Tag: casino

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tio wally

Tio Wally Eats America: Rolling Hills Casino

I’m happy to have Tio Wally (long-time Me So Hungry reader) aboard to send in his eating adventures from across America. Here he is in Corning, California.

Greetings from Corning, California
N 39° 52.4549’ W 122° 12.1464’ Elev. 289 feet

If you’ve ever been to a crappy Indian Casino you quickly discovered that, for the most part, the staff couldn’t possibly care less whether you were there or not. Indeed, you got the feeling that in a perfect world you would just phone in your money.

That said, Rolling Hills Casino is an unusual place. It’s owned by the Paskenta Band of the Nomiaki Indians. Ever heard of ‘em? Me neither. There are 102 recognized tribes in California so your ignorance is excused.

What makes Rolling Hills unusual is that it’s incredibly friendly: you actually feel welcomed! It ain’t a bit like certain all-the-better-unnamed Native American-owned entities I’ve visited (Sky City in Acoma, New Mexico) where they are hell-bent on making your experience as miserable as Europeans have made theirs. Past genocides aside, the vibe at Rolling Hills is warm and inviting. And the food is great.

I’ve eaten at the buffet here a number of times. Heck, until I looked at their website I didn’t know that they had another restaurant. I guess that ‘splains why I’ve always eaten at the buffet. And while the food is somewhat predictable (not a bad thing), it’s always great and the service is nothing short of impeccable.

I stopped in on a Sunday for lunch ($11.95 minus $1 for being over 50). On Tuesdays and Thursdays the over 50 set get 50% off, and they serve great prime rib every night! ($16.95 … minus 50% … I’ll get back to you). Why can’t I get here on a Tuesday or Thursday? Karma, I suspect.

04 RH_roast beef

They had roast beef and baked turkey carving stations for lunch, along with the mostly usual fare. I tended to focus on just a few things because, let’s face it, I’m old and I can’t eat that much. But I’m alway game for the “day’s surprise.”

The unexpected thing they offered was baked Ruby Red Trout. It was quite good, especially considering I’m not a freshwater fish fan. Admittedly, I screwed up with it. I should’ve put a couple of good squeezes of fresh lemon on it. While I’m not sure it would’ve taken the “fishy” away — freshwater fish always tastes fishy to me — I suspect it would’ve enhanced it many-fold.

The roast beef was incredible. The first piece I had was thin-sliced, a little pink, and perfect. Dipped in au jus it was pretty damn close to prime rib. Next time I’ll get some horseradish and really do it up right.

Other interesting, far-above-par things they offered were an awesome broccoli salad, amazing little potato thangies, and the best cornbread this side of … you tell me.

The broccoli salad had a somewhat sweet dressing. Along with the obligatory broccoli, the salad contained the wonderful additions of ripe, sweet red grapes, golden raisins and many, many pieces of quality just-like-I-like-it wilty bacon. This stuff warranted seconds and thirds.

The potato thangies were really interesting. I first thought they were the largest, most misshapen fried okras I’d ever seen. (I wasn’t wearing my glasses. The world is a much different and, often, a much more interesting place when I can’t really see.) I eventually discovered the smushed Tater-Tots’ unique properties. The mini-hockey pucks o’ spuds had jalapeño in them! I suspect that had I been wearing my glasses I could’ve read the little sign — they’ve got them above every dish — and known what the hell I was eating. Alas, no. Then again “The world is a much different and, often, a much more interesting place when I can’t really see.”

And the cornbread? Ah, the cornbread. I am a cornbread aficionado, a cornbread freak. And this cornbread was heavenly. I grabbed corner slices, with the crusty edges. I sliced it in half, added butter, closed it, and waited for the butter to start melting. Then I spread that supernal salted butterfat, took a bite, and swooned. I really did. Really. Really!

They offer a complete line of beverages. They even have chocolate milk! I also grabbed a can of tomato juice leftover from the breakfast buffet just because. Mmm, chocolate milk and tomato juice.

25 RH_dessert2

Without a doubt the Rolling Hills Casino Buffet offers more desserts than Carter’s has pills. They’ve got cream pies, pie pies, cakes, cobblers, those weird little puff pastries that always look good until you eat them and quickly discover they suck. That they really, really suck. Unforgivably, they also did not have pumpkin pie replete with gobs of whipped cream. They had soft-serve ice cream but it’s not the same without pumpkin pie.

