George Bernard Shaw, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Henry David Thoreau, Leo Tolstoy, all great men; and all vegetarians. Can one imagine how impressed they would be living in today’s world, which has embraced the vegetarian lifestyle? While Las Vegas is known for its many steak and seafood restaurants, there are several spots in town that have elevated their vegetarian options—stand-out dishes creative in flavor and presentation, worthy of being passed along the vegetarian grapevine.
Now, a majority will say Uncle Vincent’s lemon chicken at Rao’s at Caesars Palace is the star of the kitchen, but for vegetarians, the ravioli purse has to be one of the most memorable pasta dishes ever created. From a cast-iron skillet, the al dente sacchetti—beggar’s purse-shaped pasta—is plated tableside. Stuffed with a mixture of Barlett pears and creamy ricotta cheese, the pasta is drizzled with a brown butter and sage sauce, with dried cranberries that give the dish a pop of color and a hint of sweetness. Take the time to eat this dish; it’s the only way to savor the palate-stimulating flavor.
Sticking with pasta dishes, here’s another recipe that you’ll remember long after the last forkful comes from Culinary Dropout at Hard Rock Hotel. The sweet corn cannelloni gets a slight crunch from the bright yellow, sweet kernels inside the cannelloni. The roasted tomato and grilled asparagus pieces add a garden-fresh touch with smoked shallots, herb butter and Parmesan coating each bite, balancing sweet with salty. This dish is heaven.
Culinary Dropout - Sweet corn cannelloni
For south-of-the-border bites, head to MGM Grand where Hecho en Vegas serves an assortment of vegetarian options. A hearty, spiced dish is the portobello fajitas. Brought to the table on a wooden tray, the skillet sizzles with wood-fired mushroom slices and peppers. Scoop it into one of the hot corn tortillas and fill it with the accompanying black beans, Mexican rice and some pico de gallo and it’s a filling fajita, just like its meat equivalent.
A longtime favorite for both locals and tourists, Border Grill at Mandalay Bay has one of the most interesting vegetarian tacos. The avocado tacos hold plump avocado slices coated in a mixture of red quinoa, amaranth (a good source of vitamins and protein) and black sesame seeds. The piquant flavoring from the chipotle salsa, grilled corn relish and pickled onion marry perfectly with the mellow flavor of the avocado. This preparation of the green fruit might just make you forget about guacamole.
One can’t really say they’ve eaten American cuisine without consuming a steak, a definite vegetarian no-no. But what also qualifies as all-American is a burger. With the arrival of New York’s Shake Shack, the New York-New York hotel’s outpost should actually be on all vegetarians’ radar. Beginning with a slightly toasted, buttered potato bun, the ’shroom burger gets a lathering of ShakeSauce along with staple accoutrements of lettuce and tomato. The patty is a crisp-fried, stuffed portobello mushroom that oozes melted Muenster and cheddar cheese with each bite. You’ll be saying “Boca- and Morning Star-who?”
And one of the most opulent fine-dining destinations in the city, Guy Savoy Restaurant at Caesars Palace offers one of the most indulgent vegetarian dishes. Chef Savoy has created an umami delight with his signature artichoke and black truffle soup. Each bite is pure earthy goodness followed with a bit of sharpness from the shaved Parmesan. And what really pushes the flavor over the top is the toasted mushroom brioche served alongside with a liberal spread of truffle butter. Ditch the spoon and dip the brioche. It’s truffle-flavor overload. And, it’s so good. Just like every vegetarian dish mentioned here—it’s all good.
