Died and Gone To Heaven

Sunday morning I slept in and then hit the casino gym for a run. My body was feeling fairly tired after three days of intense walking for hours, but my run was fantastic and fast.

For breakfast we went to some diner in New York New York called America. Nothing special about the place–it was kind of like an upscale IHOP. All I wanted was French toast. And by gods, I got it!

After breakfast we walked around outside because the weather was FINALLY hot and sunny! I wanted to soak up as much as possible. It’s amazing what a little Vitamin D does for me. One of the things on Sunday’s agenda was The Wynn. I had never seen it and so we took a cab there since it’s a ways down the Strip. What an amazing hotel.

Steve Wynn clearly deserves whatever mega-billions he has because the casino is outstanding. I could see a lot of the Bellagio in the Wynn, and I guess he designed both. The atrium at the Wynn was gorgeous and smelled like a spring afternoon.

I wandered around and took a bunch of photos, and then Michael and I sat outside for “lunch” in the Parasol Down patio lounge. Michael insisted we sit down and relax because I “never relax or enjoy vacations and do too much.” Truth. I like to cram in as much as humanly possible on vacations because I want to experience everything. I cannot remember the last time I had a “relaxing” vacation. Hmmm. Maybe never?

Words cannot express just how beautiful and relaxing that outdoor lounge was. We were seated by the “lake” on a couch and enjoyed our drinks in the sunshine while staring at the waterfall. Heaven.

I ordered a totally ridiculous drink that was way too expensive, but it was refreshing and worth it. It was called a “Strawberry and Grapefruit Collins” – Finlandia Grapefruit Fusion Vodka, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, strawberry puree, fresh lemon and club soda. Basically, it tasted like a super sweet daiquiri but it was delicious on a hot day.

After we awhile we were both too hot in the sunshine and walked back to The Strip, this time with some refreshing beers for our trek through the madness that is Vegas.

Ahem…I have no shame:

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Michael fell in love with the poker room at Caesars, so I plopped down at the Pussycat Dolls roulette table and was ridiculously lucky before taking myself to the Caesar’s Palace pool to relax poolside in the sunshine.

What a fantastic pool! I wished I was in my swimsuit to fully enjoy it.

A few hours later it was time to get cleaned up and dressed up for my FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD.

It’s so easy to say things like “this was the best meal of my life” or “make this recipe! It’s to die for!” But there are very few meals that actually stand out and you remember for the rest of your life. For me, that meal has been at Craftsteak. The first time I ate at Craftsteak was a few years ago when Michael and I went to Vegas for a UFC fight. Top Chef is one of my favorite TV shows and Michael surprised me by making reservations at Tom Collichio’s restaurant in the MGM. That meal has been in the back of my brain for the last four years. Every steak I have in a restaurant is compared to that meal, which in one word would be classified as orgasmic.

This meal was no different than our first time there. The atmosphere is simply amazing. Romantic, dimly lit, with the aromas of fresh lobster and steak dripping in marinade.

We both ordered the New York strip steak. Last time we tried the Wagyu beef, a Japanese steak that is melt-in-your-mouth amazing. We both agreed that was better, but that is not to say the NY Strip wasn’t fantastic.

We split a side of asparagus that had been seasoned with thyme (fascinating taste) and there was a roasted onion bulb soaking in the balsamic reduction around the meat. Holy, effing, cow. Literally. Every amazing bite was followed by another amazing bite that made me feel like all other meals I eat would be cheating on Craftsteak.

The dinner rolls were steaming hot, light and airy and covered in large pieces of salt. My glass of Malbec wine went perfectly with the richness of the steak. And no, there was no Tom Collichio spotting, unfortunately.

For dessert we shared the flourless chocolate cake with blood orange sorbet and tangerines that had to have been soaked in lemon juice. The tartness of the oranges and the sorbet paired so beautifully with the thick, dense chocolate that I wanted to cry. Best. Meal. Of. My. Life. Did I mention that there was like a homemade marshmallow on top of the cake? Lightly and airy, but also thick at the same time–deceptively looking like whipped cream but with the texture of a freshly baked, oozing rice krispie treat.

Oh my god.

Are you drooling yet? You should be!

After a leisurely and romantic dinner at my favorite place on earth, Michael went back to Caesar’s to play poker and I went to New York New York to clean up at roulette.

Oh yeah!

QUESTION: Describe the best meal you’ve ever had in your entire life…the meal you think about even years later!