On average, Americans drink over 20 gallons of beer per year, but what exactly distinguishes a Budweiser from a Fat Tire? While Budweiser is mass-produced, beers such as Fat Tire are produced by what is called a craft brewery or microbrewery. According to the Brewer’s Association craft beers have three important distinctions: Size, independence and tradition.

 

 

Craft breweries have an annual production of less than 2 million barrels, are mostly owned by individuals outside of the alcoholic beverage industry and have at least 50 percent of its volume in either all malt beers or beers in which additives are used to enhance rather than lighten flavor.

With approximately 1,500 craft breweries in the United States alone, it is no wonder that beer enthusiasts like to come together to drink the old staples and gain some new favorites. Next week, Sept. 24-Oct. 3, beer lovers will unite in New York City for NY Craft Beer Week. This special week celebrates the quantity and quality of New York’s bars and the beers that they serve.

During the internationally recognized 3rd annual NY Craft Beer Week, today’s top craft breweries and prominent local chefs will gather to showcase local brews, specialty food and beer pairing menus, educational tastings and tours, boutique beer festivals and the release of the official beer of the Week: Geektoberfest. Geektoberfest is a blended and barrel aged beer brewed by Shmaltz Brewing, Captain Lawrence Brewing, and Ithaca Beer Co. Geektoberfest is available only on draft for purchase at various craft beer bars throughout New York City.

New York City beer enthusiasts will get the most bang for their buck during NY Craft Beer Week by purchasing a NYC Beer Passport 2010, the official NY Craft Beer Week program and resource guide. Passports are $10, and patrons will receive promotional deals and discounts on selections from their favorite craft breweries at participating bars and restaurants. Each venue will feature one specific brewery, and rather than paying $6 or $7 per glass of beer, each beer will cost only $3. To extend the Passport’s value for those consumers unable to visit every bar during the NY Craft Beer Week, a majority of participating bars will also offer a promotion of their choice through Labor Day 2011.

Passports are available for purchase at each participating venue or at www.nycbeerweek.com.

Vegetarian Awareness Month, which takes place during the month of October, is a month-long celebration in which carnivores and omnivores are encouraged to learn about and actively practice a vegetarian lifestyle-a lifestyle that promotes healthy living, saving animals and being kinder to the Earth.

 

This October, Origin India Restaurant & Bar, a critically acclaimed Indian restaurant in the heart of Las Vegas, will be celebrating Vegetarian Awareness Month. Beginning on October 1, World Vegetarian Day, Origin India Restaurant & Bar will offer diners a 20 percent discount on all vegetarian menu items. Origin India’s vegetarian menu is extensive and includes popular dishes such as samosas, filled with potatoes and peas; paneer tikka, a combination of homemade paneer cheese with apricots and raisins; and Punjabi gram flour and vegetable dumplings in a silky yogurt sauce. The restaurant’s new Street Food menu from Chef Vikas Rawat also includes vegetarian choices such as pani puri (round hollow fried crisps filled with a mixture of water, tamarind, chili, chaat masala, potatoes, onions and garbanzo beans) and Dehi Vada (lentil dumplings served with a yogurt, tamarind and mint sauce) which will also be 20 percent off.

Origin India Restaurant & Bar
4480 Paradise Rd.Â
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 734-6342

Hours: 11:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. (Daily)

What is a pomegranate?

Pomegranates, an Asian fruit, are about the size of a large orange. They have a leathery, reddish skin that encases sweet and tart red pulp that is filled with hundreds of seeds.

While pomegranates are grown in California, the crop is largely produced throughout Asian and Mediterranean countries. Pomegranates are typically available in the United States from September through December, though in spite of the fruit’s recent popularity, they can occasionally be found in the off-season. When selecting pomegranates, choose fruit that is heavy for its size, has a bright color and is free of blemishes.
Where can I buy the freshest pomegranates?
How should I store pomegranates?

Whole pomegranates can be refrigerated for up to 2 months. They can also be stored in a cool, dark place for up to a month. Pomegranate seeds can be extracted and stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

What is the best way to eat a pomegranate?

