Day Three: Secret Smore’s, O My!
Author’s Note: OK, these blogs have gotten longer than I meant them to, so I’ll try to keep them shorter from now on. But like, there was just so much we did everyday and so many people contributed to this trip, and we want them to see everything we were able to do because of their generosity and love. But I get it, pictures are easily digestible and that’s why you’re here. Let’s get into it!
For breakfast we once again went to the Primrose, and this time we were feeling in the mood for something sweet. So, Gabby got their Seasonal Brioche French Toast with strawberry creme anglaise and whipped mascarpone. And I got their Waffle and Berries with almond whipped cream. Both were the perfectly saccharine—hitting that sweet spot. My waffle might have been the best waffle I’ve ever had. Although, I don’t often get waffles, so maybe that’s why it’s a top contender in my mind.
After that, we did some more walking around the strip and shopped until it was time for lunch at Momofuku. This turned out to be a very nice lunch—not as stellar as Din Thai Fung, but what could be. The highlights were the Yuzu Lemonade, the Pork Belly Buns, the Mushroom Buns, and the Pork Croquettes. The lowlights were the Shishito Peppers and the Coconut & Pineapple Ice Cream. Now, I will say the ice cream was on the house and was to celebrate our honeymoon. Almost every restaurant we went to offered us something for our honeymoon. Most tried to give us alcohol, but since I don’t drink, some restaurants accommodated for that. Over all, it was a nice meal, and I could see us going back, but wouldn’t rush to it like some of the other restaurants we visited, which says a lot more about those places and less about Momofuku, since the food was good and the service was top notch.
After that we stayed in the Cosmo and looked for their secret speakeasy, The Ski Lodge. We watched a YouTube video that showed it off, and they warned viewers that it can be confusing to find, and they were right. Luckily, we happened upon a man wearing a tux, standing in front of the door. I stopped to just take in the outfit, when Gabby noticed a symbol of a man Skiing on the door. I asked if this was the Ski Lodge and he said, “Why, yes it is. Follow me.” He whisked us into a purple room with many doors and escorted us into another room that led to the Ski Lodge proper. This place was amazing! The whole place was cozy and a bitchin’ party at the same time. The vibe was that of an 80’s ski comedy, so the servers/bartenders wore vibrant 80’s tracksuits, fit with fanny packs, there were killer 80’s tunes playing the entire time, and they had an Arnold movie playing on a TV/VHS combo that sat on the bar. All around us were sticker after sticker and dollar bill after dollar bill, all signed with a note. This place was truly special, and worth the hassle to find. I will one hundred percent come back here if I can. For drinks, I got a mocktail (can’t remember the name, but they all had names that referred to 80s action movies/action stars) and Gabby got a hard cider that she loved. For food, we roasted homemade S’more’s right at our table. Best S’more ever. I’ve been saying that things were special a lot lately, but they all had been, and this was no exception. I once again wanted to spend hours in this place, but we had a schedule to keep, and both of us wanted to do more window shopping, followed by a quick rest before dinner. And so we shuffled along to the upbeat rhythm of 80’s tunes easing slowly into the distance.
For dinner we went to Harvest, located in The Bellagio, which was also where O, the Cirque Du Soleil show, was located. Now, there are several fine dining options at The Bellagio and we had a tough time picking a place. We almost went with Spago, the Wolfgang Puck flagship restaurant, but opted for Harvest instead because the menu looked simple, clean, and healthy, and we knew after eating a lot of rich foods, we would want something lighter. Well, in one sense, this was the perfect choice, because Gabby felt nauseous and the smells of this restaurant didn’t bother her. They also let you take your time there, and there’s plenty of space between each course, so we could just sip our drinks, talk, and Gabby could rejuvenate from her cool Vichyssoise. The entire meal, Gabby kept picking up and smelling the rose placed on our table as a congratulations on our marriage, and that too was helping her heal.
For an appetizer we got the Bone Marrow since neither of us had tried it before, and it was…fine. Very greasy and not as flavorful as we’d heard it was. It didn’t help that most of the flavor was hidden under the chimichurri topping, giving it more of an herby flavor than a savory one we had expected. We still want to try it again somewhere else in case we just didn’t like how Harvest had prepared it, but it’s not something we’ll seek out. For my main, I got the Grilled Half Chicken, and for my side I chose the Farmers Market Vegetables. The chicken was incredible. Some of the best, if not the best, chicken breast I’ve ever had. It was as juicy as a chicken thigh, and the sauce under it had a delightful kick to it that only enhanced the flavor of the chicken. The vegetables, on the other hand, were a giant miss. It was a medley of mostly cauliflower, which I usually hate. We had hoped the vegetables would be carrots, green beans, and or snow peas since that’s what we saw online and I think on their menu. There was one lone carrot and one lone snow pea and both were fantastic, but that was it. The rest really wasn’t good and neither of us liked the sauce they were in. This was our third strike out on vegetables for the trip. I guess that’s what we get for wanting to be somewhat healthy in a city lauded for gluttonous indulgence.
The dessert was a peach cobbler with ice cream and that was nice—not stellar, but nice. So, overall the food was a mixed bag, but what made Harvest stand out to us were the vibes. Gabby and I were able to take our time, eat, and talk in peace for an hour and a half. It was delightful. We held hands, and talked about how the trip was going, what was fun, and what we hoped would stand out in the coming days. While Harvest didn’t become a surprise hit, it was still comforting in that moment, and I would recommend someone go if they want a very relaxing fine dining experience. Just maybe order different apps and sides than us.
On to the show, O. This was by far the best show of the trip, and one of the best things period. We had heard O be described as “that one water show”, and wow, what an over simplification of a breathtaking experience. I wish I could remember everything we saw, but there was just so much to take in that it was overwhelming, but in a good way. The theater itself was impressive, holding a stage capable of transforming between a normal walkway and a full-depth pool—at least 12 feet down, if not more. This is so much more than just the water show, or a show about water, what they were able to do in a theater was insane. The diving, the acrobatics, the feats of strength and skill, and the fire stunts were all mesmerizing. And that’s saying nothing of the live music that added depth to everything vying for our attention. The show is designed in a way that you could focus on one point of the stage and see something spectacular, so no matter where you looked, you saw the show, but not all of it. Gabby and I want to go back and see it again (or maybe another two times) to see what new experience we gain from it. When it came time to picking a Cirque Du Soleil show we really just picked one at random, and I’m so glad we chose O, because I truly don’t know how any of the other shows can compete with it. But, Gabby and I do plan on going back at some point and seeing all of them to be our own judge. And regardless, we’d love to support all the talented cast, musicians, and crew involved in such breathtaking circus performances.
When the show was over, we took a cab back home and had a delightful ride talking with our very nice driver, who gave us several restaurant recommendations and who loved our idea of coming to Vegas for food. Another day down and I truly don’t know how the next day could top it.
