Las Vegas Buffet - MGM Grand

When in Rome, do as the Romans do... when in Vegas, must have a Vegas Buffet.

You basically can go to ANY hotel and find an elaborate buffet.  Since we were staying at MGM, finding a buffet is not hard to do.

First, you have your eggs mix, with meat, without meat, with taco

And protein, they have craving station, sausage, beans, gravy ... not together, of course.

Then, you have your veggies and sides, potato done in several different ways.

Lox and all the fixin's that goes with it... cream cheese, capers, onion, lemon, bagel around the bakery corner.

In case you're craving for some greens, here's the salad side of things...

... they have potato salad, crab salad, pasta salad, anything with the word salad in it and some shrimps.

Some real breakfast food that you see at breakfast buffet... eggs, round sausage, potato...

... fried hush puppies type thing, other kind of sausage, bacon.

Of course, they would have Lobster Egg casserole, and biscuit and gravy, duh!

So, what did I get?  They have an omelet bar, so I ordered an omelet with cheese, spinach, bacon, mushroom topped with salsa (which was super spicy).  Corn beef hash, salmon & capers, and crab salad.

For your sweet tooth, they do have lemon pie (which is pop tart type looking, but hand made), and fried Twinkies (had to say, not curious enough to try it).

Here's the bakery corner I was saying earlier... basically any kind of pastry for breakfast, lunch and dinner are all here.  Looks great.  They have one section for danish, cakes, and cinnamon rolls and donuts.  Then, the other side has cakes, very pretty.

Round 2: what did I get?  I got the lemon pie, just because I was curious.  Got a side of fruit, just feel like I have to have some to balance out all the junk I've eaten.  Some eggs, sausage, potato, and those fried donut type thing, out of curiosity.  Luckily, it paid off and it tasted good.

Meal cost about $33 with tax, I chose to pay the tip ahead of time, so I can save my cash for other use.  You walk up, pay the cashier, and take your receipt to the hostess and they'll lead you to a table where your server will get any alcoholic beverages.  Otherwise, there's a coffee, juice and soda bar area.

I love buffets, but this was very overwhelming and I forget that they are pretty much open from 7:30a - 9pm.  That is to cover all meals and snack in all possible time.  So naturally the food they have is a bit of very thing.  Since we were there somewhat early for the Vegas crowds, we can tell everything is freshly prepared, and all the food were just put out.  

Now, before you get preach-y about how wasteful Vegas buffets are and how much food they waste.  I will have you know that MGM Grand is one of the leaders in theVegas strip to lead the charge on sustainability on food.  First, they provide their 45,000 employees meals.  20% of their no-longer needed food, goes to feed pig farms, some food goes to compost to become fertilizers for local farmers.  By doing that, they also help save water usage in the area.  Due to food service regulations, they cannot easily send food to charities or shelters.  But they are working on that... they found ways to freeze the food within certain service hours.  And send them to needed shelters.  They then re-cook the food to something else and serve it to the needy.  Who say Vegas is only a land of Excess?

MGM Grade Buffet

inside MGM hotel

3799 Las Vegas Blvd S

Las Vegas, NV 89109

702-891-7433

https://www.mgmgrand.com/en/restaurants/mgm-grand-buffet.html

Sweets Raku - Las Vegas

Here's a Yelp recommendation...

Sweet Raku which lucky for us, opens at Noon on a Sunday for lunch.

Seating is limited, so we lined up a few minutes before they open.  As you can see, it's a bar setting.  Behind me are 3 more tables that seat 4.  So, they don't hold more than 28 guests, 4 or 5 staff and that's it.

On the weekends, they are open for lunch.  

This is my Cassis & Berry Tea, not too sweet but not too fruity either.  Love the sphere ice cube!

They start you out with a small salad with a side of potato salad.  The dressing is soy-based, but very light and easy-going.  The potato salad is delicious yet very filling, so be careful not to fill up on the carb.  The potato salad did kinda reminded me that the ones you get at BBQ places, except theirs is less mayo-ey.

A demitasse cup of lobster bisque.  Not that I can taste any lobster meat, but it was creamy and you can taste lobster in the mix.  Super hot, so sip gently.

