Vegas Vacation Day 3

So much I still wanted to do on our last day. We had booked appointments at the spa, and I was a little nervous. No clue what a Vichy Shower treatment was but how bad could it be? It was hours later that I realized what I would be wearing.

First stop was the pool, welcome after months of cold Philly weather. Armed with new bathing suits, we took full advantage of some sunny poolside relaxation before heading to the spa. It doesn't take much to make me happy, and the big fluffy robe did the trick. I think the showers were the size of my apartment with enough water pressure to clean an elephant.

So the shower treatment was "interesting." First I was massaged all over with a delicious salt scrub which was the best part. Wasn't sure what to do when she left me alone with some scrub to get the parts she "didn't get to." Yikes. Then came 7 rotating shower heads swung over me as I relaxed and thought happy thoughts of winning at blackjack later.

While not exactly gourmet or vegetarian friendly, a ridiculous buffet was on my list of must do activities. I have to say I was morbidly curious and it just seemed like the epitome of excess and self indulgence that defines Vegas. The buffet at the Rio was highly recommended and apparently the largest buffet in town. The coupon provided by our hotel sealed the deal, so we hopped a shuttle over to the Rio. Like everything in Vegas, it thankfully lived up to my expectations. I don't think I've ever seen so much food in my life.

Now I know what you're thinking. It's our last day and I've made very little mentioning of gambling. Me and gambling is a funny story- just ask Betty and Sam. All I can tell you is that yes I played some blackjack before I left. I'll spare you the details, but Bamm-Bamm did quite well.

Hard to believe I fit it all in, and on a budget no less. I survived unscathed, came back with some great stories, and learned some important lessons. (Lesson #1: I think I need to get out more.)

Guest Blogger Betty Presents:

Betty’s Bargains!!! (Finally…)

I am sure that we are all glad that Wilma is back. Her adventures in Vegas with Bamm-Bamm have been exciting and entertaining. Given the title of this blog, I am sure that none of us were surprised a burger made it into the blog. But I am surprised there is little mention of gambling…..

But back to the blog business at hand: bargains.
In this segment, I hope you will learn how to shop on a budget, looks for deals, limit wasting food. In this first installment, I wanted to talk about what to do with produce that has been in your fridge for awhile.

One of the first things I do before I go to the grocery store (or "Market" as it is referred to in Philadelphia), farmer’s market, Reading Terminal, or etc, I make a list of what I need. This way I have a point of reference in which I can return when I get excited by the yummy foods in the aisle. With that being said, I always make sure to look at the weekly circulars if I am shopping at the grocery store. This helps you achieve two goals: one, you will get used to buying the majority of your food products on sale; two, you will learn price ranges and in turn you will know what is a good deal or not.

The next tip I would share with you is that make sure you have flexibility in your list. Whether you make a food list as time goes by or before a trip, make sure you save room for “fun” or something you forgot to write down. This way going grocery shopping does not become monotonous. Now don’t get too excited. This tip needs be used within reason. Remember, you do have a focus!

Lastly, create a weekly budget. It may take a couple of trips to the grocery to figure out what is reasonable. But your budget should include eating out and cooking at home. This should not include things like happy hours or eating at a nice restaurant. However, if you like to buy your lunch during the week, that would be a part of your budget. If you are single, you should be able to budget $200-250 a month for food. That breaks down to $50-62.50 a month.

Next time on Betty’s Bargains: Will Betty Break the Bank or Bank Some Bargains at a grocery store?

Vegas Vacation Day 2

Slept in on Saturday and decided to get burgers in the hotel next door. Last time I had a burger: a year ago on my birthday. Guess it's a tradition! It was possibly more delicious than it looks. (I did, for the record, ask about the veggie burger. The answer was "haven't had any complaints.")

We explored the side of the strip we hadn't done the night before. After walking through the Venetian, Bamm-Bamm wanted to go back to do something I would never consider doing: audition for.... Wheel of Fortune? When in Vegas I suppose. It was amusing, and there's a chance Bamm-Bamm could make it to the final auditions. If she makes it, I'm definitely going back.

