Without a doubt the best year of eating undertaken to date, 2015 was a veritable ’embarrassment of riches’ both locally as well as overseas, and already planning an equally aggressive 2016 with a few caveats regarding my approach to Las Vegas the list below entails the most memorable dining moments of the past 12 months.
Most Memorable Meals
1 – Troisgros
2 – Michel Guerard Les Pres d’Eugenie
3 – Mugaritz
4 – Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen
5 – Azurmendi
6 – Le Cirque 12/25/15
7 – Union
8 – Regis et Jacques Marcon
9 – Michel Bras
10 – Portofino 9/18/15
Vegas Savory
1 – Le Cirque – Le Crabe – Blue Crab Shell, Green Apple, Russian Osetra Caviar, Salmon Roe, Dungeness Crab
2 – Jean Georges Steakhouse – Crunchy Organic Chicken – Spinach and Buttery Hot Sauce, Tempura
3 – Carson Kitchen – Halibut – Cava and Grape Juice Beurre Blanc
4 – Other Mama – Japanese Sea Bream and Hokkaido Hairy Crab with Caribbean Style Johnny Cakes, Braised Collard Greens in Habanero Broth
5 – Yardbird – Mama’s Chicken Biscuits – Free Range Fried Chicken, Pepper Jelly, House Pickles
6 – Michael Mina – Whole Roasted Foie Gras – Carved tableside with Poached Pear, Pear Puree, Spice Cake, Almonds, Foie Gras Mousse with Pear Gelee, Toasted Brioche, Allspice Dram, Long-peppercorn Pain Perdu
7 – Twist – Roasted Foie Gras – Coffee and Chestnut Velouté, Prunes and Porcini, Shaved Black Truffles
8 – Kitchen Table – Monte Cristo – Parisienne Ham, Muenster Cheese, Raspberry Jam (Fried)
9 – therapy. – In the “gnudi” (Baked ricotta, truffle honey, fig jam, roasted almonds & cranberry & walnut crostini)
10 – Metro Pizza – Sicilian Pizza
Vegas Sweet
1 – Yardbird – Cornmeal Chess Pie – Sorghum Chantilly, Caramel Sauce, Caramel Pretzel, Popcorn
2 – Peridot Sweets – Banana Brigade Cake
3 – Bardot – French Toast – Brioche, Vanilla Mascarpone, Almond Brittle, Orgeat Syrup
4 – Mothership – Concord Grape and Almond Galette
5 – Glutton – Yeast Risen Pancakes – Cultured Butter, Maple Cider Syrup
6 – Border Grill – Rice pudding – Shortbread cookie, brûléed banana slices
7 – Yardbird – Hummingbird Cake – Cream Cheese Icing, Caramelized Pineapple, Banana Pecan Ice Cream
8 – Rosallie – Walnut Pie
9 – Northside Café – Carrot Cake Pancakes with Nuts, Raisins, Topped with Cream Cheese Frosting
10 – Tender – Campfire “more-than-a” s’more – Fire roasted homemade marshmallows on a warm chocolate fudge cake with Graham Cracker Cookie and Peanut butter Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Worldwide Savory
1 – Troisgros – Printemps de sentiments – Fairytale mushrooms, hay cream, curdled milk, fresh almond
2 – Elkano – 1kg Turbot
3 – Akelarre – Squid as a Risotto, Butter Flower
4 – Union – Wild Mushrooms, G&T Polenta, Pedro Ximenez Sherry Vinegar, Sage, Rosemary
5 – Asador Etxebarri – Tartar of Fresh Chorizo with Corn Crepe
6 – The Gadarene Swine – Peanut Butter and Jelly – Vegan Sourdough, Port Poached Figs, Fresh Peanut Butter, Arugula, Pickled Mushrooms, Balsamic
7 – The Pig – Hickory Smoked Whole-Hog BBQ, Roughly Chopped and seasoned by Cider Vinegar Sauce
8 – Michel Guerard – Half of a Lobster, Roasted and Lightly Smoked in the Hearth – Country Style Sweet Onion
9 – Guelaguetza – Tamal Oaxaqueno de Mole Negro con Pollo
10 – Café Comptoir Abel – Quenelle de brochet en gratin maison
Worldwide Sweet
1 – Horma Ondo – Grilled Torrijas with Bourbon Ice Cream
2 – Astronomical Pancake House – Royal French Toast – Two pieces of Texas French Toast dipped in pancake batter, deep fried, drizzled with Cream Cheese Glaze
3 – The Second Line – Pecan Bread Pudding – Salty Caramel + Vanilla Ice Cream
4 – The Pit – Banana Pudding – Creamy vanilla pudding layered with bananas, wafers, marshmallow fluff and meringue
5 – Saint Martha – Peanut butter ganache, roasted grape ice cream, griddled pound cake and chocolate feuilletine
6 – The Farm House 5/14/15 – Coconut Cake – White Chocolate Crunch, Coconut Sorbet, Meringue
7 – Colorado Donuts – Apple Fritter
8 – La Boulangerie – Apple Walnut Tart
9 – Serge Vieira – Le Temps des Cerises – Ravioli and Glazed “Burlat” Cherries, Elderberry Balls, Morello Cherry and Bassam Chocolate Cream
10 – Bea Bea’s Burbank California – Pain Perdu – Apples & Walnuts topped on an egg-dipped Croissant, Baked ‘beyond perfection