A July of Lobster

What can I say?

I love lobster, particularly lobster from New England. I didn't always love lobster. As a kid growing up in Massachusetts, there were certain times during the summer that lobster would be abundant and my parents would rush to the supermarket to buy lobster when it went on sale at ridiculously low prices...69 cents a pound is stuck in my memory.

In those days, they'd buy the lobsters live, drop them in a large pot of boiling water, head first (because, as my father pointed out, if you put them in tail first, they would jump out of the pot), and cook them until their color went from black to bright red. Then, they'd sit down at the table and methodically tear their lobsters apart and pick out every morsel of goodness.

To me, this was simply disgusting and I didn't even want to take a taste.

Fast forward about 20 years when my sister married a man from Maine and moved there.  One Sunday, after spending a day in Maine, on our drive back to Boston, I suggested to Jim that, just for the fun of it, we stop for dinner at one of the many Lobster in Rough places along the road.  At such roadside restaurants, you were served your boiled lobster on a wooden picnic table covered with newspaper. You had a nutcracker to crack the shells, your fingers, and maybe a lobster fork and you went at it.

On that fateful Sunday, my life turned around...From years of watching my parents eat lobster, I knew exactly how to "attack" a boiled lobster.  And, surprise of surprises, I LOVED the lobster.  Of course, by this time, lobster had become something of a delicacy and was never on sale for 69 cents a pound.

Since that day, many a year ago, I indulge in lobster only for special occasions and when some of my favorite restaurants have special lobster meals.

This month, July, I managed to enjoy 4 meals that featured lobster.


It started in early July when Il Fornaio's monthly regional menu, which featured the foods of Sicily, included half a lobster on spaghetti.  Of course, I was there to enjoy it.


Then, for my birthday, Dixie and Mary Ann took me to Yankee Pier for a lobster roll lunch. Yankee Pier always has the lobster roll on its menu and they make the lobster salad fresh from lobsters that they boil each day.  We all had lobster rolls at this lunch.  And, I think it was my best lobster meal of July...even their chips and cole slaw, which accompany the lobster roll, are better than those anywhere else that I know.



In mid-July, Jim and I headed to Las Vegas for a 4-day celebration of my birthday.  Each summer (through August 31), The Palm, who have one of their restaurants in Caesar's Palace, offers a lobster dinner for two for $79.95.  The Palm is known for its large lobsters (the smallest they serve weighs 3 pounds).  Their summer lobster dinner for two includes two appetizers and a 4-pound lobster to share, along with two side dishes of your choice.  As soon as I could, I reserved for the lobster dinner for two.




Our appetizer choices were Caesar Salad for Jim and Watermelon and Mozzarella Salad for me.



Sorry that this half lobster looks so pathetic...I had already eaten most of it when I realized I'd forgotten to take a picture.



Our shared sides were Fried Asparagus and Sauteed Mushrooms.


Three days before we headed to Las Vegas, I got an email from The Palm, announcing that Monday, July 15, the day we had our dinner reservation, was a special lobster day. All day long, in the bar, lobster sliders were being offered at $1 each and, in the dining room, a 3-pound lobster was going to be $45. At first, I panicked, fearing that they would sell out of lobster before we got there for dinner...The Palm is also known for its steaks, but I don't eat steak.  I called them to see if they would "save" a lobster for us and was assured that there would be plenty for us.

Once in Las Vegas, on Monday, July 15, after spending the morning at the pool at our hotel, I told Jim that I wanted to go have lobster sliders for lunch at The Palm.

So, off we went, got ourselves seated at the bar, ordered an iced tea for me and a Coke for him, and ordered 4 lobster sliders for our lunch.  Yum!!! Each slider was on a tasty mini bun and was filled with a delicious lobster salad, a slice of pickle, and a piece of lettuce.  Bar patrons could order as many lobster sliders as they wanted, all with just one drink. The two men sitting next to us, each had a beer and ate a dozen (!!!) sliders between them.

Nothing wrong with two lobster meals in one day; I'd do it again, if the chance presented itself.

And, as if by coincidence, at the Bellagio Hotel's Botanical Garden, part of the July floral theme included a working model of a New England lighthouse...just like I remember from my summers on Cape Cod.

Wrapping up Las Vegas

Our last evening in Las Vegas was our most memorable.

We first had an early dinner at the Carnegie Deli in the Mirage.

Remembering the last time we ate at the Carnegie Deli, we knew that their sandwiches are larger than most "normal" people can consume. We ordered just a simple Corned Beef on Rye (not one of their fancy combination sandwiches) and willingly paid the extra $3 to share it.



But, we still wound up with more food than we could eat. We wanted at least one side dish and asked our server how big the portions were. She said that the sides are served in the same size dish as the one in which the complementary pickles are served. Looking at the reasonably-sized pickle dish on the table, we decided to order two sides: Potato Salad and Cole Slaw. Surprise! The sides may be served in the smallish dish, but the serving is piled dangerously high vertically in those dishes!



After our meal, I wanted something sweet for dessert. I thought I was "safe" ordering a Chocolate Chip cookie, but, again, another surprise...the order of Chocolate Chip cookies includes two of the biggest cookies I've ever seen. Jim and I managed to eat most of one and took the second one home to California with us.



