Restaurant Review The Red 8 at The Wynn Las Vegas

Update: This restaurant has unfortunately closed. 

After interning with FBI at MAGIC today which you can read more about here I headed over to the Wynn hotel for dinner to eat at my favorite Asian food restaurant in Vegas and in perfect time for Chinese New Year! It is called the Red 8 which goes nicely with the red theme of the Wynn interior decorating scheme.

The Red 8 has the best Asian food in Vegas with fresh ingredients and delicious flavors.

My two favorite things to get are the beef fried rice and the Cashew chicken. Served family style the dishes at the Red 8 are meant to be shared. The beautiful  decorations and modern ambiance make the restaurant look as nice as the food tastes. Located on the corner of the Wynn casino it is the perfect place to people watch as well. I love to watch all the well dressed guests go by from the Red 8's swirling steel window designs. Next time you are looking for a fun and delicious Asian cuisine I definitely recommend the Red 8!

Travel Review: Colorado Skiing

Colorado Skiing

Heading out to Colorado from Los Angeles I packed practically every sweater I own as well as my new snow pants and bright pink ski jacket. And too many scarves and hats. I will be spending New Years at a ski resort in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, some of the best skiing in the world. I am still worried if I will  be warm enough 8000 feet high in the Rocky Mountains. I am definitely excited to go skiing though. I will be staying at the ski resort for 6 days. I am planning on taking some refresher ski lessons and staying close to the bottom of the hill. LOL. I can’t wait to make hot chocolate and relax in the lodge as well. Now I'm going to take a nice sleeping pill and try to make it to Colorado in one piece! Haha! I'll be posting daily updates of my vacation here and let you know if I like the resort and location. Follow along if you are interested in taking a ski trip to the Rocky Mountains!

Well I made it to Colorado in one piece! Today was my first day in the mountain. The ski rental desk was very nice and helpful and supplied me with great ski equipment. That is one of the most important things when you are skiing; so always make sure you have the right size boots and skis if you are renting. I took a level  4 ski lesson all day, which I would highly recommend to anyone who is unsure of their ski abilities.  My instructors name was Tom; he was very nice and informative. He is a professor at the local university around here. He teaches Spanish and history and we talked a lot about art history and the Spanish golden age, one of my favorite subjects. His friendly attitude definitely made me feel more comfortable on the slopes and I really made some progress. I think tomorrow I'll take another refresher lesson in the morning and then I'll be ready to hit the slopes for real! The skiing today was great because it wasn't too crowded and there was hardly a line for the lift.  The pine trees lining the hill make the skiing picturesque and relaxing.

My condo is nice and spacious with a patio that has a great view. Although it is way too cold for me to go outside right now. I am definitely glad I brought all my warm sweaters. My ski outfit looked fashionable and did a great job of keeping me warm though!

Continued ski lessons today ans I made it to the top! And back down again! I'm definitely ready for some fun now. My instructor took me up to a hidden path at the top called stagecoach which is super easy and fun for beginners! It winds its way back down the mountain through the pine trees in a serpentine pattern. The top of the mountain is so silent you can hear the snowfall. It's a great feeling to connect with nature. After I made it down I decided to hit the restaurant in the lodge for lunch and to warm up. The food was great and the hot chocolate was even better. Maybe it was just the freezing temperatures but that was excellent cocoa. I ordered a cheeseburger that tasted great and kept me satisfied all afternoon. That wasn't the only thing on the menu though. They had many options including wraps, melts, and sandwiches. I'm sure there is something for everyone in this cozy lodge.. After finishing my delicious lunch I headed back to the slopes and tried Bill's run. It's a fairly intermediate run from the top. I enjoyed the occasional steep drops and nice turns. I headed back to my condo for some rest and I an't wait to get back out there tomorrow. 

Today is New Year's Eve and I am heading to the slopes fro the morning. 

I had a great time exploring the top today I did stagecoach again just for fun and did another run from the top. This evening at 6 there will be a New Years celebration at the lodge and a torchlight parade of skiers coming down the mountain! For now I'm just relaxing in my condo and enjoying the beautiful view.