Thanks to many touted health benefits, pomegranate consumption has increased dramatically in recent years. The fruit is often pressed to extract juice or used as a garnish on salads and a variety of sweet and savory dishes.

To eat a pomegranate it is necessary to cut the fruit open, which can be a difficult task. The following steps will help you to extract the pulp and seeds of this tasty and healthy fruit.

1. Be sure to wear an apron and gloves, as pomegranate juice is a deep-red color that will stain hands and clothing.
2. Lightly score the rind in several places.
3. Soak the fruit in a bowl of water for about 5 minutes to loosen the rind.
4. Hold the fruit under water and break off sections of the rind. This will separate the edible part of the fruit (the pulp and seeds) from the rind. The seeds will sink, while the rind will float.
5. Discard the rinds.
6. Pour the seeds into a colander to drain and then gently pat dry.

The U.S. Open has always been recognized for having stadium food that goes beyond the standard hot dog or soft pretzel. And this year is no different. In addition to some of the old favorites like Chef Tony Mantuano’s Wine and Food Bar, fans will have the opportunity to sample healthier and more organic options at an all-organic concession stand. 

But perhaps the most notable addition this year is the South Plaza Master Chef Café. The café, which is the product of Spiaggia Chef Tony Mantuano and U.S. Open Executive Chef Michael Lockard, features signature dishes created exclusively for the event by some of the country’s culinary masterminds. Participating chefs include Rick Moonen, the creator/executive chef of RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas; Tony Mantuano of Chicago’s Spiaggia; Carmen Gonzalez, the chef/owner of Carmen the Restaurant in Miami; Jonathan Waxman, the owner/chef of Barbuto in New York City; and Susan Feniger, of Border Grill and STREET in Los Angeles.

To add to the excitement of the new food station, the chefs of the South Plaza Master Chef Café participated in a cook-off last Saturday afternoon, Sept. 4. Each chef cooked the dish they had created for the tournament to determine who the U.S. Open’s very own Master Chef was. And while there were some hot contenders like the pulled-pork sandwich with plantain chips by Gonzalez and the all-natural shrimp hot dog served with Asian slaw, toga chips and “chipotle dude sauce” called the Moon ‘N Doggie by Moonen, the winner was Waxman with a grilled chicken panini with basil aioli and greens. In addition to bragging rights, Waxman won a $6,000 donation from the U.S. Open to the charity of his choice-Citymeals-on-Wheels.

There is still plenty of time to taste the Master Chef’s cuisine and all of the other delicious high-end grub at this year’s Open. Tournament play will continue through this Sunday, September 12.

It’s no secret that menus provide diners with food and beverage choices, but some restaurants are ditching the traditional à la carte menus and spicing things up by offering innovative menus.

1. The edible menu
Moto
945 W Fulton Market
Chicago, Illinois 60607
(312) 491-0058

Hours:
5 p.m.-10 p.m. (Tues-Thurs)
5 p.m.-11 p.m. (Fri-Sat)

Not long after opening his doors and establishing his restaurant as a leader in molecular gastronomy, Chef Homaro Cantu, who does not use any paper in his restaurant for environmental reasons, invented an edible menu.  These menus not only tell diners what’s for dinner, but they are actually part of dinner! They are made using four lasers, edible paper, edible ink and are completely safe for consumption. Make your choices and then eat up!

 

2. The tasting menu
Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010

Reservations: (212) 889 - 0905

Lunch: 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. (Monday - Friday)
Dinner: 5:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. (Monday - Saturday)

Diners at Eleven Madison Park were in for a surprise this week, when the restaurant reopened (after what was referred to as minor renovations) with a brand new menu. The world-renowned restaurant has shed the à la carte dining menu for a minimalistic tasting menu. The restaurant’s general manager, William Guidara, has said that the new menu, which is simply a square card with a list of 16 single-word ingredients, has changed to encourage dialogue about the meal between the diners and the servers. The serves explain the preparation of each ingredient listed and diners are encouraged to vocalize any changes they might like in the preparation of their dish. The ingredients listed on the tasting menu are constantly changing to reflect seasonal, fresh ingredients.

3. The secret menu
Fukuburger
Location varies (Las Vegas Environs), check online first

Hours: Opens at 8 p.m. (Tues. - Sun.)

