Posts Tagged ‘culinary’

 

Chill out in “Prime” Time

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Louie, our butcher extraordinaire (a.k.a. the M Resort Head Butcher), may be the only guy in Vegas to keep his office heated during the summer. That’s because it’s actually located inside the butcher shop here at M and at a chilly 50 degrees, Louie needs only to open his office door a crack to get an arctic breeze. And while Louie does spend time in an office, let us tell you that he is most certainly a butcher first and foremost, and with 57 years of experience as a butcher, boy does he know his stuff. 

meatblogWhen most people think of butcher shops, they think of beef. There’s certainly beef in the butcher shop and lots of it, but the shop here at M handles all things meat and seafood – from steaks and chops to homemade Italian sausage, chicken, fresh fish and even live lobsters. It’s no easy task keeping up with a resort offering so many things gastronomical but Louie and his team are always hard at work to keep the best and freshest offerings on your plate. 

When it comes to beef (and everything else to be sure) here at M, you’re getting the good stuff. You won’t find any “select” grade beef, which is what most major grocery stores carry. While it may be called select, it’s not necessarily something you’d want to select. All the meat at M is graded choice or better (yes, even in the buffet), and while it’s more expensive, Louie tells us that when it comes to meat, you’re certainly getting what you pay for. You’ll also find some very special beef in our steakhouse Terzetto that comes from the Marnell family ranch in Montana – we go through 12,000 lbs. of this prime beef a month! 

We asked Louie for a couple hints and tips we could pass along to you when it comes to selecting your meat and seafood, so here are a few simple things you should know: 

  • When it comes to steaks, look for marbling. You want to see a good amount of fat “marbled” in with the meat as this equals flavor and tenderness. The more marbling, the higher the grade. 
  • If you’re buying fish already filleted, the filet should be solid and firm, not flaking at all or falling apart. 
  • If you’re buying whole fish, the eyes should be clear and bright while the gills should be red. Cloudiness in the eyes or graying of the gills means the fish is past its prime. Good fresh fish also shouldn’t smell “fishy” – it should smell like the water it came from. 

salmonblogThe next time you’re here at M enjoying a steak, some sushi or fried chicken, don’t forget to send Louie and the guys in the butcher shop some happy, and especially warm thoughts!

 
 

A lot o’ gelato

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

gelato2blogOne might be tempted to conclude that gelato is just a fancy Italian way of saying ice cream. Well, there are a few things you should know about gelato that make it different (and oh yes, more enticing) than ice cream. 

Gelato means “frozen” in Italian and despite what many people may think or say, gelato has nothing to do with gelatin. And while gelato is similar to ice cream, you’ll notice some differences when you’re lucky enough to enjoy a taste. Gelato is creamier than ice cream, which is interesting since gelato actually has less cream in it than ice cream. How then, could it possibly be creamier? It has to do with the way in which gelato is made. Gelato is churned at a slower speed than ice cream, resulting in a much denser product because not as much air is whipped into the mixture. (Gelato contains about 25 to 30 percent air, while ice cream can contain as much as 50 percent air which is also known as “overrun.”) 

gelato1blogGelato is also usually stored and served at a slightly warmer temperature than ice cream. Since gelato is not quite completely frozen, you get a singular texture that coats your mouth differently also resulting in that extra creaminess. The really good news? Since there’s less cream in gelato there’s also less fat. Getting a creamier more delectable frozen (well, almost frozen) treat that also has less fat is probably one of the greatest things we’ve ever heard. 

But let’s get down to business. Here at M Resort we make our gelato fresh every day. Several times a day in fact depending on your appetite! gelato4blogWe make approximately 1,500 gallons of gelato every month, which means 700 gallons of milk, 400 gallons of cream, 100 gallons of egg yolk and 1,200 pounds of sugar! Flavors? Lots. There’s of course the traditional chocolate, vanilla and strawberry which are the most popular, but come on folks! There’s a quote that’s attributed to a lot of different people (Former President Jimmy Carter, Will Rodgers, Mark Twain, etc.) that goes something like, “Why not go out on a limb? That’s where all the fruit is.” And when it comes to gelato at M, well it’s not just fruit, but nuts, cookies and even booze! There are 18 different flavors of gelato for you to try and with the summer heat on the way, there’s no better time to come down and get started. You’ll find our delicious gelato in Baby Cakes as well as Studio B Show Kitchen Buffet.