My entree, is the Grilled Salmon and Salmon Roe sandwich.  We watched them first heat up the croissant in the oven, and they take it to the back, where they lay down a giant leave of lettuce, a hearty size of grilled salmon, some asparagus, and roe on top.  When you bite into the sandwich, it's nice and buttery from the croissant and definitely crunchy.  The roe provided the salt and the salmon is a decent size piece.  This will definitely fill you up!

Wait, but there's more!  We got a scoop of the mango sorbet.  I'm not a fan of whipped cream on top of ice cream or sorbet.  So, after the picture, I gentle removed it.  Every bite of that sorbet, made you feel like you're eating fresh cold mango or mango ice.  So fresh!

Seating at the bar you get a front row seat of what the dessert chefs are doing.  It is like a dance that they do.  Talk about an art form.  Even for them to plate a souffle is an art.

I think this is mine.... it fresh hot out of the oven!

Wow... talk about an apple pie deconstructed.  This is Ringo!

Take a closer look: the side they have caramel smeared, with a halved blueberry and a raspberry on both sides.  The apple pie and open crust, nice and crispy.  A scoop of honey ice cream with cinnamon on top and crunchy oats at the bottom.  Take it from me, a scoop of ice cream with the oats and the pie together is divine.

Oh wait!  But there's more!!!  What's inside the cute little apple?  Well, when I cracked it open, the caramel spill out of it.  But at the base of the apple, and which is what holds it down instead of rolling around, is a small layer of whipped cream.  So, when you mix a bit of this and a bit of that, every bite is awesome and divine.  Talk about having your pie and eat it too.

The other dessert we got was Mt. Fuji.  That's a fun way of doing a Mont Blanc.  It is chestnut cream layered on top of a small sponge cake, no bigger than a twinkie size.  A scoop of vanilla Hennessy ice cream on top of some crumble.  A taste of the ice cream I was drunk.  It's a popular scoop here.  I just enjoyed the chestnut so much that totally wasn't paying attention. 

Something for you to enjoy.  If you order Mars, this is what you get.  They lit up a small cute container of brandy, and pour it over a red dome.  It melts over a yuzu mousse and chocolate cream.   So when they pour the alcohol, it melts the dome into the cake.  It's quite a show.

It is great a great deal: $23 for a small salad, soup, sandwich, sorbet and a dessert is well worth the price.  They also have a 2-course dessert for $15.  You get a main dessert and a small dessert.  But for $8 you get salad, soup, and a sandwich, totally worth the deal.  Between the 2 of us, it didn't cost more than $50 (exclude tax and tip).  

They do not take reservation, unless is a large party.  So, go there early.  They have 16 seating around the bar and 12 at the table, the seats goes quick, and next thing you know, people are lining up out to the door.  Place is small and cozy, but that's what allow them to do the beautiful desserts that they do. Not only can you get a seat when you go early, they are less likely to run out of your favorite.

Parking might be a challenge too.  Since there are 4 popular eateries and 1 bubble tea place all in a small shopping center.  You may end up parking on the street.  Just read the signs, they are friendly enjoy to let people park.  But then the drivers there are pretty aggressive, so pay attention.

Sweets Raku

5040 W. Spring Mountain Rd

Ste 3

Las Vegas, NV 89146

702-290-7181

http://raku-sweets.com/sweets/ 

Milk - Las Vegas

So, next to Momofuku is Milk.

Milk is the brainchild of Christine Tosi, which is part of the Momofuku Restaurant group.  They already has 9 Milk locations in NYC.  Only fair that we get one out West in Vegas.

Since we just had dinner at Momofuku, I only have room in my purse to bring sweets home.  So, I got Crack Pie and Chocolate Chocolate Cookie.  

The Chocolate Chocolate Cookie (not pictured cause I ate it), is super chocolatey which is awesome for any chocoholic.  But it's not too sweet, it also has a hint of salt in there.  Not particularly rich for someone who has high tolerance of chocolate goodness.  But it is dense like an almost-brownie but still a cookie.

Here's the famous Crack Pie.  The crust is really their Oat Cookie base.  It can fall apart when you cut it.  But you can't go wrong with butter and sugar as your main ingredient on the crust.  It'll hold everything.  The filling is pretty much more butter and sugar.  How can you hate that, if even.  As simple as it sounds, it comes together beautifully.  If you want to try baking it, you can find the recipe here.  They also have other favs recipes and how to's here.