If you’re on the go or looking to grab a quick bite, you might try out a different kind of restaurant like Fukuburger: A gourmet food truck. At Fukuburger, there is a small menu, but a large portion of their clients order off of the secret menu, a phenomenon in which restaurants offer unadvertised menu choices that customers learn by word of mouth. Our gourmet food truck expert Colin Fukunaga, co-owner of Fukuburger, says that some of their most popular burgers are actually named after customers who have come up with the dishes concept and shared it amongst the truck’s Twitter and Facebook followers. For more on Fukuburger and their secret menu, click here.

Tequila, made primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila in Mexico, has recently been dubbed “the new vodka.” And after doing some of our own searching, we realized that this might actually be the case. Special tequila menus and high-end tequila bars are popping up all over the country. Here are a few that noteworthy places that are giving praise to the Blue Agave nectar. 

 

 

Fusion Mixology Bar
The Palazzo
3325 S. Las Vegas Blvd.�
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 607-7777

Hours: 24 hours

To commemorate Mexican Independence Day, which falls on September 16, Fusion will offer Ambhar tequila drink specials throughout the month of September. The drinks, all Latin-inspired, hand crafted cocktails will be made with fresh fruits and a muddling technique of grinding sugar and fresh citrus. In addition to $7 shots of Ambhar tequila, trained mixologists at Fusion will create one special drink made just for the occasion. The cocktail, which is called “El Grito de la Independencia,” is named after the famous battle cry of the Mexican War Independence. It is a fresh blend of Ambhar tequila, strawberries, lime juice, rock candy syrup and basil leaves which is then garnished with lemoncello foam.

 

Also at Fusion, mixologist Emilio Tiburcio recently spent time with Travels In Taste recreating a variety of his favorite cocktails. One of the drinks, the “Orange Splash Fizz,” is a unique blend of tequila, orange zest, elderflower liquor and champagne. Tiburcio says that he makes the drink by filling a glass with ice and an orange peel that surrounds the ice from inside the glass and then muddling orange slices with tequila and elderflower liquor. Tiburcio then shaves ice and puts it in the glass with orange zest and, finally, tops it off with champagne. To read more about this special cocktail and our taste test with Tiburcio click here.

Strip House NYC
13 East 12th Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 328-0000

Hours: 5 p.m. - 11:15 p.m. (Mon. - Sat.)
             5 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. (Sun.)

 

The Strip House, which is known for known for its prime signature cuts of New York Strip Steak and Rib Eye is offering a 5-course $158 tequila pairing menu available for purchase through the Gilt Groupe. The menu includes Pumpkin with Toasted Seeds and Parmesan paired with Patrón Blanco; Tequila Cured Salmon with Cilantro Aĩoli, Bruleed Oranges and Baby Arugula paired with Don Julio Resposado; Roast Bacon Salad with Watercress, Marinated Tomatoes and Russian Dressing paired with Avión Añejo; T-Bone Steak with Tequila Butter, Goose Fat Potatoes and Black Truffle Creamed Spinach  paired with Milagro Barrel Aged Añejo; and Baked Alaska with Milk Chocolate and Butter Pecan Ice Creams paired with Patrón XO Café. The special dinner will be held on September 26, 2010. To read more about Strip House click here.

El Scorpion
431 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139-6617
(305) 532-4544

Hours: 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. (Mon.)
                 12 p.m. - 11 p.m. (Tues., Sun.)
                 12 p.m. - 2 a.m. (Wed. - Sat.)
El Scorpion, a relaxed lounge in South Beach Miami, serves up authentic Mexican fare with an accompanying drink menu that includes more than 130 Blue Agave tequilas. Behind the illuminated tequila bar, award-winning mixologist Christian Sanders creates a variety of tequila blends and freshly-made juices.

ZOCALO Restaurant and Tequila Bar
358 West Ontario Street
Chicago, IL 60654-6269
(312) 302-9977

Hours: Lunch: 11:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Mon. - Fri.)
             Dinner: 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. (Sun. - Tues.)
                             5 p.m. - 11 p.m. (Wed. - Sat.)
            Lounge: Open until 2 a.m. (Fri.)

