THE GREASY FOODIE: THE VEGAS BUFFET EDITION

The Greasy Foodie

The story begins blustry day Friday after Thanksgiving in 2008 in a cramped booth at a fake NYC deli in Nashville called Noshville. In between my wife, Rachel, and my brother, Michael, I sat across from my "cooler than me" cousins Mark and Sarah, and Sarah's just as cool husband, Danny. Mark, who lives the awesome life being a lawyer living in San Francisco working for Facebook, with his only downfall being his SEVERE lactardation..which has never been medically or scientifically proven to exist in Mark.. Sarah and Danny are foodies from NYC who have tried every dive "chicken finger" hut and "curry on a stick" in the big city. Danny and Sarah had discussed that they were trying to go to as many places from Bobby Flay's 'Throwdown' show as they could, and that there was one in Nashville we had to try.....a place that I had never heard of in my 13 years of living there..I will get to that adventure later.

I got an idea from my cool cousins idea. An idea became a hobby. And the hobby became an obsession. And thus produced the list.....a world-famous spreadsheet...of every restaurant that has ever been featured on Food Network and Travel Channel....every restaurant from the famous shows like "Throwdown", "Man V. Food", "Man v. Food Nation", "Food Feuds", "Food Wars", "Best Thing I Ever Ate", "Food Paradise" and "Diners Drive-Ins and Dives" to the obscure "Best Food Ever", "Meat and Potatoes", and "101 Best Places to Chowdown", plus my additions of the restaurants of famous chefs, favorite catergories (burgers, wings, pizza, bbq, and sandwiches) and local places of legend. Names, cities, food they are famous for, and addresses. It was and still is an obsession. As of 11:31am on November 27, 2018, THE LIST HAS 4,660 RESTAURANTS ON IT...WITH A FEW OVERLAPS HERE AND THERE. And then over Pastrami Eggs Benedict at Nate N' Al's Deli in Beverly Hills, Hannah and Andrew, our good friends, gave me the idea of the blog. Document every place I went. And thus, "The Greasy Foodie" was born. I will log the places, the shows they are from, and what I had. So far, every place I have been has been amazing, except two, one being mediocre, and another being down right awful.

If there is a city you have been to, or are going to, or are from and want to know what from my list is in the city, send me a email at agmarks@gmail.com

Thursday, January 22, 2015

THE VEGAS BUFFET EDITION

THERE IS NO BETTER EXAMPLE OF PURE UNADULTERATED GOOD OLD FASHIONED AMERICAN GLUTTONY THAN A VEGAS BUFFET.

IT IS AN EXPERIENCE.

IT IS AN JOURNEY.

IT IS A GASTRONOMIC MARATHON OF GLORY.

IT IS INCREDIBLE.

IT IS AMAZING.

IT IS OUTSTANDING.

IT IS DISGUSTING TO THINK ABOUT AFTER.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT MUST BE EXPERIENCED BY ALL…JUST ONCE.

TO ME, THE INCREDIBLY AMAZINGLY, FANTASTICALLY, OUTSTANDING EXPERIENCE AND JOURNEY OF THE GASTRONOMIC MARATHON OF GLORY KNOWN AS A VEGAS BUFFET CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AND DEFINED BY ONE OF MY FAVORITE TV CHARACTERS OF ALL TIME, TRACY JORDAN FROM 30 ROCK, WHO STATED "THERE NEEDS TO BE A GIANT SHRIMP MADE OUT OF SHRIMP DIVING INTO A BOWL OF SHRIMP THAT ARE ALL DROWNING IN A POOL OF COCKTAIL SAUCE!"

THIS QUOTE AND PHOTO SAY IT ALL WHEN IT COMES TO A VEGAS BUFFET. IF THERE ISNT THIS LEVEL OF INSANE DECADENCE AND OVER THE TOP-NESS WHEN IT COMES TO THE FOOD, THEN YOU AREN'T AT A TRUE AND LEGIT VEGAS BUFFET

I HAVE BEEN TO FOUR VEGAS BUFFETS, ALL AMAZING, ALL DIFFERENT, ALL WORTH A TRY.

