Taste of the Nation Las Vegas

Great event great cause! All featured restaurants did not hold back which feels appropriate for this cause. This was my second year attending so in comparison to the first year the second year was a tad more melow. We bought the VIP package ($ 125) this time around as it allowed us to enter an hour earlier than the general public ($ 100) however they had a late start and didn’t end up letting us in until 15 minutes later but didn’t end up being a big deal. The wind however was 30 – 40 miles per hour and the vendors outdoors did amazing so kudos to them for their efforts! We’ll be back again next year!

Great event this year where Vegas’ chefs and mixologists got to dish it out and serve it up for Share Our Strength once again. Surprisingly absent this year were restaurants from Aria, but it didn’t put a damper on things. What came unexpectedly was the wind, which made it a bit difficult for the restaurants plating up poolside,
but they seemed to pull it together and accomplish their goal.
This year, I thought there was a bit of overkill on shrimp offerings, as well as slider variations which were soooo last year. Chef Endo (RAKU) seemed to be the favorite outside by the pool, and inside, I thought the offerings from Wynn/​Encore restaurants (Country Club, Society Café, Botero) were the best.
The drinks weren’t to shabby either! I loved the Cherry Cream Soda from Bellagio and the Continental from Absolut… Very smooth, refreshing, and a creeper!
Here is a rundown of my gluttonfest this year for a great cause:
B&B RISTORANTE: Rock Shrimp and Fingerling Potato Salad
ISLAND SUSHI: Sake Cured Salmon, Curried Chicken Crostini, and MALASSADAS!!!(had about 6 of ‘em…:0)
BELLAGIO: Som’s Cherry Cream Soda
**TIE FOR BEST DRINK OF THE EVENING**
CIRCO: Roasted Beet and Duck Confit Salad with Truffle Vinaigrette
OLIVES:Chilled Tomato Gazpacho with Lump Crab
ROYS: a pretty standard version of Shrimp Cocktail???
BON BREADS: White Chocolate Batard-​ADDICTING!
TAO: Mixed Sashimi and Spicy Tuna Hand Rolls
LAVO: Cavatelli Bolognese
D.O.C.G ENOTECA: Braised Veal Raviolis
STK STEAK: Pickled Shrimp with Avocado
RAKU: Assorted Yakitori-​Tsukune, Kobe Beef, Kurobuta Pork Cheek,
Kobe Beef Tendon
OLD HOMESTEAD: Prime Rib Po Boy
FIX: Carolina Pulled Pork Slider with Cole Slaw
PICK YOUR POISON: Red and White Velvet, Strawberries and Champagne and Pina Colada Cupcakes-YUM!(and Grape Soda for us «regulars»)
TATTINGER: Bubbly… What Else???
LOLA’S: Jumbalya and Bread Pudding
COUNTRY CLUB @ WYNN: Butter Poached Lobster with Edamame and Lemongrass Sauce
SOCIETY CAFE @ ENCORE: seared Albacore on a Bean Salad and Beef Brisket with Truffle Mustard
BOTERO: Seared Scallop with Minestrone Soup
**BEST BITE OF THE EVENING**
BURGER BAR: Spiced Lamb Burger
FLEUR: Rock Shrimp and Toasted Orzo with a Coconut Broth
AUREOLE: Chicken Liver Mousse and Duck Rillettes with Cherries
TEA’S TEA: Iced Flavored Teas
ALIZE: Filet and Shrimp Surf and Turf Skewer with Truffle Aioli
SIMON: Iron Chef Burger and Cotton Candy
SUSHI ROKU: Marinated Bigeye Tuna with Avocado
SUSHISAMBA: Tuna Tartare Taco
SAILOR JERRY’S RUM: Rum Punch
ABSOLUT MANDARIN: «The Continental»
**BEST DRINK OF THE EVENING**
We killed two birds with one stone that night, and later joined the Unilocal Spring Break Festivities. Looking forward to Taste of the Nation 2013… ALOHA!!!
Unilocal 365 CHALLENGE-(244/365) «Grindin’ Out to End Childhood Hunger»