Did you know that surfing is the official sport of Hawaii? Learn more in this handy graphic below.

Via: Expedia.com

From Route 15 to Big Sur, here is a fun graphic depicting the 10 most beautiful and challenging highways in the U.S. How many have you driven on? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Via: Suzuki Auto

Eat Organic, Save lives.

Earth Day Tip:

When you eat Organic Food, you’re not only eating better – you are actually helping to protect several species of birds + wildlife. Songbirds are disappearing and it mostly has to do with the pesticides that are used on various plants, including the banana tree.

Bacon, an essential side-dish typically eaten at Breakfast, has become much more than just that in our recent history.

Crispy bacon. Hungry now?

Perusing many chefs menus both locally in Vegas and beyond, one will notice bacon has become a staple in creating partial to even full menus across the States.  You will find it in Bread, Appetizers, Salads, Entrees – and dare I say – dessert?     Yes.

Taking note of this American obsession , I turn your heads to a menu that is just that – a bacon lover’s delight. In fact, the kind folks over at Diablo’s Cantina in Las Vegas,  have employed this “breakfast treat” across an entire menu. Begging the TVF question of the day: “Is Bacon the new condiment?”

But don’t just take my word for it – have a look for yourself.

From start to finish - Diablo's Cantina celebrates good ol' Bacon.

When: Tuesday, March 15th – 7pm

For Event tickets : Diablo’s Cantina

For Vegas Food-Porn, visit our Facebook page:  TVF

or..

Follow us on Twitter for random Vegas food-related jargon:  TVF

For many, food is just that – sustenance. The very basis of our survival here on planet Earth. But for a select growing demographic, our palate isn’t truly satisfied like it used to be.   This may simply come in the form of being introduced to a great dining experience, or perhaps a friend introduced you to some seasonably fresh produce from your local farmer’s market.   Put simply my friends, you are Gastronomes.

Seared Shrimp with Shrimp and Goat Cheese Pierogi and Red Wine Sauce. Courtesy, James Beard

A small poem for you foodies. May the love, knowledge and “taste” we all have for our food, wine + spirits flourish in the weeks ahead!

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Celebrate food. Celebrate music. All to help feed OUR Community.

food rocks.

Help TVF in the fight against hunger here in Southern Nevada.

Let’s get together for a night of great food, music + libations all to support a very worthwhile cause – feeding those that need our help.

Come party with not only the many that populate our online foodie community, but our family across Las Vegas that make all of this a reality – the food + beverage industry.

Lastly, take a shot at some ‘tasteful’ raffle prizes from our generous donors:

Southern Wine + Spirits
Urbanspoon + many more!

(100% of the proceeds to benefit the Three Square foundation.)

Let me first start this out by saying – No child should EVER go hungry! It is appalling to think that in this great City of Las Vegas, with the abundance of food that we have at our disposal via hotels + business – this should even be an ISSUE!

Now that I am off of my soap box – Taste of the Nation is back in Las Vegas – May 19th at the Palms Hotel.

ALL proceeds go to support this wonderful cause. Take an evening to enjoy the culinary amazing culinary influence that surrounds us here in Las Vegas and in doing so, you are helping put an end to this travesty!

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Share Our Strength’s annual Taste of the Nation Las Vegas will take place on May 19th, 2011 at the Rain Nightclub in Palm Casino Resort. More than 30 of the city’s finest chefs will be in attendance at Rain Nightclub, all to help end childhood hunger in America. Located on the casino level of Palms Casino Resort, Rain Nightclub provides the perfect location to experience the Las Vegas night life while enjoying tasty treats, live entertainment, and tantalizing live and silent auction.

100% OF TICKET SALES SUPPORTS SHARE OUR STRENGTH’S EFFORTS TO END CHILDHOOD HUNGER.

Proceeds locally benefit the University of Nevada, Reno Foundation/UNCE Chefs for Kids , Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, Three Square Food Bank andProject MANA. All organizations are fighting to end childhood hunger in Nevada.

Taste of the Nation Las Vegas
May 19, 2011
5:30 – 9:30 PM VIP Admission
6:30 – 9:30 PM General Admission

Tickets are available HERE

Ah yes, it’s that time of year again! Love is in the air, Valentine’s day is but hours away and you still don’t have a CLUE as to what spots in Vegas are V-Day friendly. Not to worry, my friends.. TVF has you covered!

TVF’s Top 10 (and a half) Romantic V-Day Vegas dining spots (Pricing, $ Key Below)

French:

1. Joël Robuchon, MGM Grand – $$$$ (1 702 891 7925) | http://bit.ly/dYQUAr
2. Twist, Mandarin Oriental – $$$ (1 702 590 8888) | http://bit.ly/engeOl
3. Comme ça, The Cosmopolitan Hotel – $$$ (1 702 698 7910) | http://bit.ly/fTlbaD

Italian:

4. Nove Italiano, Palms Casino Resort – $$$ (1 702 942 6800) | http://bit.ly/faVZft
5. Scarpetta, Cosmopolitan – $$$ (1 702 698 7970) | http://bit.ly/eRlwh0

Steak:

6. SW Steakhouse, Wynn Las Vegas – $$$ (1 702 770 3325) | http://bit.ly/e0h3rT
7. Prime, Bellagio – $$$ (1 702 693 7223) | http://bit.ly/gkxoVy
8. Botero, Encore at Wynn – $$$ (1 702 770 5310) | http://bit.ly/gsZBcI

Fish:

9. Bartolotta, Wynn – $$$ (1 702 770 3305) | http://bit.ly/gowCKO
10. Top of the World, Stratosphere Hotel – $$$ (1 702 380 7711) |  http://bit.ly/hc0YJ7

Sushi / Japanese:

10. (and a half) Yellowtail, Bellagio – $$$ (1 702 693 8300)  | http://bit.ly/h7xHZI

Let me cut to the chase, shall I?

In the world of food-writing + critiquing, there have been a couple of *cough* thousand or so individuals that like to pass of their “two-cents” in exchange for a free meal – which then leads to the literary “word of approval”. I think this cheapens the craft, don’t you? I mean, the overall layman’s approach in ascertaining a “kind truth” given by these periodicals and “bloggers” are clearly flawed, aren’t they?

Here my friends Anthony Bourdain, from the Travel Channel’s No Reservations, + author Michael Ruhlman, clear the air on why this should not have a place in our field.  Thank you gentlemen, I can sleep once again.

Video: Food Critics + Ethics

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The Bellagio Hotel, showcased in the Blockbuster film Ocean’s 11, was at the forefront of a $1.5 Million dolllar chip-heist today at roughly 4-am. The man is also suspected have played a role in the recent Coast-Resort robbery – the Suncoast Hotel, (get this) during the middle of a poker tournament!

MGM Resorts International and Bellagio spokesman, Gordon Absher, declined to discuss pertinent details surrounding the investigation. Instead, he made clear that casino chips are not the same as cash. “At some point they have to be redeemed,” Absher said. Chips are actually unique to casino properties and cannot be used at othernon-MGM related Casinos. According  to my source in the biz “you can cash Bellagio chips at any MGM/Bellagio casino generally.. but being that each chip is coded, the chips that are missing should appear stolen when he attempts to return them at any MGM location.”

So basically this jackass got away with a whole bunch of Bellagio memorabilia. Call me crazy, but I see plenty of poker nights at this guy’s crib in the near future. I also see RFID in MGM Resorts International Casinos in their future. Who out there wants to make a bid -  I’ll personally introduce to you to the CEO himself, Mr. Jim Murren. No better than to make a buck and be a hero at the same time!

Surveillance video images of an armed man who police believe robbed the Bellagio and Suncoast casinos. The Suncoast robbery is at the left and right, and Bellagio is in the center. (Photo: LVMPD)