Vegas, Hong Kong and Shanghai– Oh My!

Gooseneck Bridge Market in Hong Kong

The past two weeks have been absolutely insane. I went to Las Vegas, Hong Kong and Shanghai all in less than two weeks. I had a great time visiting friends and family, but I am exhausted. It’s good to be back in the U.S. and I’ll update more on my trip to Asia this week, but I wanted to post a few photos from my travels.

Inside the Wynn Hotel in Vegas

Carousel Inside the Bellagio Gardens in Vegas

Fresh Mangosteens and Durians in Hong Kong

My FAVORITE Dessert-- Steamed Milk in Hong Kong

Le Rêve and Bartolotta at the Wynn in Vegas

As part of Virgin America’s Las Vegas prize, my friend Anne and I got two tickets to Le Rêve. I love going to shows in general (concerts, Broadway musicals, you name it) and Las Vegas has so many wonderful options. My favorite show has been Cirque du Soleil’s KÀ (those vertical fighting scenes are intense) and a close second would be Cirque du Soleil’s O (holy crap, it’s all underwater with crazy synchronized swimmer and Olympic divers).

I’d actually seen Le Rêve before for my Mom’s birthday a couple of years ago, but I was looking forward to seeing it again. Le Rêve is impressive, but part of my problem with the show is that there is SO much going on. There are crazy acrobats in the sky, dancing on the stage, and synchronized swimming below. Who the hell can keep up with all of that? While I enjoyed the show the first time, I was actually slightly annoyed because I felt like I missed so much. This time, I made sure to take notice of EVERYTHING happening on the stage. I kept looking up and down because I wanted to catch all the nuances of the show. It’s an impressive show and definitely one of the better shows on the Strip. But, if you’re going to Vegas for the first time, I totally recommend KÀ!

After the show, Anne and I grabbed dinner at Italian, seafood eatery, Bartolotta. We weren’t super hungry (hurray 2nd dinner!) and ordered appetizer-sized pasta dishes. I ordered a lobster spaghetti dish and Anne ordered rigatoni with octopus and peas.

Spaghetti al l’astice at Bartolotta

I can't remember what this was called but it's rigatoni with octopus

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner at Michael Mina’s Nobhill Tavern in Vegas

Dear lord, this was the best chicken I've ever eaten in my entire life.

So it was a little ironic that I traveled to Las Vegas to go to the San Francisco-style Nob Hill Tavern by Michael Mina, but I have no regrets! It was actually one of the best meals of my life. I ate at Michael Mina in San Francisco years ago and it was a really nice, expensive 11-course meal. Nob Hill Tavern is definitely more casual and little bit lighter on the wallet.

We were celebrating my best friend Anne’s belated birthday and I requested a special table. The first few tables in the restaurant are a little bit more private and can fit 2-4 people in a booth. There’s a larger common room in the back. I was really impressed with the intimate feel of the booth (I felt like I was on a fancy date with Anne) and the great service!

Michael Mina Oysters

Seared Foie Gras with Mango Chutney

Chilled Cucumber Soup with Crab

Scallops on a Bed of Radicchio

Truffle Mac and Cheese

Grand Marnier Souffle

Virgin America, I want your babies

Dear Virgin America, you rock so hard. I want your babies.

Love, Jackie

To say this past weekend was EPIC is a complete understatement. My best friend Anne won a Virgin America trip to Vegas last month and I got to be her plus 1. I thought we had just won airfare and asked “Oh, where do you want to stay?”

But no, she had won so much more:

PRIZE: One winner will win two (2) roundtrip flights on Virgin  America in main cabin between any origin and Las Vegas  on Virgin America’s route network on August 26, 2011 and August 28, 2011. In addition, two (2) nights’ accommodations for two (2) people in an Encore Resort Suite King Room at Encore at Wynn Las Vegas  on Friday, August 26, 2011 and Saturday, August 27, 2011; two (2) premium tickets to Le Rêve at Wynn Las Vegas at 7:00pm on Saturday, August 27, 2011; and access for two (2) to a Cabana at Encore Beach Club at Wynn Las Vegas on August 28, 2011; includes food, beverage, tax and gratuity. All four (4) Winners and their guests will be placed together in the same cabana for a total of eight (8) people up to a maximum of $2,000 in food and beverages, plus tax and gratuity for the day.

Are you kidding me!? My jaw dropped when I read her email. Anne had just basically won an all expense paid trip to Las Vegas. Not only did we get to fly baller Virgin America (gotta love the personalized TV’s), but also we got to stay at the nicest hotel on the strip, Encore!

The weekend was absolutely perfect. I got to see the new Terminal 2 at San Francisco Airport (hello, Pinkberry that opens at 5am) and it had awesome food eateries and cool sculptures. Our flight was on time (and completely booked) both to and from Vegas and in-flight service was great as usual.

We arrived at Encore and got upgraded to a suite on the 51st floor (THANK YOU VIRGIN AMERICA). Our room was huge with an awesome view. We probably could have fit a small army in our room.

We're way too excited about our room.

We should have invited more people with us to Vegas...

View from our room

Poolside at Encore

Will write more posts with more details about food, partying and spa treatments!