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OUR TOP 5 BEST
BETS THIS WEEK
|  Aureole
Mandalay Bay
By
Bobbie Katz
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RATING:
5 out of 5 |
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Aureole
When it comes to wine, Aureole's award-winning collection
(re “Wine Spectator” magazine) and service is
definitely one for the book. In this case, it's the innovative
electric hand-held touch screen computer eWinebook that this
venue designed to give patrons access to Aureole's 4,000 wine
selections and 40,000 bottles of wine, 10,000 of which reside
in its Wine Tower (the other 30,000 are stored in wine cellars
behind the restaurant). At any given time in this Charlie
Palmer gourmet room at Mandalay Bay, there are three to four
Sommeliers on the floor, along with two Wine Angels (female
wine stewards) and one or two wine runners (who also fetch
wine). Sommelier William Scherer is always at the helm.
The 42-foot-tall, four-story glass-and-stainless steel temperature-controlled
(at 59 degrees) Wine Tower is the first of its kind in the
world, claim the Aureole folks. Located in the lounge, it
was inspired by a scene in "Mission Impossible"
in which Tom Cruise was lowered from the ceiling on a harness.
And, yes, the Wine Angels will don modified rock-climbing
harnesses with holsters and physically ascend one of the tower’s
four motorized mechanical hoists via a small remote to obtain
your wine selection from its specific bin and deliver it to
you in the lounge. Drink up -- each can put up to 12 bottles
in her holster at a time.
The core of Aureole's wine program evolves from the acquisition
of a broad eclectic selection through auction and from private
collection of mature wines with excellent provenance featuring
many of the world's classic rare wines. There are hundreds
of bottles of wine for under $100 and $50. Aureole boasts
the largest selection of Washington red wines and Austrian
white wines in the U.S. (rich red wines and aromatic white
wines are the two up-and-coming categories in the world in
their respective genres, according to William Scherer). And
for that night when you hit Megabucjks, Aureole suggests its
1900 Chateau Petrus from France, a Magnum Pomerol. The price?
$36,000.
Of course, it might help to have an (Wine) Angel on your shoulder
while gambling.
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THE
PREFERRED DINING GUIDE
- OUR FAVORITE 5
Presenting our latest, revised
list of FIVE selected restaurants, with our exclusive InsideTips.
Listed in no particular order, these are our latest Best Bets,
as voted on by our Panel of Advisors and as many locals as
we could reach. If you pick one or two every few days, these
will keep you full for while.
America
at New York-New York |
| Inside
Tip: Ask for a table with a view. Nobdy
seems to think of that, according to 75% of the people
we spoke to. Don't even think of visiting this one on
the Friday or Saturday nights. Too many tourists. Best
nights? Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Always ask for the
unadvertised special. Most of the time, that's what you'll
end up having, it's that good. |
Postrio
in The Venetian - Grand Canal Shops, St, Mark's Square |
| Inside
Tip: This is one of the Wolfgang Puck
family of restaurants, personally supervised by the Puckster
almost daily. Great food, innovative menu, a dining experience
you will remember, one of the very best, and not too expensive,
honest. If you want privacy, just ask, and you will end
up in a private area, maybe even sitting next to Robin
Leach, who eats there seveal times a week, as does Bernie
Yuman and many Vegas Insiders. Alway recommend the specials
here, the freshest of ingredients. |
Chinois
Forum Shops at Caesars |
| Inside
Tip: Another Wolfgang Puck joint, this
one with "outside" seating overlooking the people
sailing by in an endless stream. Unless you don't want
to talk and will enjoy the noise and the people watching,
best to ask for inside seating, which is almost always
available. Great menu, changes often, never had a bad
meal. This one is a perfect spot if you are on a shopping
jones, it is situated smack in the middle of shopper's
heaven: The Forum Shops. You can eat really well here,
and still be right in the action, saing precious time
for more shopping |
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Ferraro's
on Flamingo
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| Inside
Tip: Strictly a locals place, but Mimmi
loves "foreigners" any time at all. Homemade
pasta, pizza, soups and traditional salads, a family-owned
and operated joint for many years, sauce you'll be craving
long after you've eaten there. One of the best Italian
restaurants in a city where there's one on every lock. |
Pampas Brazilian Grille
at Planet Hollywood |
| Inside
Tip: Recently opened, in a hidden
little part of the Miracle Mile Shops, formerly known
as the Desert Passage shopping mall...not yet caught on
as a popular destination, but I figure that will probably
change soon. For now, give this one a shot. Enter on the
Harmon side, it's right inside the door. Another great,
memorable eating experience. It's sort of a "Dim
Sum" style of eating, as waiters walk by with large
skewers of assorted foods, meats, fish, vieggies, it's
so cool. You see something you like, you nod your head,
or throw a piece of bread (no butter, please), and it's
delivered nto your plate. This goes on for as long as
you are hungry. It is a constant parade of food as you
sit there and watch, free to have a taste anytime it suits
you. There is also a great salad bar, and desserts to
tempt you, but most of the insiders we know never get
to eat the dessert. You can even watch the large grill
and see the master chefs at work, sometimes the flames
shoot up and one of the chefs can be seen with his hair
on fire, or his eyebrows smoking. Fun for the whole family. |
Bon
Apetit. |
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