We wish all of our loyal readers a happy, healthy and prosperous new year filled with delicious treats!

All the best for 2010!

2009 was the year for Vegas at TravelsinTaste.  All of our top viewed restaurants were located in the culinary Mecca and Wynn wins for the most restaurants on the list.  Sadly, we saw one of our most read, Andre’s, close during the year, but Andre Rochat’s other restaurant tops the list.  Read below to see the top 10 of the year.

10.   SW Steakhouse (Wynn)

9.   Tableau (Wynn)

8.   Bradley Ogden (Caesar’s Palace)

7.   Andre’s

6.   Charlie Palmer Steak (Four Seasons)

5.   Fleur de Lys (Mandalay Bay)

4.   Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare (Wynn)

3.   CUT (Palazzo)

2.   Alex (Wynn)

1.   Alize (Palms)

Station Casinos is proud to announce that two if its signature Italian Restaurants, Terra Rossa at Red Rock Resort and Terra Verde at Green Valley Ranch) are now open for lunch.  Both restaurants will open daily for lunch, with Terra Rossa opening at 11am and staying open through dinner service; and Terra Verde opening from 11:30am and staying open through dinner service.  Each restaurant will be serving a lunch menu that is similar to its dinner menu in style, though with a focus on lighter cuisine and value-driven prices served in portions more suited to lunch. 

 “This decision was driven by our guests who have created a demand for great Italian food for lunch,” said Bryan Dillon, Director of Luxury Culinary Operations for Station Casinos.  “We listened to their feedback and are very excited to offer our guests the opportunity for a delicious, affordable and approachable Italian lunch on both sides of town.”

The menus, created by Chef Nicola Nieddu from Terra Rossa and Chef Elisabeth McGee from Terra Verde will both showcase a variety of soups, salads, pastas, pizza, Panini and entrées that are perfectly portioned for lunch, with prices to match.  Examples include (items/prices subject to change):

Terra Rossa at Red Rock Resort

• scampi  (jumbo shrimp, lemon butter, garlic sauce, sautéed leeks) $13
• tortelinni  in brodo (chicken tortellini in a rich broth) $6
• grilled swordfish salad (grilled swordfish, mixed greens, grilled veggies, balsamic dressing) $18
• vegitariana Panini (grilled vegetables, tomato, mozzarella) $11
• eggplant Parmesan (with roasted plum tomato sauce) $14
• frittata (Italian ham, mushroom, olives and marjoram) $12
• linguini clams (littleneck clams, spicy white wine garlic sauce) $15

Terra Verde at Green Valley Ranch

• pasta e fagioli (classic soup containing tuscan style pasta, cannellini beans) $5
• calamari salad (crisp calamari, mixed greens, cucumber, carrot, spicy tomato vinaigrette) $10
• tortiglioni con salsiccia (spicy sausage, peas, tomato cream sauce) $ 10
• garlic white pizza (roasted garlic, olive oil, spinach, olives, mozzarella) $ 9
• grilled vegetable Panini (zucchini, peppers, squash, goats cheese, pesto mayo) $9
• chicken mattone (chicken “grilled under a brick” with rapini, whole grain mustard sauce) $ 15

Each restaurant will also focus on speed and efficiency, understanding that many businesspeople have a shorter amount of time for lunch than the hotel guests. Terra Rossa is also offering a dedicated curbside valet during lunch hours for guests dining at the restaurant.     

New Yorkers were aghast when Francois Payard’s Payard Patisserie ended its 12 year run on the Upper East Side in June 2009.  Although everyone was hoping for a new location sooner than later the first thing that ran through TravelsinTaste.com’s mind was where will we get our Buche de Noel for the holidays!  Never fear - Francois Payard opened Francois Chocolate Bar on the fourth floor of high end jewelry boutique Mauboussin, the American outpost of the almost 200 year old luxe Parisian jewelry retailer, on 63^rd and Madison.  Although it doesn’t have all of the special meal creations the Patisserie had, it does have multiple chocolate creations including a new line of verrines and macaroons, in addition to hot chocolate, cappuccino, coffee, tea and the like.  You can indulge in this chocolate decadence just steps away from dazzling diamonds and gemstones.

