If you’ve been following my facebook and tweets, you may have gotten a sneak peak of my Vegas trip this past weekend. The main reason of flying to Vegas was to attend a medical aesthetic conference for work, but you know I had to sneak in some fun time as well!
I’ve been to Vegas a few times already, but I have to admit that this last visit was my most enjoyable and memorable. The weather was beautiful, my hotel room was gorgeous and my time was relaxing and drama free 
What I’ve learned from traveling, is that regardless of the final destination, it’s all about the people you’re with. Fortunately, I am lucky to have a great team of coworkers every time. They’re always sweet, hardworking and up for a good time!
For this trip, I was teamed up with one of my favorite girls Carolyn D, who I’ve known for a few years now. She’s a beautiful woman inside and out, inspirational new mommy of little Dominic, music fanatic and ruthless on the dance floor! Her personality is so bubbly and genuine that I wouldn’t mind her in my space 24/7, 365. Like most of my network of girls, Carolyn also has a passion for experiencing different foods!
When it comes to dining, Las Vegas is known for it’s extravagant buffets and celebrity owned restaurants. Even though most people would race to make reservations at these popular spots, I find myself hunting for the more hidden and exotic eateries instead.
After arriving and checking into our hotel at Ceaser’s Palace, Carolyn and I met up with her sister Diane who also flew in to meet us, and we decided to scope the hotel for fun and food. As we strolled in the casino we noticed the Pussy Cat Doll’s area where a dance stage was set up and merchandise was available for purchase. Right across from the stripper poles, my eyes were immediately attracted to a graphitti-decorated wall that read “MUNCH: munchbar to go”. The art resembled something my older bro Mo would design, so I couldn’t help but fall in love with it.
As we got closer to the hostess stand, we noticed flat screens bordered the walls as they aired live baseball and hockey games. Don’t ask me who was playing, all I know is that the one team had a cute blue and white uniform.
The MUNCH BAR/Sports bar was esthetically simple, yet so attractive. The decor was a mixture of funky colorful art, light colored wood, and modern style furniture.
As our “all smiles” waitress led us to the table, I asked if we could seat ourselves at the bar instead. Whenever I go out to eat, I always find myself sitting on a high chair at the bar because I find that regular tables can be so boring. Eating at the bar can be so interactive and eventful! You’ll be surprised at how many interesting people you can meet doing that.
As we climbed and got comfortable on the bar stools, we were greeted by another smiley waitress as she handed over the funky looking menus. Within seconds, we noticed that MUNCH BAR offered “special brews”. If you’re a beer snob, I guarantee you’ll be pleased with their selections on tap. The girls and I decided to order three different ones and have our own little tasting/ beer festival.
As I opened the paper menu to browse the options, all I could think was…. I wish I had an overactive thyroid gland that allowed me to eat whatever, whenever! Everything sounded so scrumptious from the appetizers (munchies), entrees (big munchies), soups n salads, burgers and wraps, to the sweet desserts.
When eating out with me, expect that you’ll be ordering a few items to share
WARNING… the foods that will be showcased below are extremely addicting and delicious!
TINY GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES w/ Tomato Dipping Sauce
How can someone hate grilled cheese? This was one of my favorite childhood sandwiches that I would eat with my brothers while watching an episode of Arabic Sesame Street (I’m sure you can watch snippets on youtube for kicks).
The MUNCH grilled cheeses were perfectly buttered thick slices of challah-like bread, stuffed with a sharp cheese, and complimented by a creamy tomato dip. The cheese and tomato combo gave these little guys a pizza-like taste. Since I’m watching my calories, I went for a smaller slice. This is why I love sharing, because I can enjoy anything in moderation without binging and feeling deprived.
This small munchie provides a good amount of protein from dairy but be careful of the high fat content if you’re not sure of the type of cheese used.
ORGANIC MIXED GREEN SALAD w/ Crumbled Greek Feta
You can never go wrong with ordering a Salad! This mixed green salad was perfectly tossed in a light house dressing and topped with big chunks of feta crumbles.
This is a great low carb option that’s packed with fibrous greens and protein!
SHRIMP SATAY w/ Pineapple Salsa
These shrimp skewers were delicious! The little guys were lightly charred and grilled, then topped with a light crushed pineapple salsa.
This munchie is perfect for low calorie, low carb dieters. Scrape the salsa off to reduce more sugar and carbs.
SWEET POTATO FRIES w/ Garlic mayo
OMG… If calories didn’t exist, I would eat these everyday! Unfortunately, calories are here forever so only a few slices satisfied my taste buds and cravings.
These bright orange, perfectly crunchy on the outside, and soft on the inside fries were definitely freshly cut and fried!
Sweet potatoes are a great source of beta carotene and considered a complex carb. Since they’re fried, avoid too many bites. If it’s your cheat meal, then enjoy a few more!
SEARED AHI TUNA w/ Mixed Green Salad
Don’t let my photography skills fool you because this salad plate was amazing!!! So amazing, that I ordered it every time I went in to eat.
The thick slices of raw tuna were seared just right on the outside, leaving the inside texture moist and flavorful. The mixed green salad was tossed in a sweet honey mustard-like dressing with toasted chickpeas and peanuts. Low Carb & Protein lovers eat up!
LAGUNITAS IPA INDIA PALE ALE
If you’re watching your calories and carbs, Pale Ales are a better option than darker stoudts. This IPA was one of the many brews that were offered on tap. It had a robust and hoppy flavor that was extremlely addicting!
12 ounces of this flavorful brew is only 180 calories and 13 grams of carbs. Share this with a friend, and bring it down even more!
In the 5 days that I was in Las Vegas, I probably ate at the MUNCH BAR four times
On the last day of my trip, I had to sneak in one last food experience. As I was stuffing my face with my last seared tuna bites, one of the owners (Shawn) made his way to our table. He had noticed our frequent stop-ins and wanted to thank us for our business so he brought over two complimentary IPAs.
Yay! Thanks Shawn!
If you’re in Las Vegas, I highly recommend this yummy joint!
The food was outstanding, the staff was friendly and eye-pleasing, service was prompt and always on point, and the overall aesthetics and decor was crazy sick! (translation: very good)
If you’ve dined here before, please leave your comments and what your favorite munchie is!
To view more of the munchbar’s menu, click on the image below.
Go ahead!
FIGURE FRIENDLY ITEMS: When dining mexican, I love ordering healthier items like a refreshing seafood ceviche dressed in lime with low fat crackers (see image), chicken tortilla soup minus the fried tortilla strips and sour cream, a side of black beans and rice, fresh tomato salsa to mix with a little guac since avocados are calorie dense, and some grilled chicken, fish or shrimp fajitas with corn tortillas (less fat than flour tortillas).
FIGURE FRIENDLY ITEMS. I love Italian! You’ll always find something healthy on my plate when I’m dining Italian. Instead of fried, I ask for grilled calamari sauteed in some olive oil and garlic with a side of broccoli rabe or steamed mussels in light white wine sauce (see image). If I’m craving pasta, then I’ll order a light pasta primavera (tomatoes and veggies). Chicken or veal marsala with mushrooms are always great light choices, and for dessert, I love me some cappuccino with skim milk and zero calorie sweetener.
FIGURE FRIENDLY ITEMS: Diners offer hundreds of items on their giant 10 page menu. When I find myself sitting at a diner at 2 am, I usually order a veggie omelette minus the homefries and meat. I also ask my waiter to use very little or no oil (dry). Other healthy options include grilled chicken salads, cottage cheese and fruits, oatmeal and raisins, or even a turkey burger minus half the bun. Soups are also great if they’re broth-based like chicken soup or hearty vegetable.