I don’t know if this means anything but … most of the people working there are palefaces. Could it be that the Tribe let its members eat at the buffet for free and they are all now obese, diabetic, missing feet and, perhaps, reduced to surveying their ancestral homeland from a Hoveround®?

With that in mind, I had a single piece of cheesecake for dessert. It was very, very good.

And so we roll.

Rolling Hills Casino, 2655 Everett Freeman Way, Corning, California

Tio Wally pilots the 75-foot, 40-ton(max) land yacht SS Me So Hungry. He reports on road food from around the country whenever parking and InterTube connections permit.

Categories
interesting travel

Harrah’s Casino (Philly)

Harrah’s in Philly is interesting. There’s no hotel or the glitz and glamour of Vegas or Atlantic City. The casino is next door to a prison and you have to go through the ghetto to get to it. We actually took a limo through the ghetto to get there. But once you get there, it is definitely a casino.

Now I don’t mean to already talk down on Harrah’s Philly. Hear me out throughout the rest of this post. For one thing, I can see if I lived in Philly as a 30-something year old hipster, I’d come to the casino to check it out. Have some drinks. Gamble some cash. I don’t think it would necessarily be as an ironic adventure, but that I think it would be just plain fun –like how I think Disney World is fun. At the same time, I couldn’t tell if the place seemed more sad because it had less of the glitz and glamour of what I think casinos are supposed to be …and just watching people throwing their money away with a push of a button felt weird to me.

I can tell though, they are trying to make strides to make it more fun or family (non-family) orientated. Like, there are events! We were there during their Food and Wine Grand Market, where local and national vendors/businesses were giving away free samples (food and alcohol). Also there were live demos, including from celebrity chef, Lorena Garcia (Taco Bell spokesperson).

02 Philly Cheesesteak Potsticker - Mien Noodles

We had lunch there at Mien Noodles –an Asian Fusion Restaurant, right in the middle of the casino floor. We had a lot of different stuff. The most interesting was the Philly Cheese-steak Potsticker. It’s exactly what you think it would be. And to be honest, it was pretty good. And the Tempura Fried Ice Cream was great.

Now back to the casino. It definitely is a different crowd than what I’m used to. It reminded me of OTB (Off Track Betting) that used to be all all over New York. Heck, I live off the L train in Williamsburg, Brooklyn –probably the most trendiest hipster neighborhood in the world right now. Also, this wasn’t the type of casino where half of the people are there for a bachelor/bachelorette party like Atlantic City. But as we were about to get ready to head back to our limos, Todd pointed out this couple to me in front of us, who were arguing then had a moment of understanding of each other. He said he thought that was him and his future wife in thirty years. Then it kind of hit me. Yeah, these people are people too. Not that I thought they were any less than me in the first place …but I couldn’t relate until that moment.

12 Philly Harrah's Couple

So maybe I was the most Asian hipster at Harrah’s casino that day. But I did have that moment of realization that everyone might not wear skinny jeans or have cool hair like me, but everybody is a person too. They all have feelings, emotions, and their own lives they live. Maybe they used to be hipsters a long time ago. Maybe I will be hanging out at this casino in thirty years …or maybe in the prison next door. Only time will tell.

Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack – 777 Harrah’s Blvd, Chester, PA 19013

Categories
restauranting

Guy Fieri’s Chophouse: Welcome to Flavortown!

We went to Guy Fieri’s Chophouse at Bally’s (Atlantic City). To be honest, I didn’t expect it to be good after all the bad reviews Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar (Times Square) gets. But they were telling us that once they worked out the deal with Guy Fieri, he sent over his recipes and the chefs there were like “uh… Let’s rework these.” The Chophouse is a totally different restaurant than the Times Square location. It’s much better. I gotta say, now this is Flavortown!

05 Danger Wings - Guy Fieri's Chophouse

The Danger Wings were my favorite. The wings had wasabi dipping sauce. Oh, and the Cheesy Garlic-Onion Pretzel Bread was awesome. It came with a super rich butter. And Potbelly Sliders (pork belly) –yum!

11 Horseradish Crusted Prime Rib - Guy Fieri's Chophouse

Then came the entrees. I went with the gigantic Horseradish Crusted Prime Rib. It was bigger than my big fat face. I did well by looking at my plate at the end. But I did put half of it on Todd’s plate.

