“The Mirage is a defunct casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States.”

So begins the Wikipedia page for one of our favorites spots on the Las Vegas Strip. I was fortunate enough to find out just in time to visit one last time before my work conference began this week. Literally by a few minutes: the roads in and out had already been barricaded, but they were letting people in for a farewell press conference with staff under the porte-cochère in front.

I took a bunch of pictures outside of the Siegfried and Roy Plaza and the iconic volcano, then headed in the entrance on the Caesars Palace side. The door was unlocked, but almost everything was closed (not Starbucks) and all of the slot machines were powered off. I wandered back by the Cirque Love theater (last show there was July 7), then up to the tropical dome and over to the front entrance (all the fish were gone, but the bronze mermaids remained).

Colleen and I stayed at Mirage a number of times, including our trip for the Morrissey concert in 2021 (which was probably the last time). We also picked the Mirage as the place we stayed for the girls first Vegas trip in 2018. The rooms had just been refurbished and they really liked going to the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. SK and I also went to see the Beatles-themed Cirque show as part of her landmark birthday trip in 2019 and I also remember having birthday dinner there with the Millers in 2009 (and the first time I saw Love). Lots of visits to the Carnegie Deli too.

Thanks Team Mirage for all the great memories!

The Minnesota restaurant scene is so lucky to have food writers like Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl covering the local beat. Her review of Joe Rolle’s new Minneapolis spot Dario was the root cause of us booking our quarterly night out with friends John and Cathy. The somewhat hidden spot in the North Loop is a hot ticket, so we had to reserve several weeks out (for a Monday!).

The friendly greeter who seated us recommended the Gardener’s Break cocktail (Song Cai spiced roselle and floral gins, lime) and we were off and running. Turns out the bar program is headed by former Marvel Bar alumni Stephen Rowe, so not surprised it was strong. And of course Chef Joe comes from the Jack Riebel lineage, along with stints at Haute Dish, Vincent, Martina and Borough (where Dear Dara says he invented the Parlour burger). There are lots of great lines in her review, but this part really hit me:

Go to Dario, get the double chambered ravioli-like stuffed pasta called doppio. Use your fork to slice through one and marvel at the two different sorts of filling—one chamber holds caramelized sunchokes, mascarpone, and aged Parmesan; the other is filled with whipped ricotta with nutmeg and Parmesan. Please know: This pasta is made daily, starting at five or six in the morning, using a blend of different flours Rolle imports from Italy.

Like a ricotta cheesecake, but savory; like an arrow of rosemary, but mellowed; like hazelnuts, but herbal; like nothing but the essence of pleasure, pastified?

Here are all the items we ordered from our server Maddie:

• Spring Lettuces: Snow peas, sherry vinaigrette, goat gouda
• Ricotta Dumpling: Maitake mushroom, pecorino
• Doppio: Sunchoke, ricotta, honey, hazelnuts, rosemary
• Beef Short Rib Agnolotti: Red wine braising jus
• Halibut: Artichoke velouté, butter-poached potatoes, cranberry beans
• Pineapple & Passionfruit: Coconut, macadamia nut
• Caramel Apple Budino: Vanilla caramel, honeycrisp apple, crispy polenta cookie

We also spied a number of tables ordering the Potatoes (Crispy and creamy with Comté, caramelized onion, Tabasco), so I’d probably get that next time. John and Cathy also had the beets and one of the items from the raw section of the menu. I followed up the Gardener’s Break with the Bad Apple (Sweet vermouth, valvados, amaro, orange bitters), but preferred the first one. Prices are a little on the high side, but well within the market for that area and quality (a 5% health & wellness charge is added to all bills). The room is bright, hip and loud.

“Did you see the Lemmy portrait?”

Oui, chef!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Dario
323 N Washington Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55401

The 48th annual event in Duluth had lots of great stories:

• Elisha Barno winning his record sixth title in 2:10:54
• New women’s course record by Volha Mazuronak (2:23:52)
• New Garry Bjorklund men’s and women’s course records: Tebello Ramakongoana from Lesotho in 1:00:17 (!!) and Annie Frisbie from Edina in 1:07:33
• Superstar Megan in 4:34:32 (10:29 Minute Miles)

I can’t get over that nearly sub-hour half – that’s a 4:37 Minute Mile… 😂

UPDATE: Ramakongoana also won the 2024 Bloomsday in Spokane 💜

Colleen and I ventured to Northeast Minneapolis last month for Sunday brunch at Diane Moua’s new restaurant, Diane’s Place. Our 1:00pm reservation got us there just in time to order the last of the almond croissants (and a wonderful pain au chocolat for me) from the counter in front before our table was ready.

We have been a huge fan of Chef Diane during her time with the Soigné Hospitality Group and have really been looking forward to the opening of her own place. We were also excited to see Heather Ann Mady from Mucci’s in the GM role and were super surprised to see Chef Chris helping out in the kitchen during our visit.

Located at 117 14th Avenue NE in the Food Building, the room was relatively small, but lively and full of positive energy. They are currently open daily from 8:00am – 2:30pm for breakfast and lunch, with dinner “soon to come.” There is also a private event space, but we didn’t get to see that area on our visit. Reservations are via Resy and can be found here. Plenty of free street parking nearby, but you might need to walk a little.

We started with the MAKERS’ BOARD (daily selection of meats and cheeses from Lowry Hill Provisions, Alemar Cheese and Baker’s Field Flour toast, accoutrements), followed by the SWEET PORK BOWL (steamed rice, brown sugar marinated egg, pickled mustard greens) for Colleen and DIANE’S HMONG SAUSAGE (sticky rice, sweet & sour and over easy egg) for me.

I ordered the Gardens of Garibaldi cocktail (fresh oj, negroni bitters, clementine, jasmine) and had a shot called the Honey & Cream (Red Locks, egg, cream, honey). For dessert, Colleen ordered the Tropical Sundae (coconut panna cotta, pineapple, guava sorbet & mango), while I had the Five Spice Chocolate Mousse with malted milk chocolate ice cream. Classic Diane.

And we see you, Bill Summerville, with the Madeira menu item – very fun…

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED