Botero at Encore Resort in Las Vegas

I know what you’re all thinking – how can I start the New Year with a restaurant review?  Well, perhaps I’m still craving some super-rich, over-the-top food after the holidays since a detox diet hasn’t yet made my resolution list; but maybe I’m just craving some fine food and someone else to cook and serve it to me in a sophisticated and upscale ambiance.  And besides, I’m way overdue with a restaurant review.  So here you have it!

Not so long ago, I introduced you to the memorable SW Steakhouse, so I’ll continue with the Las Vegas theme, and talk about Botero restaurant at Encore Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.  In recent years, Adrian and I have become fascinated with the fine dining offered by the Wynn | Encore Resort.  And Botero is one of those restaurants that shouldn’t be overlooked especially if you’re at the Wynn | Encore Resort. 

First and foremost, the restaurant is named after the world-renowned Colombian artist Fernando Botero, an acclaimed painter and sculptor.  That’s why some of his paintings and sculptures are displayed throughout the restaurant giving the décor an artsy and trendy yet elegant feel.  Second, the ingenious dishes and the combination of flavors that Chef Mark LoRusso creates make Botero restaurant a true gem; not to mention that the restaurant received the AAA Four Diamond Award.

And now, let me tell you about our favorite dishes at Botero:

·         Crudo Tasting

·         Caesar Salad

·         Baby Beet Salad

·         Bone Marrow

·         Soup Tasting

·         Wild Mushrooms

·         Black Truffle Polenta with Chanterelle Mushrooms

·         Branzino

·         Brioche Crusted Rack of Colorado Lamb

·         Botero White Sangria

·         Margarita

We always start our dinner with the Crudo Tasting.   We just can’t skip over this simple yet so light and tasty assortment of fresh fish.  This appetizer offers bite-size lacy slices of fresh tuna (3 pieces), scallop (2 pieces), salmon (2 pieces) and hamachi (2 pieces).  All the pieces of fish are well-seasoned and marinated in shallow pools of sauces and herbs; some sauces are sweet, some are tangy, and some are a tad spicy, just enough to add a nice subtle kick.  So flavorful and perfect for sharing!  

The Caesar Salad is a generous pile of crisp lettuce, crouton chips, shaved Parmesan and light dressing.  But the rolled and fried crispy anchovies on top are the fun element of the dish.  They are such an inventive twist on the dull and flabby anchovies thrown around in the classic Caesar.  Ultimately, the combination of textures in this salad is simply fantastic.    

The Baby Beet Salad with warm goat cheese is another superb dish.  The goat cheese complements the colorful beets while the frisée lettuce lends another pop of color, crispiness and earthiness.  And I should not forget the toasty bread; it’s great either smeared with goat cheese or on its own to balance out the tender beets.         

Coming from Romania, we grew up eating bone marrow and it’s something we simply love.  So, when we see bone marrow on a menu, we have to order it; and the Bone Marrow appetizer at Botero is hands-down splendid.  The presentation is stunning; the crusty bread adds a lovely crunch and the pickled red onions in the little jar cut through the fat and bring that much needed acidity to the whole dish.  When you spoon some marrow on the toasted bread and then stack some delicate onions atop, you get this colorful, well-balanced, perfect bite.  A beautiful and delicious assortment!

On our last visit to Botero, we also tried the Soup Tasting, where you could choose two out of three soup options.  I ordered the cauliflower and baby scallops, and the kabocha squash soup tasting, while Adrian went for the cauliflower and baby scallops, and the white bean duck soup.  Both the cauliflower and baby scallops, and the kabocha squash soups were smooth and creamy with the latter being a bit on the sweet side allowing the squash to shine.  And the white bean duck soup was hearty and insanely delicious and was like eating homemade soup; it felt so homey and comforting.  All soups were well seasoned and came in very generous, almost bowl-size cups. 

One of the things I love the most about Botero is the vast selection of amazing side dishes.  We usually opt for two sides:  the Wild Mushrooms and the Black Truffle Polenta with Chanterelle Mushrooms.  The Wild Mushrooms are so delicate yet plump and firm to the bite, wonderfully prepared and well-seasoned.  But the Black Truffle Polenta with Chanterelle Mushrooms is the star and perhaps the best dish on the dinner table.  It’s rich and light at the same time and scented with the addictive but not overpowering truffle; the dish is topped with a healthy amount of beautiful chanterelle mushrooms, and finished with more shaved black truffles.  So luxurious and unbelievably decadent!  

    

The Branzino – isn’t this the most beautiful fish you have ever seen?  When it arrives to your table, you don’t know whether to admire it all night long or poke its skin and dive right in.  The Branzino comes with perfectly crispy skin and tail and is gently displayed on a bed of piquant, sweet and sour niçoise vegetables reminding me of home pickled vegetables.  Underneath the crispy skin, the fish is perfectly cooked, tender, flaky and so flavorful.  In a word, divine!    

