Cheftimony Episode 057 – Caviar Parfait
Photo Credit: Michael Trager
Michael Mason Trager from TravelZork stops by to discuss luxury travel…caviar…champagne… and fried chicken!
My guest is Michael Mason Trager from the wonderful world of TravelZork and the ZorkCast podcast. Long-time listeners know that Las Vegas has a special place in my heart, in large part because of its outstanding culinary scene. Well, Michael has a thing or two to say about that scene, backed by decades of experience in the world of luxury travel, fueled by casino loyalty and travel rewards programs.
Today Michael and I talk about casino “comps” (complimentary gifts to keep players loyal) that can include some amazing dining experiences. Early in the show, Michael talks about a cognac tasting at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, including in the property’s Mansion bar. We also make a stop at a now-closed restaurant at Wynn Las Vegas, the eponymous Alex by Chef Alessandro Stratta, where Michael enjoyed a madeira of a very particular year, as you’ll hear on the show.
We head over to Picasso in the Bellagio (where I was very lucky to be a stagiaire years ago) and then off-Strip to Sushi Kame. And Michael and I reminisce about our experiences in various restaurants of Chef Michael Mina. Suffice it to say that Michael is a fan of Chef’s caviar parfait and that the amusing bourbon experience I had in Mina’s San Francisco restaurant involved one pricey glass of the A.H. Hirsch Reserve bourbon.
But rest assured that neither Michael nor I think that food need be expensive or fancy to be wonderful and to bring happiness. To the contrary, we discuss our shared love for fried chicken, both hot and cold, a dish (along with hot dogs!) that Michael loves to pair with champagne.
Join us for our talk! And make sure to keep in touch with all that Michael is up to, on TravelZork and on his Facebook pages focusing on travel and caviar.