Wine pro Harley Carbery has fun battling it out with his colleague beer expect Sarah Johnson over what pairs better with food. Photo supplied by Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
Food and wine serious business at Delano Vegas
Harley Carbery’s smile has a hint of mischief as he quietly sips his beer during lunch at Fleur in Las Vegas.
He may enjoy the suds but he’ll never let his counterpart Sarah Johnson know that. He’s the director of wine and she’s the beer expert (certified cicerone). They both work for the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. While they may be colleagues it has become a sport for them to compete on what pairs better on the Resort’s restaurant menus – beer or wine?
Johnson notes that just like wine drinkers, beer lovers seek aroma and flavor.
“The world of beer provides a greater range of flavor and texture than available in wine, which is endlessly fun to explore. This variety makes beer a better partner for food than wine, and also means that there is a beer for every occasion,” she argues.
Carbery, a native Canadian, disagrees noting that, in his view, wine has more generous amounts of flavors, textures and unique qualities than beer.
“All wine is made from grapes but each one is very different. A chardonnay for example can be light, vibrant and fresh or rich, creamy and powerful. With these great differences there are many more options and opportunities to pair with food,” he says.
While they may have fun teasing each other, food and wine is serious business for the Resort and Carbery’s focus these days is on the new Delano hotel, located within the Mandalay Bay Resort complex.
This is not your typical Vegas hotel and while it carries the name of Morgans’ South Beach Delano, it definitely feels more like Arizona than Miami.
Perhaps it’s the gigantic rock that you walk past when entering the hotel. This 126,000 pound natural boulder – cut in two – comes from the Nevada desert. It is made of metaquartzite, a beautiful layered stone.
The all suite hotel also doesn’t have a casino making it a quiet refuge from the typical bell ringing, roll-the-dice yelling crowd that is typical of the casino hotels. In fact, I had to resist the temptation to whisper as Delano was so serene.
To add to the Zen experience, I decided to head up to the Bathhouse Spa on the second floor. After one bad hot stone massage experience in Canada, I was reluctant to try it again but I was so glad I did. Those hot rocks worked their magic.
It was definitely a great way to start an evening that began with tickets to Michael Jackson One by Cirque du Soleil.
Moments before the start of the show a commotion erupts behind me. “Get me some popcorn,” screams the nerdy-looking character sitting directly behind me. If it weren’t for bad luck I wouldn’t have any luck.
As he continues to shout at someone in the aisle, others in the audience turn to give him “the stare”. I am looking for some popcorn to dump on his head.
Undeterred, he starts crawling over several rows of seats to get to the front. I went from irritated to suspicious. He was a little too agile as he stepped on the back of each seat and bounced to the next.
Alas, he then jumped on stage and the show began. As it turns out he was one of the main characters of the production. (Glad I didn’t dump that popcorn on him.)
While I can’t claim to be a major MJ fan, the show was simply spectacular. The combination of visual effects and acrobatics leaves you breathless. With a cast of 63, the show takes you on a magical journey through the performer’s career. It features rare footage of him including holographic images of Jackson dancing. Some of the clips from him as a younger star may even make you a bit teary-eyed. Well worth attending.
Of course a night in Vegas is not complete without the “club scene”. Heading to LIGHT, we were treated like VIPs, escorted through a back entrance and led by flashlight to a bottle service only table. Headlining DJs and performers along with an over-the-top lighting system make it a place to people watch or dance but definitely not talk.
As the pounding vibrations began, I looked across to the next table. Was that Brad Cooper next to me? Ok wishful thinking. It was so dark it could have been Godzilla. This place was packed and clearly the place to be for the young set. Hence, exist stage left for me.
Far more my style was miX lounge. Now they tell me it is going to be renovated in the near future, but this place was definitely a great find and my absolute top pick for a bar with an amazing view of Vegas.
After a long and adventurous evening, I decided to end my night at Delano’s lobby bar, Franklin. It fits right into the serene atmosphere as it draws a cool, sophisticated crowd where no one knows your name and no one cares. But they still have fun.
Intrigued by Carbery’s claim that he selected an exclusive and unique wine list for this social hub, I pulled up anticipating a glass of great vino. However, what came next was a bit of a surprise.
While anything can and does happen in Vegas, I was still taken aback when offered a drink of Remy Martin Louis XIII Cognac from a man sitting next to me who I will call Mr. Somebody.
A free drink from a stranger may not be unusual but when the bartender is getting on his stool to bring down that bottle of liquid gold from the top shelf, it is usually a special occasion. A bottle retails at the LCBO for about $3,000 so a shot at this bar is not going to be cheap.
If it’s good enough for Elton John, Christian Dior and even Winston Churchill, then how could I say no. So like any polite Canadian girl, I smiled and graciously accepted this golden opportunity. Only in Vegas.
With the pulsing sounds of the nightclub in my head and the taste of cognac still lingering, I make my way back to my lovely room in the Delano. Waiting for me on my bed was a card that read:
“My life has a superb cast but I can’t figure out the plot.”
They know me so well!
In keeping with the friendly competition, Johnson and Carbery each offer their own take on the best pairings within the Resort chains many restaurants and bars:
Johnson’s Picks
1. Fleur by Hubert Keller at Mandalay Bay – Brooklyn Brewery Sorachi Ace paired with Ahi Tuna Tacos
2. Franklin at Delano Las Vegas –Firestone Walker Wookey Jack Black Rye IPA with Smokey Wings
3. Stripsteak at Mandalay Bay –Lagunitas A Lil’ Sumpin’ Sumpin’ paired with Lobster Fritters
4. Sportsbook at Mandalay Bay– 312 Urban Wheat Ale from our Goose Island draft cart and a burger can’t be beat!
5. miX at Delano Las Vegas – Sip Sierra Nevada Kellerweis with Chef Ducasse’s signature Shrimp Cocktail while overlooking The Strip
Carbery’s Picks
1. L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand – La Caille (Free-range quail stuffed with foie gras) paired with a glass of Joseph Roty, Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy, France
2. Fleur by Hubert Keller at Mandalay Bay – Ahi tuna tacos ponzu chantilly, serrano, avocado cream - paired with Dr. Loosen “Blue Slate” Riesling Mosel, Germany
3. Sage at ARIA– Vancouver Island Kushi Oysters Piquillo Pepper and Tabasco Sorbet/Aged Tequila Mignonette – paired with Chartogne -Taillet, Saint Anne, Brut, Champagne, France\
4. Aureole at Mandalay Bay – Roasted Beet and black Winter Salad Shaved Foie gras au torchon, hazelnut vinaigrette – paired with Jean-Marc Boillot Les Truffières 1er Cru Puligny-Montrachet, Burgundy, France
5. Michael Mina at Bellagio – Colorado Lamb Rack glazed ricotta gnudi, tagine vegetables, lamb jus – paired with Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA
Flight, Hotel and Meals supplied by Delano and MandalayBay Resort and Casino
Sherri Haigh is a Toronto-based freelance travel writer. Follow Sherri @fishinggal30