[LasVegasBikeHikeRun7]

We've been here about 14 months now. We came here because we were tired of the cold, long winters (Iowa and Minnesota), the hurricanes and tropical storms and never-ending water and property damage resulting therefrom (Houston and New Orleans), and the traffic and expense of the East Coast (D.C., New Jersey, and New York).

Most days, we're just thrilled about our decision to move here. My drive to my teaching job at UNLV is 14 minutes. Our 4-bedroom, 3-bath, 3-car garage, 1-spool rental is an absolute bargain at $1,450. We run and bike in the area behind Blue Diamond and starting at the Cottonwood Trailhead about 5-6 times a week. We go to Mt. Charleston to run and bike about once a week to escape the heat and enjoy the change of scenery. We love the restaurant options, the parks, showing relatives the Strip, and the short drives to Utah, northern Arizona, and SoCal. The 'commute' from my office to the airport (I travel a fair amount) is laughable -- maybe 4 minutes? We're getting to know our neighbors and we are making friends. I think UNLV may have hit rock bottom this last legislative session, so things are starting to (possibly) look up (or at least not directly down).

Once in awhile, or perhaps more than that, I do terribly miss our lovely-to-the-nth-degree friends and neighbors in Texas and Louisiana and the pride these folks had in their home states. Our former neighbors in Houston and New Orleans spoke of being 7th-generation Texans and New Orleanians and their pride and joy was simply unmistakeable. We do miss the green lushness of Iowa and Minnesota, and the culture and society of D.C. and New York. On these days, we curse Las Vegas for its 117F temperatures, we feel ill when we read the R-J and see the cuts to higher education, and we plan our next move. Mind you, we never are able to identify a better place. Maybe because we've already lived in them all.

We haven't purchased a home yet. We have looked through dozens of resales and new constructions and we have found several lovely homes -- homes that are nicer than anything we could afford almost anyplace else. Our down payment is all ready and we have finally recovered from the financial loss we suffered in selling our last home. We're now month-to-month on our lease, so nothing is holding us back there. But we wait. I don't know why. We do love it here. And some days we hate it here. The love days significantly outweigh the hate days.

[Golfinnova]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

Nope, sorry, I cannot disagree more strongly. Las Vegas straight-up has some of the best restaurants in the world. I'm not saying that because I'm in the industry -- I don't work those high end restaurants.

I'm saying it because it's fact. We actually have food tourists who come here just for the restaurants. They could give a s--t about shows or gambling. They're here for the restaurants. New York, London, Paris and Tokyo may have more Michelin stars, but Las Vegas has almost as many, at HALF the price. The tasting menu at Robuchon is a serious bargain. And then we have Nobu, Rao's, Andre's, Bouchon, B&B, Craftsteak, Carnevino, Guy Savoy, Mix, Picasso, Bradley Ogden and the list goes on and on and on.

Eat at RM Seafood and then tell me "might as well eat at Long John's."

Gotta agree with Scoop on this one. There are tons of good restaurants here-The Steakhouse at CC, Nine at Palms, Michael's at SouthPoint are just a sample of the ones we've eaten at granted they were pricey but the food was outstanding.

I bolded Bouchon because my friend is the IT Manager for the Thomas Keller group that runs Bouchon and we're getting ready to leave to have dinner there so I'll give a report.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by Golfinnova

=

I bolded Bouchon because my friend is the IT Manager for the Thomas Keller group that runs Bouchon and we're getting ready to leave to have dinner there so I'll give a report.

Bouchon is far-and-away one of the best values for the foodie in Las Vegas.

You really can't go wrong with ANYTHING on the Bouchon menu. But make sure you order their fries. I think it's $5 for a side order of fries if your meal doesn't come with them -- like the steak frites or the moules frites. Get one order for the whole table. (Best for more than one person to share -- they need to be hot, fresh out of the fryer.) Ask for some mayonnaise. Their from-scratch mayo shows why mayonnaise was once called "the king of sauces."

[Scott456]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

Bouchon is far-and-away one of the best values for the foodie in Las Vegas.

You really can't go wrong with ANYTHING on the Bouchon menu. But make sure you order their fries. I think it's $5 for a side order of fries if your meal doesn't come with them -- like the steak frites or the moules frites. Get one order for the whole table. (Best for more than one person to share -- they need to be hot, fresh out of the fryer.) Ask for some mayonnaise. Their from-scratch mayo shows why mayonnaise was once called "the king of sauces."

mayonnaise + fries + steak = perfect diet for the retirees, I hope you have a strong heart

[dynimagelv]

I READ that and my cardiologist called to say NO WAY!!!!!!

[eventusstultorummagister]

If there were just some way to keep out the wankers from California, oh, yeah, and the one's from Oregon who come here and tell the locals to move...

[JonathanLB]

Haha! I live in CA and I'm from Oregon. I wouldn't want to live in either of these high tax states! No thanks. Can't wait to be in beautiful Vegas

[Golfinnova]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

Bouchon is far-and-away one of the best values for the foodie in Las Vegas.

You really can't go wrong with ANYTHING on the Bouchon menu. But make sure you order their fries. I think it's $5 for a side order of fries if your meal doesn't come with them -- like the steak frites or the moules frites. Get one order for the whole table. (Best for more than one person to share -- they need to be hot, fresh out of the fryer.) Ask for some mayonnaise. Their from-scratch mayo shows why mayonnaise was once called "the king of sauces."

Probably the best meal I've had in Vegas, absolutely fabulous. Both the wife and I had the steak frites cooked perfectly and the fries were fantastic.

We had some excellent wine prior and during dinner, fresh salads, salmon that was ground up to spread it on bread, pate. Got to know both the GM and sommelier and they were fantastic with their service.

Best part was it was easily over $400 in food and drinks for the 4 of us and we got it all for free so I left a hefty tip. I would go again in a heartbeat.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by Scott456

mayonnaise + fries + steak = perfect diet for the retirees, I hope you have a strong heart

Julia Child said it best: "It's perfectly fine to eat like a horse -- so long as you also run like one."

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by Golfinnova

Probably the best meal I've had in Vegas, absolutely fabulous. Both the wife and I had the steak frites cooked perfectly and the fries were fantastic.

The thing I love most about it, is that's the flatiron cut -- which is a cheap-ass steak. Anyone with a hot grill can take a $300/lb cut of A5 Kobe and make it taste like ambrosia. Takes a little more effort with $10 worth of flatiron.