Monthly Archives: February 2025

Las Vegas and Beyond FOOD NEWS

I can’t get a weekend reservation at Esther’s Kitchen. In case you don’t know…Esther’s Kitchen is a popular downtown Italian Restaurant located in the Arts District. The original location that was next door was very small but I was able to get a reservation there a few times and once at the newest location. The new location is at least triple the size. I’ve been there once with a reservation and tried to reserve a spot again. I couldn’t make a reservation on-line so I called. I was told that they were booked for a month but I could wait for a bar seat or make a reservation for during the week. I do note that I haven’t had any trouble with reservations at Esther’s Kitchen’s sister Restaurants in Summerlin (Ada’s Food & Wine and also Al Solito Posto that actually is a little nicer than Esther’s in my opinion). Esthers Kitchen is a good restaurant but hey Monzu’s Bread is better so BAH!

One of 2025 most anticipated restaurants is NOT COMING to the Wynn.

James Beard and Michelin Starred Chef and Restauranteur Fabio Trabocchi is not bring his Mediterranean Seafood Restaurant Fiola Mare to the Wynn.

The Las Vegas Review Journal still posts that Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are still opening their Rock and Brews Restaurant in 2023 in The Strat……….,So I reckon that’s also not coming.

A much better fit would have been in the Rio because they already have a Kiss Museum.

And a KISS Monster Golf there.

At Resorts World the highly Anticipated Sister Restaurant of the Michelin Starred Stubborn Seed Restaurant opened. It’s by James Beard Nominated, Bravo Top Chef Jeremy Ford……………..I made a reservation and canceled it because all reservations at the time I made my reservation I had to check what tasting menu that I was ordering from. I had to order one of the tasting menus. I’m certain that the food is amazing but I don’t fancy a few of the dishes on those menus. I contacted Stubborn Seed on Facebook and asked if a substitute could be made. They thanked me for contacting them and never answered. ….BAH!………………Since then…….. I read that the Ala Carte Menu is only offered at the bar without a reservation. So now I know I can never get a nice table in the dining room there unless I fancy every plate on one of the tasting menus. Bah!

According to Eater Las Vegas The Uncommons is getting a new Hawaiian/Asian Food Hall to replace the food hall that shuddered. It’s expected to open sometime 2026.

In World…..SORT of WEIRD FOOD News……Louis Vuitton is selling $18,000.00 Bags that resemble Lobsters.

In World Food News –

Taco Bell’s Ground Beef contains unsweetened cocoa.

In other world News they are making Lab Grown Cheese.

I just read that Canned Tuna from Publix, Costco, & Walmart is being recalled for potential Botulism.

We had a lot of Food News This Week.

Las Vegas Food News is only an occasional Posting if something interesting is going on.

The Forking Truth

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

Hummus Republic – Fast Food – Worth a Try!

Hummus Republic is a Fast Food and Halal Mediterranean Style fast casual “Build-Your-Own” Bowl, Wrap, Pita and more type of place with many locations.

You go down the line and build your meal “Chipotle Style.”

Then you pay and seat yourself.

We both tried bowls.

Between we tried a lot of what they had to offer. The varieties of chicken were reasonably good and moist (lemon chicken, breaded chicken, and shawarma chicken). We also tried a variety of hummus all were reasonably good (traditional, olive, feta, harissa). Sauces we tried were tasty (harissa tahini sauce, green hot sauce, hot Moroccan Sriracha Sauce. Mostly reasonably good…but least favorite bite was the falafels. They were a bit dense, not herby or crunchy but not terrible for a fast food place……

Hummus Republic is Worth a Try!

Hummus Republic

2546 E Craig Rd North Las Vegas NV

818-293-5269

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Skye Thai Las Vegas NV – Take Out Thai that is a little different – Worth a Try!

Skye Thai is a small Thai Restaurant that is mostly just for take out because they only have four tables inside. This restaurant is located in the Centennial area of Las Vegas Nevada. They offer a few dishes that you wouldn’t normally find at most Thai restaurants like Brussels Sprouts, Chicken Pho, a Pumpkin/Zucchini and egg dish. Soft beverages are offered here and they have coconut ice cream with roti or banana fritter.

It’s very casual. You order and pay at the counter. All the food comes out in take out containers. Food is ordered with either no heat or up to number ten.

We started out with the Brussels Sprouts in Garlic Sauce Appetizer.

Ummm they are different and very tasty. Never had Brussels Sprouts in a Thai Restaurant before.

I try the Stir Fried Pumpkin/Zucchini and Egg under Thai Classic Dishes (#7 for heat).

#7 heat is almost too hot for me…….All the heat was absorbed by the pumpkin. Then you cool off with the zucchini in this dish. It’s tasty but really different. Never had anything like this in any Thai Restaurant. It also came with steamed Jasmin rice that was very fresh and nice and sticky.