And now, la pièce de résistance: the Brioche Crusted Rack of Colorado Lamb.  This is the best lamb we’ve ever had.  Absolutely phenomenal; tender, juicy and melt-in-your-mouth delicious with a wonderful outside crust.  There’s one thing to keep in mind – the sides that accompany the lamb will vary by season.  We had this dish twice so far and the lamb was accompanied by lamb fettuccine and green onions in the summer and by lamb lasagna and sautéed black leaf kale in the winter.  Both versions were amazing and complimented the lamb very well.  For an extra zing, ask for their chimichurri sauce to shower over the lamb.  

Finally, the drinks:  the Botero White Sangria is sweet and fruity and simply addictive while the Margarita is refreshing, hip and so drinkable.   

The funny thing about our dinners at Botero is that we overindulge and are so full by the end of the meal that we end up skipping dessert.  However, on one of the occasions, we were celebrating our anniversary so the excellent and attentive staff spoiled us with these cute and playful Milk Chocolate Bon Bon Lollipops with vanilla bean ice cream and covered in hazelnut praline.  So good, so sweet and the perfect palate cleanser after a rich and copious meal!  What else can you ask for?

At Botero, you'll experience fine art and fine dining including anything from seafood to steak in a chic environment.  At the end of the night, it will be an unforgettable and entertaining experience.  So Las Vegas! 

Restaurant Information:

Botero

Encore Resort Las Vegas

3121 Las Vegas Blvd. S

Las Vegas, NV 89109

Phone: (702) 770-3463

Botero serves lunch Friday – Sunday 11:00 am – 2:30 pm and dinner nightly starting at 6:00 pm.

http://www.wynnlasvegas.com/Restaurants/FineDining/Botero

SW: The Wynning Steak

Adrian and I have recently returned from a fantastic 4^th of July week in Las Vegas.  Unfortunately, we didn’t become millionaires from gambling.  And that would actually be extremely difficult to do since we don’t gamble.  (The most I ever bet was $5 at a slot machine, when I first traveled to Las Vegas a few years ago, and that was only because I always wanted to pull the handle of a slot machine like I had seen in the movies; I gambled $5 and got out $10; since I had doubled my investment I didn’t want to push my luck, so I happily took my money and never bet again.)  We didn’t gamble but we did bake in consistently excruciating 110°F+ temperatures and we did give in to our gluttonous nature and stuffed ourselves with some spectacular food.  As a result of the intense eating binge, my weight has climbed into a whole new zone…  Quite depressing but nothing unusual after a week in Vegas; hopefully, it will descend back to sea level in no time. 

  

So, let’s talk about food, which, by the way, is the surest bet in Vegas.  More importantly, the Las Vegas food scene has been booming over the past few years.  Numerous celebrity chefs, such as Wolfgang Puck, Mario Batali, Emeril Lagasse, Bobby Flay and Scott Conant to name just a few, have opened restaurants here, and now tourists not only fritter away their money at casinos and shows, but they also explore Sin City’s food selections.  Will the gambling industry in Las Vegas eventually succumb to the food industry?  We’ll have to wait and see.

There is a plethora of superb restaurants in Vegas for every budget, culture, and appetite.  But today, I want to focus on steakhouses.  Specifically, I want to tell you about the SW Steakhouse at Wynn Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.  Contrary to the famous saying that “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”, the wonderful time and meal, which we have always had at SW Steakhouse, are tattooed on my brain and taste buds until we go back again.  We have been to Steve Wynn’s steakhouse (SW comes from Steve Wynn’s initials; apparently he couldn’t think of a better name) about half dozen times, and the experience and food never disappoint.  So, last week on 4^th of July, when Las Vegas was finally savoring the first drops of rain in 68 days, we decided that it was time to savor again the terrific food at SW and celebrate Independence Day in style.

Every time we go to SW I can barely contain my excitement on my way to the restaurant; and when we arrive at the beautiful rotating parasols, descend on the spiraling escalators, and land right in front of the grand entrance at SW I have butterflies in my stomach.  I know that I’ve been there before and I’m familiar with the modern and sleek décor, elegant and welcoming ambiance, and the staff’s impeccable professionalism, but I can’t control myself.  And let’s not omit that the terrace at SW overlooks the whimsical Lake of Dreams, an environment that changes and morphs every half hour, and which transports you to a whole different world while offering an unforgettable experience.  

Here are some of our favorite dishes that we’ve ordered during our several visits to SW Steakhouse: 

   

-          Heirloom Tomato Salad

-          Steve’s Chopped Salad with Avocado

-          Bigeye Tuna Ceviche

-          Corn Soup

-          Chile Rubbed Double Rib Eye

-          Black Truffle Creamed Corn

-          Au Gratin Potatoes

-          Funnel Cakes and Strawberries with Chocolate, Crème Anglaise and Salty Caramel dipping sauces

-          SW Pomegranate Martini

I should first start with the decadent bread basket.  A delightful warm selection of crusty French baguette, soft salty pretzel, and dangerously addictive oven baked bacon and cheddar muffins, which can’t go unnoticed.  Of course this lovely assortment of breads does not come alone, but is accompanied by a delicate square of herbed butter.  To be quite honest, you could easily devour this sophisticated bread basket and leave fully satisfied.  So, when you go to SW make sure you don’t gobble up the entire basket and you do leave some room for the sumptuous courses.  

