LEAVING LAS VEGAS!!!!!

And FINALLY.

After about 4 months of non-stop posting about our US trip last May, it has finally come to this.... 

Our last blog entry about our US vacation to celebrate Andrei's 7th birthday!!!!

I know you may already be sick and tired of this but sorry to say, the Chinese Adonis and I ARE NOT. He he he he! Besides, we did ERICJAZ FOODIES to serve as our online diary/photo album and since we enjoyed our family vacation in the US so much, we want to remember every single minute of it!

So with this, I bring to you our last day in Las Vegas.... hopefully, for now. Tee hee!

Anywho, the day of our flight, I woke up extra early for THIS.

OW EM.... to the highest maximum gulay! It's the day of our flight and I haven't even started with packing all our boxes and bags!! Even if the Chinese Adonis was willing to help, I have my own proven technique in doing it (taught by the great Ate Shiela) that saves space and cushions even the most fragile of objects. 

But since I was too hungry (AND lazy) to function, I went to the kitchen to have some breakfast first!

Garlic rice with lots of ham!

Crispy Bacon!

SERENDIPITY 3 (LAS VEGAS)

While we were planning our US trip, we were supposed to go to New York because our little lord's favorite movie then was HOME ALONE 2 (Lost in New York). I was pretty much excited to go there as well because I had a lot of restaurants mapped out for us which I was not able to try in my first visit in the big apple. One of them of course, was the famous little coffee shop named SERENDIPITY.

Unfortunately, our trip to New York did not push through but I was still craving for a taste of that creamy milk shake that was made more famous by Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack's movie. The foodie gods I guess were on my side that trip because lo and behold, there was a SERENDIPITY branch located in Caesar's Palace right at Las Vegas strip!

YOHOOO!

Now was that luck, fate, or destiny?

No, it was SERENDIPITY.

Lame? Oh well! THAT'S what you get from me this week! :P 

AND we're finally here... 

SERENDIPITY 3!

We may have to do with SERENDIPITY in Las Vegas for NOW. :)

Yes! FINALLY! We were supposed to have coffee here before going to Los Angeles but unfortunately it closed at 10:00pm! So here we are again with a vengeance.

HOT N' JUICY CRAWFISH (LAS VEGAS)

Before our trip to the US, I downplayed our excitement by joking that THE YAPPY BUNCH will be having a very long trip to Subic, a popular tourist spot in the Philippines. When finally my ex-Facebook friends ("ex" because they have blocked me since then) figured out that we were really in Las Vegas, quite a number suggested that we try out HOT N' JUICY CRAWFISH.  The restaurant was actually a very popular seafood joint that served its entrees piping hot in plastic bags that you enjoy on the table (no plates!) and using your bare hands. Yes, it is very similar to California favorite BOILING CRAB or KICKIN KASIAN but of course, HOT N' JUICY CRAWFISH had its own unique flavors that qualified for a family pig-out session.

We definitely had an over the top and delicious lunch with the family at HOT N' JUICY CRAWFISH. Unfortunately though, I lost a lost of FB friends after I posted about it in Facebook since they still thought that it was in Subic.

Ha ha ha ha! Kidding!

I'm not going to say SUCKER though.

:P

HOT N' JUICY CRAWFISH!

OLIVE GARDEN

After watching our XMEN MOVIE , I told Kuya Nap and Ate Shiela that it will be our turn to treat them for an early dinner. It was only about 7:30pm but we were feeling a bit hungry even though we just ate some PANDA EXPRESS before the show. We also finished a bucket of pop corn (save for Kuya Nap :P) so I don't really know where this craving was coming from. 

Then I realized what it is.

It was the power of OLIVE GARDEN!

When it's time to eat at OLIVE GARDEN, it IS time to eat at OLIVE GARDEN. Your stomach will yearn for it and succumb to its power.

Why?

Maybe because in OLIVE GARDEN, whenever you're here, you're HUNGRY... este... family! :)

He he he he!