It is literally right next door to Momfuku by the walk bridge which is the 2nd floor of Cosmopolitan hotel.  While you're waiting for a seat at Momofuku, you can start looking at the dessert.  Their Milkquake which is milkshake on steroids.  So, don't stuff your face too much before coming here.  It is a walk-up setting, so no seating per se, but the hotel does have some seating for their 'lounge'/bar area.

If you don't know, Christine Tosi is one of the pioneers that does the naked cakes, where the layered cakes that are not frosted on the side.  It has totally became a trend in the wedding industry.  Not to mention her creativity in dessert is unlike any other.  Not only trend setter, also a James Beard award winner.  You know me, I like to know that they have achieve that success but at the end of the day is how it taste to me that matters.  And I'd say, it was pretty damn good.

Milk

inside Cosmopolitan Hotel

3708 Las Vegas Blvd S

Las Vegas, NV 89109

855-333-MILK x10

http://milkbarstore.com/main/

Momofuku - Las Vegas

Sunday night, walked over to Cosmopolitan and went up to Momofuku's.

Not hard to find, it's at the skybridge level and in a corner.  Or during prime time, just follow the crowd.

You can sit at the ramen bar facing the kitchen, or like us, sitting at the bar bar and they also serve the full menu.

For starter, we got the Pear and Burrata. What I like to do is to wrap burrata cheese around a slice of pear, and top it with some truffle and then chase it with the lettuce after.  It gives it a full body taste and you can also taste the hazelnut that was sprinkled on the pear.  I liked it, very different but yet yummy.

Brussel Sprouts and it also comes with fried cauliflower, soaked in fish sauce.  So naturally, the bottom part is saltier than the top part.  There's a pepper in there, I tasted it but can't see it. 

Here's my black truffle ramen.  The noodle was nice and thick.  Instead of a 60 degree egg, they have an egg yolk.  Soaked in chickpea miso which gives it a full body taste.  Topped with black truffle, it helped enhanced the flavor.  Though, I will say, I expected to mix my truffle well into the noodle, but perhaps they stuck together or I didn't mix it up really well.  They tend to lump together.  One thing I will say was that it would've been great to have some pork in there, so...

... here's the pork bun.  I really missed the protein in my noodle, so pork bun was just right.  The pork was tender and the pickle is house-made.  It already came with hoisin sauce, so not sure if the SSAM Sauce (super hot sauce) was really necessary.  But hey!  When in Rome, right?!  So I tried it, it was thru the roof hot!  So, I shall abstain.  

Overall, between seating and the meal, it didn't take more than 45 mins.  We didn't have a reservation and knew it'd be busy because they do have a lunch service, happy hour, and dinner.  Luckily, we seated at the bar, and the food pretty much all came out at the same time.  So, we got to people watch and enjoy a meal.  Our bartender/server was super friendly and made sure we were well taken care of, which is totally appreciated.

Momofuku - Las Vegas

Cosmopolitan

3708 Las Vegas Blvd S

Las Vegas, NV 89109

702-698-2663

https://vegas.momofuku.com

Morimoto - Las Vegas

So, ended up at Las Vegas earlier than my friend...

In that case, what does one do by oneself?

Go eat some good food, of course!

Been dying to go back to Morimoto.

Haven't been there since New York's experience.

Needless to say, I was dying to go back and have some yummy goodness.... Omasake style!

1st Course: Tuna Tartare the six little sides are: soy jam, wasabi, mayo, chives, avocado, boba crisp.  What you do is that they have a mini scraper, you cut some tuna, dip it in one of the sides or mix it up, then dip it into the mini cup of soy sauce.  In the front, is a warm mini toast with caviar.  

I will say the tuna was a tad fishy.  The boba crisp was one of my favorite.  I'm not typically a mayo fan, but it was delicious.

2nd Course: Wagyu Beef carpaccio.  It has ginger hot oil splash over bed of sprouts.  The lovely thing is that the beef was lightly seared, but the soy has a mix of yuzu in it.  According to one of the chefs, they have a mix of yuzu and soy sauce a 60/40 mix.  It's super refreshing and not too oily, not even the hot oil splash.  Totally love it.

3rd Course: open faced crab leg.  It is baked, hot mayo mixed with tobiko.  It's actually pretty messy to eat.  But it was good.  You do have to work for it to get out it of the thin leg, but it's good once you got it out.  The upper right corner is a mango slaw, amazingly, it's pretty good on its own.

