LAS VEGAS - Mon Ami Gabi

It was a chaotic morning with the time difference and just the chaotic-ness of family. You would think a 10am breakfast reservation would be doable especially since we called it a night after a quick stop at CVS post-dinner yesterday but you thought wrong!

I also thought Germans had a reputation for punctuality but it seems that skipped my family as well. Though I was up at 6am and the alarms were going off at 8am, this group of four girls did in fact, not make it to our reservation at 10am. Luckily, we weren’t SO late that they gave our table away so we did get to eat at Mon Ami Gabi.

LOCATION: PARIS HOTEL & CASINO

3655 S. LAS VEGAS BLVD., LAS VEGAS, NV

We’re kind of going family style today! (My pick) Ham & Cheese Buckwheat Crêpe (with eggs and date-glazed bacon), Smoked Salmon Platter (with toasted brioche, crème fraîche, capers, chive, and egg), Corned Beef Hash (with pached eggs, roasted peppers/tomatoes, and yukon gold potatoes), and French Toast (with blueberry syrup and whipped cream) all hit the table at once! These plates were a hearty amount of food and the restaurant was super cute. We got a really nice seat on an open patio though the tables were jam packed together so it was a little trick to maneuver around.

My crêpe order was alright, nothing super special but not bad either. I’m not a breakfast sweets person or a smoked salmon person as much as I would like to be so I mainly stuck with the crêpe and the corned beef hash. Overall, a very filling and cute breakfast. It’s honestly hard to mess up breakfast though it’s also difficult to be mind blowing as well. It’s a little sad to start off the trip with some very average dining experiences for a city that’s supposed to be pretty prime - especially at Vegas prices but at least we haven’t hit any duds yet either.

LAS VEGAS - GIADA

We’ve finally made it! It’s cousin Lisa’s 21st Birthday Vegas trip and we’ve (mostly) touched down! We’ll slowly gain some members of the group as the days move forward with differing travel plans for everyone but that’s okay. I’ve met up with the German group, we’ve gotten to our hotel, and we’re ready to eat and explore! After we landed, there was just enough time to collect our luggage, check into the Hotel, get ready for dinner, and hustle on over for our first meal.

First meal -

LOCATION: The Cromwell - A Caesars Rewards Destination

3595 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89109

Credit where credit it due, my cousin Quyen is the mastermind behind most of these reservations. A little joint google doc to help narrow down the interests of 7 people in 1 city for a little under a week and some flexibility means we’re all getting some things crossed off our lists collectively. Majority rules and we’ve landed at Giada!

I have no idea who voted for this restaurant but I’m not against Italian food and Giada De Laurentiis is fun enough on TV that I’ve got no complaints. We typically are a ‘family style’ kind of ordering system so we each get to try as many dishes as possible (my preferred way of having group dinners) but for some reason tonight we kept to ourselves. No big deal as the portions weren’t insane and the menu didn’t feel terribly special that I felt like I was missing out on much.

I ordered the Seared Scallop Risotto which has butternut squash, crispy sage, and a brown butter. I LOVE a risotto and scallops may be one of my favs so I almost always want it when I can get it. No complaints at all. The risotto was a little bit al dente for me which is saying something from someone who likes a little bite but nothing majorly problematic. I’m not a ‘send it back’ kind of person and I was so tired and hungry from traveling, I wasn’t about to take more time waiting for food.

There are some gimick-y things when coming here - three foot tall pepper grinder brought to the table at the start of the meal - a fun photo moment I suppose, but nothing extraordinary about the overall experience as a whole. Wouldn’t tell people to avoid this but also not a solid recommendation either. If you want Italian food, sure. If you want to spend money on a memorable meal, maybe not this spot.

We’re splurging a little this trip but I’m not planning on being a frequent flyer to Vegas so we’re gonna do as much as possible and eat all the things we want to eat so we leave with no major regrets if the next trip back isn’t for awhile. Giada wouldn’t make it on my return list, that’s for sure.

ROC - Mission BBQ

Caleb and I were in Rochester for the weekend and unluckily for us, there’s not a ton of BBQ options back in Cortland so if we’re in the mood we try to pick a spot when we’re in Rochester to get our fix. This time, we decided to give Mission BBQ a try.

