Summer is finally here.  And my husband and I agreed that’s it’s been a pretty mild one, so far.  We’ll sit back with our peach-flavored sweet teas and say “it was only 107 today…it’s not that hot!”

And then we’ll stop and stare….did we really just say that 107 isn’t that hot?

Yes, we did.  Wow.

I think our bodies have finally acclimated to the Las Vegas summers.  I’m incredibly relieved. 

The first few summers we experienced in Las Vegas were like living in hell.   It felt so hot that I could hardly do the simplest of things- I couldn’t even manage the mental energy to get words out of my mouth when I was outside.  They came out as one word sentences: hot…..no……shut up.  Walking from the house to the car, and then the car to the store, was enough to throw me off for the remainder of the day.

Now days I’m finding that I actually enjoy the Vegas heat. 

-Sweating is better than freezing my ass off. 

-I appreciate clouds so much more now- especially rain, since we only get to see it a few times a year and even then it’s just a sprinkle. 

-My son learned to swim without a life jacket this summer from spending so much time at the pool.  He’s only five!

-Fall is my new favorite season because it means things start to cool off (fall here doesn’t really mean leaves fall from the trees- they do that mid winter).

So, although it took some getting used to, I can appreciate the “experience” of a Las Vegas summer.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d say 107 isn’t that hot…but truly, for a local, it’s not.

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I was lucky enough to have been invited to dinner at a brand new restaurant called Elements Kitchen and Martini Bar.  When I read that the owners describe their menu as “comfort food with a touch of sophistication,” I knew I couldn’t miss a chance to sample some it….

You can visit Elements at 4950 S Rainbow Blvd (SW corner of Rainbow and Tropicana).

 The restaurant, which is located on the SW corner of Rainbow and Tropicana at 4950 Rainbow Blvd, opens at 5pm every night (closed on Sundays).  Their “Happy Hour” (5pm – 6:30pm) is worth an early arrival for $2 off appetizers and wine, beer and cocktails. 

 I invited my best Vegas girlfriends along for the dinner.  We sat at a large table in the corner of the dining area, looking over the warmly decorated room.  I noticed the bright paintings on the wall immediately- I learned later that the owners, Catherine and Jose Luis Pawelek, brought them over from Haiti. 

 The bar is dimly lit, but in a good way, and there is silverware set up for every bar chair- which means they welcome not only a drink at the bar but a meal as well.  Maybe only my bartender-experienced eyes would notice this but, Catherine had multiple martini glasses already chilling on ice when we arrived.  This was very impressive!  I’m sure that, if you choose to order one of the restaurant’s 252 different martinis (yes, I said 252), it will be made by a master mixologist….most likely Catherine herself.

 I was served a refreshing and not-too-strong pineapple martini.  It was sweet, light and a perfect summer cocktail.  One of my girlfriends ordered the chocolatini which had chocolate shavings on top (yum!) and syrup inside the glass.  Another friend enjoyed a modified Cosmopolitan that tasted more like a sip-worthy Kamikaze (that’s lime and sweet and sour flavored for you inexperienced drinkers!).

We started with the calamari (7$) which came with a sweet, papaya mango sauce for dipping.  The spices on the calamari went very smoothly with the sweetness of the dipping sauce.  We also ordered the “fire and ice” scallops and jumbo shrimp ($9).  This was one of my favorites dishes of the night!  It was spicy- thank goodness for my pineapple martini- but then again I am a complete wuss when it comes to spicy food- I always have been.  My girls didn’t complain about the spiciness at all!

The dining room is warm and cozy with beautiful wall paintings brought over by owners from Haiti.

For dinner, I had the Seabass Ponzu ($24) which was rubbed with sesame seeds and a somewhat heavy-flavored sauce.  The fish was light and tender, and I happily finshed off the whole piece.  On the side was garlic mashed potatoes (who doesn’t LOVE some warm, just made mashed potatoes?) and beautiful, brightly colored vegetables.  You may not know this but I adore vegetables, especially ones that are not overcooked and still hold their crisp.  These veggies were delicious and perfectly steamed.  I actually finished those off before I even started my fish. Next time, I might ask for extra vegetables!

My dinner: Seabass Ponzu ($24) -Chilean Seabass, Encrusted In Dried Bonito, Seaweed, Flakes, White & Black Sesame Seeds, finished with Ponzu sauce. Yummy!

The service was exceptional, with a main server and a server’s assistant at our beck and call (thanks David and Ansel!).  Our drinks were refreshed before we had to ask, plates were cleared and new ones were brought in multiple times over the course of the meal, and the food was hot and prompt.  If you’re curious about the menu or a drink recipe, just ask your server- I’m sure Catherine herself would come out and gladly answer your question.  She’s extremely knowledgeable and a perfect host to her restaurant.

Another one of my favorite dishes of the night was the north Atlantic salmon with a strawberry balsamic glaze ($19).  Now this wasn’t just a strawberry flavor within the glaze – there were actual, big pieces of fresh strawberry over the fish, and the sweetness went very nicely with the ocean flavor of the salmon.  I wouldn’t think these two ingredients would normally go together, but I loved the textures of the two- mushy sweet with flaky, firm fish- as one in my mouth.  It worked, and it worked WELL!

What I noticed about the menu?  There’s lots of fruity flavors used- mostly as a side flavor to the main one.  There were lots of bold, unusual tastes and spices (like the ginger and papaya spread for the sun-dried tomato bread) that might scare off the average eater.