Though we have been to Francois Chocolate bar we ordered our Buche de Noel from the Payard website for pickup on 12/24.  We received a lovely email reminder with a beautiful holiday message.  We gladly went down to Madison and 63^rd to stop by the truck and pick up our dessert.

We were skeptical at first, but that skepticism soon turned to ecstasy when we were greeted at the truck by the most pleasant gentleman who handed us our Buche de Noel without further adieu and could not have been more polite!  It came with a Payard Bag and a beautifully photographed Relais Dessert calendar - what could be better (with recipes included) and a special 15% discount on jewelry and watchesa t Mauboussin.  We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and even though we’ve seen Francois’s creations in other high end retailers, such as Dean and Deluca we remain committed to purchasing through his website - with absolute flawless execution.

If you’d like to read about one of Francois Payard’s other patisseries here’s our listing for Payard Vegas - otherwise, if you’d like you can read our exclusive interview with Francois Payard.

Thank you Francois for a flawlessly executed holiday dessert! We missed you.  We are now contemplating what we will pick up from the truck for New Years - perhaps some vanilla rum truffles or Parisian macaroons?

Our latest post on TheStreet.com outlines an entire day of decadent comfort food from breakfast through after dinner drinks!

You can read it here!

Enjoy!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Wishing all a wonderful 2010!

Served daily from 11:30am to 2:30pm - this all-you-can-eat buffet offers a variety of classic Indian favorites

Origin India Restaurant and Bar is proud to announce the addition of a lunch buffet.  Created especially for the holidays, when lunch is often eaten with a limited amount of free time and there is a briskness to the air, this option will feature an array of Chef Kuldeep Singh’s specialties including a rotating assortment of curry dishes (lamb, chicken, fish and vegetable), tandoori chicken, chicken tikka, rice, salads, soup, dessert, freshly baked naan and more - about a dozen selections in all for both the vegetarian and meat-eater alike.

“Many of our customers requested that we add a lunch buffet as they have a very limited amount of time for lunch and appreciate the option of serving themselves,” said Origin India’s owner, Raja Majid.  “Our focus always has been, and will remain, on overall quality and standards of excellence - and this also applies to our buffet options which will rotate quite often.”

For guests looking for a more traditional dining experience, the restaurant will continue to also offer its traditional a la carte menu.  The lunch buffet is $14.95 per person (kids 11 and under receive half-off) and available daily from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm.  Walk-ins are always welcome, though reservations are encouraged during the busier dinner hours.  Make your reservation by calling (702) 734-6342 or visiting OriginIndiaRestaurant.com.

Wynn Las Vegas (NASDAQ: WYNN) offers the convenience and luxury of air travel from a private terminal with the Jetsetter Getaway Package, offering flights from Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport and John Wayne Airport now through March, 2010. Premier passengers receive complimentary valet parking and hassle-free check-in and boarding for the Wynn VIP treatment.

These incredible packages include roundtrip air transportation in a beautiful, 50-seat jet and begin with complimentary valet parking upon arrival at the private terminal. Passengers skip the typical airport stress and check-in immediately. A dedicated pre-flight Wynn Concierge is on hand with each guest’s room key prepared and ready. Wynn in-flight concierges are available to assist with any and all resort arrangements. Complimentary champagne is offered prior to takeoff, and light snacks and beverages are provided during the flight.

Upon arrival in Las Vegas, limousine shuttles whisk guests directly from the tarmac to Wynn or Encore for a three-night stay, and travelers avoid the baggage carousels to find their bags awaiting them in their rooms. All guests also receive transportation back to McCarran Airport’s Executive Terminal in Las Vegas.