At ZOCALO, in Chicago’s trendy River North neighborhood, a menu of braised and slow roasted meats in Yucatan style marinades and fresh ceviches is served alongside a menu that boasts over 130 tequilas made of 100 percent Blue Agave. Tequilas can be enjoyed straight up, in flights or in the restaurants signature margaritas.

Best Gourmet Burgers

 

New York

DB Bistro Moderne
55 W. 44th St.,
New York, NY
212-391-2400

Hours: 7 a.m. - 10 a.m., 12 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. (Mon.)
                7 a.m. - 10 a.m., 12 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. (Tues. - Thurs.)
                7 a.m. - 10 a.m., 12 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. (Fri.)
                8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. (Sat.)
                8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. (Sun.)

At Bistro Moderne, Chef Daniel Boulud has created what is perhaps the fanciest gourmet burger on our list. The $29 burger is stuffed with black truffles, foie gras and braised short ribs. 

21 Club
21 West 52nd Street
New York City, NY 10019
(212) 582-7200

Hours:
The Bar Room
Lunch: 12 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Mon. - Fri.)
Dinner: 5:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. (Mon. - Thurs.)
                5:30 p.m. - 11 p.m. (Fri. - Sat.)
Upstairs at 21
Dinner: 5:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. (Tues. - Sat.)

A recognized classic at the 21 Club, this $30 burger is made with house-ground top round and sirloin that includes duck fat, fresh thyme and marjoram. The patty is served on a toasted Parker House bun with frisee, preserved tomatoes and sautéed onions. The flavorful, gourmet burger is also accompanied by haricots vert and your choice of potato.

Las Vegas

Le Burger Brasserie
3655 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV
702-946-4346

Hours:
Dining: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. (Sun. - Thurs.), 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. (Fri. - Sat.)
Bar: 11 a.m. - 12 a.m. (Sun. - Thurs.), 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. (Fri. - Sat.)

Le Burger Brasserie, located in the promenade between Paris and Bally’s, puts a French spin on classic American fare-the burger in particular.  The traditional beef burger is offered along with veggie burgers and burgers made with chicken, salmon and lamb. And that’s not all. The restaurant’s signature dish is certainly the most elaborate on our list. It’s the $777 Kobe Beef and Maine Lobster Burger. This king of all burgers is topped with caramelized onions, imported Brie, crispy prosciutto and 100-year-aged balsamic vinegar and is served with a bottle of Rose Dom Perignon champagne.

Los Angeles

Umami Burger
850 South La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA
Hours: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. (Mon. - Sat.)
               11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Umami Santa Monica
500 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA
(310) 451-1300

Hours: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. (Daily)

Umami Urban
1520 N Cahuenga Blvd
Suite 7
Los Angeles, CA

(323) 469-3100

Hours: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. (Sun. - Thurs.)
               11 a.m. - 12 a.m. (Fri. - Sat.)

Umami Los Feliz
4655 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA
(323) 669-3922

Hours: 11:30 a.m. - 11 p.m. (Sun. - Thurs.)
               11:30 a.m. - 12 a.m. (Fri. - Sat.)

At about $10 a pop, it’s no surprise that Umami Burger, in Los Angeles, is getting all the attention. The burger joint, which has expanded into a chain of 4 restaurants and a mobile truck, serves up unique combinations of the classic juicy burger. Each burger is cooked to a medium-rare with a hint of Umami, a spice that the Japanese refer to as the fifth taste. The burgers are then finished off in the oven and placed on a slightly crisped bun. And while there are plenty of fun choices like the Manly Burger (a patty garnished with cheddar cheese, bacon lardons, fried onion strings and smoked salt), the signature dish is the Umami Burger (a traditional umami flavored patty topped with cheese, roasted tomatoes and mushrooms).

CommeCa
8479 Melrose Ave.
West Hollywood, CA

Hours: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. (Mon. - Fri.)
               10 a.m. - 11 p.m. (Sat. - Sun.)

At CommeCa, the lunchtime only cheeseburger has gained a lot of attention from locals as well as the popular media. The New York Times even called the burger ‘perfection.’ This popular beef patty is seared on the outsides, but has a loosely packed medium-rare inside. The burger is topped with coleslaw and cheddar cheese and served on a freshly baked bun from Boule Bakery.

