I’ve always wanted to do Vegas the right way, so I was STOKED when redtag.ca and Las Vegas teamed up for this travel opportunity to show me and my girlfriends an epic time filled with cool adventures and culinary experiences!

If you’re looking to book your next Las Vegas trip, I would highly suggest redtag.ca – they have a ton of amazing deals for flight and hotel.  A 3 night stay can be as low as $460 CAD which in my opinion is so affordable for a quick getaway.

CLICK HERE to search for your next Vegas adventure and let the good times roll!

MY VEGAS FOOD DIARY

I have two Las Vegas blog posts to share and this post is all about FOOD!  Las Vegas is a foodies paradise! I know it can be overwhelming, but I encourage you to choose wisely while you are there. Below are restaurants I would highly recommend stopping by and treating yourself to, because you only live once so why not LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE, am I right?

GORDON RAMSAY’S HELL’S KITCHEN

I have been a Gordon Ramsay fan for a long time so I was stoked to have had the opportunity to dine at the newly opened Hell’s Kitchen in Las Vegas. It was probably one of the most memorable dining experiences I have ever had, and it will be one I will be comparing to my future tastings. Of course I wouldn’t expect anything short of excellence when Chef Ramsay stamps his brand on to something. Before we start, I want to give you fair warning that I am a Pescatarian, so most dishes will be vegetarian and/or seafood.  I was impressed how his menu had a great mix for everyone.

As you enter the restaurant, there is an excitement and energy in the patrons, wait staff and chefs who are visible in the open concept kitchen.
If you want to be the centre of attention (just kidding) or have people stare in wonderment at your table, then order one of their special novelty cocktails like this Smoke On The Blvd ($16, woodford rye, aperol, amaro averna, sweet vermouth, smoked with cherry wood). It will ooo and ahhh everyone around, including yourself.
If you’re a seafood lover or a pescatarian like myself, then I highly recommend ordering the HK Grand Seafood Tower ($49pp, lobster, king crab legs, Jonah crab claws, golf shrimp, oysters, clams) and thank me later. Hands down the best seafood tower I have ever had. They don’t stinge out on the portion of the shellfish and the sauces paired so nicely with everything.
The Lobster Risotto ($24, butter poached lobster tail, butternut squash, sage) was like a floating dream in my mouth. I’m not usually a fan of risotto, but this really did melt like butter as soon as it touched my tongue and the lobster was perfectly done.
DO NOT SKIP DESSERT under any circumstance. Especially this Sticky Toffee Pudding ($9 with speculoos ice cream).  It’s like a sponge cake that is extremely moist with sweet toffee flavour.

ZUMA LAS VEGAS

My absolute favourite style of food is Japanese and our experience at ZUMA, located in The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, left me wanting more. The test of any great Japanese restaurant is the freshness and quality of their sashimi and Zuma passed with flying colours. I love the romantic and intimate atmosphere of the restaurant and I thoroughly enjoyed the chef’s specially prepared tasting for our group.

Edamame with salt is how I like to start every Japanese meal, but I love how this was sprinkled with sea salt. On the right is the Shisito Pepper with Tofu Sesame Dip, nicely burnt on the outside with a little kick on the inside.
Presentation is key. And how sweet is the presentation on our sashimi/sushi plate. I tend to eat with my eyes first and when something looks this good, it adds to the tasting experience. As previously mentioned the sashimi was grade A quality and super fresh, and the flavour was so clean and delicious.
Let me just say I wish this entire piece of Grilled Chilean Sea bass with green chilli and ginger dressing was all mine. It was flaky, sweet and savoury – everything I’m into.
The Zuma Deluxe Platter is a simple, clean and delicious selection of sorbets (omg, the coconut sorbet was TDF), Mandarin Mousse, Green Tea Banana Cake and a variety of exotic fruits. If you’re feeling guilty from all of the amazing food you’ve been eating, you don’t need to feel guilty on this sharing dessert since it’s light and healthy…er. 😉

SUGAR FACTORY AMERICAN BRASSERIE

If you are looking for a whole lot of novelty and super insta-worthy pics of fun food, then head over to The Sugar Factory and get your sweet tooth and fun fix on. It is a one of a kind dining experience in sweet and savoury. Plus they have a carousel on the top floor, perfect for photo opps!
The first thing you do when you arrive? Order an elaborate Goblet cocktail of course! From Left to Right: The Lollipop Passion, which is the managers favourite (I fully agree), the Fuzzy Peach Penguin Mango, and the Berry Bliss.
The Sugar Factory Rainbow sliders ($25) are usually mini burgers, but since there were a couple of people who do not eat meat, they decided to do a vegan rendition for us and OMG I could eat this everyday if I had the chance. I love how they are receptive and accommodating to our food requests. I think it’s important for a restaurant these days to be well prepared with options. And it’s an appreciative bonus when it delights your taste buds!
This is just one of many insane milkshakes we got to try called the Tie Dye Milkshake ($19, vanilla ice cream with red, blue, green, yellow, white chocolate ganache topped with whipped cream, Pop Rocks, cotton candy a candy necklace and rainbow sprinkles). Try being a server and saying this to the patron. 😀
MEL, ME, VICKI
But if you want to go HAM, then order the world famous King Kong Sundae ($99, serves 12 people) – 24 scoops of Ice Cream covered with hot fudge, caramel and strawberry sauce, sliced bananas, toasted marshmallows, Reese’s Pieces, chocolate chip cookies, crushed waffle cones, Gummi Bears, white chocolate strawberry shavings and toasted walnuts with whipped cream, giant lollipops and sparklers on top!

