Bardot Brasserie

I have been a Michael Mina fan for several years now so when I heard that he had a new restaurant coming to Las Vegas I was all ears. Done in the style of a traditional French brasserie, Bardot Brasserie at the Aria does not disappoint. Walking in you are immediately face to face with the extensive bar. The combination of brass and glass sets the stage for the vibe of the restaurant as a whole. It's like stepping into another era complete with French jazz and uncovered wooden tables. Sitting in one of the booths in the back gives you a front row seat to witness the action in the kitchen, complete with the large wood burning oven.

After making some careful choices, honestly it was difficult to decide with so many delicious options, I somehow ended up with a multi-course feast of red meat. At the recommendation of the waiter I started things off with the steak tartar. While the crisps provided proved difficult to eat, the steak itself was decadently rich and delicious. With a creamy texture provided by the quail's egg yolk the meat was well spiced and an excellent start to the night.

Seeing bone marrow on the menu that was the one pick I had in mind from scoping out the menu online in the days leading up to my reservation. This was easily the standout dish of the night. Hearth cooked to achieve the perfect sear each bone was a balance between crisp and melt-in-your mouth goodness. Paired with bordelaise onions, whose tart sweetness cut through the heavy fat of the marrow, and bread for layering this dish is a must have.

Having had such a wonderful experience with the steak at Michael Mina over Thanksgiving I decided to keep it traditional with the Ribeye Steak Frittes. Especially for the price tag, the steak was generously portioned even though I did find the fois gras butter to be a little too earthy for my taste. The frittes themselves, fried in beef fat, were the surprise of the night. I am rarely wowed by fries, but the flavor from the beef fat paired with the still fluffy potato was a winning combination. I would order this dish again if only to enjoy the fries.

After such a heavy meal I decided to end things on a lighter note with the mille feuille. Boasting a caramelized puff pastry as its selling point I enjoyed the sweet, crisp layers though the caramelization process did leave the layers sticking to my teeth.

Final Verdict: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
With generous portions of solidly prepared, flavorful food with a twist Bardot Brasserie is a must for any fan of French food. Whether you're looking for a romantic date or a fun night out with the girls there is something for you here. Step out of your comfort zone to find the real standout dishes from the bone marrow to the escargot (which were the hit of the night for the tables around me, they are definitely on my list for my next visit).

In Miniature

Miniatures have always been fascinating to me. Growing up, my grandma had a shelf of miniatures that she had made on a shelf by the front door. Though she hadn't lived on a farm, the country motif was a common thread through her work so there were tiny butter churns and baskets of hand painted apples. I loved everything about it. I would take the little objects down one by one and admire the detail that went into them. My love for legos stems from the same place. The detail that can come out of those square and rectangular blocks blows me away.

Legoland as a whole is a dream come true for anyone who enjoys creativity, but their land of miniature towns and landmarks is by far my favorite spot. When I saw that Las Vegas was represented I couldn't resist spending some time and admiring the love put into getting the details just right.

From the Mirage with actual steam coming from the volcano to the towering MGM with signs advertising two of the hotel's iconic shows. I love the lion statue and the shimmering green, remnants of the days when the MGM was heavily themed after The Wizard of Oz.

Their representation of the New York, New York was another favorite for the sheer number of details alone. Even though I enjoyed playing with legos growing up, I never had the patience to see larger projects through. Looking at these buildings, which ranged from calf to knee height, I can't imagine the hours that went into crafting these near-perfect replicas.

Many of the displays even had moving parts! From the pirate show at the TI to dolphins jumping through hoops behind the Mirage, these buildings truly came to life. Miniatures are a fun way to gain a new perspective on the city you live in. Not only do they give me the desire to explore in a new light, but I really want to tackle my own lego project this year.

Do you have a dream lego project that you would love to work on? What would you like to see in miniature form?