We made it to our show (The Ultimate Variety Show) just in time, and as promised had seats pretty much on the stage. Definitely a bang for your buck- I think there were like 7 different acts. While I would like to see Cirque du Soleil or Blue Man Group at some point in my life, this show was definitely a good choice. It's something so quintessentially Vegas and a little bit of everything- comedians, acrobats, aerial artists, jugglers etc. We even got a free autographed photo. I would highly recommend this show if it's your first time and you're on a budget!

Afterwards we weren't looking for anything in particular, just enjoying our last night. We had to see the Mirage volcano and even waited an hour to get a good spot. Not as good as the Bellagio (I think I watched that about 5 times) but definitely awesome and exciting.

Ceaser's Palace was next, and my favorite casino that we went to. Beautiful and classy, this was a place for high rollers. (Or a casual observer who has never gambled before in her life?) $1000+ tables, guys from Texas with cowboy hats and cigars... I was hoping some of the glamour, excitement and maybe luck would rub off.

Unfortunately it didn't, as I limped around in my fabulous but impossible to walk in boots in search of some cheap blackjack. I guess Saturday night isn't the best time to find those elusive $5 tables.

Well you win some you lose some, especially in Vegas!

Vegas Vacation Day 1

So arrived Friday afternoon and Bamm-Bamm was already there. Everything worked out smoothly (thanks again Travelocity) and we got to our hotel. Couldn't believe what a great location it was, right near all the things I wanted to see. Luckily, they gave us 2 beds and our room was huge.

The only bad meal of our trip was the first one. Starving, we sat down at the Tequila Bar in the lobby. The only upside is that I immediately knew it wasn't the place to splurge on a steak or a burger so I ended up with the veggie sandwich. Anwyays, anxious to see the sights we got dolled up and headed out.

Vegas was everything that I imagined it to be. Colorful, exciting, energetic, almost surreal. One part tacky and neon pink (the Flamingo) and one part class and sophistication (Ceaser's Palace), it was almost overwhelming trying to take it all in. We walked down the strip stopping at the big hotels which all seemed pretty similar to me. Seeing the Bellagio fountains that night was definitely the highlight of my trip.

We ended up at an outdoor bar overlooking the strip at Planet Hollywood. Perfect for people watching and just soaking up the atmosphere. We met some friendly locals, as well as a very enthusiastic group of Ricky Hatton fans from England. So mission accomplished for Day 1.

Ballys, Buffet, Burgers, and Blackjack

Just started to come out of my jetlagged funk so I want to write while it's still fresh in my mind, although I'm not sure where to start. I can't believe we managed to do everything that I wanted to do in a weekend. The highlights:

1. See the Bellagio fountains at night.

2. Eat a burger.

3. Eat at a fantastically over the top buffet.

4. Get a spa treatment.

5. Play some blackjack.

6. See a show.

In true Wilma style there were plenty of foolish stories and misadventures galore. Logistically, I still can't believe how well it worked out. If you're going to Vegas 1. Stay at Bally's and 2. Use travelocity.

We could not have been in a better location. Smack dab in the middle of all the action so we walked everywhere and it wasn't as pricey as nearby Bellagio, Ceaser's Palace or the Mirage. The room was nice and big and the pool/spa was awesome.

Travelocity is a "G" as Betty would say. They hooked me up with a free round trip shuttle from the airport, a $30 hotel credit, and a discount/VIP seating at the show we picked.

I have to say, this was one of the best birthdays I've ever had. Seeing the fountain show at the Bellagio made me feel like a kid at Disney World for the first time. But with hookers.

Guest Blogger Betty Presents:

While the cat's away, this mice will play...

While Wilma is on her trip, I thought I might take this time to do something she may or may not agree with....review a steakhouse (lol).

Barney and I made the trek out to KoP to enjoy a romantic steak dinner. Morton's had come highly recommended from a colleague and I always wanted to try it out. We made reservations (which I suggest) and made sure our attire was dressy causual.

For those of you who are not familar with Morton's I want to let you know that it is NOT vegan or vegetarian friendly. Even though the name should suggest that you already know that, I want to make clear that my entry does not review vegetarian options (Although I will note that if you are a flexitarian, the seafood options are DELICIOUS).