AMATEUR MOVE IS TO JUMP RIGHT IN AT THE FIRST THING YOU SEE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A COUPLE WALK AROUND AND PLAN OUT YOUR MEAL. YOU HAVE (NORMALLY) TWO HOURS. TAKE YOUR TIME AND GET YOUR $49.99 WORTH.

WYNN BUFFET
THE WYNN 3131 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109
FROM BUFFET PARADISE

"Voted Best Buffet in Las Vegas"* Seafood Station: split Alaskan opilio crab legs with clarified butter, citrus & taragon glazed salmon fillet, jumbo black tiger shrimp with cocktail sauce and sushi rolls; black Angus prime rib and pizza. Dessert Station: candy apples, tres leches cake."

The best buffet I have ever been to in Vegas. It is elegant, grand, and amazing. The buffet is huge and is split among different types of cuisine, so you know what you are getting when you approach each station. You won't find pizza next to sushi at this place. This place has so much variety yet they are very specific. They don't have a dish just to have it. One station may have 3 items only, but know that those three are there for a reason. The shellfish station is overwhelming with shrimp, crab, oysters, and crawfish. This was my first buffet in Vegas, and I must say, it was the best one I have been to yet.

BACHANNAL BUFFET AT CEASAR'S PALACE
Caesars Palace, Caesars Palace Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89109

This place is a palace within a palace. This place is a monstrosity. There is so much at this place, it is impossible to see everything they offer. It goes on for miles and miles. This place requires the most planning. Do not get sidetracked with sliders and hot dogs and pizza. Go straight for the stuff you cannot get at any normal restaurant in your hometown. Go straight for the ultimate amounts of meats and shellfish.

BELLAGIO BUFFET
Bellagio, 3600 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89109
#76 BEST PLACE TO CHOW DOWN AND FOOD PARADISE

"200 selections. suckling pig, Beef Wellington, sushi rolls, fish-smoked salmon roulade, Alaskan crab legs"

This will be short and to the point, just like the Bellagio buffet. The most straight forward, classic buffet in Vegas. This is everything you want from a buffet. Simply a delicious variety of amazing food. Shellfish, meat, breads, fruits, sushi, it's all here. This place is exactly what you want when you say Vegas buffet. Bellagio buffet is wonderful and is even better for brunch.

WICKED SPOON AT THE COSMOPOLITAN
3708 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89109

FROM BEST THING I EVER ATE AND BUFFET PARADISE

"Tasty and unusual selections served tapas-style in individual portions - Asian Station: sushi, egg drop soup, udon noodles, pork fried rice and "Thai Tofu" (crispy fried tofu with red Thai curry sauce topped with peanuts); slow-roasted lamb bone marrow, fiery fried chicken, Caribbean mojo sauce glazed rotisserie chicken, pork belly steamed bun with spicy mayo and pickled vegetables, "Angry Mac & Cheese" (spicy macaroni and cheese). Dessert Station: gelato bar (salted peanut butter and strawberry balasmic)."

The smallest of the buffets. This place is very specific in their foods. Maybe 50 food options as opposed to 200 at other places. Everything is meant to be eaten in small portions. At Wynn, Ceasars, and Bellagio, I couldn't see my plate after my first trip up because I have overloaded with meat, sushi, and shellfish. This place limits what they give out. Don't get me wrong it's all you can eat, but the amount they serve doesn't overwhelm you and limits you. Remember when I said that Vegas buffet can be summed up in Tracy Jordan's quote ""THERE NEEDS TO BE A GIANT SHRIMP MADE OUT OF SHRIMP DIVING INTO A BOWL OF SHRIMP THAT ARE ALL DROWNING IN A POOL OF COCKTAIL SAUCE!" This place serves each of its shrimp in individual shot glasses containing a tiny lemon and cocktail sauce. You could get as many shot glasses as you want, but you cant carry that many on a plate and they are tough to fish out. I want a plate full of shrimp and a bowl of cocktail sauce.

THE GREASY FOODIE