4th Course, sushi sampler.  We have Toro, Yellowtail, Mackerel, Uni, Madai, Tuna/Tamago Roll.  

The toro was so good that it melts in your mouth.  That's how high quality fish taste like.  The uni (sea urchin) was not fishy or slimy at all - kids, that's how uni is supposed to be - nice and smooth.  Then the mackerel was a surprise, it was a bit floral.  I have never had any mackerel like it.  Lastly, is the roll, it's super pretty and just beautiful work of art.  It's tuna and egg as the checkers, so cool, like a stain glass window.

5th Course is Surf & Turf - NY Strip and lobster.  While I'm started to get full, the strip was very delicious.  The lobster isn't bad at all, but the beef I can't stop eating.  It was so nicely done on the sides and the beef, though cooked medium, wasn't super chewy.  The lobster is already done well, so no complaint from me.

6th and last course: dessert.  It is the Fiery Chocolate Tart.  It came with a pour of flaming alcohol - spiced rum.

After they melted the sphere, it looks like this.

But once you cut it open, it's marshmallow on top and dark chocolate mousse at the bottom.  The light brown ball is the salted ganache.  The white bit is cream, not ice cream, but it does help balance all those chocolate out.

Even the coffee dish it came with was unique.

Can't miss the Morimoto art piece, he's smiling at ya!  In case you've been under a rock.  Chef Morimoto was one of the original Iron Chef, the Japan version, then expanded to the US version.  Of course, their good quality is good can't hurt either.

So, here's the thing about coming here.  As soon as you know you're coming, you need to book a reservation.  The bar opens at 4:30p and you can wiggle your way in that way.  The main restaurant part doesn't open until 5pm for dinner service only.  That said, they do get packed even with a spacious store front.  What one of the hotel concierge told me was that if I show up right at the open, sushi bar is open for seating.  That's their allotment for walk-ins in the event the reservation is busy with reservations that night.  Of course, going by myself helped, it's easier to grab a seat.  

I was seated at the end of the sushi bar, and the door to the kitchen.  So, you do get to see the actions. All of the staff saw that I was by myself and every one went out of their way to check in on me.  From the head sushi chef, to the runners, to the head waiter, to the manager.  Everyone stopped by.  I felt special!

Morimoto - Las Vegas

MGM Grand

3799 Las Vegas Blvd S

Las Vegas, NV 89119

702-891-3001

https://www.mgmgrand.com/en/restaurants/morimoto.html

http://ironchefmorimoto.com/Restaurant/morimoto-las-vegas/

Aka

Rare occasion that I get to go to Aka on a weekend. 

Started with Iced Green Tea.

Agadashi Tofu - nice and hot.  Fresh out of the fryer.

Stewed Pork Belly, the egg was too cold for my taste.  But the pork belly was flavorful, just wish it's stewed for a bit longer, and be softer and more tender.

Had a spicy salmon roll, with salmon skin handroll, and eel handroll.

Everything I had was delicious.  We didn't get my favorite server, but the other server are up to snub too.  I like that on Saturday, Sunday they have Happy Hour all day.  While not the entire menu on Happy Hour menu, but alot of yummy dishes are, so have no fear.  Show up and eat some good food.

Aka Sushi

2390 W. Alabama

Houston, Tx 

713-807-7875

http://akasushi.net/pages/home.html

Pho Binh

Went down the street to grab lunch with a co-worker, and ended up at Pho Binh.

We shared the Grilled Pork Spring Roll, it's grilled pork, vermicelli, lettuce, cucumber, carrot, sprout and you dip it in the fish sauce.  Bit of sauce will go a long way, so go easy on the fish sauce.

I got the pho with eye round, brisket, tendon, and tripe.  It was packed with lots of beef.  Noodles is at the bottom.  The soup is tasty enough, but I think they put some MSG in there, I can feel it.  It was good, but definitely something in there because I got a huge headache right after.

It is a casual place, you walk up, order at the counter, grab a number, then grab a seat.  They turn around is pretty fast.  I think it took us a bit more time to park the car than to get our car. During lunch time, lots of office workers nearby come here.  It started to get busy as we were leaving, so it could be the hole in the wall in the area.

Pho Binh

5901 Westheimer Rd

Houston, TX 77057

713-781-8881

http://www.phobinh.com/westheimer