Vegans in Vegas

I know I said what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas…

BUT…

…there was (slightly) more to my Bachelorette weekend than boozing and dancing.

And, by that, I’m referring to the food.

So.  Now that I can look at the weekend’s photos without feeling nauseous, I feel it is my duty (as a blogger and a girl on a budget) to share with you all how to survive Vegas…without gaining 50 pounds from an all-you-can-eat buffet or losing $500 from pool side munchies.

I’m not making any such promises about the alcohol though.

For the record, Smirnoff Ice is neither vegan nor tasty, especially at 8 am.

That said, getting “iced” before you even leave for the airport certainly gets you in the mood to P-A-R-T-Y!

The above pic is only one of the reasons you should fly on Virgin.  Another reason?  They have a 70 pound weight limit on luggage…

Do you know how much 10 bottles of champagne, 1 handle of Vodka, and a double air mattress weight?  Only 59 lbs.

Do you know how much money BYOB saves you?  $$$$$

And staying in a penthouse suite, with a kitchen bigger than my previous NYC apartment, doesn’t hurt either.

Let the EtOH flow!

Now that we’ve covered how to minimize the liquor bill, let’s move onto food.

Allow me to open with a little disclaimer.  My pre-trip research was minimal and my knowledge on the gourmet dining options in Sin City is far from extensive.  Our goal was to keep things cheap and vegan-friendly, so if you’re here looking for the vegan dishes offered at Fleur De Lys in Mandalay Bay, I assure you, this post is not going to be helpful.  We also were trying to keep things within walking distance.  So, if nothing else, this post will be economical.

Caesar’s Palace has restaurants up the yin yang.  There’s Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill, and Las Vegas’ only James Beard award winner, Bradley Ogden, as well as Michelin two star recipient Restaurant Guy Savoy.  But there’s also a nice little area called the Cypress Street Marketplace, that has several casual cafe-style dining options.  It’s perfect for large groups that want different cuisines.  Mediterranean, Chinese, Mexican, BBQ, salads, sandwiches, wraps, pizza…you name it, it’s there…and in the center of it all is a common dining area.

I went with a hummus and veggie wrap (minus the tzatziki and feta cheese)

…and 4 beers.

What!?  It was 2-for-the-price-of-1   I’m no econ major, but I know a deal when I see one.

Who wouldn’t get on board?

I think my sis was sad she didn’t get more!

Skipping straight ahead to the next morning…

Things to note in the above photo:

• Kirkland trail mix
• Nalgene water bottle
• Sour worms
• Nail polish
• Champagne

Classy?  Debatable.

Other key items in hangover prevention survival: Mrs. May’s Trio bars, water, and Whole Foods’ catering.

I really wish I had taken more photos of the platters, but I wasn’t in the best shape.  You understand, right?

Here’s the important part.  Pay attention ok?

Whole Foods does not deliver.

Here’s the solution: www.anythinguwantdelivery.com

They are open 24 hours, and will pick up and drop off ANYTHING you want (there is a flat fee in addition to a percentage of the delivery cost, but it’s very reasonable).

Being the crafty planners we are, we arranged for a delivery in advance.  We got the assorted bagel platter and a fruit platter.  Maybe we were a bit bold in having the delivery arrive at 9 am, but at least it got us up!

We even got our dinner platters then (see below photos), which allowed us flexibility in planning around the rest of the day/night’s activities.

We stored the platters in the fridge all day and as difficult as it was to not dig in throughout the afternoon, come dinner time, it was SUCH a relief.  Cheap and simple with no thought required (you have to remember, we were operating on very few brain cells at this point, so the more pre-planning, the better).

Whole wheat/white pitas, sushi, grilled veggies, spinach salad, and the Mediterranean Dipping Platter.

VN = vegan

VT = vegetarian

Veggies anyone?

Oh baby!  Hummus and pitas galore.

In total, we had a feast big enough for our party…and 50 more.  Seriously, so much food.  Whole Foods’ catering platters are far bigger than they lead on.  I swear, they can do no wrong in my eyes.

As for lunches, we went to the exact same place both days (creature of habit?).  We were staying at the Vdara in the new CityCenter, which was absolutely amazing (no smoking + no gaming = spa like vacation).  However, they didn’t have the best dining options.  The poolside eats were super pricey and the portions were TINY.  Fortunately, the CityCenter’s sister hotel, the Aria, has several casual restaurants.

Cafe Vettro is open 24 hours on the Casino level of the Aria – and it serves good food with reasonable prices.  I ordered the Asian Chicken Salad (without the chicken) for lunch BOTH days we were in Vegas.  It was so good!  If it ‘aint broke, don’t fix it – right?

I only wish I had taken pics of my meal [blogger fail].  My plate was piled high with tons and tons of veggies (edamame, bell peppers, celery, the works…).  Plus, the dressing was great and it was a very generous portion (they even gave me extra veggies since I cut the chicken).  I am rarely so pleased with salads that I don’t make myself, and I didn’t have the highest expectations with this one (I mean, it’s Vegas, not New York).  But I’m happy to report that this salad was 100% awesome.  The rest of my girls loved their dishes too, so it’s a crowd pleaser if you are in a big group.

Here are the dining options at various other casinos on the strip:

The Venetian

The Hard Rock

MGM Grand

The Bellagio

Flamingo

Caesar’s Palace

The Luxor

New York New York

Mandalay Bay

The Mirage

The Wynn

The Aria

Be sure to note, Las Vegas is not cheap, but there are tons of good options that don’t feature award-winning chefs.  Finding the middle ground between fine dining and buffets requires minimal work, but I suggest you do it while sober.  Hopefully the links above are helpful…and don’t forget to have fun!