Ok...call it cheesy, but I like Vegas. I like gambling. I like warmth. I like foot long mohitos. Sure, the entire city represents the worst of Western culture, but for an occasional weekend I can embrace my gluttonous Westerness. Hell, I don't live in Milton, drive an SUV or eat baby seals or anything, so really on the spectrum of consumption I'm on the low end.

Vegas has evolved from the days of $0.99 buffets and mole sauce in a paper cub at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaworld. Today some of the world's best chefs have converged on Sin City to offer incredible gastronomic delights. I don't spend on much, but I do spend on food and as such have made the rounds of the best Vegas has to offer.

Ok..First dinner place was called Stratta located in the Wynn Hotel. Not only were we seated next veteran star if stage and screen, Laura Prepon (of That 70s Show, and Southlander: Diary of a Desperate Musician fame) our taste buds were tantalized by some fantastic Italian treats. I had Sea Bass with a side of broccolini and garlic. Absolutely superb. Fish, especially white fish can often be overcooked, but this was just right. Those I dined with all had different pasta dishes, which they seemed less impressed with, but I was thoroughly pleased.

Lunch the next day was also a highlight. We ventured to Caesar's Palace to sit outside at La Salsa. I guess the best part was I was sitting outside in 20 degree heat and not the -20 my idiot friends were enjoying back in Toronto. I consumed many Corona Lights and had Mahi Mahi Tacos. Sure it's not haute cuisine , but come on, that sounds pretty dynamite, n'est pas?

The other dining experience of note was at the Palazzo Hotel called Morels. It's listed as a French steakhouse and bistro. The best part of this experience was the cheese course to start the meal. They have a cheesemonger on site (my dream job) and he came out to recommend a 5 cheese tasting platter coupled with honeycomb and date jam. It was pretty stellar. Again I had the fish and ordered the Mahi Mahi, while most of those with me ordered the steak. According to them the steak was superb, but my fish was just ok. It wasn't bad, but didn't come close to the Bass at Stratta.

After all this fine dining I did need to go old school Vegas and hit a buffet, so we chose the lunch buffet at Paris. I guess it was ok. I ate a lot and then I puked a bit in my mouth. All in all, a buffet success.

Good trip, some good eats (but nothing that rivaled my last trip to Vegas where we ate at Mario Batali's Carnevino...outstanding), and I played some top shelf poker. Needless to say I'm not happy to be back in Toronto freezing my cohones off.