Monthly Archives: January 2026

The FORKING Las Vegas FOOD Buzz of the Week

Leave a reply

The WORST of the week was the plain pizza from Napoli Pizzeria. They thinned the sauce so much that it wasn’t sauce anymore. Then to make the pizza even worst they added a sprinkle of cheap table salt to the top of the pizza to make it salty.

The most notable restaurant of the week was an authentic style Mexican Restaurant called La Mojarra Loca. It’s real Mexican. So far every waiter I had was hard to communicate with and the food does run very spicy but it’s always good with large portions and reasonable prices. This time I had the Filete Zarandeado (marinated and grilled mild white fish in achiote sauce) and my husband had the Steak Ranchero (smokey tomato chipotle garlic jalapeño sauce)

A Bunch of Food Related businesses have recently opened. Among them are –

Handel’s Ice Cream – 6180 N Decatur Rd – NORTH Las Vegas

Milk Bread Bakery – 3431 S Jones Blvd

Eggslut – Rio Casino/Hotel

Stanton Social Italian – Caesar’s Palace

How Ya Dough’n – 3rd floor Blvd Complex

Butcher & Thief – 8670 Sunset Rd

Lucky Bird – Proper Eats Food Hall – Aria Casino/Hotel

MORE Coming Soon –

January 17TH – Stephano’s Greek & Mediterranean – 7541 W Lake Mead Blvd

January 22 – Seventy Six by Station Casino – 1120 Vitacity Drive

January 24 – 99 Ranch Market is opening in Boca Park in Summerlin

Soon Zippy’s 5485 Camino Al Norte NORTH Las Vegas

Soon – Good Pie – Red Rock

Soon – With Love Always – Red Rock

Soon – Slim Chickens is coming to NORTH Las Vegas (saw it on Craig Rd almost across from Pandora’s burgers.

Soon – another (a second just 2 miles from another WSKY) WSKY on Cheyenne Rd in NORTH Las Vegas (This one around the corner from SNS BBQ Diner)

Spring – For The Win (L.A. Casual Smash Burger Restaurant) is expected to open in the Resort at Summerlin

Mid March – Tacos 1986 (L.A. Taco Shop) is expected to open in the Resort at Summerlin

March – Barbacoa Hidalguense (Mexican Restaurant) plans to open at 719 N Nellis Blvd

and –

Silly and or Cute Food News – My dogs eating roast beef from an Arby’s Roast Beef Sandwich

This was The FORKING Las Vegas FOOD Buzz of the Week

and this is –

The Forking Truth

Tasty Cheesy Rice Ball Recipe

Leave a reply

These tasty cheesy rice balls are based on several arancini recipes but are made different. I read about people making the risotto like rice instead of frying the special rice and slowly adding the hot broth with lots of stirring so I gave this a try. I also put in a lot of extra cheese in them so they came out different than arancini so I didn’t want to call them that. This recipe made about 40 rice balls for me. It comes out better if you make the rice mixture the day before.

Ingredients for maybe 20 servings (I’m thinking most people will eat two or more)

2 cups arborio rice

4 cups vegetable broth

1 cup dry white wine

2 Tablespoons unsalted butter

1 onion – fine chopped

3 cups parmesan cheese – grated

4 oz taleggio cheese – grated

5 eggs (one gets added to rice mixture the rest are for coating rice balls ) beaten

optional – about 1/2 cup mozzarella pearls or small cut chunks of mozzarella cheese to stuff cheesy balls or you can use peas or something meaty.

1/2 cup corn starch

3 cups panko

1 Tablespoon Aleppo pepper

oil to fry (enough to cover rice balls I used canola)

Directions

Heat up broth and add wine, onion, and butter. Boil about 4-5 minutes. Add rice and stir every now and then till mostly absorbed. Take off heat. When mixture is warm or cool (just not hot) mix in one beaten egg, the shredded parmesan and telaggio cheeses. chill well or overnight.

Put on a pot of oil and cook at around 350 degrees F you need enough oil to cover rice balls.

Set of a pan with the cornstarch, panko, and Aleppo pepper mixed.

Set up a bowl with the beaten eggs.

Roll a ball of rice and stuff it with a mozzarella pearl. Then roll rice ball in egg and then into panko/cornstarch mixture.

Fry in oil until browned

let fried rice balls rest on paper towel lined pan.

Enjoy either plain or with tomato sauce or a pesto aioli.

Cheesy Rice Balls

ENJOY!!!!!!

The Forking Truth

ANIMA by Edo $25. 2 Course Lunch is still FORKING FANTASTIC – Las Vegas NV – Worth a Fork!

Leave a reply

ANIMA by Edo is a New American chef driven restaurant located in the Gramercy that is not too far from Summerlin. They happen to offer an amazing two course (Mon-Fri 11-2) $25. Lunch Special that is well worth trying.

A few of the first course items are things like –

30 day strip loin carpaccio – on crisp hollow puri breads, stuffed with cheese foam, and topped with truffle vinaigrette

Green Tartare – zucchini, avocado, green bell peppers, pistachio vinaigrette, and fried rice paper crisp

Wedge Salad – guanciale, blue cheese, onion, pippara pepper

Salad of the day

You also have the opportunity to add a few things on if you care to. On one visit we added on the Cacio E Pepe Croquetas (pecorino Romano, tellicherry black pepper, yolk cream)

On another visit we took home the add on that my husband enjoyed latter as a snack. Pressed sandwich made with sobrasada, mutton cheese called a Bikini.

The entrees we tried so far were –

Rigatoni Amatriciana – bacon belly ends, sun-dried tomato pomodoro

Salmon A La Plancha – confit potato, pimenton aioli, stewed cabbage

Paccheri Puttanesca – eggplant, zucchini, piquillo pepper, olives

Picanha & Frites – Koji marinated steak, frites, chimichurri, brava sauce

So far we haven’t had the room to try dessert.

The 2 course $25. Lunch from ANIMA by Edo is Certainly Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

Anima by Edo

9205 W Russel Rd Las Vegas NV

702-202-4291

www.ANIMAbyEdo.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Butcher & Thief Steakhouse – Las Vegas NV – Newly Opened

Leave a reply

Butcher & Thief is a Steakhouse that opened around mid-December 2025. They are located in a center called, “The Bend.” That is right across the street from Ikea and near to the Durango. They are a sister restaurant to Carson’s Kitchen in Downtown Las Vegas. Butcher & Thief offers an attractive moderne atmosphere. They have a large wrap around patio, an indoor-outdoor bar, counter seating, and a few dining areas.

We shared the hamachi crudo with jicama, jalapeño, and yuzu soy.

I don’t really get the yuzu soy but it is ok.

For my main I tried the Steak (not a Cobb) Cobb salad.

The filet ends are tender and moist. In the salad are LOTS of pickled onions, chopped egg, blue cheese, diced avocado, and it’s dressed with balsamic vinaigrette.

My husband tried the Cheeseburger with fries.

Today this burger came with LOTS of spicy pickle chips. The burger came out a little dry today but the fries that came with it are amazing! The fries have that perfect crisp and very fluffy interiors. Might be the best fries in Las Vegas.

Butcher & Thief Newly Opened.

8670 W Sunset Rd Las Vegas NV

702-665-6315

www.ButcherandThief.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Hot Noods – Great Ramen – Worth a Fork! Las Vegas NV

Leave a reply

Hot Noods is an Asian Restaurant and Bar located in the El Cortez Casino/Hotel on Fremont Street and also near to the strip. Hot Noods menu consist of several appetizers, a variety of ramen dishes, add ons to ramen, rice, and noodle dishes, and more. The decor is kinda Vegas with lots of neon, modern light fixtures, and clear pink table tops.

We started with the chicken Poh Poh’s Dumplings because we had them before at their last restaurant Chinglish. However it seems that the recipe has changed some since Chinglish. These dumplings are still very good but taste different to both of us.

Both the ramens just BLEW US AWAY!

BOTH were levels much better than the ramen from most ramen restaurants.