Chicago

Park Grill
11 North Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312.521.7275

Hours: 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. (Mon. - Thurs.)
               11 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. (Fri.)
               10 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. (Sat.)
               10 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. (Sun.)

The Park Grill serves what is, arguably, the best burger in the Windy City. The Black Angus ground chuck burger, served only at lunch, is topped with a sweet grilled red onion, beefsteak tomatoes, lettuce and a slew of optional garnishes such as Herkimer white cheddar cheese, bacon, balsamic grilled onions and sautéed mushrooms. The burger, which is served on a sesame and poppy seed brioche, is accompanied by crisp, golden fries cooked in beef fat.

It’s no secret that Las Vegas is on the cutting edge of the culinary world.

Next Thursday, September 9, some of the most prestigious restaurants in Sin City will gather at The Pools at the Palazzo Hotel and Casino for the Las Vegas Epicurean Affair. 

Guests of the event, which is hosted by the Nevada Restaurant Association and The Palazzo Hotel and Casino, will taste the cuisine and sample the cocktails of nearly 75 renowned restaurants and beverage purveyors in a luxurious poolside setting at The Palazzo.

Participating restaurants include CUT, Naha, SUSHISAMBA, Postrio, Mesa Grill and more. A full list of participating restaurants can be found below.

The Las Vegas Epicurean Affair is open to the public and will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Pools at The Palazzo.  General admission tickets are $100 each and VIP tickets, which gain guests early admission at 6 p.m., cost $150 per person.  Tickets can be purchased at any Venetian or Palazzo box office, by phone at (702) 414-9000, or online at www.palazzolasvegas.com or www.epicureanaffairlasvegas.com. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Nevada Restaurant Association’s educational and scholarship programs.

Binions Ranch Steak House
Four Queens
128 Fremont StÂ
Las Vegas, NVÂ
(702) 382-1600

Bollini Wines

Bradley Ogden
Caesar’s Palace
3570 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 731-7410

Canyon Ranch Grill Â
Palazzo
The Palazzo
3355 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 414-3600

Chicago Brewing Company
Four Queens
128 Fremont StÂ
Las Vegas, NVÂ
(702) 382-1600

CUT 
Palazzo
The Palazzo
3355 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 607-6300

D.Vino Italian Food & Wine Bar Â
Monte Carlo
3770 Las Vegas Blvd S
Paradise, NVÂ
(888) 529-4828

Dos Caminos Â
Venetian
3325 Las Vegas Boulevard S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 577-9600

 

Dragon Noodle Co. & Sushi Bar
Monte Carlo
3770 Las Vegas Blvd S
Paradise, NVÂ
(702) 730-7777

Elements Kitchen & Martini Bar
4950 South Rainbow Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 750-2991
                                   

ENVY The Steakhouse Â
Renaissance
3400 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 784-5700

Fiji Water Â
                            

First Food & BarÂ
Palazzo
The Palazzo
3355 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 792-8900

 

Gaylord India RestaurantÂ
Rio-All Suite Hotel & Casino
3700 W Flamingo Rd
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 777-2277

Gilley’s Saloon, Dance Hall & Bar-B-QueÂ
Treasure Island
3300 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 894-7111

Gordon Biersch Brewery
                         

Grand Lux Café
Venetian
3325 Las Vegas Boulevard S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 414-3888

The Grape Â
Town Square
6599 Las Vegas Boulevard S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 220-4727

Guy SavoyÂ
Caesar’s Palace
3570 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NVÂ
(702) 731-7286

Hash House A Go Go Â
Imperial Palace
6800 West Sahara Ave.
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 804-4646

II Mulino Â
Caesar’s Palace
3570 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 492-6000

Jasmine Â
Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Boulevard S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 693-7223

Khotan Asian Bistro Â
Treasure Island
3300 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV
(888) 692-3777

Lagasse StadiumÂ
Venetian
3325 Las Vegas Boulevard S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 607-2665

Laguna Champagne BarÂ
Palazzo
3355 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV
702-607-7777