Below is the Pad Kra Pao.

Here the protein (chicken) is hand chopped for more surface and that means more flavor. It is also nicely infused with basil. The Pad Kra Pao is very good here.

On another visit I tried the Pla Rad Prik (crispy fish in a slightly sweet chili sauce with green beans #4 heat).

Wow! This is different and delicious! The #4 heat is also kinda hot but just right here. The fish is crispy, and the basil is also crispy. The green beans are well fried but also crispy and really great. This is a really tasty dish too.

My husband tried the Pad See Eiw (crispy pork with noodles #7 Heat).

This he said was just ok…not bad but not something he’d get again. He said that he thought my #4 dish was hotter than is #7….The woman working there brought him out extra hot pepper seasoning.

Skye Thai is a little different but also Worth a Try!

9650 W Skye Canyon Park Drive Las Vegas NV

702-998-6647

I have not found a website for Skye Thai.

Every THING is subject to change

The Forking Truth

Bazaar Mar – Las Vegas NV – Seafood Tapas by Jose Andres & Team – Sometimes Spectacular – Sometimes Not Perfect

Bazaar Mar is a Seafood, Tapas, Restaurant, and Bar laced with Spanish Embellishments by Multi Award Winning, Michelin Stared Chef, and Restauranteur Jose Andres and Team. The Las Vegas Location is in the Shops At Crystals on the Las Vegas Strip.

On the way to the tables you walk by the bar area.

You might walk by the open kitchen and see the fresh catches.

Inside is open and airy with colorful Picasso Type Portraits.

Small Bite River Trout Cones from my fist visit were good.

My husband enjoyed the small bite Jose’s Taco made with the finest ham.

From my first visit the small sandwich called bagel and lox was amazing and was one of the best bites of the year. It was so layered with textures and flavors it was incredible.

From my second visit it looks the same but tastes totally different. The air bread has a hard shattering texture this time and crumbles when you bite into it. The capers and onions aren’t flavorful like before. Even the lox tastes different to me. Bummer.

My husband’s favorite plate from our first visit was the Blue Fin Tuna with Fried Egg.

On our second visit it tastes completely different too.

This time it has too much soy dashi broth that over powers the dish. Bah

Heard great things about the liquid Olives so we gave it a try.

The stuffed olives are good. For my taste the liquid olives are too strong. They taste like 10X a olive taste.

Both grilled fish we tried were very good.

Durrad

Branzino

Japanese Baby Peaches from Bazaar Mar

Both times the Japanese Baby Peaches were amazing.

The Pina Colada Dessert was good.

The Citrus Meringue was better.

Service was spectacular from my first visit and the service was very average on my second visit. (Things weren’t explained, One plate was forgotten, entree was slammed down same time with small tapas plate, last tapas came after entree)

Bazaar Mar sometimes Spectacular and sometimes Not Perfect.

Bazaar Mar

3720 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas NV

702-803-1100

www.TheBazaar.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Las Vegas Food News

Competitive Eater that’s ranked number one in the world Joey Chestnut was in town at Bagelmania by the Convention Center to try for another wining Championship Belt for eating Bagels. In 2024 he won by eating 15 bagels in only 8 minutes.

February 1st 2025 he did it again! 15 bagels with cream cheese in 8 minutes.

In other local Las Vegas Food News –

Eggs

Hard to find eggs at reasonable prices

On the other hand

Easy to find at high prices

Albertson’s in North Las Vegas rips you off on T-bone steaks.

T-bone steaks are suppose to include the filet and the strip. At this Albertson’s they remove the filet.

In world Food News

Ringo Starr admits that he has never eaten pizza in his life…….

He has plenty of dough so we can’t feel too sorry for him……He can certainly pay someone that can make a pizza that he can eat.

Someone Jewish invented Beano and Lactaid. The only thing anyone can say is Oy Vey.

That was Food News. An occasional posting if something interesting is going on.

The Forking Truth

Not only is my local supermarket a mess they also mess with you too!

My local supermarket (Smith’s) is always a mess. Not only are they a mess they also mess with you too. Below are a few of the examples of them being a mess and after a few photos I will tell you how they mess with customers.

No carts and the ones that stick together are there.

Aisles are always jammed up.

Spills on the floor.

Instead of mopping they just throw pads on the floor.

Sale items are often NOT available.

Customer service is rarely available.

Not as clean as it should be.

I love dogs but I know this is wrong.

Purchased a Home Depot Gift Card here and the receiver told me a used Target Card was inside and it was a long hard batter to get my money back.

You also can’t buy a lot of non food items like tooth paste and alcohol because they are locked up until 9am or until someone comes in to unlock them.

But maybe the biggest problem is that this is mainly a self check out store. Not everything is keyed into the system correctly and that can be very frustrating.

Then someone from above messes with you while you are swiping bar codes.