My husband enjoyed the Tonkotsu Ramen with added Pork Belly.

I enjoyed the Veggie Ramen with added Crispy Chicken and Spicy Chili Paste.

WOW! so flavorful! Even the corn is really great and taste like real corn. The marinated soy egg is perfect. Even the chili paste is special.

Both ramens are many levels better than what most places serve.

Hot Noods is Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

Hot Noods (in the El Cortez Casino/Hotel with free parking) 600 E Fremont Street Las Vegas NV

702-659-6800

www.HotNoodsLV.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

The FORKING Las Vegas FOOD Buzz of the Week

Leave a reply

We found out for ourselves that you can have a FORKING Amazing dinner at Bar Boheme. We tried the Prix Fixe Menu that included amuse bouches, a baguette with French cultured butter, 2 more courses, and desserts. Food and service was spectacular.

Also in other local Las Vegas Food News –

The 2 course $25. Mon-Fri Lunch from ANIMA by EDO is also still amazing and might be one of the best values in town.

In Other Food News –

A NEW 20 Million $$$$$$ Plus 62,000 square foot Albertson’s has already broke ground in NORTH Las Vegas. (Decatur Blvd & Elkhorn Rd)

January 31st at 11:00am will be the Siegel Bagelmania’s 4th annual Bagel eating competition. Joey Chestnut is expected to be competing.

Pho So 1 Restaurant Vietnamese Restaurant closes after over 30 years.

Jaleo by Jose Andres is now offering Monday Night Flamenco (7pm-10pm)

Finnery’s Crafthouse Chain is expected to come to Downtown Summerlin and Town Square sometime this year.

Marufuku Ramen is expecting a February opening in downtown Summerlin.

Hash House A Go Go is no longer at the Rio. A restaurant called – The Kitchen Table has opened December 29th 2025 in that spot.

Silly and or Cute Food News – My dogs enjoying an In-N-Out Cheeseburger on their patio

That was The FORKING Las Vegas Food Buzz of the Week

and this is –

The Forking Truth

Tasty Vegetable Egg Roll Recipe

Leave a reply

I had an opened pack of egg roll wrappers that I had to use because when they get past their date the egg roll wrappers get impossible to roll. Last week cabbage was on sale for 49.cents a pound so I had extra cabbage here and egg rolls are just mostly cabbage so that is what I made. My recipe made 18 egg rolls.

Ingredients for around 18 egg rolls

1/2 head of cabbage – remove core and slice thin

2 carrots – shredded

1 cup corn kernels

1/2 cup scallions – sliced thin

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon 5 spice powder

1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper

1 teaspoon sesame oil

peanut or canola oil to fry – enough to well cover the egg rolls

egg roll wrappers

2 eggs – beaten (to help wrap)

Directions

Put the cabbage, carrots, corning a microwavable container and microwave for four minutes. Mix in the scallions, sugar, salt, 5 spice, white pepper, and sesame oil.

Heat up your oil in a pot to around 350 degrees F.

Take an egg roll wrapper (I put it down in a diamond shape) and brush it with beaten egg. Then fill it with about a tablespoon of filling. I pull the right and left sides into each other. Then I pull the top over the middle and roll it up.

Repeat till done.

Fry what ever feels comfortable to you at a time till they turn crispy and lightly browned.

Serve with Chinese mustard or some kind of asian dipping sauce.

Tasty Vegetable Egg Rolls

ENJOY!!!!!

The Forking Truth

Grape Vine Cafe – Las Vegas NV – Good Neighborhood Type – Italian-Mediterranean Restaurant – Worth a Try!

Leave a reply

Grape Vine Cafe is an Italian – Mediterranean Restaurant and Wine Bar located in the North/West part of Las Vegas Nevada. They offer a mostly Italian menu that is embellished with some Greek offerings and lots of wine. They have a partially covered dog friendly patio with fans and heaters for various temperatures.

Below is the patio.

Below is part of the dining area.

Whatever you decide on they start you off with fresh baked bread and creamy butter.

