Lisa's ALS ice bucket challenge.

 Don't forget to donate too!

http://youtu.be/vQ4IrDdY5Kc

Carson Kitchen

Finally! We made it to Carson Kitchen. It wasn't without incident, however. Most Las Vegans are spoiled with free valet parking at casinos or with ample parking in huge parking lots at strip malls (where a lot of the amazing restaurants are, believe it or not). Carson's Kitchen, however, is located in the heart of downtown. Parking was a bit of an adventure. Krystal and Anthony had already found parking and I almost ran them over, completely oblivious as they waved their arms and tried to flag me down. Luckily, I only parked 3 blocks away from the restaurant while the two found us a seat.

Getting to the restaurant was another adventure. I tried to get into the casino at 124 E 6th street, the actual listed restaurant address. There was no entrance from E 6th street. So I circled around to Carson St. I walked right past the restaurant and Krystal and Anthony, looking for the restaurant. There was no sign outside. I realized I must have passed it and circled around again and found the two, frantically waving at me, laughing at the same time of course. Hehe. Anyway, we finally made it!

I loved the decor. It had an industrial feel but was small and very inviting. It was like we were in Kerry Simon's kitchen. The tables were butcher blocks and the kitchen was open. The far wall mimicked the outside of an industrial walk-in cooler.

Two cocktails please! For the libations, we both ordered the Margarian. Aviation gin, thyme and honey syrup, fresh lemon, and Mr Q Cumber soda. Light and refreshing! 

And those of you who read our entry for "Hash House a Go Go" yes, I'm wearing the same dress. Hehe. It's my go-to dress, you will come to see!

I caught Krystal off guard here. She still looks perfect!

Now for the food. We heard the veal meatballs were amazing. Here it is, served with peas and a sherry foie gras cream.  

They were moist and soft. Delicious!

Next, comes the delectable bacon jam with brie and toasted baguette.

Soft, creamy and sweet with a slight smoky bacon favor. Perfectly balanced.

Still hungry, we ordered the sausage flatbread. It's topped with housemade ricotta, broccoli and fennel. Very light and perfectly crunchy. Only thing is the fennel gets stuck in your teeth. Make sure to bring plenty of floss!

Drippy delicious cheese!

http://youtu.be/tg9KJfpRy8Q

Finally, we had to order the root beer glazed short ribs with crispy onions. They were very sweet. Almost too sweet for my savory palette but, delicious nonetheless. They're served here with these slightly spicy homemade tater tots.

Krystal loves to play with her food.

Fully stuffed by this point, the waitress brought the check in a book. It's filled with little notes others have left. Hey, when in Vegas!!!

Kerry Simon does not disappoint. We truly know why he is so well known for his not only his amazing food but also his well thought out concepts. We truly felt at home in this upbeat eatery. I can see myself coming again and again. And the prices were reasonable as well. No one food item is over $18. A lot of celebrity chefs charge a premium for patrons to sample their food, but not Kerry. In a city where food can be over priced and under delivered, Kerry definitely has delivered to the fullest!

And we decided to take a walk on Freemont Street to digest. Here's a little bit of our shennanigans.

   

      

Kristin's BBQ and the Butter Burger!

Butter Burger. Really? Who adds butter to a burger? Well, Kerry Simon thought it was a good idea. Even though we didn't have the butter burger when we last visited Carson Kitchen, I thought I'd try it!

 I wanted to test the recipe out on our friends so I brought my creation to my girlfriend Kristin's barbecue. The reaction was just what I thought. People were confused, yet intrigued. Why would someone add butter to an already decadent meal? There's a right way, and a wrong way. I think I figured it out. I used a leaner cut of meat and added plenty of acid to cut the richness. The result was a perfectly balanced, yet juicy burger!

We arrived at the shindig. The party had already been raging for hours. Shots of patron were freely flowing. Kristin and I matched each other shot for shot. I have her beat by at least 30 pounds but she keeps up like a champ! 

I handed her friend my burgers and trusted these babies in his hands. He really did do a good job. My friend Chris Duncan, a great chef, teased me by squishing my burgers sightly on the grill. I watched in dismay as the butter dripped through the grates into the fire. I pouted for an hour, telling everyone who would listen, "Chris squeezed my burgers! If they're dry blame them on him!." They weren't. They were still juicy and delicious. He squeezed them to get a rise out of me. It worked. I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my food. Can't you tell?

Here's five juicy patties. Two topped with pepper jack, two with American cheese, and one plain.

 

I love mine topped with lettuce, tomato and mustard.

Krystal loved it too. She doesn't like food that's too rich. "It's perfect." She said. My blend of lean meat and fatty burger turned out as a I had planned. 

              

http://youtu.be/HLuynC2UNGk

Jake loved the burger too. He loved it so much that he decided to wear it. He thought I was just taking a snap shot. He had no idea I was filming here. Hilarious. 

 

As you can see, everyone was full and happy.

