Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

Brad L, Death Donkey, Prevaricator and I went to diner at B&B, Iron Chef Mario Batali's newest gourmet heaven at the Venetian which opened last month. In this crowd I am the small stakes fish, but I still scored a home run in picking the restauraunt. All of us agreed it was the best meal we have had in Vegas - and thats a HUGE statement to make.

5 courses. 2 bottles of wine. Goat cheese truffles, grilled octopus, prosciutto, ravioli with mint and veal (little mint hearts I think they called it), beef cheek raviolini, tagliotelli w/butter sauce & shaved black truffles, veal chop, squab, the best rib-eye for two I ever recall having (the steak killed eve Delmonico's next door!), the 9-cheese plate, ricotta bobollini w/ chocolate dipping sauce, espresso chip gelatto, Tahitian vanilla bean flan, blueberry/vanilla bean ice cream mix, and our collective favorite - caramel gelato w/shaved salt (f'n amazing!). We generally let the waiter order for us, he never missed (except for the deserts, we chose better than he did), and we stuck with the restauraunt co-owner's home grown vineyard for vino (a Super Tuscan Cabernet Franc blend, it was so yummy I wish i remembered the name!). This amazing 5 course trip through gourmet heaven was exactly 200/head - a steal for a meal of this caliber! If your a foodie, this is the must-visit place to eat at in Vegas now!

As we are are polishing off the deserts Chris nearly jumps out of his seat when he notices Iris is sitting across the room facing us. You could hear her froggy voice like a knife cutting through the blubber of a beached whale, there she was in all her glory. We sat in total awe as she announced to the waiter "I'm Iris, I can always be found at Commerce winning in the 40/80 or 60/120 hold'em games. I'm a professional poker player".

Iris - you truly made the desert something special.

PS - for more good diner stories with Prevericator and Brad L be sure to read Prevericator's blog, July 27th @ Gaetano's.

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

geez...was that over 3 trips or 1...lol

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

[ QUOTE ]
"I'm Iris, I can always be found at Commerce winning in the 40/80 or 60/120 hold'em games. I'm a professional poker player".

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't realize she was just another "trust fund pro". [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

~ Rick

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

[ QUOTE ]
geez...was that over 3 trips or 1...lol

[/ QUOTE ]

One of course, and boy did we eat well!

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

this meal was really amazing. prob top 1 or 2 meals ive had so far in vegas.

TT you forgot to mention the part about you hitting on the old ladies sitting next to us, lol.

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

[ QUOTE ]
TT you forgot to mention the part about you hitting on the old ladies sitting next to us, lol.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hit on all the females. ALL the females [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] Did you notice I got digits? So sick. Remember they recommended the bombollinos, they came in handy after all.

Glad we know each other recently, next time I need a wingman I know who to call [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
TT you forgot to mention the part about you hitting on the old ladies sitting next to us, lol.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hit on all the females. ALL the females [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] Did you notice I got digits? So sick. Remember they recommended the bombollinos, they came in handy after all.

Glad we know each other recently, next time I need a wingman I know who to call [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I want to know if he was brave enough to hit on Iris.

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
TT you forgot to mention the part about you hitting on the old ladies sitting next to us, lol.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hit on all the females. ALL the females [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] Did you notice I got digits? So sick. Remember they recommended the bombollinos, they came in handy after all.

Glad we know each other recently, next time I need a wingman I know who to call [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I want to know if he was brave enough to hit on Iris.

[/ QUOTE ]

She didn't get close enough, her migratory pattern didn't pass by our table.

And I am not that brave.

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
TT you forgot to mention the part about you hitting on the old ladies sitting next to us, lol.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hit on all the females. ALL the females [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] Did you notice I got digits? So sick. Remember they recommended the bombollinos, they came in handy after all.

Glad we know each other recently, next time I need a wingman I know who to call [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I think hitting on older chicks is TT's MO ...

edit: we also can't forget TT is closer to 50 then he is to 20 now ;P

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

B&B is a good choice for a fine fair.
My guess from your wine choice is you had the Calabrone Rosso which is an excellent selection.

