I eagerly jumped at the opportunity to get away from this incessant frigid winter in the Northeast - even if it was just a weekend in Las Vegas. A girls getaway was a good enough excuse. Heck! at this point I didn’t even need an excuse. JUST GET ME THE HELL OUTA’ HERE!!!

Las Vegas. Sin-city! Yep! Here you will find plenty of ways to nurture any one, or combination of, your favorite sins. Of course, the one closest to my heart is “gluttony”! As a matter of fact, I can often be caught making excuses for it by claiming that….. wait for it….. “I am a food-writer”! Ha!

With an entire town brimming with amazing dining options - it was a really really hard to narrow down my list of must-eats in a span of 2 days! I decided to focus on chef Jose Andrés (who sadly owns no restaurants in NYC - thereby making it hard to get a taste of his legendary culinary skills). Jose Andrés, in my opinion, is part of the holy trinity of super-chefs of our times. I believe, a visit to at least one of his restaurants should be a “must” for any self-respecting foodie. So, there! Decision made! I quickly made reservations for two of Jose Andrés restaurants in Las Vegas: Jaleo and Bazaar Meat (2014 Las Vegas restaurant of the year).

My girlfriends kindly allowed me to chose one more spot for lunch (or maybe I railroaded them … I can’t seem to remember clearly). Bund Shanghai, was my choice - simply because I thought it will add some variety to our weekend and also because I had read somewhere that David Chang LOVES this spot! I was so eager, that I had even taken notes on what David Chang’s recommendations are on this menu.

So how did I like the food in these three places?

Jaleo is more of a traditional Spanish fare. I LOVED the huge Paella making station in the heart of the restaurant. I loved the concept - it was so dramatic and it totally enhanced my dining experience. After all - you eat with your eyes first! More importantly I loved going over periodically to speak to the chef at the Paella station and discussing each step of the complex Paella making process. He gave me some great pointers for when I make Paella at home next time. At Jaleo, even the simplest of dishes - like the Fire Roasted Vegetables - tasted incredibly clean and flavorful. There was a lot of expertise in the execution of the dishes and a deep understanding of the each ingredient. I got a strong sense that this is how Jose Andrés likes to eat his everyday meals. Soulful and flavorful.

In contrast Bazaar Meat was what you would call haute cuisine! More artful in style with highly refined flavors, creative presentations and superior techniques- complete with molecular gastronomy taking center stage at every turn. It was a meal to remember. I will never forget my first taste of Cotton Candy Foie Gras! OMG!!! That one bite of the rich and creamy foie gras enveloped in the gentle sweetness and light crunch of the delicate cloud of cotton candy. Mmm… What a dynamite flavor and texture pairing! Genius! I also loved the table-side beef tartare preparation. Like a “basic instinct” - there was something so inherently pleasurable about being presented with all the top quality ingredients before they went into the dish- which was prepared before our very own eyes!

Perhaps the one dish that truly showcased how Jose Andrés approaches ingredients and brings out the best in them - was the Grilled Octopus. I have never EVER had octopus so creamy and tender on the inside and yet so delicately crunchy on the outside. I can’t believe I just used the word “creamy” to describe an octopus dish - but that’s the truth! It made me fall madly in love! The Ferran Adria Olives were a fascinating study in modern and traditional approaches to food. In two bites you could get a complete understanding what the two styles are all about - as well as what these chefs (Ferran and Jose) are binging to the contemporary dining scene.

Bund Shanghai was a casual restaurant away from the main strip. I tried most of the items on David Chang’s list and have to say that I was not impressed. I think our own Lao Sze Chuan in Milford has far superior flavors.

I know that trying just three restaurants in Las Vegas is like touching the tip of the iceberg. But, Hey! It gives me many good reasons to return.