Escape the hassles of the airport, and enjoy the personalized attention reserved for the elite traveler. Packages are offered Friday to Monday and start at $699 per person, including taxes and fees. Call 866.770.7929 and mention rate code WYNNBUR for a Burbank departure or WYNNORG for an Orange County departure to book your Wynn Vacations Jetsetter Getaway Package today, or visit www.WynnVacations.com for more information.

Flights are public charters operated for Las Vegas Jet, LLC (dba Wynn Vacations) by ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. Visit www.WynnVacations.com for applicable terms and conditions.

Lucky Jets, LLC is the arranger of public air charters for Wynn Vacations.

SOURCE: Wynn Las Vegas

Web site: http://www.WynnVacations.com/
http://www.wynnlasvegas.com/

Congratulations to Restaurant Guy Savoy, as AAA has recently awarded them their second consecutive Five Diamond Award. This is one of the highest honors that any restaurant can achieve, and they’ve done it twice in a row. Congratulations to all of who made this accomplishment possible.

AAA rates restaurants on such criteria as presentation, ingredient quality, preparation, service, décor and ambiance, and only 52 restaurants in the US, Canada, Mexico and Caribbean were so honored.

Restaurant Guy Savoy will offer special Prestige and Elegance menus for Christmas and New Year’s Eve and Day. The Christmas prix fixe menus include ten courses for $310 or six courses or $210; the New Year’s menus are $390 and $240, respectively. À la carte menu offerings are also available. To RSVP, call 1-877-346-4642.  To read the menus in detail including the Black Truffle Prestige menu, please click here.

Please note that Restaurant Guy Savoy will close for the season on December 7, re-opening on December 24 with their special holiday menus.

PLEASE BOW, Cupcake Royalty Has Arrived!

Cupcakes, cookies, lollipops, toffee, licorice, hard candies and dipped treats, oh my! The Palazzo Las Vegas cupcake and candy store, Sweet Surrender, brings together remarkable pastry chefs and the finest ingredients to create irresistibly indulgent treats. The shop’s variety is wide and sweet-tooth satisfaction is endless with the crème de la crème of Sweet Surrenders offerings being only for the most passionate cupcake lover: the $750 Decadence D’Or.

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Decadence D’Or is a sumptuous cupcake, handcrafted from the most exclusive, rich, and enterprising ingredients around the globe.  One main ingredient in Decadence D’Or is Palmira Single Estate Chocolate.  This special chocolate varietal is derived from the rare and fragile Porcelana Criollo bean and cultivated to its fullest state of richness exclusively at the Valrhona plantation in Venezuela.  Complementary to the Palmira Single Estate Chocolate is Tahitian Gold Vanilla Caviar- the world’s most labor-intensive agricultural crop.  This fruit, after it is ripened for nine months, then hand-harvested, cured, sweat, dried, and hand-split, is obtained only by tedious manual extraction; it is truly a delicacy, both in taste and exclusivity. Topping the Decadence D’Or is the masterfully smooth Louis XIII de Remy Martin Cognac, 100 years in the making, and edible, metallic gold flakes, each painstakingly hand-placed.  Finally, once baked to perfection, this grand dessert is encased in a stately, hand blown sugar Fleur-de-Lis and presented on a handmade exclusive elegant crackled-gold glass curved plate and bowl. Talk about the royal treatment!

Chef Long Nguyen, executive pastry chef of The Venetian and The Palazzo is the visionary genius behind all the exotic cupcake flavors and Chef Johann Springfield, head baker makes the cupcakes a reality.  In addition to the exclusive specialty cupcake Decadence D’Or Sweet Surrender carries: Red Velvet, Lemon Strawberry, Chocolate Ganache, Carrot, Black Forest, Strawberry, Coconut and Chocolate Fudge cupcakes.

Sweet Surrender, located on The Palazzo casino floor next to guest elevators, is open Sunday through Thursday 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. - Midnight.  Special orders can be placed directly by dialing 702-607-0753.