OLIVE GARDEN!!

OUR MEMORIAL XMEN MOVIE DAY AND MORE!

I was not really planning on including this in our silly little foodie blog but the Chinese Adonis said it was still something we did during our trip so it was best to record it in our "online diary".  Besides, there could be other people out there who love watching movies so much that they are also curious as to how theaters are in the western side.

And that would be only YOU and ME.

Naks! I guess if you DO read this entry, it means we are somehow kindred spirits. UUUUY! Just kindred spirits. Don't get your hopes up or anything. (#hottieproblems) 

BWA HA HA HA!

And that's what you call menopause.... Or second childhood... Or mental instability. 

Tee hee!

Anywho....

Fast forward photo

One of the movies we were all raring to watch since the franchise started was X-MEN DAYS OF FUTURE PAST.  By some stroke of whatever luck (good or bad) it started showing days before our departure right when we just got back from California.  It may seem silly to forego a sight seeing trip in and about Las Vegas (again) but the Chinese Adonis and I thought the kids might have fun watching a movie in the US.

Yes, we are a family who loves to watch movies. The whole experience of going to the theater and cuddling around while eating buttered popcorn is so fun for us.

So you could just imagine how thrilled we were at the thought of watching our much awaited movie with the kids in a different setting!

Good thing my cousins also loved the X-MEN series and agreed to watch with us. See? It was meant to be!

MARIE CALLENDER'S

If there's one thing I should ALWAYS get a bite of when I'm in the US (and I mean ALWAYS okay? Let us not ease up on the importance of it) that would be a heaping forkful of MARIE CALLENDER'S famous pies.

If you haven't had a taste of this heavenly dessert that must've been baked by singing angels (named Marie?) then you are missing a chunk of something so sweet and true that could make your life oh so loverly.

Believe me when I say, that there are some pies and there are other pies, but when you are faced with a plate of MARIE CALLENDER'S, you would definitely know that it is THE ONLY pie that matters.  My preference would be similar to THE WOMAN of Sherlock Holmes but I will not dwell on that any further. I shall not let my reignited love affair with Benedict Cumberbatch get in the way of declaring my love for this pie (which I'm always seem to have a habit of doing).

Yeniway, while my cousin was busy preparing our WELCOME SHABU SHABU dinner in Las Vegas, I made myself useful not by helping out in the slicing and dicing. No way! Ha ha ha! Instead, I dragged my husband to MARIE CALLENDER'S nearest branch to get a box of their awesome pies.

Don't worry. A plateful of MARIE CALLENDER'S pies is more than enough contribution to any dinner. He he he he! That counts washing the dishes too!!!!

MARIE CALLENDER'S!

If you THINK that I'm already hiding a pie under that shirt, I might bonk you if I could reach you. That's just flab.... pure Jazzie flab. 

MARIE CALLENDER'S!!!

A SHABU SHABU WELCOME DINNER!

After our California vacation, we headed back to Las Vegas in a hurry not because we will be going to another casino or that we were missing my cousins.

We were so excited for a SHABU SHABU dinner!

Yep! Sorry. Ha ha ha ha! We love food too much that we have forgotten any form of human affection. Instead, we just focused on what's waiting for us at the end of the sin city's "rainbow" and that is, piping hot bowls of SHABU SHABU.

Yum! I'm sure you'd know by now that SHABU SHABU is indeed our favorite!  To THINK that we just came from Days Inn Hotel for a heavy breakfast and Arby's for our late lunch. Yes it may seem gluttony that we are rushing somewhere just for a taste of our delicious food but we don't care -- we are willing to shed what's left of human decency just to get a sip of that heavily flavored broth, crunchy vegetables, tender seafood, and chewy noodles.

I'm sure you'd agree with me once you see the spread that my cousin prepared for us. You might even purposely forget that you have a wife/husband just so you'd get the first bowl.