The torchlight parade was awesome! And standing out in the freezing cold at night was totally worth it for those great fireworks! There was nice turn out at the lodge for the New Years party and everyone was having a great time. There was a DJ and lights so people could dance and hang out. If you are looking for an intimate New Years celebration I definitely recommend Powderhorn resort. Not to mention the great skiing!

Camping in Malibu

Camping in Malibu is one of my favorite fall activities. Fall is the best time to enjoy a quiet campground and warm weather.  In summer it is too hot and in winter it is cold and foggy. My favorite beach camping spot is Leo Carrillo State Beach in Malibu. You can reserve a spot at www.reserveamerica.com. I love this spot situated among the canyons of Malibu and right next to the water. The campground beach is a beautiful cove with sand caves and sparkling blue waters. The tide pools are fun to explore as well. Sometimes you might see a colorful starfish or exotic sea anemone. Watch out for the little crabs though! The water is beautiful, if a little chilly, but it is worth a swim!
Swimming makes you hungry, so after a few hours playing in the waves, its time to head back to the campground for hot dogs roasted over the campfire and of course the obligatory smores.

The last night before I have to leave, I enjoy eating at nearby Neptune's Net, a short drive up the coast on PCH.  It looks a little like a beach shack, but don't let the appearance deceive you.  They serve delicious seafood and it is a favorite of many Hollywood stars.  I love sitting on the patio overlooking the Malibu sunset and surfers.  I recommend the fried scallops.

This camping spot is also conveniently located near one of the best premium outlets in Southern California (did you really think I could stay away from shopping for a whole week?). Just thirty minutes north in Camarillo, the outlets have all the best stores including DKNY, Off Fifth, Tory Birch, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, and many more. Don't forget to stop at Aroyo Mexican Restaurant for a delicious lunch. I order fresh taquitos and chips and salsa.

If its too cold to go to the  beach, there are hiking trails throughout the area where you can learn about the indigenous plants of the Santa Monica mountains and enjoy great hilltop views of the ocean.

If you are looking to escape constant emails and texts, Leo Carrillo is a great place to relax and unwind; there is no cell service in the canyon.
Next time you are looking for relaxing fall getaway, try a camping trip to the beach.  You won't regret it!

Have you ever camped at the beach?  What was your experience?  Let me know in the comments below.

Spotlight: Haute couture and Haute Cuisine collide in Milan

Update: Unfortunately this restaurant has closed

Milan, the capital of Italian fashion
and the home to many famous Italian designers is always filled with creativity and innovation. With trendsetters lining the streets and famous shopping districts such as Via Napoleone filled with the flagship stores for the likes of Armani, D&G, Marni, and Versace, fashion is everywhere. The food is no exception. Located in the high fashion district Dolce and Gabana's glamorous restaurant GOLD is my favorite place to go for trend spotting as well as delicious Eggplant Parmesan. As you approach the restaurant you would never guess it was a Dolce and Gabana original where Stefano can sometimes be spotted hanging out in the lounge. But when you walk in the door to the waiting room with the giant letters spelling Gold with an extra big O shining behind the counter and, the sleek white couches and modern chandeliers reflecting off the mirrors on every wall, you know you are in a Dolce and Gabana restaurant. I checked in and headed over to my table. My table looked out onto the boulevard and a modern chandelier hung over. The art like silverware and place setting is very fashionable. First I tasted the delicious bread basket on the table and enjoyed the Italian loafs very much. Then I ordered my favorite, a Shirley temple. As I looked over the Italian menu everything sounded delicious, I finally decoded on the Eggplant Parmesan. While I waited for my main dish to come out the restaurant began to fill up. Europeans usually eat very late. I watched the fashionable crowds file into the restaurant and listened to the hum of Italian in the room. When my eggplant parmesan came out it looked delicious and tasted even better. The eggplant was perfectly crunchy and the parmesan contrasted with the marinara sauce making the perfect combination.After finishing my meal I had just enough room left for the delectable sounding desert menu. I decided to order the cherry chocolate tray, of course! As a special treat I also decided to order the restaurant's signature dessert, a chocolate bar covered in 24k gold to take home and remember my one of a kind Dolce and Gabbana experience.