JULIAN SERRANO

I am slowly becoming a huge tapas fan and I’m incredibly happy to have stopped by Julian Serrano Tapas at Aria. In case you were wondering, Tapas are small plates of Spanish cuisine, kind of like appetizers. People order various small dishes to combine them into a full meal. I love family style dining and this restaurant was DEE-LISHHHHH.
The Tuna Cones are like a party in your mouth and a must if you love raw tuna. Just wait till you get to the bottom for a nice surprise.
I love the crunch on the taro chips with this shrimp ceviche. If you enjoy sour cold dishes, this one will tease the taste buds.
Mmmmm, PAELLA. The first time I had paella was in Spain and I remember being underwhelmed. Well thank goodness for Mister Serrano and the Paella Negra (fresh calamari, shrimp, vegetables, squid ink, saffron) which turned it around for me. This dish was a hot piece of savoury goodness. I especially love the touch of aioli on the shrimp paired with squid ink rice. YUM.
FYI, dessert is my favourite part of the meal, and we went out with a bang: Churros with spicy hot chocolate, Torrija (Spanish sweet pancake) with salted caramel, vanilla bean ice cream and candied macadamia, Molten Chocolate Cake with vanilla bean ice cream, Crema Catalana (orange blossom creme brûlée) with orange zest. BOOM goes the dynamite!

PRIMROSE

Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day! And I highly recommend breakfast at Primrose, a restaurant inspired by the South of France where the interior is modelled after a country home. Aesthetics from food to decor is what gives a restaurant its unique qualities and I believe at Primrose they work together to create a beautiful harmonic experience.

I love the big window overlooking their gorgeous patio.
Gorgeous tiling and hanging globe lights create a romantic mood in their garden patio.
When I saw the Brûléed French Toast on a neighbours table, I knew I had to order it. It reminded me of the thick toasts at Chinese dessert houses. The whipping cream was light and airy and I really enjoyed the jammed fruit on top.
Ok, these pancakes were the size of my face and tasted like the best cornbread I’ve had in a long while. My favourite dish on the breakfast menu.
The Granola & Yogurt and salmon toast. The yogurt was a bit sour and plain, but the granola was tasty. I didn’t get to try the Salmon toast but it looks lovely!
Had to snap a pic with the full lineup. 😀

MOzen BISTRO AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL

We stepped into the Mandarin Oriental and right away we felt a calming zen rush over us. This was our last breakfast before heading to the airport and I’m glad we got to try MOzen Bistro who serves asian cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But don’t fret as they have a great selection of American classics for the morning as well. Don’t forget to ask them to print one of your Instagram pics (or any pic) on top of your specialty morning coffee.
Starting off with a Mimosa, sweet pear juice and fresh fruit tray and pastries.
I had to show off my favourite dish on the breakfast menu – The French Toast Suzette (brioche french toast, orange creme patisserie, Grand Marnier sauce). The cream oozing out of the airy yet crispy toast was TDF.
The delectable lineup: (From Clockwise Top Left) 1. Buttermilk Pancakes 2. Field Greens Salad 3. French Toast Suzette 4. Fresh Fruit plate 5. Eggs Ranchero 6. Japanese Bento (teriyaki glazed salmon with yukari onigiri, sweet corn katsu, dashimaki tamago with shiitake and spinach, miso soup and seasonal fruit).

LIP SMACKING FOODIE TOUR

I have never been on a foodie tour before, and I wouldn’t have thought on going on one if it hadn’t been for redtag.ca and Las Vegas putting together such an amazing itinerary. If you’re thinking of doing a foodie tour, book your Vegas one with LipSmacking Foodie Tours where they have 7 types of tours to choose from – all the way from a helicopter tour on the strip to a Downtown Lip Smacking Tour. We decided to do the latter. They range from 150 minutes to 5 hours in length and they take you to at least 3-4 stops that are “sure to please the palate”. Let them know in advance if you have dietary restrictions and they will be happy to coordinate meal options. There was about 10-12 of us in our group, all from different areas of North America.  It was a nice opportunity to meet new people and get to know their story.

I have to mention, heading to downtown Las Vegas was really enjoyable. Walking around and soaking in the old Vegas vibes and history was incredible. The Downtown Lip Smacking Foodie Tour would definitely be my first pick. The next time I visit, I will definitely be spending a day downtown.

First stop was at Carson Kitchen where there wasn’t too much of a selection for myself, but these devil’s eggs with caviar hit the spot. Despite being a pescatarian, I have to say I was tempted to pop a crispy chicken skin into my mouth.

Next stop was Therapy who was kind enough to throw together the most scrumptious vegetarian tasting plate. The flavour in each bite was magical and I was so touched and appreciative on how they were able to do this just for me. This is what I call top notch service and food.  Also, digging the creative the plating!

Last stop on the tour was 7th and Carson where I tasted the BEST SALAD OF LIFE. Don’t let the simplicity of this dish deceive you – it will blow your mind. If you love burrata cheese, then you must order the Grilled Pear and Burrata salad and thank me later.

And that’s all folks! Thank you so much to redtag.ca and Las Vegas for showing us how to do Vegas! Stay tuned for my next blog post – 11 Cool Things To Do in Vegas!

Comment down below your own recommendations for Vegas, I would love to know! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Xx
Tee
*This post was sponsored by redtag.ca and Las Vegas but all opinions are my own.