I'm sure that's what my husband did. And even son.

I lead such a sorry life......

Kidding! He he he he he! 

Familiar landmarks that remind us we were near LAS VEGAS!

When we got to Las Vegas, my cousin Kuya Nap was so busy preparing the ingredients for his special SHABU SHABU dinner. 

My cousin is not really a chef but like us, he LOVED to eat. It's always a great day when he cooks because he is such a whiz in the kitchen! 

STUDIO B (M RESORT - LAS VEGAS)

Before going to Las Vegas, I promised myself that I will only eat a quarter of meat matched with a whole platter of vegetables so that I could still maintain my (ahem) wonderful figure. I have been pretty successful so far especially that I would just share entrees with the little lords then control my food intake by just having a side salad. Everything was going well until my Kuya Nap happily announced that he was going to take us to a seafood buffet in M resort.

Wow. Seafood and buffet. I don't need a picture to know that my diet will go downhill from there. 

We were driving to California on Sunday so we attended Saturday mass  in my cousin's parish. 

As their custom here in the Philippines, the little lords ran up to the priest to give respect (here we do it via "mano"). 

I'm sure the priest did not know this Filipino custom but he did give the kiddies blessings and a few words of wisdom.

After church, it was a long straight drive to M resort. Wow! You don't see this very often in Manila. This is what my husband definitely misses in the US!

And so we're here...

STUDIO B!

GODIVA

After our Gondola ride at the VENETIAN HOTEL (SEE HERE) Yub and I spotted a familiar sight... 

GODIVA!

My husband and I were instantly hooked by this gentleman in black, diligently working on what seems to be a masterpiece.

DENNY'S

During our 2nd Las Vegas staycation at THE GOLDEN NUGGET (SEE HERE!!!!), the Chinese Adonis craved for something meaty. Now before your naughty minds get all riled up, I was referring to beef, beef, and MORE beef. But since he was on a diet, he wanted his MEAT inside a bun.

Wait a minute, now THAT doesn't seem right. Me and my mind! Ha ha ha ha!

Anywho, we were in Downtown Las Vegas and upon checking online, the most probable restaurant that was nearest to us was DENNY'S. My husband hasn't eaten there yet and agreed with mucho gusto. So after swimming with sharks in our hotel pool (yup check the link up there!), we proceeded to DENNY'S to satisfy my husband's need for some meat.

DENNY'S!!!

If you want to know where the DENNY'S branch is downtown, just look for the Stratosphere!

If you don't know what the Stratosphere is, THAT'S the Stratosphere hotel. :)

BLUEBERRY HILL (US TRIP)

My eldest brother and his wife went to the US last year where they also dropped by Las Vegas for a short visit. Of course besides the casinos, shows, and hotels, my brother cannot stop raving about the food. Though he already had his fare share of food trips in various restaurants in the Philippines and around the globe (he's more of a traveller than I am), he has always been yearning to eat in a true blue American diner -- the type that you would find in the movies where the waitress comes up to you by the counter and asks "More coffee honey?"

My brother was so happy that my cousin brought him to BLUEBERRY HILL, a 24 hour diner that was every bit of how he envisioned it to be. Not only was he able to get fluffy pancakes at midnight  but yes, a waitress did offer him coffee while holding a steaming pot. Believe me was one happy guy right there and then (it doesn't take much to make us happy... he he he he).

So when THE YAPPY BUNCH went to Las Vegas, I was also counting the days till we eat at BLUEBERRY HILL. Finally, after we checked out from our wonderful NEW YORK HOTEL staycation (SEE HERE) we were able to do just that. Like my brother, never again will I be curious of how they serve things at a real US diner. We ate what we wished for AND with a LOT of extra cups of coffee on the side. :)

BLUEBERRY HILL FAMILY RESTAURANTS!!

BLUEBERRY HILL seems like your typical Las Vegas restaurant on the outside built with red hued cement walls and pillars. 