BUT…

Don’t let these unique fusion flavors keep you from trying something new! This is great food, cooked with fresh, hand-picked ingredients.  Catherine and Jose are world travelersand have spent many years within restaurants.  They’ve taken what they’ve learned and brought it here to Las Vegas- to share their favorite dishes with us.  How lucky we are!  You can read up on the rest of their menu by visiting their website.

To make a reservation call (702) 750-2991 OR if you’re planning a meal or martini date ahead of time you can reserve a table online.  Elements Kitchen also offers  their patio and a private dining room for any fuction you might have.  I bet they’d throw an excellent party!

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Stripper lesson 101 with the girlfriends at Planet Hollywood.

About once a month, my girlfriends and I get together to enjoy the city of Las Vegas with a crazy night of giggling, food and some sort of entertainment.  This month’s theme was a “sexy” night out.  We started the night with a shot of tequila and “stripper 101″ lessons at Planet Hollywood, taught by a very talented and charming pole dancer.  She gave us tips on how to give a decent lap dance, the secrets of a Las Vegas stripper and how to spin and shake our bodies on a stripper pole.  This class makes a great ice breaker for a bachelorette party, and husband and boyfriends- send your woman to this and I guarantee they’ll come home wanting to try out their new moves on you!

My girls and I had so much fun, and my arms were sore for two days after the class!  Wow.

Our teacher was an incredible pole dancer and hysterical!

After Stripper 101, we headed over to the Flamingo to see  the “X” Burlesque show.

Now, although I didn’t have huge expectations for the show, I was a teensy bit disappointed.  

I thought the dancers were excellent individually, but together they weren’t even close to being in sync with their moves-  most of them looked bored and seemed to half-ass their choreography.  Bummer.

The dancers were all extremely beautiful and had the most amazing bodies- I had to close my mouth when they first walked on stage.  Almost all of them had natural breasts (yes, this is a topless show, people!), which I found incredibly refreshing in the land of silicone boobs (including my own).  The 180-seat theatre was packed, and although we had to sit at the extreme end of the stage, we were front row.  Yes!

I wish the dancers would have given the pole in the middle of the audience a bit more attention, but then again I hardly had a chance to catch my breath between songs.   There was one dance after another!  Even when the short intermission came (to give the dancers a chance to rest and change their sparkling , elaborate costumes) the show brought out a hilarious comedian, James Bean, who bragged that he was just signed by HBO.  He was an unexpected surprise and totally worth the ticket price alone!

Part of James Bean’s routine was making fun of the Las Vegas “tourists” who asked to take everyone’s picture.  So what did I do? 

I asked for his picture, naturally.

Comedian James Bean

 Even though I was disappointed that the “X” Burlesque dancers seemed bored, I had a great time.  After the show ended, I was able to pay $10 and get a picture with a few of the dancers.  They were friendly and very gracious at my request to re-take my picture (gotta get it just right for the blog!).  I noticed, looking at the picture when I got home, that I’ve already met one of the dancers (on the left) at the Epicurean Affair last month!  I guess in the land of beautiful women, Las Vegas really is a small town.

After all my complaining ….would I dance burlesque for a living if I could? 

Hell yes. 

Maybe I’m just jealous?

Flamingo's 'X' Burlesque dancers

On my calendar for next month’s girl’s night out?  Dinner at a new restaurant called Elements Kitchen and Martini Bar (stay tuned for a full review of my visit on Living-Las-Vegas.com).  I’m anxious to try one of their martinis – there are 252 of them to choose from!  How could anyone go wrong with that?

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Have no fear!  Rosemary’s Restaurant is here!

They’ve even created a special Mother’s Day brunch menu to serve that afternoon.  It sounds incredible, delectable, fabulous, delish and insanely fattening. 

Yessss!

Seriously, it doesn’t get any better than this, people.  This place is by far, my most favorite place in town.  Can you tell?  Is it that obvious?  If my kids were just a *tad* bit older, I’d make the hubs take me there.  But frankly, dining out anywhere with a five and a three-year-old consists mostly of the kids eating, and my husband and me trying to keep them from tearing the place apart.  Rosemary’s will have to wait.   

Since I cant go for Mother’s Day, I thought I’d pass on the menu to all of you.  Visit Rosemary’s website to see their Mother’s Day menu- try not to slobber on your keyboard.

You can read my review of Rosemary’s Restaurant on Living-Las-Vegas if you’d like more details.

I promise you that if you take your favorite mother there for brunch, or hell, anytime, you’ll earn yourself enough brownie points to last until next year!  Enjoy the food and let me know how it went.

Happy Mother’s Day!

The Housewife

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The event surrounds the Flamingo pool - a great place for a party!

Beautiful ladies attract not only the male Epicurean guests to their booths but the female guests, too!

There was a little something for everyone, from oysters, to curry to desserts! YUM!

This only happens once a year, so make sure to watch for it next spring.  Hope to see you there! 

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I’m really excited about the Living-Las-Vegas blogs.  The question is…what will we all write about?  I’m rubbing my hands together in anticipation!  Let the wild rumpus begin!

To start things out, I thought I’d mention that The Bank at Bellagio is hosting some of the world’s best pole dancers tomorrow night – April 26th – for Pole-A-Palooza, from 8pm to 2am.  I was invited, and I’d go in a heartbeat but, the club scene is a little past my bedtime these days.  I think I could manage to stay up if I didn’t have to get up at 5:30 the next morning for work. 

Who thought up this working for a living thing, anyway?

For all you party people out there, Pole-A-Palooza should be hella fun.  I’ve met some of the dancers that enter every year and they are fantastic.  The winner wins $5000!

For table reservations, call The Bank at 702-693-8300.  Proper attire required, so look sharp!

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