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Photo credit: Shelley Stepanek

CHARLIE PALMER STEAKHOUSE in the Four Seasons features a new dinner series. The ever-elegant Charlie Palmer Steakhouse in the Four Seasons Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, has an international series of dinners this winter. I went to the one featuring Argentina on December 13. There were 22 people seated in the elegant private room. We started with empanada made with beef cheeks and a salsa agridulce and parsley accompanied by a light refreshing Caipirinha drink. Romaine lettuce, hearts of palm, baby beets, green apples and Dijon vinaigrette was paired with a Torrontes, Piatelli and Cafayate 2018 wine. Next up was Locro soup, with beans, short ribs and pickled corn. The server came around with a carafe of elegant broth and poured it over the mixture. The main course was family-style: a steak asado with a bone-in New York steak, skirt steak, morcillas and chorizo, with sides of garlic, onions and stuffed peppers filled with quinoa. Grilled portobello mushrooms and potatoes were paired with Malbec, Zorzal, Eggo, Tinta di Tiza Tupungato and Mendoza 2016. Rounding out the dessert was a flan mixto with dulce de leche ice cream. I met lovely Evita McDaniels, the senior marketing manager who flew in from California and was host for the night, and Steven Geddes, an extremely knowledgeable Sommelier. He explained the food and the wine, and certainly showed us all a good time.

Charlie Palmer’s is in five US cities and is a first-rate steakhouse. The location in the Four Seasons is very large, and the lounge area is always full. Valet parking is taken care of for your dinner. Please, if you are in Las Vegas on Jan. 17, check out their dinner from Australia; and Japan will be featured on February 21. 

In Vegas, by chance, and going to the west side of the Valley? ADA’S is certainly worth a trip for a lovely brunch or lunch. This great restaurant is in the midst of Tivoli Village, a conglomerate of shops, boutiques and great dining places. Lovely General Manager Sonia Stelea greeted us. 

We started with large mugs, minus handles I should say, of strong coffee and a mimosa. The menu was very appealing, hard to pick what we wanted to try, so we did the next best thing, and sampled numerous items. A hot loaf of bread with both solid and melted butter came out piping hot. Terrific. 

Avocado toast has certainly become a staple of many restaurants in the last couple of years, and theirs is the best. Two large slices, totally slathered with avocado, tasty bits of radish and a perfectly cooked egg was enough for one whole meal, but two of us quickly ordered the next course: Duck Confit Benedict, a marvel in the merging of tastes. 

Another cup of hot coffee and we decided to order and split one of their pasta dishes. We ordered the Chitarra, with carbonara, black pepper, eggs, guanciale and peas. Others to try are the Bucatini—cacio e pepe, aged pecorino and telicherry pepper; and Gemelli—pesto, pistachio, peas and greens, topped with pecorino romano. Plenty of side dishes to go along. 

Breakfast has Eggs and Sauce, a great looking French omelet, Polenta with sunny side eggs, truffled mushrooms with pecorino, and a Croque Madame, with ham, fontina, tomato cream and a sunny side up egg. 

There is a nice little outdoor porch for lovely weather days. Great waitstaff and a full wall of numerous wines. Mon. thru Fri. 11-10, 10-10 on weekends. Vegan and vegetarian options, reservations not needed and a happy hour. 410 S. Rampart, Suite 120, adaslv.com

LIMONCELLO, a new Italian eatery on the west side, where the old Macayo’s stood, has been highly upgraded and turned into a seaside resort off the coast of Italy. Authentic Italian dishes, daily fresh seafood, pizzas in the wood-fired oven, a large bar and an immense amount of wines. There is a main dining room, private room, two semi-private rooms and a lovely patio area. Only open for dinner, but we hope that will change soon. 8245 W. Sahara Ave. Limoncellolv.com