Lavo Italian Restaurant
Venetian
3325 Las Vegas Boulevard S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 791-1800

Leblon Cachaca

Louis Jadot

Marche Bacchus Â
2620 Regatta Dr # 106
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 804-8008
                          

McCormick & Schmicks Seafood RestaurantÂ
335 Hughes Center Drive
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 836-9000
   

Memphis Championship Barbeque Â

Mesa GrillÂ
Caesar’s Palace
3570 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 731-7731

Michele Chiarlo

Morel’s French Steakhouse & Bistro
Palazzo
The Palazzo
3355 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 607-6333

Nobu Las Vegas Â
Hardrock Hotel & Casino
4455 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 693-5090

Nora’s Wine, Bar & Osteria Â
1031 South Rampart Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 940-6672Â
                              

Origin India Restaurant Â
4480 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 734-6342 Â
                        

Palm Restaurant Â
Caesar’s Palace
3570 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 732-7256

Paymon’s Hookah Lounge  Â
8380 W Sahara Ave
Las Vegas, NVÂ
(702) 804-0293
                              

Poema

Postrio Bar & GrillÂ
Venetian
3325 Las Vegas Boulevard S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 796-1110

Prime Steakhouse Â
Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Boulevard S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 693-7223

Red Square Â
Mandalay Bay
3950 Las Vegas Boulevard S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 632-7407

Rombauer Vineyards

 

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

 

 

SUSHISAMBAÂ
Venetian
3325 Las Vegas Boulevard S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 607-0700

 

Table 10 by Emeril Lagasse
Venetian
3325 Las Vegas Boulevard S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 607-6363

Tao Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar
Venetian
3325 Las Vegas Boulevard S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 388-8338

The Cupcakery        Â
9680 South Eastern Ave. #100
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 207-2253Â
                     

Van Gogh Vodka

Wirtz Beverage Nevada   Â
                        

Zine Noodles
Venetian
3325 Las Vegas Boulevard S
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 607-2220

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, it’s only natural to want a great dessert after a nice meal. But what do the rich and famous have for dessert? We’ve collected a list of the three most expensive desserts in the United States-and they’re good, but they’ll definitely put a dent in your wallet.

Sweet Surrender
The Palazzo
3325 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV
702-607-075310 a.m. - 10 p.m (Sunday - Thursday)
10 a.m. - Midnight (Friday - Saturday)

Hours: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. (Sun. - Thurs.)
             10 a.m. - 12 a.m. (Fri. - Sat.)

Sweet Surrender, the Palazzo’s cupcake and candy store, features a treat for only the most passionate cupcake lover: the $750 Decadence D’Or. Decadence D’Or is handcrafted from the most exclusive, rich, and enterprising ingredients around the globe. Ingredients include Palmira Single Estate Chocolate, a chocolate derived from the rare and fragile Porcelana Criollo bean, and Tahitian Gold Vanilla Caviar, a fruit, ripened for nine months, then hand-harvested, cured, sweat, dried, and hand-split, is obtained only by tedious manual extraction. Topping the Decadence D’Or is Louis XIII de Remy Martin Cognac and hand-placed edible, metallic gold flakes. 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.In addition Sweet Surrender carries: Red Velvet, Lemon Strawberry, Chocolate Ganache, Carrot, Black Forest, Strawberry, Coconut and Chocolate Fudge cupcakes.

Frrozen Haute Chocolate & Golden Opulence
Serendipity 3
225 East 60th Street
New York, NY
212-838-3531

Hours: 11:30 a.m. - 12 a.m. (Sun. - Thurs.)
             11:30 a.m. - 1 a.m. (Fri.)
             11:30 a.m. - 2 a.m. (Sat.)

