducasse (Mix at Mandalay Bay’s THEhotel)
Todd English (Olives at Bellagio)
Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken (Border Grill at Mandalay Bay)
Bobby Flay (Mesa Grill at Caesars Palace)
Jean-Marie Josselin (8-0-8 at Caesars Palace)
Joseph Keller (Bistro Zinc at Montelago Village at Lake Las Vegas)
Hubert Keller (Fleur de Lys at Mandalay Bay)
Thomas Keller (Bouchon at The Venetian)
Emeril Lagasse (Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House at MGM Grand and Delmonico Steakhouse at The Venetian)
Mark LoRusso (Botero Steak at Encore)
Sirio Maccioni (Le Cirque at Bellagio at Sirio at ARIA)
Steve Martorano (Café Martorano at Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino)
Nobu Matsuhisa (Nobu at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino)
Jean-Philippe Maury (Jean Philippe Patisserie at Bellagio and JP Patisserie at ARIA)
Maurizio Mazzon (Canaletto at the Venetian and Il Fornaio at the New York-New York and Green Valley Ranch)
Michael Mina (NOBHILL TAVERN and SEABLUE at MGM Grand, MICHAEL MINA at Bellagio and Strip Steak at Mandalay Bay and American Fish at ARIA)
Tom Moloney (AquaKnox at the Venetian)
Rick Moonen (RM Seafood at Mandalay Place)
Bradley Ogden (Bradley Ogden at Caesars Palace)
Charlie Palmer (Aureole at Mandalay Bay and Charlie Palmer Steak at The Four Seasons)
Francois Payard (Payard Patisserie at Caesars Palace)
Marc Poidevin (Switch at Encore)
Wolfgang Puck (Spago and Chinois at The Forum Shops at Caesars, Postrio at The Venetian, CUT at The Palazzo, Trattoria del Lupo at Mandalay Bay and Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at MGM Grand)
Joël Robuchon (L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon and Joël Robuchon at The Mansion at MGM Grand)
André Rochat (Alizé at the Palms, Andre’s Monte Carlo)
Guy Savoy (Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace)
Piero Selvaggio (Valentino at The Venetian and Giorgio and Ristorante at Mandalay Place)
Julian Serrano (Picasso at Bellagio)
Theo Schoenegger (Sinatra at Encore)
Kerry Simon (CatHouse at Luxor, Simon at Palms Place)
Alessandro Stratta (Alex at Wynn Las Vegas)
Joachim Splichal (Pinot Brasserie at The Venetian)
Jet Tila (Wazuzu at Encore)
Jean-Georges Vongerichten (Prime at Bellagio and Jean Georges Steakhouse at ARIA)
Michael White (Fiamma at MGM Grand)
Takashi Yagihashi (Okada at Wynn Las Vegas)

All-You-Can-Eat
In the early ’40s, the first buffet opened at the original El Rancho Vegas Hotel, the Las Vegas Strip’s first hotel. Beldon Katleman, El Rancho’s owner, initiated the all-you-can-eat-for-a-dollar “Midnight Chuck Wagon Buffet” in an effort to keep patrons on the property during late-night hours. His idea of treating guests to an elaborate array of food for a small price was copied again and again. As a result, the Las Vegas buffet has earned its place in the city’s history.

Buffets are still popular in Las Vegas. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the average buffet features about 45 food selections per meal including salads, fruits, roast beef, baked ham, roast turkey, vegetables and a variety of desserts. Several properties are taking their buffet experiences to the next level. The Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino renovated its Rio Carnival World Buffet and Village Seafood Buffet by increasing its dish selections. The Carnival World Buffet has more than 300 offerings and 70 dessert dishes from around the world – from pizza to omelets and from teppanyaki to fresh pasta. The Buffet at TI (Treasure Island) and Cravings at The Mirage both showcase an international line-up as well with American barbeque, a sushi bar, and specialty pastas – all in addition to the traditional buffet items. Meanwhile, Flavors, Harrah’s Las Vegas’ newest buffet, features live cooking stations, freshly prepared seafood, Prime Rib and a varied menu that also includes Churrasco (Brazilian BBQ), hand-rolled sushi and Italian casseroles prepared in a wood-burning oven.

Entertainment Dining
Dining and entertainment go hand-in-hand at several locations throughout Southern Nevada. Dinner theater options include the “Tournament of Kings” at Excalibur where guests are transported to the feasts of the Renaissance while watching a knightly battle. If you’re in the mood for love, how about “Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding” at Planet Hollywood? Be a special guest of Anthony Nunzio, Jr., and Valentina Lynne Vitale, an Italian-American couple who come from two slightly dysfunctional families. The wedding is complete with drunken guests, a pregnant maid-of-honor, an impromptu “YMCA” dance and, of course, family bickering. Guests can either participate in the wedding with actors who never step out of character or they can simply watch the family drama unfold.

