Archive | January, 2011

Old Years Night

31 Jan

In the Caribbean New Years Eve, is also referred to as “Old Years Night” (check the link for more info: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art65078.asp ), I spent this Old Years Night in Las Vegas on the Strip, not in the club, but on the street with  300,000+ slick party animals.  Yeah, ah cud ah (translation-I could have) tried to do it “Big Willie” style and party it up at some of the happenin’ Las Vegas night clubs such as: JET at the Mirage, Tao at the Venetian with Kim Kardashian, Ghost at the Palms, or see Jay-Z  perform at the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino (located next to the  newly opened Harrah’s mixed use development City Center). 

I think most people have seen a broadcast of the ball drop in Times Square in NYC to ring in the New Year. The difference between ringing in the New Year in New York vs. Las Vegas is that in Vegas they shoot off fireworks on the rooftops of major casinos on the Strip such as:  MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, The Venetian and the Stratosphere.  If you are in Las Vegas and looking for a place to ring in the New Year… definitely consider the FREE fireworks display in the heart of the Vegas strip.

Its a New Year Bing, Bang, Boom!

Its 2011 Bang Bang Boom

As the intro to Bajan soca artist Rupee's song Jump goes "Well.... Look at people!"

Here is a link to Rupee’s “Jump” quoted  in the caption of the last picture:

 http://www.we7.com/song/Rupee/Jump?m=0

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Serendipity 3

26 Jan

The menu at Serendipity is about as big as me

In the Caribbean we feed the craving for sweets with a “Sweet T”. Sweet T, is usually any piece candy that would satisfy a sweet tooth. Upon leaving the Shops at the Palazzo, I asked a few employees about a good place to get dessert that was relatively close. The resounding answer… Serendipity 3.

Serendipity 3 was a few blocks walking distance on the Las Vegas strip located very close to Caesars Palace. It’s a place you can’t miss – with a large ceramic sculpture of frozen hot chocolate at the entrance, and its neon pink and orange decor.

I think the best way to describe Serendipity 3 is old school diner with a new wave twist. The menu features basic diner staples with a creative flair and HUGE portions. Of all the items on the menu, the one that caught my eye was the “S’mores Hot Chocolate.” The graham crackers, hot chocolate and marshmallow combination just felt right… and boy was it ever a wicked choice!

Check out the picts from my trip to Serendipity 3 below. Serendipity 3 gets a bigups!

Serendipity

The best landmark in the world, A giant frozen hot chocolate! Just enough for the big guy..

The walkway to Smores Deluxe Hot Chocolate Heaven

The kitchen, where the magic happens

Smores Deluxe Hot Chocolate

This is what the hot chocolate looked like before

And this is the after picture of the hot chocolate

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Vegas Baby!

17 Jan

New Years in Vegas 2011

I am kicking off of my first blog post of 2011, with a look into Sin City otherwise known as Las Vegas.  I mean why not start off the New Year with a bang, by now I think everyone has seen the movie the Hangover my trip (believe you me) was nowhere close to that but it was a good time.  I almost “lost my shirt” but not my pants.  First stop was to the hotel.  I checked into The Mirage on December 30 located on the world famous strip, located across from the Venetian, next to Ceasars Palace.  Due to arriving Vegas a little late in the day, it was time to find food.

Dinner was spent at a restaurant that I have been to a few times… Sushi Samba located at the shops at the Palazzo.  I originally ate at a Sushi Samba location in Miami, Florida about 3 years when I went down for their annual Caribbean Carnival celebration (which takes place Columbus Day weekend).  Sushi Samba is a fusion of Brazilian, Peruvian, and Japanese foods. Appetizers for the evening included Peruvian Corn (wicked with a light sprinkling of sea salt), and Soy Glazed Sea Bass on skewers which were perfectly seared and melted away as soon as you taste it. 

Peruvian Corn from Sushi Samba

Drawing from the Japanese influence of the menu picked out 2 sushi rolls the El Topo which is a cooked piece of salmon, a top a typical sushi sized rolled with jalapeño, shiso leaf, fresh crispy onion, with melted mozzarella cheese.  The second roll was the Samba Dromo Roll which featured cooked Maine lobster, mango, tomato, chive, crispy rice, soy paper, a cold dipping peanut curry sauce.

El Topo Roll at Sushi Samba

To wash all of this down Sushi Samba features a number of flavored Cruzan rum mojitos such as coconut, mango, and pineapple to name a few (Cruzan Rum is from St. Croix, USVI  my birthplace).  Other signature cocktails include the Caipirinha which is the national cocktail of Brazil, typically made from cachaca, a spirit derived from sugarcane.  I figured after some light eats it was time to find a second food stop for dessert.  Next stop, Serendipidity…….

Sushi Samba is definitely a must eat for anyone that is into the fusion food movement.

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