PANDA EXPRESS (US TRIP)

While we were planning our US trip this year, I immediately suggested... no demanded..... wait, hold the phone, I force choked Yub into submission rather, that we should eat in PANDA EXPRESS with the boys. I mean, yeah I'm sure that he would agree without the need for my "masochistic love" but I was not taking any chances right?

And I know that with just the words "ORANGE CHICKEN" you might even help me in pinning the Chinese Adonis down.

Oooh... (Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye)...

KIDDING A-SIDE. Yes! Though I know there is an abundance of steak, burgers, ribs, etc., etc., in the US, I also know that sooner or later we will look for rice, noodles, stir fry, soup, and yes, rice again. We cannot NOT have our daily dose of Asian food and the one that I feel that would be up to the task, besides Filipino food, would always be PANDA EXPRESS.

It was my favorite then. I'm sure it will be my little lords' favorite now.

And I was right!

PANDA EXPRESS!

IN N' OUT BURGER (US TRIP)

One of the usual "pit stops" for tourists going to the US is IN N' OUT Burgers. What is it about this place? Even if it was not a themed restaurant, a hotel buffet, or a Michelin starred bistro, almost everyone I know goes to the very simple eatery for some of their no frills burger and fries. Come to think of it, it's not just the tourists -- even the locals would swear by their loyalty to the fast food joint. To think that their menu is very limited compared to other US diners -- egad, they don't even have fried chicken! But go here we did (I am Yoda) because of that very reason -- we just wanted some effin good burgers. And I guess since IN N' OUT has been serving the same kind of burgers since 1948, a superkaduper number of their loyal loving diners will agree with me (for once).

So to IN N' OUT we will eat. There is no try. (He he he doing the Yoda voice again.)

IN N' OUT BURGER!

The place with the golden arrow! 

JOE'S CRAB SHACK

For THE YAPPY BUNCH's trip to Las Vegas, I vowed to do 2 things: One, to take my little lords to all the theme parks that they wished for, and Two, to eat in my favorite restaurants that we do not have yet in the Philippines.

Yes, the second one may be a little selfish on my part but I could always justify it by saying we all need to eat right? He he he he!

So  one of the restaurants that topped my list was JOE'S CRAB SHACK. I remembered that for the many times I have been to the US, my relatives would always take me to Red Lobster, another seafood restaurant that is popular there (I think). But for the many times that I have eaten there, I was still not a fan. I just don't like the food that much. As for THE SHACK, it was a different story. I often see it many times going to and from my cousin's  house and when we finally ate there, it was what my taste buds were craving for. With that, I promised that for every trip to Las Vegas, we would always have one night reserved for it. And thus, my family was introduced to JOE'S CRAB SHACK. 

JOE'S CRAB SHACK!

JOE'S CRAB SHACK is very casual and vibrant. It's like a restaurant where surfer dudes would hang out.  

PHO SO 1

When we arrived in Las Vegas, we were met by my cousin Kuya Nap and his wife Ate Sheila. Oh it was so great to see them after 5 years!!! I missed them so much! After the usual "HELLOS", "HI'S", and "WE MISSED YOUs", we realized that it was time for dinner. And yes, I was so excited! Will finally start my OTHER mission in the US... TO EAT.

You would think that just because we were in the US, we would be stuffing ourselves immediately with  burgers, ribs, or any American food that you could think of. But NOOOH. My cousin knows me too well being our baby sitter before that I always have to have noodles and soup especially when I was tired (yes, too lazy to chew... tee hee). Oh yes. Some people need to sleep or lie down in order to relax and feel at home with their new place. But for me it's different. It should be FOOD.

With that, he hied us off to his favorite restaurant for piping hot bowls of Vietnamese Pho. And yes, with just one slurp of the flavorful broth I smiled and thought to my weird self "Welcome to America!" :) 

PHO SO 1!!

Now isn't that a beautiful moon? It somehow looks like the same one back home... :P