I'm a Flay-hater. It's true. Based solely on TV personality, I just loathe the guy. But, being in Vegas, I swallowed my venom in favor of testing out his vittles. I'd heard before the the food was tasty, and that is, after all, what matters.Neither Bob nor I are gamblers, but we braved the whizzes and buzzes, bells, whistles, and old folks and finally tracked down Flay's restaurant smack dab in the middle of the casino. Even at 6pm, there was a fairly substantial wait for a table. We lucked out, though, and snagged the last two stools at the bar (hooray!).
Mesa Grill at Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas
The Menu:
CRISPY FRIED SQUASH BLOSSOMS - stuffed with Ricotta, Sweet Corn + Basil with Hot and Sweet Yellow Pepper Sauce
NEW MEXICAN SPICE RUBBED PORK TENDELOIN - with Bourbon-Ancho Chile Sauce + Sweet Potato Tamale with Crushed Pecan Butter
DOUBLE BAKED POTATO - with Horseradish, Green Onions + Crème Fraiche
I really enjoyed the appetizer, though Bob found it a bit bland. Our place setting was the standard nice restaurant sans-salt affair, and he was loathe to ask for any. I have to agree that they could have used a touch of salt, but my pallate was mollified by the creamy subtlety of the ricotta filling and the vibrancy of the sauces.
The entrees were delicious, the pork a perfect, tender medium, beautifully highlighted by the sauce. We were told by our bartendress that the entrees are usually accompanied by spinach, but ours was substituted with asparagus due to the current e-coli scare. The sweet potato tamale was adequate; the sweet potato flavor barely perceptible. Mine was overcooked around the edges, but not too terrible.
Bob splurged and ordered the twice baked potato on the side. Again, sides don't seem to be Mesa Grill's strong suit. The spud was a bit dry and pretty bland. It lacked much of a horseradish punch, sadly. Kind of a sad showing considering the sheer perfection of the pork.
All in all though, I'd have to say that we were impressed. Old Bobby may have even risen a notch or two in our estimation.
Though I'm not a gambler, drinker, or bad-show-goer, the creepy family-style New Vegas does hold one attraction for me, and that's the food. At least now when I'm forced there on business I can soothe my displeasure with thoughts of far-away fancy meals by proxy.
That meal was one of the best parts of the trip as the rest was filled with the usual Vegas dining requirements of cheap food and buffets. (NOTE TO SELF - Avoid the lunch buffet at the Imperial Palace at all costs!)
-steen
MESA GRILL
3570 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
tags: eating, restaurants, vegas, Bobby+Flay, food, pork
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Feast your eyes on Quinn. I have titled this portrait, "HOW RUDE". LOL Our first official team-blogging-related outing and he yapped on the phone. Well done, Quinn! Bravo!
-steen
tags: foodblog
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