To Eats His Own: Hell’s Kitchen
Welcome to our brand new column devoted to food reviews: To Eats His Own. Food reviews have been the #1 requested feature since we started Pastrami Nation, so we are excited to dive in! This column will feature food reviews from across the country by Pastrami Nation’s founders, Nolan P. Smith and Jason T. Smith. From fast food to fine dining, we will bring you the best we taste in our travels.
By Nolan P. Smith
Editor
One restaurant has always been the dream to dine at, yet always seemed out of reach. For years, I have wondered how it would be to dine in at the renown Hell’s Kitchen. From the mind of Chef Gordon Ramsey, Hell’s Kitchen brings fine dining to a new level, and if you are a fan of the television show like I am, then you will get lost in amazement. I finally got the opportunity, and my girlfriend and I went on a trip to Las Vegas, hellbent (too much?) on finally trying Gordon Ramsey’s Beef Wellington.
The ambiance of the establishment is impressive, right from when you first walk in. We had fantastic staff members, from the hostess to the waiter to everyone else who helped make our dinner amazing. We both went with the Beef Wellington three-course meal, which came with a salad and dessert. Let’s go ahead and talk salad.
Caesar was the way to go, as we were literally on the Caesar’s Palace property, and it did not disappoint. Parmesan cheese and fresh garlic croutons complemented the bright greens of the salad. Add in a twist of lemon zest, and this is easily the best salad I have tried. The croutons sealed it for me, as they were crunchy and added so much to the dish. I have never had homemade croutons, but now I will be on the lookout to see if anyone can compare to what I tasted here.
Next was the entree: beef wellington served with a potato puree, glazed root vegetables with a red wine demi-glace. The potatoes and vegetables were excellent, well prepared, and paired well with the entree, but let’s talk about the beef wellington. This was my first ever beef wellington, and it had to be at Hell’s Kitchen. The meat is cooked medium rare, which adds to the richness of the flavor. It is wrapped in a golden puff pastry, and when you take that first bite- you are in heaven- in Hell’s Kitchen. It was a pure joy taking that first bite, savoring the expertly cooked meat with the light crunch of the pastry. I looked at my girlfriend and saw her face as well: pure delight. It far exceeded all of my expectations and will go down as one of my favorite meals of all time.
Wait, let’s not forget dessert! Sticky toffee pudding with speculoos ice cream. The ice cream had a cinnamon, almost peanut butter-like flavor, and was terrific. The sticky toffee pudding is moist, bursting with flavors that balance so well with the ice cream. Another bite of heaven before our dinner was over.
I cannot give Hell’s Kitchen a high enough rating: from the service to the fantastic food prepared, it wasn’t just a dinner, it was the experience of a lifetime. Hell’s Kitchen is located at 570 S Las Vegas Blvd in Las Vegas. Visit https://www.gordonramsayrestaurants.com/hells-kitchen-caesars-palace/ for information and to book your reservations.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Nolan P. Smith is the Editor and Co-Founder of Pastrami Nation. Being a reporter for the past ten years, he has worked for a variety of media outlets, from newsprint to the ever-evolving internet platform. Residing in Victorville, CA, writing has always been a significant aspect of his life. A reporter, teacher, public relations specialist, and more, he takes the most joy out of covering the world of pop culture. You can follow him on Twitter @nolanpsmith, and Instagram @kakooee.