An Ode to Vegas (part 2 of 2).

I’m not a Vegas person. On surface, me and Vegas seem like a good idea: tons of all kinds of good food, drinks galore, all night clubs, parties… But that’s just it: Vegas is too much for me. Over the years I’ve resigned myself into believing we are simply incompatible. That was until September, when I realized Vegas is pleasant when you’re there for people you love. And exactly a month ago, that fact was compounded on and complimented with amazing meals and what became my never ending glass of champagne.

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After a not so modest wedding at Chapel of the Bells, our small party of 9 headed to The Eiffel Tower Restaurant.  Even though we had just come from a wedding, which in all honesty had some pretty touching vows, I, for one, am not about being in love in Vegas. Least of all in a Vegas facade of Paris, such as the Paris Hotel. But lo’ and behold, I fell hard. I was knocked off my feet by a most beautiful rack of lamb! Aside from my memory of how perfectly cooked and tender it was, my favorite memory has to be the waiter whose eyes fluttered when he suggested it to me. It had that kind of look, that I-know-I-work-here-but-SERIOUSLY-this-will-BLOW-YOUR-MIND look. And he was beyond right.

As a wedding gift, I arranged to have a wedding cake surprise the couple. The special events coordinator at The Eiffel Tower Restaurant was helpful but had her and the restaurants hands tied on account of the 10-10-10 weekend. (Lucky numbers are no small matter in Vegas, believe me.) The kitchen was too backed up to accommodate my wedding cake requests. Luckily, the good people at JJ’s Boulangerie came to our rescue. I was pretty nervous (understatement) about this cake since I had no way of seeing it before it was presented to our table. But Mr. Schmythe (sp?) and his team did a stellar job and had our bride in a 10-minute session of happy waterfall tears.

My note to self should I venture to Vegas next would be to make the most out of it by laying poolside in a cabana, share a minimum of 3 bottles of champagne (good for 2-3 people) and treat myself to a steak dinner.  That was how we spent the tail end of our trip and weekend.  I thank Rumor and Mon Ami Gabi for meeting these points with perfect detail. To this day, the mention of “merlot butter” makes my knees weak. And thanks to those moments, there is hope for me and Vegas yet.