Thursday Brunch: CHICA Las Vegas
Midweek Delights At Chef Lorena Garcia's Las Vegas Hotspot
Like all rational millennials, I adore brunch. If I had it my way, I’d start every day with coffee in one hand and a breakfast cocktail in the other, while eating my weight in something sweet and something savory. Is that too much to ask?
My toddlers would say so. Especially since a day that begins with two bites of a breakfast bar in peace is nothing short of miraculous. But, in Las Vegas, what’s impossible elsewhere is made into reality and topped with caviar. And even on a Thursday, brunch menus are abundant.
After 36 hours spent in self-imposed confinement within the Bellagio and Caesar’s Palace compounds, my husband and I finally ventured down the Strip to dine at a new casino. We crossed the street on a rare drizzly Las Vegas morning passing by promoters inviting us to go clubbing and slot machines tempting us to waste more money. By the time we reached the Venetian we were cold, damp, and absolutely ravenous—making our destination, CHICA, all the more enticing.
Whenever I settle on a restaurant while traveling, I always ask myself: Could I get this at home? That bar is much lower now that I no longer live in Southern California, but the question still remains. Consequently, I was sold on going to CHICA Las Vegas as soon as I laid my eyes on their droolworthy brunch menu with items like buñuelo donuts and fried Yucatán chicken & waffles. I only learned upon arrival that CHICA, which has two other locations in Miami and Aspen, is the restaurant of celebrity chef Lorena Garcia. My only prior experience with Chef Garcia’s cuisine was her Taco Bell Cantina menu collaboration back in 2012. Doubtful that this was fully representative of her culinary artistry, I was immediately intrigued and excited to discover what her food is all about at CHICA.
In classic Las Vegas fashion, the second you cross into CHICA’s threshold you abandon the fluorescent hubbub of the Venetian’s slots and are transported to a chic, sophisticated space designed to evoke a South American cigar lounge. It is dark and moody, romantic and vibrant. Murals dance on the walls and greenery hangs from the ceiling. The vibe is tangible to the extent that I immediately questioned if I was cool enough to be there. Was I clubbing or brunching? The answer was the latter, but only because the restaurant DJ spins tracks exclusively on the weekend.
We started our meal with the brunch beverage trifecta: a bloody mary, coffee, and water. The bloody mary was small but heavenly. It tasted surprisingly fresh thanks to the San Marzano tomatoes and squeezes of citrus that beautifully punctuated the smokey and spicy notes of chipotle and ancho chile. I could have drank five (but compromised with two).
For entrées, my husband and I made a classic choice: Split one sweet and one savory dish. Pure brunch bliss. Here are the details:
Chef Lorena Garcia’s chilaquiles rojos deliver exactly what I dream of when it comes to this brunch staple. A plate of super crunchy tortilla chips that maintain their texture despite the generous coating of vibrant guajillo tomato sauce. Defying the odds and maybe physics, there was not a soggy chip in sight. The chilaquiles were topped with fluffy scrambled eggs, queso and slices of avocado. We didn’t add meat, but were tempted by the option (especially the steak). This dish was straightforward, yet flavorful.
Dulce de leche French toast. Read that one more time. Yes—it tasted as delicious as it sounds. Thick slices of challah are dipped in custard and toasted to perfection resulting in a bronzed crunchy crust and a soft yielding center. Then to further reward you for your ordering choice, the toast is drizzled with a divine dulce de leche sauce, powdered sugar, fresh berries, whipped cream and served with syrup for dipping, dunking, or dousing. I’m not even a French toast person. It rarely (if ever) makes its way onto my table, but I would never miss this dish at CHICA.
Brunch was short and literally sweet, but not due to a lack of enchantment with CHICA. The food was excellent and left me wishing my appetite had allowed for more (particularly the chorizo & arepa benedict and strawberry guava waffles). The environment was a bit too moody for brunch, a meal I typically associate with sun soaked patios and casual lounging, but I'd love to return for a date night. And if brunch is any indication, dinner at CHICA Las Vegas would delight the senses and the stomach.
Bloody Mary’s and Dulce de Leche French Toast.
Ergo Yum.
This all sounds delicious! So much so, that I found my stomach literally growling when reading about the French toast. What a way to start a Thursday!
the literal definition of brunch euphoria. I would have ordered everything you did.