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

[ QUOTE ]

I think hitting on older chicks is TT's MO ...

edit: we also can't forget TT is closer to 50 then he is to 20 now ;P

[/ QUOTE ]

22 is my age limit with young girls now, and I can still bring em in. Whats your excuse? When you hit my age (which isn't that old I'd like to add - I'm not 40 yet!) consider yourself blessed if you still can pull that off.

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

I understand that Iris is a high-stakes slot machine player and consequently gets comped at the Venetian. Your meal sounded huge, but I guarantee you she ate twice as much.

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

Very nice rip report. We will go there next time I am in Vegas.

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

[ QUOTE ]
B&B is a good choice for a fine fair.
My guess from your wine choice is you had the Calabrone Rosso which is an excellent selection.

[/ QUOTE ]

The wine list is HUGE with many similar grape variations, way too easy to miss than it is to hit IMHO when guessing what we had.

We chose from the Bastianich' winery collection, Joseph Bastianich Mario Batali's partner at B&B - http://www.venetian.com/venetianeng/...Bastianich.pdf

On a related note, anyone eat at Enotecca upstairs? Its Batalli's tappas style place.

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

[ QUOTE ]
I understand that Iris is a high-stakes slot machine player and consequently gets comped at the Venetian. Your meal sounded huge, but I guarantee you she ate twice as much.

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
like a knife cutting through the blubber of a beached whale

[/ QUOTE ]

yep. Wished you were there Andy, it would have been the perfect trifecta.

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

It's always nice to read about someone who seems to enjoy food as much as I do. The meal sounds absolutely fantastic, and I appreciate the detailed itemization of the various courses. I'll be in Vegas this weekend, and will make the special trip just purely on your recommendation.

However, I will say that Mario Batali is not a true Iron Chef... (I'm a bit loyal to the Japanese original)

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

[ QUOTE ]
Whats your excuse? .

[/ QUOTE ]

My GF took my testicles away about 6 years ago...

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

For the uninformed, could we get a general physical description of Iris?

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

[ QUOTE ]
For the uninformed, could we get a general physical description of Iris?

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
like a knife cutting through the blubber of a beached whale

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

TT,

Maybe you've already done it (if so, please link) but is there any chance you (or anyone for that matter) could post a dinner/meal related trip report where you had an excellent Las Vegas meal with friends for let's say $10 to $20 bucks per person?

~ Rick

All PS's are edits:

PS: Does anyone know if Iris realizes she has become such a Commerce Casino poker legend that she is now a sort of tourist attraction for visiting top section players?

PPS: Descriptions of Iris should be barred. Visitors to Commerce should be able to identify her on behavior alone.

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

TT, this meal looks absolutely phenomenal and I can't wait to go there myself. Fine dining is just so under appreciated by most people and this sounds top notch.

In your opinion, how important is wine in these types of meals? I know its very prevalent in most Italian dishes, but I am still too young to have developed a taste bud for good wine, but I am really wanting to. Anything you recommend based on that statement?

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

[ QUOTE ]
TT, this meal looks absolutely phenomenal and I can't wait to go there myself. Fine dining is just so under appreciated by most people and this sounds top notch.

In your opinion, how important is wine in these types of meals? I know its very prevalent in most Italian dishes, but I am still too young to have developed a taste bud for good wine, but I am really wanting to. Anything you recommend based on that statement?

[/ QUOTE ]

I am a restaurant's best sucker. I lose all control and don't think about money when the meal is fantastic - open up wallet and it all pours out. But I also know wine is the one place that I can save, so if I am not familiar with the season/grape/region quality then I always do the simple solution - ask the Sommelier. Tell him what your looking for, and the price and he will make it happen. A fine restaurant like B&B will probably season the glassware for you first and some will also bring out the vino in a decanter to remove settement and/or airate the wine. Mike L is far better at this (now) than I am, perhaps he can add to the topic. On the bright side I didn't develop a taste for wine until my late 20's, its never too late to be exposed to a truly gourmet treat - just remember the secret ingredient to all great wine experiences is properly shaped glassware. And yes, its very important the the meal experiance IMHO.