Yesterday maybe FOUR TIMES my register said that I didn’t scan my last item and froze and I had to stand there for someone to check to see if I scanned my items….

I HATE THIS FORKING Store.

A few time they also locked my shopping cart wheels as I was leaving.

My local supermarket (SMITH’S) is always a MESS and also MESSES with customers too!

Even the entrance is nasty.

The Forking Truth

Ori’Zaba’s Scratch Mexican Grill Centennial Hills Las Vegas NV – Casual Eats – Worth a Try!

Ori’Zaba’s Scratch Mexican Grill has four locations in Las Vegas Nevada. They are located in Henderson, Green Valley, Spring Valley, and Centennial Hills. This is a casual-fast Healthy Style Mexican Restaurant. They offer mostly “build-your-own” bowls and burritos, They also serve some other things like tacos, appetizers, soft beverages, and Mexican soft beverages at the Centennial Location.

My husband and I both tried the Clasico Zaba Bowls and we shared an order of fried Zalapeño Balls (potato with jalapeño).

Our bowls came out very different.

My husband tried his bowl with beef and shrimp. He said that the proteins were both flavorful and cooked nicely.

I tried mine with chicken that also was moist, tender, and flavorful. Everything was tasty and seemed very fresh. I thought the Clasico sized bowl was very large and could possibly be two meals.

We both liked the flavor of the Zalapeño Balls (note one got eaten before I photoed and was three balls)

The texture was odd to us and might have been over mixed and seemed very gluey.

We’ll go back for more bowls and maybe try a taco next time!

Ori’Zaba’s Scratch Mexican Grill – Centennial Hills – Casual Eats and Worth a Try!

6630 N Durango Dr Las Vegas NV

702-836-9222

www.Zabas.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Yama Sushi & Korean BBQ N. Las Vegas NV – Worth a Try!

Yama Sushi (at the time of this posting) has four locations in the Las Vegas Nevada Area. The North Las Vegas Location besides the All-You-Can-Eat sushi they also offer hot pots and Korean BBQ. They also offer bar drinks and K-Pop on a wide screen TV fills the air.

Below is part of the seating.

They have two choices for the All-You-Can-Eat. They differ by about $5. and the difference is very little (30.95 &35.95 subject to change). My husband is a big eater so we were able to try 13 dishes.

Everyone like tempura vegetables (onion rings, sweet potato, zucchini, broccoli)

The chicken karaage is delicious and tasty here.

Above is seared salmon (recommended by my server) and was the best of the bunch. Belly salmon, Yuzu yellowtail, mackerel. Not the best sushi…..but not terrible either.

Salmon Kama (salmon collar …the collar is usually the best part of the fish) was ever so slightly over cooked today.

1/2 TNT Sushi Roll (spicy salmon and spicy tuna) my least favorite of the bunch because it was very over seasoned with a spice mix.

Beef Brisket

Beef Brisket – a bit too fatty for me but other people will like.

The Bulgogi was tender and flavorful.

I enjoyed the beef bulgogi in radish slices from the food bar ( little food bar with kimchi, radish slices, cucumber salad, and a few more vegetable choices)

Spicy Chicken – very tender and spicy but the chicken itself had little flavor.

Kurobuta sausage

Pork Gyoza – My husband said that these were very good.

Korean Popsicle – we tried pistachio & melon. Both were pretty good tasting!

Yama Sushi & Korean BBQ is Worth a Try!

2235 E Cheyenne Ave N. Las Vegas NV

702-630-1400

www.YamaSushiLV.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

New York Bagel N Bakery – Las Vegas NV – Worth a Try! – Different

New York Bagel N Bakery is located not too far from downtown Las Vegas (NV). It’s a small bagel and bakery shop. They offer breakfast bagels, bagel sandwiches, salads, fresh squeezed orange juice and more.

It’s different from other bagel shops that I’ve been to.

Anyways they do have bagels and I spotted a flagel.

Here are other cases of baked goods.

They also whip up their own cream cheeses.

It’s small and casual. You order and pay at the counter. They call your name when your order is ready.

We shared some fresh squeezed orange juice.

A pastrami in a salted bagel.

The pastrami is lean but good. Potato salad and a pickle were the sides here. The potato salad could use a tad bit of seasoning…..

Here’s a whitefish salad stuffed everything bagel.

Cole slaw is the non-drippy type. The bagel is really different. I think it’s good but not like any other bagel out there…….To me it’s more like a cross between an Italian Roll and a bagel…….I’m not a fan of the whitefish salad. For my taste it is too salty and has the texture of hummus. But maybe other people like it this way?

New York Bagel N Bakery is different and Worth a Try!

New York Bagel N Bakery

840 S Rancho Dr Las Vegas NV

702-258-7400

I haven’t found a website for New York Bagel N Bakery but have found their menu on Grubhub and Seamless.

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth