Hard 8’s and Washed Steaks

“The only people who get hurt on a roller coaster are those who jump off early.” –Pointbreak_Dave

I got 4 words…BEST Vegas weekend ever! We had Pointbreak_Dave and Mrs. PBD join us along with our neighbor Sassy. It was a quick trip, but filled with memories of winning slot machines and a chase for a very elusive dessert. Saturday proved to be legendary… at least that’s how I’m remembering it.

The day starts out with the gang heading to Fremont Street and the Four Queens to throw dice. Mr. SJ and Pointbreak exchange cash for chips, make a come bet and proceed to teach Sassy how to play Craps. For new beginners or the shy gamblers, Fremont in the morning is perfect to learn; the dealers and pit bosses are typically more patient and kind with teaching the etiquette of the game. Pointbreak places bets on the 4, 6, 9 and the hard 8 (typically a sucker bet). In Craps, money is won when the shooter throws dice that align with the numbers on the board. Bets can be placed in how the number will be displayed on the dice. A “hard 8” occurs when an 8 is made by rolling double 4’s. In the middle of Mr. SJ’s roll he throws the dice….and Pointbreak jumps back with excitement yelling “yeah baby 44!!” For reference, the probability of rolling a hard 8 is 9.09% or a 1/36 chance of winning the bet and combinations of any other numbers to get to 8 causes the gambler to automatically lose this bet. Payout for this bet is 10:1… PBD scored $40 on this bet and was more excited than when he won $300 on a slot machine.

Later, we head to the Bellagio for dinner. The entry way of the Mayfair Supper Club is adorned in classy red roses. Inside, you get a distinct New York vibe mixed with a throwback to the elegant era of vintage Las Vegas; I’m instantly regretting that I didn’t pack my gold glitter and sequin dress or the green flapper dress. In the center of the restaurant is a stage with a 3 piece band, 2 jazzy lounge singers (Steve and LaShonda) and 4 dancers. The purple lights create an ambiance that makes you believe that Bugsy Siegel or Sammy Davis Jr could walk through the door any minute. Close your eyes during Steve’s rendition of “Luck be a Lady” and you’d swear it was Frank himself singing on the stage. LaShonda’s voice can take any song, modern or classic, and turn it into a sultry blues hymn that will have you wanting to dance or hold your lover tight.  All of this is draped with the famous Bellagio fountains raining down in the background. Chasing Tip: Ask for a stage view and make a reservation for 8 or later.

The cuisine is classic American, which is perfect because some of the party doesn’t venture to far from steaks and burgers; the sides are all served family style. We sit and place a drink order with appetizers of coconut shrimp, salads, wagyu beef wonton soup, and a shrimp cocktail. Mr. and Mrs. PBD choose the prime rib with a lobster, Mr. SJ orders the same but with king crab legs, Sassy and I choose the filet which is served in a truffle sauce (blah!). OK, before I committed to my order I asked the waiter “Can I get this without the truffle because I really hate truffle,” he smiles and says “absolutely no sauce”. Sassy orders her steak, but asks for the sauce on the side.

As the lounge singer croons “Blinding Lights,” followed by “At Last” and the dancers twirl through the dining room it’s easy to lose track of time. But the steaks arrive, and they smell deli— wait, my steak is drowning in an ocean of smelly truffle sauce. Sassy offers to help “SJ, just trade with me, I will eat your steak, I don’t want you to wait forever,” but the waiter steps in “No, no we can fix this it won’t take 45 minutes, I will be right back.” I giggle and I look at Sassy and say “he is going to wash my steak.” Well, Sassy loses it and starts laughing “No way, nuh-uh”… but the waiter did not exaggerate he is back with a steak in less than 5 minutes. Before he gives it to me he asks “Are you allergic to truffles?” I say “no.” He sighs a breath of relief and says “Chef has a special method he uses to rinse [wait, what!] and wipe the steak before returning it to…” Sassy loses it… “to the grill” the waiter finishes. Yes, my $70 filet was incorrectly smothered in truffle and then “fixed” by washing and reheating it. The steak was fine; it had a good flavor despite being over-cooked, but on principle this was a loss I should have chased and not settled for because a restaurant of this caliber really should be better.

The night ends on a high with a group of friends hanging out late into the early morning hours despite a need for sleep in anticipation of a mid-morning flight home. Another round of slots and a few hands of black jack are played before finally calling it, though no one really wants to end a perfect night. This trip was exactly what each of us needed. This trip offered time to relax and take our minds off of work, the recent week of ridiculous weather, and an upcoming trip to say goodbye to a loved one. It was perfect, and one that I will not forget. This week’s Chasing Tip: Don’t be scared to bet the hard ways and $70 is too much for a washed steak.

I hope were able to keep up and #chaseme this weekend. Be on the watch for more stories of this trip and future opportunities to join in on the chase…