LOCATION: 100 MARKETPLACE DR. SUITE 100, ROCHESTER, NY 14623

I’ve never been to a Mission BBQ before and didn’t even know it was a chain before this. For a BBQ place in New York, I’ll take it - not that I’m THAT discerning when it comes to BBQ. Being born and raised in NY has its flaws sometimes.

Having a small stomach also has it’s disadvantages so sorry for the empty looking tray but this was the right amount for me! I had to get the brisket sandwich (moist because I love a fatty piece of beef) along with some baked cheesy potatoes.

For someone who knows very little about BBQ - this place was spot on. I like that I can pick my own sauce to add since I’m not a huge fan of too much sauce and I prefer a more vinegar base to my bbq over something sweet. The potatoes weren’t my favorite but from the list of offerings - this did feel like my best bet so I do have to stick it out whenever we visit but it wasn’t anything to complain about so that’s alright with me. They were just a little tangy and not as savory as I wanted them to be. Plus - the cheesiness took away from a simpler potato-y style that I prefer. If ‘too much flavor’ is the problem, I think we’ll be ay-okay.

ROC - Möge Tee

I’ve gone for a ride here trying Möge Tee in Rochester so come along for my journey!

LOCATION: 3679 W HENRIETTA RD., ROCHESTER, NY 14623

Of course, I’m a little tapped into the bubble tea scene in Rochester, even though I’m in Cortland/Syracuse now, but having friends in town scoping out the new spots is always a win. This is how I knew I had to make a stop next time I was in town. I’ve been following along on their instagram to check out their menu and see what they had going on, so I was super excited to get a cup with a cute bear lid with ears and all.

Unfortunately, social media isn’t always 100% truthful and I was hoodwinked! (I’m exaggerating of course, and a bear lid is not the end of the world though they are going to get me to visit again to see if I’ll get any luckier next time so I guess their marketing worked!)

In my attempt at getting the bear lid, I even ordered a drink that they featured on their socials with the lid - Yogurt Mango Tea - now I typically don’t get yogurt drinks since they’re super filling and dairy is not my BEST friend but we trucked along. I do love a good mango drink a la mango lassi so this was not a bad choice if you like something like that. This drink did come with a crystal boba topping too which I’m not the biggest fan of. The texture is less chewy than regular tapioca/boba and it’s kinda dense. Not huge in flavor but I guess it’s a good filler and a different texture to add to the mix. I’d still rather have a normal boba or go with a lychee jelly or similar for more flavor and a more familiar texture for me.

While I was there, I figured I’d also get some wings as well since it was lunch time. I got their 6pc with fries in a soy garlic sauce which seems like a pretty safe choice. These wings were a lot bigger than I expected! They’re a pretty classic, chinese style breaded wing which is something I grew up with. Doesn’t taste like any sort of classic buffalo style wing I’ve had so if that’s what you’re looking for, adjust your expectations. These wings have a crispy seasoned exterior that’s flavorful without the sauce tossed around it. I don’t know that the soy garlic did too much for me but this took me back to my dad’s fried chicken wings when I was growing up so major points for nostalgia and taste.

As mentioned, I’ll be back - gotta get that cute bear lid! Plus there’s a whole menu of other items to try out if I’m feeling up to it.

SYR - Il Limone

We’ve made it to the end of the semester! And to celebrate, a bunch of us went out for a semester holiday lunch at Il Limone.

LOCATION: 7421 OSWEGO RD, LIVERPOOL, NY 13090

This is a super cute restaurant in a strip mall (makes perfect sense for central New York) that I’ve been told is a gem of an Italian restaurant. It’s not too big, family owned vibes, and it feels fun and casual. This was a great spot for our group and I’m never one to turn down pasta, even at lunch.

I decided to get the Chicken Riggies, a classic for the area and never a bad time. I’m not a huge fan of bell peppers, but luckily for me, this had huge chunks that were super easy to eat around. This portion was huge and I had enough leftover as well, even though it was de-licious! I don’t know that I would say that this felt like a super special - must stop restaurant, but if you’re in the area and want some solid Italian food, this is an easy win.