Butter Burger Recipe (yields 5 big burgers)

Burger
2 pounds lean ground beef (90% lean)
4 tbsp worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp pickle juice
salt and pepper to taste

Butter
5 tbsp unsalted butter at room temperature
1/2 onion diced
1 tbsp oil
1-2 tbsp fresh herbs (thyme, tarragon, chives, parsley, etc)
1 garlic clove minced
2 tbsp franks hot sauce
1 tbsp pickle juice
salt and pepper to taste

Making burger meat

Combined all burger ingredients (except salt and pepper) and mix well. Be careful not to over mix. Divide into 10 equal patties and set aside.

To make the compound butter

Saute onions and oil on medium low heat for 15-20 minutes until soft and slightly caramelized. Add herbs and saute until fragrant. Add minced garlic and saute for 3-4 more minutes. Salt and pepper to taste and remove from heat to cool. Add cooled onion/herb mixture, hot sauce and pickle juice to softened butter and mixed thoroughly. Salt and pepper to taste.

Assembling the burgers

Divide compound butter into 5 equal parts. Smear over 5 of the patties, keeping butter in the center. Top with a second patty and seal the sides. Make sure not to overwork the patties. Refrigerate to firm up the patties before cooking.

Cooking the burgers

Season each side of burger well with salt and pepper. Cook on medium high head for 5-8 minutes on each side until desired temperature. Serve and enjoy!

Up next...

This week we are checking out Carson Kitchen! I've had to twist Lisa's arm but I've finally got her convinced that this is a MUST for our next spot!

Kerry Simon aka "The Rock 'n' Roll Chef"

Kerry Simon's newest creation downtown does not disappoint and has been getting rave reviews. This doesn't surprise me at all as I have been a huge fan for quite some time. The new place is gorgeous and the food to die for!

[Photo: Peter Harasty]

Just what downtown Las Vegas needed. I am so excited to share his food with everyone!
Some of my favorites from last time....

                “Devil’s” Eggs

    Butter Burger

Glazed Donut Bread Pudding

Stay tuned for some awesome recipes and our take on the best and even better that they have to offer!-There will be no bad dishes here! ;-)


Carson Kitchen

124 South Sixth st. Suite 100  |  Las Vegas, NV 89101

www.carsonkitchen.com

Summer Fun Pics!

                                  

A few more of my favorite Cali finds...

Grant Park

I never get tired of this view.

Grant Park

Seafood on the pier...

Seafood plate from Beach House Fish...

A little Dom & Oysters for breakfast?

Champagne anyone?

Another beautiful sunny day.....haha!

Why not??













Burning off those calories!

Riding bikes.

Night on the promenade.

The "glow" is the fair...

Ventura Pier

Hello Santa Barbara!

Look at all those boats!

Burrrrrrr!!!!

Santa Barbara Pier

I want one for my house!

No explanation needed.

Let's go fly a kite...

Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara, CA

Beautiful sunset.

These are a few of my favorite things....in Ventura!

California was a much needed respite from the intense heat of Las Vegas and I was able to squeeze in tons of fun too! I also managed to eat my way through much of the city of Ventura, including a small layover at the Ventura County Fair as well. -Cinnamon Rolls!!!-  Lol! All good in my book! Now, I could go on and on about all of my favorite things to do and eat in Vta(Ventura), but frankly that seems boring so I am going to try to keep it sweet and simple! Plus, this blog is supposed to be about Vegas eats anyway, but I just can't help sharing!  So back to my adventures in Vta- favorite places that I was able to indulge in: Yolanda's, Maggie's, Allison's and Royal Bakery. ;-) Delicious as always and accompanied by gorgeous Cali weather. You can't go wrong with that combo.

Grant Park-"The Cross"

So first up is Corrales. A tried and true staple in Vta. There are two locations, both on the same street a mere few blocks from each other.

Yes. It is that good. And more often than not both locations are very busy... Now, there is another little taco shop on the other side of town, towards Ojai, CA that is pretty much exactly like Corrales only called Maggie's. I think that it might of used to be a Corrales or maybe is owned  by the same family...? If rumor/memory? serves me correctly... I'm really not sure, but I think the story goes something like that...or maybe they're mortal enemies? Who knows... 

Maggie's on the Avenue

Regardless, they all three serve amazing, gooey, cheesy, loveliness wrapped in foil and served up properly in a paper bag! This time I just happened to end up eating at Maggie's because of proximity. For me its not a big deal-I don't play favorites. But I am sure that there are some locals that would love to debate that one! So growing up here in Vta, especially if you went to school in the downtown-ish area it was kind of a thing to eat at Corrales for lunch. Hoards of starving high school students flocked to either location to get their fix. At the time I remember the corn burritos as being my favorite and the BRC(bean, rice & cheese burrito). Now that I am a little bit older and wiser of course, I add chicken for a boost of nutritional protein. Hahaha! So a 4-way it is!-(CHICKEN, bean, rice & cheese burrito!). Simple? Yes. But oh so very delightful. Shredded chicken simmered in some sort of flavorful broth with fluffy mexican rice, refried beans and lots of cheddar cheese. 

Brown paper bag goodness.

