​By: Bob Gourley
 
Since I grew up in Southern California I was not aware of pasties. They just weren’t a part of the dining scene there. After a trip to Michigan last summer I was exposed to some great meat pies. My wife and I had driven past Cornish Pasty Co. on Charleston many times on our way to the Smith Center. But we didn’t stop in until last week. 

By: Bob Gourley
 
Henderson is known for a lot of chain restaurants. Nothing wrong with that but the tide seems to be turning toward more individually owned locations and that is a good thing.
 
One of the newer local spots is Craft Kitchen.

​Chef Jaret Blinn’s philosophy is to “feed people how you would want to be fed.” His credentials are impressive having spent time at Ritz Carlton hotels in Maui, San Francisco and Lake Las Vegas. He also had stints at Le Cirque and Circo at the Bellagio.

​By: Bob Gurley
 
Comfort food is great this time of the year. There is nothing better than easing into a restaurant and ordering up a feast that will stick to your bones. If you have ever been to one of the Metro Diners in the valley you know that big portions are what they are all about.
    
A visit to the Henderson location found me leaving with a full stomach and pleasant memories. Being a big fan of chicken and waffles I had to indulge in their version. 

By: Bob Gurley
 
Sometimes the best food discoveries are by accident. I was driving north on Eastern Ave. in Green Valley and an inviting sign caught my eye…Cinnaholic. I thought to myself that the name was reason enough to visit. A few days later I decided to give them a try. 

​The founders, Shannon and Florian Radke, opened the first location in Berkeley back in 2010. They appeared on Shark Tank and from there developed the business model that is helping to expand offerings throughout the U.S.

By: Bob Gurley
​
It would be an understatement to say that there are a lot of chicken restaurants in the valley. I suppose that mirrors other cities where you can find just about any type of bird dishes.

The Crack Shack at the Park MGM Hotel and Casino is a little different than most in that not only can you get a creative chicken sandwich but you can wash it down with an adult beverage if you wish.

By: Robert Gurley
 
There was a lot of speculation as to what would replace Spago when it moved from Caesar’s to the Bellagio. When it was learned that Water Grill was coming to that spot, cheers went up. Southern California foodies have been enjoying the upscale nautical entrees both in downtown Los Angeles and Orange County for some time.

​The new location on the strip is much different than the cousins down south. The décor lighting is darker with a look that resembles being inside a luxury yacht. There is an upstairs area with a private dining room and the large fish tanks are tucked in the back close to the expansive kitchen.

By: Bob Gourley

There is a fun factor built into just about every visit to a Brazilian steakhouse. Residents of Henderson have a relatively new spot to enjoy marinated meats and creative side dishes.
 
Rodizio Grill is the hip new place located in the upper plaza at the Galleria at Sunset. The concept is simple.

By: Bob Gurley
​
I was a little envious when my son announced that he and his girlfriend had visited Delmonico at the Venetian. It is known to be one of the top steakhouses in the valley and it was a destination I was looking forward to visiting someday.

​The day finally arrived as my wife and I were going to meet an acquaintance from Los Angeles who was in town for a convention. He let me choose the restaurant and one of the caveats was it had to be quiet so we could carry on a conversation.

By: Bob Gurley

​There are of course many options for both food and drink on the Strip. But if you want spirited libations, good eats and entertainment all rolled into one package visit Rock and Reilly’s. This spot, at the Hawaiian Marketplace, has a large outdoor patio area where you can gaze at the passing parade as you sip and consume.

​Specialty starter sharing dishes include Irish Nachos constructed with homemade kettle chips topped with peppered bacon, Irish cheddar, scallions and corn salsa. Bingo Wings are infused with Reilly’s Whiskey BBQ sauce.

​By: Bob Gourley
 
There is a lot of good food that is shared at backyard feasts. The folks behind the budding Bok Bok chain of restaurants like to use their own backyard experiences to fill their menu items. Even though the place doesn’t feature BBQ as a lot of home-cooked bashes do, they feature a lot of healthful Mediterranean dishes that are flavorful.