 
 

Veloce Cibo – More than a room with a view

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

VeloceDiningblog

M Resort does indeed have “a room with a view” and it’s called Veloce Cibo. Perched atop the tower, spanning the entire length of the 16th floor, Veloce’s view is not only spectacular, it’s unique. Take a look up and down the Las Vegas Strip and you’ll find property after property staring East or West across the famous boulevard at one of its neighboring competitors, the glare of their marquees proudly invading each other’s hotel rooms. Not here at M – here we’re nestled some 400 feet above the Strip; take an elevator to the significant heights of Veloce and you’re offered a commanding South to North view, those marquees now a twinkling delight for your dining experience. 
 
Veloce_Chilled_Oysters_1blog
It’s not just the view that’s going to entice you however. Veloce combines an extensive menu of appetizers, entrees, sushi, sashimi and nigiri, as well as satisfying desserts, and pairs them with a range of hand-crafted cocktails and specialty drinks at Bar Veloce. Maybe the Chilled Oysters to start, then the Grilled Porterhouse with Tuscan Herbs, garlic and artichokes paired with the Yukon Gold Mash? Finish with something sweet, the Bobolini or Coconut Lollipops. Been to Hostile Grape? Tried the Enomatic wine dispensers? You’ll find more in Veloce and your wine card works here too. 

But there’s even more to Veloce than the view and the great food. The space itself is something to take notice of. Veloce Cibo translates roughly to “velocity of food.” You’ll find dark woods accented with polished metals, reminiscent of those classic wooden motor boats from makers like Chris Craft, Lyman’s and Century – speed, beauty and class personified. The large terracotta louvers offer a taste of something traditional with a dash of something contemporary. 

You won’t find one dining room here. Veloce offers a terrace and bar at one end, which flows into another room with a sushi bar, into another dining room with private booths and open tables, the next room with another bar and on. Your surroundings are such an integral part of the dining experience – Veloce offers choice and variety, though each environment is complimented with that view and yes please, that food. 

Still not enough to get you up there? Okay – how about sushi or dim sum for two, just $10 Sun-Thurs? Believe us, this “room with a view” is definitely worth the trip.

 
 

When You’re Here – It’s All About Our Food

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

To say that food is important to the M Resort is an understatement. We have nearly 30,000 square feet of kitchen and culinary work areas dedicated to the culinary arts. We have our own reserve list of Marnell family beef at Terzetto, our steak and seafood restaurant and a bounty of live fish arrive daily and are housed in our ocean of tanks within our main kitchen. In addition to our fresh food, we also have our very own wine created from grapes from the Marnell family vineyard. We even have homemade gelato and artisan breads.

Our love of food though isn’t anything new. If you aren’t familiar, the Marnell family is credited with bringing many unique culinary innovations to the Las Vegas market while owning and operating the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino from 1992 to 2001. Many of the innovations are still widely used today. Below is a sample of some:

First in Las Vegas to host James Beard Out-of-House Events, which included the most recognized American celebrity chefs. It was the catalyst in attracting the late Jean-Louis Palladin, who eventually made the Napa Restaurant his home.
First in Las Vegas to introduce programs that exemplified an unsurpassed dedication to food.
First full seafood buffet in Las Vegas.  
First in Las Vegas to sell specialty foods made on premise.
First to establish roof restaurants and lounges in Las Vegas.
First to have a master sommelier on staff in Las Vegas.
First to have own charcuterie on premises in Las Vegas.
First to open the largest wine cellar and tasting to the public.

If you’ve eaten at our restaurants, let us know your favorite meal. If you haven’t eaten here, what are you waiting for? 

Here’s a sample of some of our favorite dishes.

Osso Bucco, mushroom risotto & roasted vegetables @ Marinelli’s
Maryland Lump Crab Cakes, mustard remoulade & lemon @ Terzetto
Banana Gelato and Vanilla Bean Gelato @ Baby Cakes
Surf ‘N Turf Roll, spicy tuna, kobe beef, sushi rice, nor seaweed @ Veloce Cibo
Tiramisu, mascarpone cream & coffee lady fingers @ Marinelli’s
Flan @ Baby Cakes
Filet Mignon w/ Bearnaise Sauce @ Terzetto
Tomahawk Ribeye @ Terzetto
Chicken Lettuce Wraps, spiced chicken, peanuts, green onion & water chestnuts @ Veloce Cibo