The ombiance did not render it appropiate to take pictures (low lights and upscale dining), hence there are none of our dishes but I will do my best to describe the experience.

When you first walk in, you are seated by a Matre Dee and no menus. This is because your server will perform a tableside demonstration including your choices of appietizers, entrees, and side dishes. After the thorough yet concise explaination, you are great with a menu that come on a long sheet of paper. Be prepared to spend at least $75-100 per person if you want a full 3 course meal (this is excluding your drink choices). But it is worth the money.

We ordered a Petit Syrah from Napa Valley that was priced at $60. As you can imagine there wine list is a book of wines with prices ranging from $50 up to $500. Make sure to factor this into your budget if you are a wine drinker. If not, they have their own signature drinks and cocktails from which you can choose. Barney had a crabcake appietizer while I enjoyed the lobster bisque. I highly recommend both. The crabcake has only a slight amount of breading and a ton of jumbo lump crabmeat. It is served with a lemon wedge and a tangy tartar sauce. My lobster bisque tasted like I was drink a lobster and the hunk of lobster tail garnished the dish.

From the 7-8 cuts of steak we had to choose from our presentation, I decided to go with the double-cut filet mignon and Barney got the NY strip. While disappointed there were no potatoes au gratin, we opted to share a massive baked potato and sauteed green beans. The food came out and smelled heavenly. However, there was a problem. I cut into my filet and could see that it was not cooked how I requested. Barney cut into his and it looked like the cow was still moving. It seems someone switch our cooking preferences. We flagged down our server and showed her the problem as we ate our sides. We were hungry! She assured us that the kitchen would cook us new steaks to our preferences. She also noted she would bring out hot, new side dishes and all would be done in a timely fashion.

She was absolutely right. Our food was out in a matter of minutes. I hardly got to finish a sip of wine. The manager had us cut into our steaks and mine was perfect. Barney's was not. And at this point we were not happy. Barney was willing to eat what was brought out but our server, the manager, and I were not going to let that happen. Although Barney's steak was delivered in the upscaled manner Morton's is known for, the staff took care of it quickly and graticiously. Barney did not let this one fluke affect his opnion. He wants to go again so that he can have the real Morton's experience.

Here are my ratings:

Atmostsphere: excellent
Service: fabulous
Food: normally exqusite (this time average, if that)
Will visit again: ABSOLUTELY

Visit their website for more information http://www.mortons.com/

Best,

Betty

Guest Blogger Betty Presents:

Anyone for a movie?

Well it has been a “fun” four days of eating vegan for Wilma and I, but now it is time to get cheese, milk, and meat back into my system. I hope you all have enjoyed the experiment; and, I hope that you will try your own vegan experiments with the recipes provided. Knowing Wilma, this will not be the last food experiment we will be hearing about.

I was flipping channels the other day when I stopped on a movie review segment. Anyone who watches cooking shows on public television (guilty!) knows who the legends are: Jacques Peppin, Jacques Torrez, Lidia Bastianich. But the one who stands out among the rest is Julia Child. And now, they have made a movie based on her true story starring one of my favorite actresses, Meryl Streep.

Although it is not due out until August 2009, I figure I could provide you with my thoughts to create some hype around the movie. Julie & Julia is based on two true stories of women who are trying to find their purpose and passions in life. Julie Powell is your typical working professional who decides to create her own blog about cooking. Similar to Julia Child, she has no professional cooking experience. She only has a passion for eating. She decides to cook from Julia Child’s classic “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” over the course of the year in the hopes of gaining some recognition and purpose.

Concurrently, we travel to France and follow Julia Child as she transforms into your everyday food lover into the food personality we have grown to love over the years. Julie & Julia is a movie to inspire us to once again work hard and be determined to get what you want out of life. Check out IMDb.com for more information. Mark your calendars for this showing. While it may be cheesy, I am really looking forward to Meryl Streep’s portrayal of Julia Child. That will make it worth my while.

*Note: synopsis paraphrased from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1135503/plotsummary .