Category Archives: Special Events

My Trip to The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills POP UP at Red Rock Resort – Las Vegas NV

I read in the Las Vegas Review Journal that the Cheese Store of Beverly Hills was doing a POP UP at Red Rock Resort 12-5pm February 28th. I latter found out by my husband who read on Red Rock’s website that the hours were 11-4 and not 12-5. I did plan to arrive about a 1/2 hour early because the pop up at Red Rock are big events. I saw a short menu of a few sandwiches, a salad, and a few desserts. We arrived around 10:30 and waited about an hour in line.

When we finally got closer there was a lot of complimentary cheese to try and also some lunch meats and crackers.

Then we looked at the condiments that were for sale.

Then guess what?

Another cheese tray to sample.

When we got to order we found out that everything was premade so no special orders or request could be made.

Also no seating but you could stand up at a high table. We choose to find the food court so we could sit down. When I opened the bag I saw that they skipped out on giving us napkins and they didn’t even give a FORK to give me a fork! My husband had to steal napkins and a fork from the food court.

I tried a Jidori Chicken Caesar Salad. It’s not bad at all but kinda average.

My husband tried the La Macellaia Sandwich (prosciutto cotto, finocchiona,coppa, spicy ventricina salami, red onions, provolone, iceberg, oregano vinaigrette).

He said that the bread was good. He thought it seemed like the sandwich might have been made the day before because the inside was just squished together and didn’t have that fresh made sandwich texture. He also thought that the provolone seemed like not the best.

So GLAD I didn’t come at 12 because the line was so longs I’m certain that over a thousand people were there and it was relatively a short line when I waited an hour. I’m sure that these people would have to wait several hours to get what we had that is if they got in at all.

That was my trip to The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills POP UP at Red Rock Resort.

The Forking Truth

A Peak of the International Marketplace – Las Vegas NV

The International Marketplace is an enormous sort of Supermarket and Houseware Store that sells groceries and things from all over the world. They also sells lots of fresh and frozen seafood, kitchen items, some restaurant ware, live bamboo, Oriental urns, plant pots and more.

Below is just a small amount of what I came across.

That was a peek of The International Marketplace

5000 S Decatur Blvd Las Vegas NV

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2025 Viva Taco Fest – North Las Vegas NV

The 2025 Viva Taco Fest Happened in North Las Vegas Nevada at Craig Ranch Park on Craig Road (Oct.31, Nov.1, Nov.2). This was billed as the largest taco fest in the country. A fifteen dollar ticket got you a general admission ticket to get you in and the rest was up to you. You enter and see an endless amount of venders selling all kinds of goods. It was sort of like a swap mart was brought to you. Then you pass by various Day of The Dead displays. (below are just a few)

Then you finally get to the food venders. This was the first food truck I saw.

Not all but the majority of food was offered here.

I was very surprised that a lot of the food offered wasn’t tacos.

There were several different French Fry Vendors.

Funnel cake vender. I also saw pizza here, a few doughnuts, and few Ice creams.

Further down was a large stage with blaring Mexican Music.

They also had covered patio seating.

We tried a variety of tacos from a variety of places here.

Fish and Shrimp Tacos

Bulgogi Beef, Carne Asada, Chicken with red salsa, Chicken with Green salsa

Chicken and Carne Asada Tacos – These were the best by a long shot. They were so darn flavorful that the other tacos SUCKED after tasting these tacos.

They came from here.

I don’t think there is a name anywhere. I see a logo for Mr Papas Potato chips but nothing else. (a couple people on Facebook told me the correct name for this place is Mr Papas Y Raspados)

Also our newspaper and local TV news do very little in the way of food mews and this taco festival wasn’t featured. Also no list of venders on the Viva Taco Fest Website. BAH!

That was my trip to the 2025 Viva Taco Fest.

www.VivaTacoFest.com

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Bravo Top Chef Winners SPECIAL EVENT Dinner at Stubborn Seed Las Vegas – Chef Jeremy Ford & Chef Mei Lin

This was the Top Chef Winners Special Event Dinner at Resorts Hotel/Casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada. This dinner was held in Jeremy Ford’s Stubborn Seed Restaurant. Both Chef’s are Previous Bravo Top Chef Winners.

Anyways – Both chefs worked this event. (There they are below)

Entering we pasted by the bar.

The front of the main dining area

And we got seated in the area that resembles a greenhouse.