Themed Restaurants
Las Vegas also boasts a bevy of themed restaurants. Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas, located near The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, is an authentic replica of the Munich Hofbräuhaus. The restaurant features German/Bavarian cuisine, imported Bavarian beer, meat and sausage produced exclusively for Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas and Bavarian pretzels imported directly from Munich. Music connoisseurs can nosh on gourmet hamburgers while soaking up the unique atmosphere and music memorabilia at the Hard Rock Café. Planet Hollywood serves up the best Hollywood fare inside the Forum Shops, while NASCAR Café (Sahara) and ESPNZone (New York-New York) are must-sees for sports enthusiasts. Parrotheads can nosh on a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville at the Flamingo and the Harley-Davidson Café serves up chow for Hog aficionados.

Cooking Classes
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to prepare cuisine like a world-class chef, now you can. Numerous restaurants now offer cooking classes. Renowned restaurateur Piero Selvaggio’s Italian eatery, Giorgio Caffè & Ristorante, offers custom cooking classes for groups ranging from 15 to 40 people. Located at Mandalay Place, the classes include a full tasting menu and can be scheduled any day of the week. At Café Ba Ba Reeba! at Fashion Show, groups can learn how to prepare paella, the classic Spanish dish. This class is offered on Saturdays and includes a five-course lunch with tapas and two wines. Master Sushi Chef of Loews Hotels, Chef Osamu “Fuji” Fujita, will personally conduct sushi classes every second Saturday, starting Jan. 10, of every month through 2009 at 3 p.m. inside Marssa restaurant at Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort. The two-hour sushi and sake clinic is designed to educate participants about traditional Tokyo and Osaka-style Japanese cuisine in a fun, hands-on environment. SUSHISAMBA Strip, located on the retail level of The Shoppes at The Palazzo, has announced an interactive, two-hour teaching and tasting event called SUSHI+SAKE 101. Participants learn what it takes to become a master sushi chef while sipping sake alongside a five-course meal. The class introduces students to the art and history of this unique cuisine. In addition to classes on the Strip, there are off-Strip cooking schools as well, such as Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas. Classes cover the culinary gamut, ranging from vegetarian cuisine to Thai to Southwest Thanksgiving. Classes are limited in size and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Diego! Mexican food at its finest

Traditional recipes hand-picked from the Mexican countryside create the foundation for Diego’s bold menu. Then he makes them completely his own. Using honest ingredients and modern techniques, he enlivens authentic Mexican dishes with new twists to create new favorites like carne asada or cochinita pibil. You’ll find the bright and vibrant restaurant just as exciting as the food.

The cuisine is just as bold as the décor, and pulls inspiration from areas like Oaxaca, Veracruz and the Yucatan.  The Southern Mexican dishes are often deliciously complex, such as the Pollo al Horno con Mole which has over 30 ingredients in a sauce that takes 10 hours to create.  Diego also serves outstanding versions of other traditional dishes such as Carne Asada and Cochinita Pibil, a slow-roasted pork dish.  Overall, the cuisine should be appreciated for the amount of time and effort that goes into perfecting its subtleties and for the authenticity of these time-honored dishes.

Even the requisite chips and salsa is an opportunity to explore the flavors of Mexico.   Upon seating, diners at Diego are served fresh house made tortilla chips with a trio of flavoring salts.  The salts, which can be sprinkled over the chips to create dynamic varieties of flavors, feature tradition Mexican seasonings like epazote, cilantro, lime and guajillo, cascabel, and serrano chilies.  The chips are also served with a selection of fresh, grilled or roasted salsas, such as the traditional salsa verde, pico de gallo and salsa roja.  There are copious flavor combinations to sample with all these options, which is an entertaining way to pass the time before the food arrives.

I enjoyed the dish that is probably best known as an emblem of Mexican street cuisine is the Empanadas de Pollo.  Three golden empanadas, filled with braised chicken, red chilies and roasted tomatoes, are served on an oval shaped dish on top of a dollop of guacamole and a generous pour of ancho tomatillo sauce.  The shell is crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.  The chicken is seasoned with cumin, which, combined with the smoky flavor of the ancho in the sauce, gives the dish a wonderful flavor.

Carefreetrip.com gives Diego  out of 5 suitcases!