For many people, Vegas is the city of revelry, debauchery and general tom-foolery…but, for me, it’s a whole new city of food to explore! Now, as a native Californian, I am no stranger to Vegas. The Vegas of my youth – that of $3 all-you-can-eat steak and lobster buffets (pronounced “BOO-fays”) no longer exists. It has been replaced with a lot more glitz and glam, fast-food joints and high-falutin’ restaurants, alike. The BEST part of the “new Vegas,” in my opinion is the prevalence of gluten- and dairy-free options! Granted, it’s no Santa Monica (see earlier post) but it’s a VAST improvement from the fare I’ve seen at other cities of its size. So, without further ado, I bring you 2+ days of Clean Eating in Las Vegas:
Day 1 Clean Eating in Las Vegas
Grand Lux Cafe
Before traveling to Vegas, I had spoken with the Concierge at the Venetian to acquire a complete listing of restaurants that served gluten- and dairy-free fare. So, when we strolled into the Grand Lux Café, I was sure we’d all have something to satisfy. Well, I was wrong. Although my kids went for the sugary, glutinous French toast options and my husband got his signature omelet, I was left wanting. I ended up ordering the fruit plate and supplementing with the Paleo granola and vegan/GF shake mix I brought with me as a backup.
Mon Ami Gabi
If breakfast had been a bit of a let down (and the kids were feeling a bit sick after their sticky, sugary excuse for it), lunch was an absolute dream! Now, for context, we were showing the kids the “Eiffel Tower” for the first time and even had our former French foreign exchange student with us. So, yes, it’s all a bit smarmy but the food was NO JOKE. Our petite française had often remarked that French lunches were much more elaborate than our American ones (it’s their main meal of the day) and that they are undertaken with great care and a sense of relaxation (a glass of wine is a definite requisite).
So, from the moment we sat down at Mon Ami Gabi at the Paris Hotel, Pierre, our waiter, made sure we had ample time to relax and savor our food – course by course. They have an entirely gluten-free menu (and it’s not small, people) and even serve GF toast with each meal (you can have your toast and eat it, too!). I opted for the Atlantic Salmon with corn salad & velouté with feta and basil and my hubby had the special Halibut with ratatouille. Mine was so good, my 8 year-old pushed aside his mac-n-fromage and ate the last half of the salmon. Sacré bleu! Although they had 3 GF desserts from which to choose, I was content with an almond-milk cappuccino and a square of the Hu chocolate bar I smuggled past TSA (they’ll confiscate anything these days).
El Segundo Sol
Now, dinner, I had planned and reserved ahead of time because stuff fills up at Vegas – even the 5:30 pm slots! (Don’t judge – we had tickets for a 7pm show, kids in tow.) I had read on the internet about El Segundo Sol, a Mexican restaurant that was a) health-conscious and b) gluten-free-conscious. This restaurant, you see, is so dedicated to ensuring its gluten-sensitive clientele have a positive experience that hey have a dedicated fryer for their tortilla chips to avoid cross-contamination. Talk about feeling the love!
Not only were their tortillas made from corn (vs. wheat flour), they were specially fried – just for us! Of course, the guac and three different kinds of salsa meant we ate more than our fair share of the special tortillas…guess we’ll need to kick the workouts up a notch when we get back! But back to the food: I ordered the fish tacos (which were delish) and the hubby had the fish fajitas. All were tummy-friendly and tasty, to boot!
Day 2 Clean Eating in Las Vegas
Zen Kitchen
Having learned a valuable lesson from our FIRST brekky in Vegas, I did some research and made a reservation at Zen Kitchen for breakfast #2. This place did not disappoint! Not only did they have a BEAUTIFUL spread that made the kids’ eyes bulge out of their heads, it was REAL food. They had a full omelet bar (complete with chef at-the-ready), which made my husband a happy camper. And, perhaps most importantly, they were able to make me a Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan waffle – that was amazing! Topped with berries and served with an almond-milk cappuccino, I was set for the day.
Mind you, those weren’t their only Claudine-friendly options: there was a full juice and parfait area, with TWO healthy juice options (a green juice with pineapple, kale and some other amazing things I can’t remember) AND a ginger-carrot one. Oh, and there were GF muffins, y’all! Add to that the impeccable service, and it’s no wonder my 8 year-old called this the best meal of our entire trip!
Micheal Mina’s Pub 1842
After that filling and delightful breakfast, we had plenty of energy to walk the strip, including visiting the Shark Reef Aquarium, the Hershey’s store and the M&M’s store (you gotta see ‘em, right??). But after all that walking, we were in serious need of re-fueling. Thankfully, the M&M store is one door down from the MGM Grand, where Michael Mina’s Pub 1842 happens to be housed (though WAAAAAYYYY in the back of the property – we got our exercise that day!).
Once again, the server was very helpful ensuring our meals were free from pesky allergens and to everyone’s liking. On our table were: fish and chips (not GF), a blue-cheese wedge salad (not DF), a bun-less burger for the hubby, a kale salad, and my mixed green salad with grilled shrimp (pictured). I may be a bit biased but mine was totally the best choice. All-in-all, another positive experience for the varied tastes of our family.
Tao
For our last dinner in Vegas, we ditched the kids (who were psyched to have room service!) and had a date night at Tao in the Venetian. This restaurant is very dim and very romantic – a perfect place for celebrating 15 years in wedded bliss. We started with an alcohol-free cocktail (if you are inflammation prone, sugar/alcohol is a migraine waiting to happen), which was lovely and ordered a sushi roll. The waiter was SOOOOO accommodating with our dietary needs that he had the chef prepare a special sauce for the spicy tuna roll. I wasn’t sure how it was going to taste but it was surprisingly great!
We then each had a fish dish: I had the Chilean Sea Bass over a bed of sautéed veggies and the hubby had the Branzino over greens – both GF/DF. Delicious, of course. After so much food, you might think we’d might be done for the night – but you’d be so wrong! If there is a GF/DF dessert to be had, you KNOW I’m all over it. Besides, I knew I was going to write about this so, in the interest of being completely thorough, I absolutely had to try dessert. Little did we know, however, that it was going to be a whole boat of dessert! They brought out a large, oblong dish with a variety of fresh fruit and a scoop of dairy-free mango sorbet. Oh, and we had a delish herbal tea. When in Rome (or the Italian-Vegas version of Asia…?)
Needless to say, a lovely last dinner sans munchkins.
Day 3 Clean Eating in Las Vegas
“We’re leaving Las Vegas! Oh-whoah-whoah-whoah…”
What, no Sheryl Crow fans??
Canyon Ranch Grill
Okay, last morning in Vegas and we found yet ANOTHER great breakfast spot. And this one was in our hotel, no less! The Canyon Ranch Grill in the gym/spa area of the Venetian had quite the healthy menu. There were three types of GF smoothies with DF options (plus a “make your own” option), three types of DF milk (almond, coconut, and oat), and three types of nut butter! I mean, where AM I right now?? Did I mention they had kombucha tonics?! This place was right up my alley.
I ordered the Acai Bowl with Cashew Butter while the kids had a healthier version of French Toast and a fancy PB&J with ripe berries. The hubby had his usual omelet (but was able to choose all the fillings) with sweet potatoes and the French girl thought she’d get something “small” by ordering the yogurt parfait. Although she had lived in America for a year, she still thinks “small” here is the same as “petite” in French. Oh, silly French girl!
Stuffed and exhausted from all the stimulus in “Sin City,” we were ready to head home. All in all, however, I was surprised and impressed at the ways Vegas has changed to accommodate people who want to live a healthier lifestyle without scrimping on taste. Well done, Vegas, well done.
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