The Welcome Bites were –

Wagyu Beef Tarter Cannelloni with Papaya Ferment and Cured Egg

Foie Gras Tarts with Mango and Pinenut Crust

and

Warm Celery Root with Crispy Maittake Mushroom, Mustard Cream, and Caviar

First Course –

Citrus Cured Kampachi – with Green Tomato, Green Chili Mustard Condiment and Coriander

Second Curse was –

Kimchi Udon – It was suppose to be made of House Kimchi, Shaved Brussels Sprouts, Poached Egg, Garlic Sesame, Australian Winter Truffle. (Mine was missing the shaved Brussels Sprouts, My husband’s also contained mushrooms that didn’t make it to mine. I don’t taste the truffles but it is possible that some are in there)

Third Course Steamed Black Cod –

Above there is no mention of Shrimp Mousse in the center of the Cod so I mentioned it to our server and they were kind enough to serve me a Plain Seared Barramundi in Sichuan Broth.

Fourth Course –

Black Garlic Glazed Wagyu Short Rib – Beef Fat Aioli, Pickles, Lettuces, Herbs

Dessert

Wild Strawberry Tart – Chiffon Cake and Vanilla Bean Cremieux

Micro Macarons with Check

Peanut Butter and Jelly

That was The Special Event Dinner of the Collaboration of Bravo Wining Top Chefs Jeremy Ford and Mei Lin

Stubborn Seed – Las Vegas

3000 S Las Vegas Blvd Las Vegas NV

702-676-6908

www.StubbornSeed.com

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My Trip to the NEW Superior Grocers 390 S. Decatur Blvd Las Vegas NV – Superior Produce Department

The Newest Superior Grocers opened on the west side of town. It’s about a block away from Arizona Charlie’s Hotel/Casino. Superior Grocers are an independently owned California Grocery Chain and as of summer 2025 have two location in Las Vegas Nevada. They offer all your typical supermarket items plus many hard to find Hispanic items like FRESH Chile Chiltepe peppers!

They also have Cacahuate Espanol seasoning and lots of dried Chile Peppers.

Where else have you ever seen miniature fresh corn?

They also have lots of Chicharrons here!

And great prices on potatoes (10 pounds $1.79) I noticed that many things were just .99cents a pound like all the different kinds of apples today.

They also offer the hard to find Pink Pineapples.

Superior Grocers has a Superior Produce Department!

They also sell different Coke.

Superior Grocers

390 S Decatur Blvd

www.SuperiorGrocers.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Grand Opening Party at ai Pazzi Italian Restaurant- Rampart Casino/Hotel Las Vegas NV

I was lucky to get invited to the Grand Opening Party of Chef Fabio Viviani’s newest restaurant called ai Pazzi in the Rampart Casino/Hotel in the Summerlin part of Las Vegas Nevada. It took place Saturday July 12th 2025.

Chef Fabio was by the door greeting the guests.

Over a dozen different appetizers were served to guests as well as various sips.

Toast with ricotta charred grapes, and pistachios

non-stop famous wagyu meatballs

tuna, avocado, on rice cracker

arancini with pecorino and black pepper cream

watermelon with feta, avocado, and pistachio

Pasta with duck sausage

Pasta bolognaise

pasta with vodka sauce

Chef Fabio walking around.

tiramisu

flourless chocolate cake

That was a taste of the Grand Opening Party at ai Pazzi Italian Restaurant by Fabio Viviani at Rampart Casino/Hotel in Summerlin Las Vegas Nevada

ai Pazzi

221 N Rampart Blvd Las Vegas NV

702-869-7790

www.aiPazzicom

www.TheResortatSummerlin.com

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The Plant Based Italian Dinner at Crossroads Kitchen April 17th 2015 – Las Vegas NV at Resorts World – FORKING AMAZING and Worth a FORK!

April 17 2025 A five course menu by –

Top Chef Season 6 Winner – Michael Voltaggio

James Beard Award Winner – Rocco DiSpirito

Crossroads Founder – Tal Ronnen

Was served at Crossroads Kitchen at Resorts World in Las Vegas NV.

Here’s the menu –

Below it says on Instagram that the three Chefs unite for a 5 course journey.

How exciting! I’m here!

It’s a kinda cool rock and roll type of atmosphere with rock tunes playing.

If you look at the above photo you see Chef Rocco serving food to someone (Left side).

We started out with Focaccia with a dairy free tomato dip.

Next were marinated olives and asparagus arancini with Calabrian Pepper dip,

Below is Chef Rocco’s Artichoke Carpaccio with mushroom guanciale and lemon truffle aioli.

This next course really was so FORKING AMAZING but my photo does it no justice at all.

This was the Pasta Nero with morel “calamari” sea bean powder, and arrabbiata emulsion. This dish really was incredible.