After dinner, we went to see "Love," the Cirque du Soleil show about the Beatles that is playing permanently at the Mirage. The figure in the front is me, trying to be part of the wall outside of the theatre.



I've seen many Cirque du Soleil performances, both the traveling shows that come to San Francisco every two years and another of the Cirque's permanent shows in Las Vegas. "Love" is the best of the best...fast paced, lively, clever!! I was so hyped up from the energy of the show, it took me a long time to calm down enough to fall asleep that night.

After breakfast at the Bellagio buffet, we spent most of our last morning, wandering around City Center.



The following photos are the best way to get an impression of what City Center is all about...it's a huge complex of hotels, shops, restaurants.



The architecture is confusing and striking. Some of the hotels are the Aria, Vdara, Cosmopolitan, and the Mandarin Oriental. The yellow buildings are the Veer, which are condos to purchase and/or apartments to rent.





Our favorite hotel in City Center is the Mandarin Oriental. It's lobby is on its 23rd floor and has this fabulous view.



For me, the most interesting part of City Center is the public art by famous artists.



And, one last photo of the Jean Philippe Patisserie in the Bellagio. Colored marshmallows are what cover this train in the middle.

Last Full Day in Las Vegas

To back track to last night, we had dinner at The Palm in Caesar's.

This was my choice for my birthday dinner. The Palm is known for its steaks and enormous lobsters. The smallest lobster they serve weighs 3 pounds. I can eat one myself!

To our delight, they have a summer lobster special at all their restaurants: A 4-pound lobster dinner for two, with two salads and two side dishes for $95.

We went for it, starting with Caesar salads.

They split the lobster in half and serve the sides family style. We had mushrooms and spinach for our sides.

Great meal and fun ambiance and, a real treat to eat so much lobster in one seating.

Today we took the Bellagio tram to the Monte Carlo and then walked from there to the MGM. It's been awhile since we were last in the MGM and last week on "Undercover Boss" the boss was the MGM's CEO.

We stopped to see the Lion Habitat.

And then went over to the Arena where the big fights and other big shows is held. When Jimmy Buffett is in town, this is where he performs. The Arena seats over 15,000!

In October, Jimmy Buffett will fill the Arena for two shows.

We cooled off back at the Bellagio with drinks from Jean Philippe Patisserie.

This train at Jean Philippe is covered in marshmallows.

Keeping Cool in Hot Las Vegas

Determined to stay cooler than I was here yesterday, I spent most of this morning in Las Vegas swimming and relaxing by the Bellagio pool. There are two big pools and several smaller ones, as well as many jacuzzi hot tubs...something for every water lover.

First thing in the morning is the time to swim laps. As the day goes on, one has to compete with kids playing, bathing beauties floating on rafts while sipping umbrella drinks, and groups of guys bragging and drinking. Not that there is anything wrong with it...what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, as they say.

The weather Gods were with us today too and it cooled a tiny bit. The temperature never rose over 100 degrees.

As promised in my last post, here are scenes from dinner at Mon Ami Gabi last night.

Mussels for Jim and Skate for moi. We were seated by the open patio, enjoying the view of the Bellagio across the street. We saw several dancing waters shows but could not hear the music across the busy Strip, Las Vegas Boulevard.

After dinner, we watched the dancing waters from our side and took in the views of Paris from the other side of the Strip.

So today was much slower paced than our last several days but we still wound up walking a lot.

As is our Las Vegas tradition, we have at least one lunch at Margaritaville

My Cheeseburger in Paradise could not have been better.

We then spent most of the afternoon wandering around some of the hotels.

We stopped at The Venetian and came upon one of their pop up operatic shows.

We then got lost in Caesar's Forum Shops and could not find our way out. Caesar's is so huge, we always get lost there. I expect this is by design. They want you there gambling, shopping, eating, and drinking.

At least we think we can find our way back there later for dinner at The Palm.

Travel Transition Day

Today was the day that we transitioned from the natural canyons of Zion to the artificial " canyons" of Las Vegas.

We did one last hike to the lower Emerald Pool before leaving the park. As we hiked, we had waterfalls dripping down on plant-filled rock walls on one side and a deep canyon with a pool of water on the other. Very dramatic..

And, as we were moving out of our room, the local wildlife bid us adieu!

171 miles later, we were in Las Vegas at our new home, The Bellagio. As I write this in the evening, the temperature outdoors is 100 degrees.

This afternoon, to stay comfortable, we stayed mostly indoors.

The floral display in the Bellagio's conservatory is their Fourth of July exhibit. This year it has a carnival theme.

After exploring the Bellagio's lobby and losing a little money at the slot machines, we took the free tram over to the Aria hotel and Crystals shopping center in the new City Center. The City Center's public art is amazing and includes a real Henry Moore sculpture.

The architecture is a bit confusing...a modern array of asymmetric forms.

We also took a look at the new Vdara hotel which has a Frank Stella over its reception area and which has no casino at all. It's a big hotel but the lobby feels cozy.

Tomorrow, we have some time at our pools in mind as well as more exploring in City Center.

Also, I'll report on tonight's dinner ar Mon Ami Gabi in the Paris, my favorite Las Vegas restaurant.