 

Serendipity 3 is known for its frozen hot chocolate and decadent desserts, but two special plates are so off the charts that they require advanced, special orders. The Frrozen Haute Chocolate is a blend of 28 cocoas, including 14 of the most expensive and exotic cocoas from around the globe and is infused with 5 grams of edible 23-karat gold. The sundae is then topped with whipped cream and covered with gold flakes and a side of La Madeline au Truffle from Knipschildt Chocolatier. The $25,000 dessert is served in a goblet lined with edible gold that has an 18-karat gold bracelet with 1 carat diamonds wrapped around the base. The dessert is supposed to be eaten with a gold and diamond spoon, which can be taken home. The other decadent dessert, called Golden Opulence, is a $1,000 ice cream sundae that owner Stephen Bruce says is popular among celebrities and socialites.
The Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence
Wine³
The Fortress Luxury Resort
PO Box 126
Galle, Sri Lanka
+94 91 438 9400

This opulent Sri Lankan dessert, which is offered at Wine³ Fisherman Stilt restaurant in Sri Lanka, pays tribute to the native pastime, stilt fishing, by portraying a stilt fishing scene made of chocolate, exotic fruit, Irish cream, and a mango and pomegranate compote. The fisherman is carved out of chocolate and an 80-carat aquamarine sits beneath him on a sliver of chocolate. At $14,500 a pop, diners do get to keep the aquamarine, but no one has ordered the steeply priced dish yet!

Rouge Tomate
10 E 60th St
New York, 10022
(646) 237-8977

Hours: Lunch: 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. (Mon. - Sat.)
                 Dinner: 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. (Mon. - Sat.)
                 Juice Bar: 12 p.m. - 11 p.m. (Mon. - Sat.)

 

Everything from the cocktails to the dessert is health conscious at Rouge Tomate. And the cocktails, which are made using seasonally fresh fruit and vegetables, have high nutritional value-they could even be a mini meal in and of themselves. The extensive cocktail list, comprised of both non-alcoholic and alcoholic libations, is made using juices from the restaurant’s in-house juice bar, where fresh fruit and vegetable juices are squeezed daily. Two of the most unique vegetable cocktails at Rouge Tomate are certainly the Green Tornado (tarragon, spinach, basil and butter lettuce juice; mint; and lemon juice) and the Jasmine (jasmine infused gin, apple juice and fresh green jalapeño).
Noir Bar
Luxor
900 Las Vegas Boulevard
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 262-5257

Hours: Opens at 10 p.m. (Wed. - Sat.)
The Carrot Cake Martini at Noir Bar in Las Vegas makes getting one of your daily vegetable servings a piece of cake.  The drink is a blend of Toschi Nocello liqueur, Bailey’s Irish Cream, Montecristo rum, Van Gogh vanilla vodka, raisins, brown sugar, fresh nutmeg and carrot shavings. The icing on the cake? The rim of the martini glass is lined with a cream cheese frosting.

Library Bar
7000 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CAÂ
(213) 614-0053

Hours: 3 p.m. - 2 a.m. (Mon. - Fri.)
             7 p.m. - 2 a.m. (Sat. - Sun.)

At the Library Bar there is no shortage of healthy drinks, as most of the cocktails are made using fresh vegetables. Matt Biancaniello, the mixologist at this trendy L.A. locale nestled inside the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, brings new meaning to the saying “farm-to-table.” One of Biancaniello’s oldest and most popular cocktails is the Roquette. This brightly-colored green drink is a delicate mixture of arugula, lime, agave and gin that is sure to delight you. Another favorite is the The Breeder’s Cup, a surprisingly smooth blend of Hendrick’s gin, agave, cucumber, beets, horseradish and salt.

Epic Sky
112 W Hubbard St
Chicago, IL
312-222-4940

Hours:  Lunch: 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Mon. - Fri.)
          Dinner: 5:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. (Mon. - Thurs.)
                          5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. (Fri. - Sat.)
          Roof: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m. (Mon. - Sat.)
          Lounge Menu: 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. (Mon. - Thurs.)
                                        4 p.m. - 12 a.m. (Fri. - Sat.)
          Bar/Lounge Open: 4 p.m. -2 a.m. (Mon. - Fri.)
                                                 4 p.m. - 3 a.m. (Sat.)

In the Windy City, one rooftop in the trendy River North neighborhood, has amped up its cocktail menu with a few veggie-infused drinks. At Epic Sky, mixologists have created the White Rabbit, named after the rabbit made famous by Alice in Wonderland. Made with Ketel One Oranje vodka, fresh carrot juice, ginger and simple syrup, you’re surely late for a very important date if you haven’t yet tried this vibrant drink.