Rick N - when you see Mike this week please ask him to chime in.

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

[ QUOTE ]
TT,

Maybe you've already done it (if so, please link) but is there any chance you (or anyone for that matter) could post a dinner/meal related trip report where you had an excellent Las Vegas meal with friends for let's say $10 to $20 bucks per person?

[/ QUOTE ]

Some of my favs are Noodles at Bellagio, Lotus of Siam (#1 rated restauraunt for locals) for Vietnamese, the Malaysian dive restauraunt across the street from Lotus of Siam (both are in a shopping mall on Sahara, where the world famous Green Door swingers club is located), Chicago Joe's for Italian (4th Ave downtown), Salt Lick BBQ at RedRock, and Gayloard for Indian are my local cost effective haunts. I haven't explored the cheaper food spots as much as I should, I eat fast quite often (which isn't the smartest but it saves me time).

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

[ QUOTE ]
Maybe you've already done it (if so, please link) but is there any chance you (or anyone for that matter) could post a dinner/meal related trip report where you had an excellent Las Vegas meal with friends for let's say $10 to $20 bucks per person?

[/ QUOTE ]

There is an Italian place on Trop that is open 24 hours that I love. I can't think of the name of it right now.

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
TT, this meal looks absolutely phenomenal and I can't wait to go there myself. Fine dining is just so under appreciated by most people and this sounds top notch.

In your opinion, how important is wine in these types of meals? I know its very prevalent in most Italian dishes, but I am still too young to have developed a taste bud for good wine, but I am really wanting to. Anything you recommend based on that statement?

[/ QUOTE ]

I am a restaurant's best sucker. I lose all control and don't think about money when the meal is fantastic - open up wallet and it all pours out. But I also know wine is the one place that I can save, so if I am not familiar with the season/grape/region quality then I always do the simple solution - ask the Sommelier. Tell him what your looking for, and the price and he will make it happen. A fine restaurant like B&B will probably season the glassware for you first and some will also bring out the vino in a decanter to remove settement and/or airate the wine. Mike L is far better at this (now) than I am, perhaps he can add to the topic. On the bright side I didn't develop a taste for wine until my late 20's, its never too late to be exposed to a truly gourmet treat - just remember the secret ingredient to all great wine experiences is properly shaped glassware. And yes, its very important the the meal experiance IMHO.

Rick N - when you see Mike this week please ask him to chime in.

[/ QUOTE ]

Totally 100% agree with you TT. Sometimes the wine choice can make or break the experience. The report sounds incredible, my mouth was watering the entire time I was reading. You had me at "shaved black truffles". I absolutely [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] truffles with good wine.

P [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

Sex with Iris is a prop bet waiting to happen.

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

[ QUOTE ]
5 courses. 2 bottles of wine. Goat cheese truffles, grilled octopus, prosciutto, ravioli with mint and veal (little mint hearts I think they called it), beef cheek raviolini, tagliotelli w/butter sauce & shaved black truffles, veal chop, squab, the best rib-eye for two I ever recall having (the steak killed eve Delmonico's next door!), the 9-cheese plate, ricotta bobollini w/ chocolate dipping sauce, espresso chip gelatto, Tahitian vanilla bean flan, blueberry/vanilla bean ice cream mix, and our collective favorite - caramel gelato w/shaved salt (f'n amazing!). We generally let the waiter order for us, he never missed (except for the deserts, we chose better than he did), and we stuck with the restauraunt co-owner's home grown vineyard for vino (a Super Tuscan Cabernet Franc blend, it was so yummy I wish i remembered the name!). This amazing 5 course trip through gourmet heaven was exactly 200/head - a steal for a meal of this caliber! If your a foodie, this is the must-visit place to eat at in Vegas now!

[/ QUOTE ]

Ok, we are eating here next time I'm in town!

Jeff

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

[ QUOTE ]

Ok, we are eating here next time I'm in town!

Jeff

[/ QUOTE ]

Your treat I hope!

All - I just got the menu for Mario Batalli's Ennotecca , I'll scan it in tomorrow and post the links for you all to check out. I spent 10 mins with the GM today who took me on a tour and advised me what to order..... wow!!!!

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

Menu for San Marco Enoteca, Mario's more casual restauraunt at the Venetian. The Hanger steak is $26 - very affordable!

I can scan the three page wine menu in anyone wants to see it, its serious!

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...ett/img025.jpg

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

I had a mid-afternoon meal at Enoteca San Marco in June. It's safe to say I'll eat there at least once during every trip I make to L.V. This is the kind of place the town needs - moderate prices, relaxed atmosphere, excellent food.

We started with the Gnocchi Fritto. It's hard to describe I suppose. No potato is involved, rather they are something akin to deep fried breadsticks seasoned with chili flake and cheese. Quite tasty.

Note: I didn't have the Salumi Salami because I had been to the real deal just a month prior and had the giant sampling platter, but I will no doubt enjoy it next time.

Then I had what is now a reginette prep, but when I was there is was done with orecchiette - one of my favorite pastas. I'm sure it's still good. How can you go wrong with sausage and rabe?

I was shocked at how large the portion was. I didn't come close to finishing it. It was my first meal of the day though.

My sister had the pepperoni pizza. She loved it, and it did look great. If you're like me and have dining companions with simpler tastes, this joint is perfect. Undoubtedly they will find something that suits their taste, and you get to enjoy authentic food designed by a great chef.

I'm not a fan of the faux piazza where Enoteca finds its home, but I can get over that for sure given my initial experience and all of the promising items on the menu.


BTW, thanks for the B&B report. Some initial reports said the waitstaff and kitchen had things to work out. Now it's definitely back at the top of my list.

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

[ QUOTE ]

We started with the Gnocchi Fritto. It's hard to describe I suppose. No potato is involved, rather they are something akin to deep fried breadsticks seasoned with chili flake and cheese. Quite tasty.

[/ QUOTE ]

order it with prosciutto wrapped, or with the lardo wrapped - its amazing. I spent 3 hours there today at the bar eating my heart out until I was ready to pass out.

Gnocco Frito w/Prosciutto, Spagetti ala Carbonara, Veal-Ricotta Polpette (amazingly good!), two 250ml wine pourings, three digestifs (they brought out a flight, on the house - wow!), and i finished it off with an illy machiatto.

I'd like to point out that they have the best espresso I've had in Vegas, Illy visits the restauraunt 1x/week to tune the espresso machine - wow!

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
TT,

Maybe you've already done it (if so, please link) but is there any chance you (or anyone for that matter) could post a dinner/meal related trip report where you had an excellent Las Vegas meal with friends for let's say $10 to $20 bucks per person?

[/ QUOTE ]

Some of my favs are Noodles at Bellagio, Lotus of Siam (#1 rated restauraunt for locals) for Vietnamese, the Malaysian dive restauraunt across the street from Lotus of Siam (both are in a shopping mall on Sahara, where the world famous Green Door swingers club is located), Chicago Joe's for Italian (4th Ave downtown), Salt Lick BBQ at RedRock, and Gayloard for Indian are my local cost effective haunts. I haven't explored the cheaper food spots as much as I should, I eat fast quite often (which isn't the smartest but it saves me time).

[/ QUOTE ]

Lotus of Siam is Thai. It's also well worth the trip three-quarters of a mile East of the Strip. if you like spicy food make sure you get their Issan (Northern Thai) menu, which sometimes you have to ask for.

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

TT-
This post is perfect. I'm taking my wife to Vegas on Weds for her Birthday and I made reservations for B&B that evening. I'm already excited to eat there. Do they have a fixed price menu or is it best ala carte?
Thanks,
Mr. C

Re: Iron Chef trip report - complete with Iris sighting
 

[ QUOTE ]
TT-
This post is perfect. I'm taking my wife to Vegas on Weds for her Birthday and I made reservations for B&B that evening. I'm already excited to eat there. Do they have a fixed price menu or is it best ala carte?
Thanks,
Mr. C

[/ QUOTE ]

Tell Mrs C that they have both ala carte and pre fix. Ayyyyyyyy!!!!!! Post a report in this thread please, I'm hungry.