The vividly colorful Heirloom Tomato Salad is a nice and light way to start your meal.  The red and yellow tomatoes are so fresh and crisp, while the round bite size mozzarella globes are mild and soft.  The sweet and acidic balsamic glaze sharpens and highlights the flavors of the ingredients and brings the entire dish together.  This dainty starter is like a modern version of the traditional caprese salad.

Steve’s Chopped Salad with Avocado is a more generous portion, big enough for two to share as an appetizer.  Besides being a substantial serving, the salad abounds in fresh vegetables, which are harmoniously bound together by the smooth and buttery avocado.  The mustardy vinaigrette adds a kick and magnifies the nuances of the dish, while the messy hair made of crispy potatoes adds great texture and takes the presentation to a new level. 

The Bigeye Tuna Ceviche is another memorable appetizer and great for sharing.  The tuna is so fresh, plump and delicate and just melts in your mouth.  The bits of mango and grapefruit are beautifully dispersed throughout adding color and zing.  And those crackly sesame crackers bring in that much needed crunchy element.  Swirl the crispy sesame crackers in the ceviche and the avocado cream and take a bite.  You’ll instantly want more.  Simply delicious!  

   

We were blown away the first time we tried the Corn Soup.  Being listed under the vegan menu, we were a tiny bit skeptical, but we decided to give it a try.  Even now, I’m drooling just thinking about it.  This soup is so smooth, rich, sweet, piquant, and has a great depth of flavor.  The pepperiness of the cilantro brings an unexpected elegant aroma; the pickled peppers add a kick of astringency to lighten up the soup; and the porcini mushrooms add meatiness.  This dish can be described in just two simple words – vegan perfection!  If this is what vegan tastes like, sign me up.

Now, let’s get down to business and talk about the 42 ounces Chile Rubbed Double Rib Eye.  Where should I begin?  I’ll begin by telling you that this is the most tender and succulent piece of meat my palate has ever been graced with.  The knife cuts the medium rare rib eye steak like butter.  Needless to say, this one melts in your mouth.  In addition, this ginormous portion of steak (big enough for at least three people to devour) comes already sliced floating in a lake of oozing flavorful juices, and surrounded by colorful and dangerously spicy chile peppers and grilled sweet onions.  It’s a gorgeous sight.  The chile rub gives the meat smokiness and a subtle kick of heat without being overwhelming but enough to wake up your taste buds.  Best steak ever, period!

The Black Truffle Creamed Corn.  I can’t rave enough about this side dish.  We always order two, because you know me, I worship corn, and this one I’m not willing to share, not even with my beloved husband.  Sorry, dear!  This scrumptious creamed corn is a perfect balance of sweetness and creaminess, while the truffles bring elegance and earthiness without being overpowering.  This decadent dish simply adds a new texture to the entire meal and elevates the whole experience.  Even if you don’t like corn, you have to try this!  You’ll be seduced at first bite. 

The glossy golden brown top of the Au Gratin Potatoes predicts a hot cheesy velvety middle.  These potatoes are so unctuous, fancy and the perfect starch for the steak.  When we first ordered them, I didn’t even dare to poke them with the spoon; that crust is flawless and they look so beautiful in their little ramekin.  But our appetite and curiosity triumphed and made us give in. These potatoes are a godsend!

Finally, I have to mention the outstanding Funnel Cakes dessert.  You shouldn’t leave SW without having ordered this spectacular sweet treat.  So, as a heads up, leave room for dessert, you won’t regret it!  First of all, the presentation will knock your socks off.  The six or so doughnuts lightly dusted with powdered sugar are hanging on the branches of a metal tree; at the bottom of the tree you have five or so perfectly ripe and amazingly sweet strawberries, and a trio of dipping sauces: Chocolate, Crème Anglaise and Salty Caramel.  The whole presentation is imposing and simply stunning, a very Las Vegas visual.  While eating this dessert I feel like I’m apple picking; but it’s even better since I’m picking doughnuts!  Thank God for doughnuts! There’s a bit of heaven in every bite.  Without the sauces these airy doughnuts are stellar; with the sauces they are orgasmic.  The strawberries top it all off by adding that touch of freshness and lightness to this decadent dessert.  Bottom line, this dessert is in a league of its own!   

  

The perfect accompaniment (in case you haven’t decided to go with a full-bodied red wine) – a frosty, sweet and tart SW Pomegranate Martini.  It’s refreshing and a great palate cleanser.  Not to mention that it’s beautiful looking.  Cheers!    

The best part of SW Steakhouse is that it provides you with an out of this world dining experience with high quality food and service, and entertaining shows on the Lake of Dreams, all so very Las Vegas.  You’re definitely in for a treat!  Oh, and don’t forget to make reservations well in advance!  This restaurant is always packed! 

Restaurant Information:

SW Steakhouse

Wynn Las Vegas

3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S

Las Vegas, NV 89109

Phone: (702) 770-3463

http://www.wynnlasvegas.com/Restaurants/FineDining/SWSteakhouse