Category: Food

Food reviews and local insider information for places to eat in and around Las Vegas.

Slidin’ Thru – Hittin’ the Hot Streets of Vegas

July 22, 2011

In 2010, I got hooked on the Food Channel’s The Great Food Truck Race which is a reality television show featuring teams of specialty food trucks competing against each other. The show was very engaging as they competed across the United Stated, cooking, driving and selling food to make money. After watching the series I told myself that the food looks like it would taste real good and I would go to one in a heartbeat. Remember, that this is not your run-of-the-mill “roach coach” frequented by construction workers, these are speciality food trucks dishing up highly sophisticated meals with a twist.

A few weeks ago I got the opportunity to go to the Vegas StrEATS Festival, it was held downtown and offered about ten different food trucks. The Festival has been held since March of 2010 and happens on the second Saturday of each month. Many of the trucks use Twitter or their web site to keep everyone posted on their whereabouts. Facebook also enables them to talk to their fans and keep everyone up to date. This was the first time that I tried out the Slidin’ Thru slider truck, they specialize in mini gourmet burgers. The term “slider” usually conjures up the grease laden belly bombers from White Castle from back in the day. Well these aren’t your dad’s sliders, these are mini bites of flavor with ingredients like grilled eggplant, Roma tomatoes, arugula, caramelized jalapeño, feta and balsamic reduction.

Slidin' Thru Food Truck

I recently had a second chance to sample most of the slider combinations they offer. I had the Pep Pep, Captian’s Order, and the Pulled Porky, the time before was the YaYa and the Barby. So I have covered all of them except the Carprese (next time). I will give you the run down in order of my favorites, Pulled Porky was the best, follow by the Barby, Pep Pep, Yaya, and Captian’s Order. All of the burgers were fully loaded and had a lot to offer. The Porky was stuffed with pulled pork which contrasted with the spiciness of the caramelized jalapeños and the sweetness of the BBQ sauce and I needed a fork to gather up the spilled bits of goodness, nothing to waste. The Fries both regular and sweet potato fries really surprised me with how good they are coming out a food truck. The burgers were cooked to perfection and prepared with detail in mind. This actually seems to be one of their down falls, the waiting time. If you are in a hurry and there is a long line, be prepared to wait a while.

The colorful Slidin’ Thru truck is wrapped in a comic book style motif and can’t be missed. The Mexi-Cokes and Sprite drinks are all served in old school glass bottles and need to be opened with a bottle opener. The prices are good, $7 will buy you 3 sliders in any combination, and at 3 you will be full.

They currently have a sit down restaurant located at 955 Grier Drive near Sunset and Paradise, phone 702-220-3888 slidinthru.com

Hours are: MON-THU (10:30 AM – 12 AM) and FRI-SUN (OPEN 24/7)

They also tell us that they have two more stores opening soon on the northwest and southwest end of town.

From left: Pep Pep, Captain's Order and Pulled Porky

Slidin' Thru Comic Book Motif

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Create – Gourmet Burgers & Frozen Custard

July 17, 2011

A great burger place has set up shop in my neighborhood, featuring gourmet burgers and frozen custard. With is neon green trim, the fast-causal burger joint’s main feature is their burgers. On the menu is a variety of burgers options: certified Angus beef burgers, turkey burgers, and for the vegetarian there is the Portobello mushroom and something called the “Abstract” meatless burgers. The beef burgers come in a few sizes: Mini(2.5 oz.), Modest (1/4 lb.), Majestic (1/3 lb.) and the Monarch (1/2 lb.). Pick your bun, choose from: lettuce wrap, wheat, Kaiser, or my favorite King’s Hawaiian bread. They offer a selection of cheeses and there are over 20 toppings to choose from, like jalapenos, chopped egg and grilled pineapple along with the basic ones, tomato, onion and pickles. Additional premium toppings can be added, sauteed mushrooms, bacon and fresh guacamole to mention a few. Then come the sauces, lots and lots to choose from: chipotle mayo, blue cheese, basil pesto mayo, balsamic vinaigrette and don’t forget Create’s own “The Sauce”, and the list goes on.

1/2 lb. Modernist on a Hawaiian bun, with a side of fresh-cut fries and a drink.

This place is great for the whole family, everyone can make their own “Creation”, from a simple basic burger to a gourmet masterpiece. You are not forced into a cookie-cutter size burger and there are endless combinations to work with. A few of Create’s own masterpieces are featured on their menu, like the “Modernist” (my favorite) and the “Dali”, all named about and around art concepts. A grilled chicken breast and hot dogs have recently made it on the menu too.

On the sweeter side on things, Create’s own in-house custard is made fresh daily and enjoys the quality found at another Las Vegas sweet spot, Luv-it. With all the standard side toppings, you can build yet another masterpiece, this time frozen. Create not only makes a great burger, but according to the web site, but has an active recycling program too. They do the basic recycling of cardboard, plastic and glass and furthermore composting of all food waste(green waste). Even the straws, plastic cups are actually 100% compostable and are made from corn. Even the flatware and straws are made from sugar cane or corn and can be recycled too.