That's a BIG burrito! Chicken 4-way

I have even made my husband a believer. And if truth be told, I think he pushes even more for us to make it to Maggie's/Corrales now than I ever did! Whatever you order though, its all good... It is not healthy and the portions are large but that's part of the reason it is so delightful-it is cheat day food at it's best and sinfully good! Being as its proximity is so close to the ocean, it is also a favorite spot for surfers to pick up a hearty burrito after a day in the ocean.
Tip: Take your burrito/food to go and head over to the Point to enjoy the scenery and appreciate your Corrales! And don't forget a handful of their delicious salsa!

The aftermath....

On to Royal Bakery...

Royal Bakery

I used to work across the street from this little unassuming strip mall bakery and would visit every day- at least when I had money lol! Even if just for a cup of soup... I am not a big "sweets" person but I do expect a cake from Royal Bakery every birthday-their strawberry, whipped cream concoction, what I call a "strawberry shortcake cake" is to die for!! It's just not a birthday without one...

Look at those desserts....

Too much to pick from!

So wonderfully, perfectly light and sweet, but not overly sweet and just simply amazing. Definitely my favorite cake of all time! This is an absolutely MUST try! But their cafe, open for lunch from 11am-3pm has the most amazing, delicious food as well. In fact it may be better than their bakery. Salads, sandwiches, soups, quiches and scrumptious daily specials. All with that homemade, fresh baked bread, delicious and with maybe somewhat a little
nutritious sort of flair that keeps you coming back for more. My favorite by far is the Chicken Walnut Salad. You can also get it as a sandwich on your choice of bread but I like to stick to the salad which comes with a fresh roll and butter anyways! Mixed greens, are topped with a light tangy homemade dressing and then smothered in the chicken walnut amazingness! I don't know the exact ingredients but its a mix of shredded chicken with halved red grapes, fresh dill, and what I can only assume is some sort of mayo or yogurt to keep it all together in that chicken salad-y type of ball.  Then sprinkled with sliced almonds and feta cheese.

Chicken Walnut Salad

Sound a little weird describing it-but trust me it is divine! The flavors all complement each other so well. I would love to know how to make this at home. I could eat this every day and not get sick of it! Plus I like to kid myself that its healthy, which is why I've probably never asked if that is mayo in it-eek! But everything else is good for you so I'm sold! If you happen to catch the Cream of Broccoli as the daily soup, it is also sooo yummy! Not super creamy, but super flavorful. Perfect for one of Vta's gloomy, overcast days...Pick up one of their famous cow cookies(or get lucky when they sometimes pop one into your bag for free!) and you're all set to go!

Allison's Country Cafe is another little well known locals spot situated across the street from the Pacific View Mall in Midtown Vta. Be prepared. There is always a wait! But good things come to those who wait, right?  Definitely yes, for here!

Allisons Country Cafe

I think the thing I like the most about this place, much like Royal Bakery, is the freshness and homemade wholesomeness of everything. The portions are good, if perhaps a little on the large side. But I like leftovers so that works for me. They have a delicious raspberry jam that I will slather on my toast even when I'm full just to get a taste! I believe they also sell it by the jar to take home. They are only open for breakfast and lunch and have a very well rounded and diverse menu. From Banana Nut Pancakes to Chiliquiles and juicy Reuben Sandwiches there is definitely something for everyone. I usually like eggs for breakfast and this place has the absolutely best Veggie Omelet ever! And I have tried a lot of sub par veggie omelets. Usually a handful of diced peppers and onions is what makes up most places "veggie omelets." Disgusting! Allisons' omelet, which I like to get with egg whites, is filled to the brim with large chunks of broccoli, mushrooms, tomatoes and scallions all sprinkled with a perfect amount of cheddar & jack cheese both in and on top. For $10. bucks its a steal! A side of fresh salsa for me and I'm all set!

Veggie Omelet w/ a side of Fruit and Salsa on top!

Choices of sides include: country style or hash brown potatoes and your choice of toast. I like to sub fruit for $1.00. Delicious and nutritious! :-) A perfect, guilt free way to start the day. But if you are feeling like something a little sweet or heavier, may I recommend the Pumpkin Hot Cakes or if you're feeling really daring, the Chilaquiles and Eggs....don't forget, get there early or be prepared to wait a bit.

Sadly, I didn't make it to my all time favorite mexican restaurant on this trip, Yolanda's. But, my husband did surprise me and take me for a real quick happy hour! More on this place later, as I said it IS my favorite, but can I just say-there is nothing better than a raspberry margarita on the rocks and some of their fresh, hot chips and salsa!
A great end to a super fun trip!

Yolanda's Mexican Cafe

Corrales

1951 E Thompson Blvd
Ventura, CA 93006 

7am-7pm

795 E Thompson Blvd
Ventura, CA 93001 

6:30am-7pm

Maggie's

4200 N Ventura Ave
Ventura, CA 93001
7am-7pm

Raspberry Margarita on the Rocks! Yummm!

Royal Bakery & Cafe

4726 Telephone Rd
Ventura, CA 93003

7am-6pm

Allison's Country Cafe

3429 Telegraph Rd
Ventura, CA 93003

7am-2pm

Yolanda's Mexican Cafe

2753 E Main St
Ventura, CA 93003