The lost meals entries consist of meals that occurred at various times throughout 2012 which, for any number of reasons, escaped my documentation – some due to a cross country move and a new job, some due to the Los Angeles Kings run to the Stanley Cup, and some simply as a result of too much travel. Having enjoyed many of these meals with friends or family and with some of them amongst the year’s very best the reality is that with time my memory has deteriorated and as life moves forward I’ve realized there is little hope to ever “catch up” or document these experiences as well as I’d hope, yet in order to preserve them I present these pictures, notes, and thoughts on the experience.
Le Coeur Rouge – Pomegranate Juice, Muddled Orange and Cherry, Sprite
Le Maize – Corn Veloute, Honey and Ginger Crouton, Smoked Duck, Milk Marshmallow
Bread Service: Mini Baguette, Yeast Bun, Mini Croissant, Gruyere Brioche, Potato Bread, Comte Baguette, Rustic Loaf, Saffron Focaccia, Milk Bread, Bacon with Whole Grain Mustard, Traditional Baguette, Olive Baguette, Basil Focaccia, Brioche with Roasted Sea Salt, French Butter with Sea Salt and Olive Oil
Le Foie Gras – Carpaccio of Foie Gras and Potatoes Covered with Black Truffle Shavings
Le Kabocha – Kabocha Pumpkin Veloute with Foie Gras, Ginger Foam, Toasted Seeds
Les Spaghettis – Homemade Spaghetti Topped with Soft Boiled Egg, Urchin, Caviar
La Pintade Fermiere – French Hen with Roasted Foie Gras, Confit Potatoes au Jus
Cheese Course with Raisin roll, Wildflower honey; Haystack Peak, Cremont, 2 Year Comte, Tomme de Brebis, Pont l’eveque
Le Ruby – Raspberry Dome on Mascarpone Cream, Cranberries, Cranberry Coulis, Japanese Yogurt
Le Chocolat – Apple Compote infused with Hibiscus, topped with Chocolate Tuille, Dark Chocolate Sorbet, Gold Leaf
Petit Fours – Pineapple Financier, Vanilla Macaron, Passionfruit Marshmallow, Apple Cupcake with Caramel Icing, Religeuse, Pear Gelee, Almond Cluster, Cinnamon Meringue, Chocolate Caramels, Hazelnut/Rum/Banana/Chinese Five Spice Milk Chocolate, Yuzu/Pistachio/Coffee/Passionfruit Dark Chocolate, Coffee Opera Cake, Mango Tarte, Coffee Éclair, Pineapple Tart, Nougat, Blueberry White Chocolate, Citrus Tuille, Hazelnut Bon-Bon, Lemon Tartelette, Dark Chocolate Macaron, Orange Lollipop, Guava Pate a Fruit, Canale, Mini Chocolate Hazelnut Tart, Crème Brulee, Panna Cotta
Orange Sorbet, Caramel Ice Cream, Orange Spice, Anise, Ginger, Caramel Drizzle Cake
Take home gift – Raspberry and Pistachio Pound Cake
…while some may believe that one cannot buy class, in Las Vegas I’m rather certain that one can buy a close semblance to anything, a fact evidenced by the t-shirt and track suit clad group sitting a few tables down from me as the clock turned to Christmas 2012 while I enjoyed a complimentary piece of Orange Ice cream cake that pastry chef Kamel Guechida had crafted for the questionably clad but clearly affluent Europeans who were celebrating a birthday in addition to the holidays at Vegas’ most glitzy restaurant. Having already dined at Joel Robuchon twice myself this was not the first time I’d seen such generosity from the kitchen of “The Chef of the Century” and much like my previous visits the meal was an exercise in refinement; the room, the food, and the service all well-manicured, highly polished, and lavish.
Taking a 9:00pm reservation and arriving early only to be identified by name as the doors swung open on my approach I was subsequently seated at the same table I’d dined at during my first visit and greeted by a familiar service team including the same dining room manager and server as my prior visit much of what would follow was familiar; the plethoric bread cart and equally impressive cheese course followed by a dessert trolley with nearly three dozen options plus the signature pound cake, though this time smaller than prior. Deferring on coffee I was additionally treated to a hand clipped tea and infusions cart and a $10 flat charge brought no less than three bottles of Evian – no doubt the cost of admission warrants these things as well as the impressive “Ruby” palate cleanser and “Maize” amuse – gifts that would constitute proper courses at many restaurants.
Moving on to what was ordered I once again opted to order from the prix fixe as opposed to the larger grand tasting and making a special request for the (menu price $300 if ordered ALC) Pintade Fermiere my only small complaint regarding the entire evening was that Chef Le Tohic felt need to visit my table before the hen’s preparation to suggest I’d be better off only ordering half the bird as I’d have gladly (and greedily,) eaten more of the crispy skin and supple flesh sandwiched around thick, buttery, foie gras…though I guess saving the $60 supplement charge was a benefit.
Truffles, foie gras, uni, foie gras, caviar, and more foie gras plus aged comte, spell-binding desserts, and a room and service beyond reproach I can think of much worse ways to celebrate Christmas Eve than with Joel Robuchon’s team at the MGM and although I personally would never do so in a T-shirt there is something refreshing about the fact that in a city where there are so many bad high-stakes bets this is a place where anyone willing and able to spend the money is virtually guaranteed an excellent return.