My husband decided on trying the soup of the day called Toscana. It was a creamy soup with sausage, kale, and potatoes.

He said that this soup was very good.

We also shared half of the baked brie appetizer platter. (the other half we brought home so we’d have room to eat lunch)

This was baked brie embellished with caramelized onions, apricot jam, and hazelnuts, that is baked in a crispy puff pastry. To the sides are buttered toasted baguette slices, sweet crisp pear slices, and grapes. It’s all tasty together.

For my lunch I tried the Beet with Grilled Salmon Salad.

The salmon is a good large portion and has been prepared reasonably well. It’s well done but is still moist and doesn’t taste over cooked so it’s good. The salad is garnished with candied walnuts, roasted red bell peppers and is dressed with a balsamic dressing. To the side is a generous amount of beets topped with creamy goat cheese.

My husband enjoyed the chicken parmesan.

Prices are reasonable.

Portions are large.

Worth a Try!

Grape Vine Cafe

7501 W Lake Mead Blvd Las Vegas NV

702-228-9463

www.GrapeVineVegas.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

SMKD BBQ – Henderson NV – Bravo Top Chef Restaurant – Worth a Fork!

Leave a reply

SMKD BBQ is a casual but very good BBQ Restaurant located in Henderson Nevada that is about a thirty minute ride from Las Vegas. This restaurant is by Bravo Top Chef Alex Resnick. (He’s the one in the red shirt in the picture below)

Back to the food.

We shared a four meat plate that comes with four sides. We tried brisket, mojo garlic bbq chicken, pastrami, and smoked salmon. For the sides we tried macaroni and cheese, sweet potato hush puppies, beets and carrots, and this super amazing kugel.

It all good but some of it is FORKING AMAZING!!!!!

The Mojo Garlic BBQ Chicken might be the best chicken I have ever tried anywhere. It so tender, so juicy, and so deliciously flavorful.

The Smoked Salmon is also really great. It’s that type of salmon that is seasoned and smoked just so with that certain – Melt in your mouth type of quality.

The real surprise was the Kugel. Who knew that something like kugel could be amazing.

But everything was good.

For my taste the brisket was a bit delicate with seasoning and smoke. But did taste much better with a little SMKD BBQ sauce.

Same with the pastrami. Good but maybe a little under-cured and was lightly smoked but still good.

The Macaroni and Cheese was better than what you get in most BBQ Places and so was the Beets and Carrots, and the tasty Sweet Potato Hush Puppies.

Went back a couple weeks later for a holiday special that we took out. Chef Resnick was also at work cooking that day.

Here is the take out special ordered for four people.

I am pleased to say that everything was good and delicious.

SMKD BBQ is Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

SMKD BBQ

10895 S Eastern Ave Henderson NV

725-205-1460

www.SMKDBBQ.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

A Taste of Oh La La French Bistro – Las Vegas NV – Worth a Fork!

Leave a reply

Oh La La French Bistro is located in the Summerlin Part of Las Vegas Nevada. This might be the only French Restaurant (and bar) that you can find here that is owned by an actual French Man that usually greets you during your stay. We’ve been here several times for lunch, dinner, and restaurant week. and other various specials.

For your first time here you might want to try one of the reasonably priced lunch specials.

Here is the rest of the lunch menu –

We haven’t tried every plate here but we sure tried a bunch.

Whatever you order they start you off with complimentary baguette and butter. Then the rest is up to you!

Below are various plates from our lunch and dinner visits.

Everything was at least good.

Not all but some things did stand out.

French Onion Soup – because it was a delicious onion base

Warm Goat Cheese with pistachios and onion jam – Just delicious and hard to pass up

I didn’t eat any of the duck or beef dishes here. My husband did and he liked them all.

I think he liked the Hachis Parmentier (French Shepard’s Pie) a lot and the Croque Madame.

Several times I got the Sole Meunière here because it seems like what to order.

Oh La La French Bistro is Always Worth a Try! and also is –

Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

Oh La La French Bistro

2120 N Rampart Blvd Las Vegas NV

702-222-3522

www.OhLaLaFrenchBistro.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth