Vegas is Grub Gulch - Rao's and Mesa Grill

One of the many nick names for Vegas is Glitter Gulch. I think they need to change that to Grub Gulch. If you go there just for the food it would be a trip to remember. Last week I was lucky enough to spend a few days there for the Largest Sport fishing trade show in the world ICAST. I have dined in some pretty awesome restaurants but Vegas is the Mecca of GREAT! dinning establishments. The first night we went to Rao's and it was infrikinsane to say the least. It's known as the best Italian Restaurant in the country and it just might be. The service kicked butt and so did the food. We had an Antipasto Platter that was to die for. The prosciutto literally melted in you mouth. My next dish was the Bone in Veal Parmesan also to die for but too big to finish. I have decided to make it a tradition to eat at Rao's every time I'm in Vegas. Good God don’t forget the meat balls. Maybe the best I have ever had and that's saying a lot. I'm guessing it was the ol' 1/3, 1/3 and 1/3 Beef, Veal, Pork. The following night I took some of my favorite clients to Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill also in Caesar's Palace. It seems as true foodies we are supposed to shun the high profile mainstream chefs like Flay but the dude is good and totally my style. I'm big on big spicy flavors and Bobby delivers that for my taste better than just about anyone in the business. I started with the best Queso Fundido I have ever had as of yet. Then had the Roasted Garlic Tiger Shrimp Tamale that was featured on the Best Thing I Ever Ate Vegas. The tamale was one of those things you crave a day or two later and think about often. I loved that little package of deliciousness. I wanted to pet it and rub my nose on it like Tommy Boy and his dinner roll when he was describing the big sale he destroyed. Yes I also destroyed the Tamale in the same loving way. My entre was the Chili Rubbed Pork Tender Lion. It is my quest to duplicate this dish on my Big Green Egg. If I can it will make everyone love me and hoist me on their shoulders and cheer "we love Shannon, he's the best in the whole world". I may be too big for the hoisting part but we'll see. These two dinners made my trip to Vegas very special. If you get out there you have got to give them both a try. Raging Grub Chub - Shannon

Click below for Urbanspoon's Mesa Grill page

Click below for Urbanspoon's Rao'spage

Mesa Grill-New Mexican Spice Rubber Pork Tenderloin with bourbon-Ancho Chile Sauce and a Sweet Potato Tamale with Crushed Pecan Butter

Mesa Grill - Tiger Shrimp Roast Garlic Corn Tamale featuredon the Best Thing I Ever Ate Las Vegas

Rao's Bone In Veal Parmasan

Rao's Meat Balls

Rao's Antipasto