Create is currently a one of a kind store and offer a great burger too, but according to its creator and owner Lance Graulich, he is looking to expand out his creations across the Las Vegas valley. Stop by this “must eat” burger joint and make your own masterpiece with a side of fries. Create is located at 7290 W Lake Mead Blvd. in Las Vegas at the intersection of Lake Mead and Tenya near Summerlin. Visit their web site at http://eat-at-create.com to check out the full menu.

You can't miss this place with its eye-poping neon trim.

photos by: LasVegas360.com

Got a favorite burger place in Las Vegas? leave a comment.

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A Taste of New York Comes to Las Vegas

July 16, 2011

Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria

When I was growing up in Las Vegas back in the 70’s, when Spring Valley was way out in the sticks of Las Vegas, we’re talking Flamingo and Rainbow area of town, there was one pizza joint called Giovanni’s. This was the go-to pizza for our family, this was prior to the pizza chains like Pizza Hut, Domino’s and Little Caesars. Our family called this place at least once a week for at least a decade for a delivery. When we used to call, the staff knew exactly what we wanted, one large pepperoni, Italian sausage & mushrooms, we didn’t even have to tell them what kind we wanted or where to deliver it, they knew and this was before caller-id. The thing that stood out about their particular pizza was the hand made dough and the homemade sauce they made. The store closed sometime in the 80’s due to the pressure of the large pizza chains.

Forever after I considered Giovanni’s the best pizza and used it as a standard to measure all others. Now, I have tried almost all the different types of pizza offered in Las Vegas; chain stores, mom and pop pizzas, New York, Detroit, Chicago, California and even pizza with duck on it, but they all fell short of my standard. In 2010 a new contender rolled in to town, Grimaldi’s. This is New York style, old school (real old, 100 years+), from under the Brooklyn Bridge, kind of pizza. I never considered myself a thin and crispy New York pie guy, I usually like my pizza a little thicker, but this pizza is what I now call my favorite.

There are a few things going on with their pizza here, starting with the dough. It’s been said that the secret to true New York style pizza is the water. Grimaldi’s hired a chemist to recreate the water used in the Brooklyn pizzeria to make the integrity of the dough taste the same. The pizza is cooked in a coal-fired brick oven at a very hot temperature. The oven gives it a great crispy charred toasted edge and a fabulous flavor to the crust. Yes, it might have some blackened bubbles on it, but that only adds to the flavor. Next, the cheese, this is not the kind of cheese that most places use, this is fresh mozzarella melted in little round pools around the pizza. The pepperoni that they use is a hand made small caliber stick, the kind you would find in a local Italian market, sliced by hand and is decorated around the pizza adding to the overall flavor, not over powering it. This pizza is meant to be eaten right out of the 1000°+ oven. I don’t recommend using Grimaldi’s as a take-out place for pizza, it just does not hold up well, it cools too fast on the trip home.

My favorite pizza is the still the same, pepperoni, Italian sausage and mushrooms.
It took a while for it to get here, all the way from New York, but I now can say that Grimaldi’s is my favorite pizza place in Las Vegas. The ingredients are fresh, the service is great and I’ll try to take anyone there who is looking for a great pizza experience. So take the time, and give Grimaldi’s Pizzeria a try.

Web site: http://www.grimaldispizzeria.com/

Grimaldi's in Las Vegas at Boca Park on the Summerlin side of town.

This is a large pepperoni & Italian sausage

These guys know how to toss a pizza.

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Lee’s Sandwiches

July 13, 2011

Lee’s Sandwiches is known for serving traditional banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches) as well as European style sandwiches on their fresh baguettes and croissants made fresh daily in their restaurant. They also serve an abundant assortment of various types of drinks, smoothies, coffees and desserts.

The restaurant is modern, bright and clean. There are a few inconveniences such as they only accept cash so you cannot use your debit card. However, they do have an ATM available. Also, their drinks have no refills and the largest size is about the size of small Carl’s Jr. cup and costs $2.29 And although the bread they use is made fresh it has a chewy crust that can give your jaw a workout.

If you want to try a banh mi sandwich try the #5 , it is the grilled pork and it is delicious. A mixture of marinated grill pork, fresh vegetables, including a little cilantro and some sliced jalapeno for a splash of heat. All this for a low price of $2.99.

Lee’s Sandwiches is located at:
3989 Spring Mountain Road (702) 331-9999
Near Valley View Drive
Open 24/7

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Food Trucks Invade Downtown: East Fremont

July 10, 2011

Every second Saturday starting at 6pm downtown, off Fremont Street East, there is a street party going on featuring Las Vegas’ high end food trucks called Vegas StrEATS. It is a food festival bringing in upscale food trucks to the downtown area with a very unique blend of food, music and art.

The Vegas StrEATS festival opens at 6 p.m. and runs until 2 a.m. The food is delicious, affordable and there is no admission charge. Vegas StrEATS is held across the street from the El Cortez Hotel Casino on 6th street. The festival is a mix of Vegas locals, eclectic hipsters, artists and a few downtown tourists. It can take 15 minutes or more to get your food because everything is made to order, but it is well worth the wait. Also, there is nowhere to eat your food once you get it. They set up 4 cocktail tables, but that wasn’t enough to support the large crowd and there are no benches or even walls to sit on. You can sit on the curb, which is not comfortable or the easiest place to balance a platter of sliders and fries. There were tents with various vendors selling everything from local art to costume jewelry, a DJ and graffiti artists creating works of art for the crowd.