The Eggplant Milanese was also amazing.

It was topped with spring greens, pea greens, and a whole grain mustard vinaigrette. I also never tasted pea tops with so much flavor before.

The dinner concluded with Chef Rocco’s Amazing Croccante Alle Nocciole

With hazelnut cremeaux and Amarena Cherry.

Since Chef Rocco was the only one running around.

He was the only chef that I could ask what dishes he made. I have a guess on the others but can’t say for sure.

The Plant Based Italian Dinner at Crossroads was FORKING AMAZING and Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

Crossroads Kitchen at Resorts World

3000 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas NV

702-676-7978

www.CrossroadsLasVegas.com

www.RWLasVegas.com

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Showing Off

Showing off is just showing you some food I made mostly for gatherings.

Up above is

Apple, Hazelnut, Taleggio Cheese, Shishito Pepper Pizza

Potato and Cheese stuffed Peppers

Amarena Cherry Goat Cheese topped lightly Pickled Beet Slices

Tomato,Pesto, Cheese, Pizza

Butternut Squash, cannoli cheese, pistachio pizza

Macaroni & Cheese Stuffed Potatoes

Everyone loves all three of these!

Everyone likes pizza or just about everyone. I made pizza and pizza rolls. They really are the same just put together different. To my surprise the pizza rolls went first. I guess they are easier to just pick up and take.

Corned Beef & Cabbage Hand Pies

Corned Beef & Cabbage Hand Pies

For one gathering I brought this –

Chipotle rice corn cheddar with potato string wrapped peppers

Smashed red mini potatoes topped with duchess potatoes

Corned beef and Cabbage hand pies

Cherry filled cookies with chocolate drizzle

It was a morning group so the cookies and potato bites went first followed by the stuffed peppers but it all eventually went

The next day had a St Patrick’s Party and brought a big box of corned beef and cabbage hand pies and a small tray of smashed mini red potatoes topped with duchess potatoes. They went like lightning there.

This next one coming isn’t for a gathering but is worth showing off. Just starting out a pastrami.

This gets cooked up with water to cure the brisket.

This needs to sit in the refrigerator and cure for give or take a week and then it gets smoked.

It’s fun to cook and to show off.

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A Peak inside of Superior Grocers Las Vegas NV

I was watching TV and saw a commercial for Superior Grocers. It turned out to be further from me than I was expecting but we made the trip anyway. It was different than I was expecting. It’s a very large supermarket. It is also more of a Mexican Supermarket.

Up above they always have from made tortillas from the Tortillaeria.

The produce section offered the usual and the exotic.

Prices were lower on Scallions and Cilantro they were only 3 for $1.

I also got a small head of lettuce for $1. and a 10 lb bag of russets for $2.99.

I noticed that they sell fresh espozate here.

They also offer many dried chili peppers.

Over to the right past the chili peppers were lots of Mexican Baked Goods.

Behind this area was some bargain shelves.

That’s a really great bargain shelf.I got that lower left sack with a butternut squash, a spaghetti squash and some gold potatoes. and I also picked up the sack up top with the 3 eggplants. I’m sorry now that I didn’t pick up more.

You can get chicken feet here. (I heard that the best soups are made with chicken feet….)

You can also get pig feet.

Prepared Masa

and LOTS of Crispy Pig Skins all over the store.

That was a peak inside of Superior Grocers.

Superior Grocers 1955 N Nellis Blvd Las Vegas NV

702-842-4430

www.SuperiorGrocers.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Showing Off

Showing off is just to show you that I am still in the kitchen. I don’t photo everything I make but mostly the things I bring to gatherings.

Up above are bread crisps, pimento dip, and cookies

Macaroni and Cheese stuffed Potatoes, Christmas Chip Cookies and Chocolate Chip Cookies

Potato Stuffed Pepper Rings, Butternut Squash Cinnamon Buns, and Onion and Cheese Tarts

Made those same bread crisps but I cut them out into round cracker shapes and topped them with the manager’s special cheese balls from Sprouts.

My one dog thought they smelled good but dogs can’t eat almonds or seeds so I couldn’t give him any.

Cheese Blintzs with Blueberry-Cherry-Strawberry sauce and Sweet Potato Hand Pies

White Pizza with several Italian cheeses, tomatoes, spices, fresh basil

White Pizza and a pizza with red sauce, a few cheeses, tomatoes, fresh basil and spices

Pistachio Halvah Fudge

Some pizza and pistachio fudge packed up and my husband eating one piece of pizza that didn’t fit into the box.

That was a little showing off.

The Forking Truth