Todd got the Bourbon Pork Chop, which was also good. But so stuffed, so hard to tell what was going on.

Interestingly, or not so interestingly, the two items they touted as being Guy Fieri’s specialties that thrusted his career –the Vegas Fries (with dehydrated Buffalo wing sauce dusting) and the Mac n Cheese were the less flavortown.

It’s weird. I imagine Guy Fieri’s name would be a huge draw at a place like a casino and Times Square. But at the same time, I don’t think people necessarily respect him as a chef. My friends were making fun of me when I Instagrammed that I was eating there. But I just assume they were thinking it is the same as the Times Square restaurant. Anyway, name or no name, Guy’s Fieri’s Chophouse is truly Flavortown.

Guy Fieri’s Chophouse – (Bally’s) 1900 Boardwalk. Atlantic City, NJ 08401

Categories
partying

Atlantic City Weekend Warrior

Bally's Atlantic City Winning

This past weekend I was invited to go on an Asian American Press Tour of Bally’s/Harrah’s/Caesars in Atlantic City & Philadelphia. I didn’t know such things existed. Apparently, a lot of Asians gamble. I know that is fact, because the most Asians I’ve ever seen was at Resorts World Casino in Queens.

Anyway, it was fun as heck. I was hungover 70% of the time. Dinners, limo’s, drinks, bikini beach bars and cupcakes. You will see these posts in the coming days.

I gotta say, I started out envying our tour host, Jerry, who takes VIPs and Press out to show them a good time. That’s his job! He’s paid to party. By the end of the weekend, I did not envy him. Because if I was him, I’d be throwing up everyday and cry “uncle” after a month. But Jerry rules and is the perfect guy for the job. He knows his shit. I was already missing him on my bus ride back home. …I still miss him.

Here’s a photo of me in front of the Stanley Cup in the lobby of Caesars hotel and casino. The security guard photobombed me.

Security Guard Photobomb in front of the Stanley Cup

Categories
travel video

Matt’s Bachelor Atlantic City Party

My burger buddy Matt is about to get married so party time in Atlantic City. It was the bro time of my life. Photos of the non-stupid stuff below. The German Sausage from 7-Eleven was probably the best thing I ate. They had some spicy Indian chili sauce on the toppings bar. It was surprisingly good, but I got my wiener too early. I didn’t know there was a boardwalk full of AC pizza and dog shops around the corner. There’s also a lot of Cash for Gold shops. I understand why people need the cash, but I want to know who goes there to buy the gold?

We stopped at this punching bag booth on our way to Hooters. There was a guy talking shit behind us. I wish I kept shooting when he tried to show off when we were done, but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. He took a swing and fell onto the clothing racks and then the ground. His girlfriend was laughing at him. Then he got back up and swung again and only got a 78. I blew it with my camera. It could have been the next Keyboard Cat viral. I still don’t know that is.

We took a gamble on the brunch buffet at Virginia City buffet in the Wild Wild West Casino. The only thing good about that place was the dining room looked like fake country houses. I couldn’t believe we were eating inside a mini house inside a casino building. It seemed so nice outside on the fake porch. Also there’s a coupon for $10 slot credit when you buy a buffet. It’s like trying to win your money back from the buffet you found out you didn’t want to eat. Matt was the big winner at $30 from the coupon credit. Fun times!

Categories
fast food travel

The Last Night in New Orleans

After Vietnamese food, I met back up with Jody & Christa at Harrah’s casino. We walked around for an hour trying to figure out how to play. The machines wouldn’t take our dollar bills. Then we figured out that we have to put at least $5 in. Then it wouldn’t take our $5’s. We almost gave up, then I decided it was time to go down in flames and stuck $10 in there. I pushed some buttons and it gave me more money back. What kind of business is Harrah’s in? The business of losing money or the business of fulfilling dreams?

We walked around trying to find Jody & Christa some cheap, quick food. By that time, there wasn’t much open but Popeyes. But I have to admit, Popeyes makes some dang good food. I love their Jambalaya and lived on that in college. That’s how I think I base my judgement of what good Jambalaya is –by Popeyes. Although, I know I’ve had a couple of Popeyes that tasted like vomit, but when it’s good, it’s great. The one right there in the French Quarter didn’t have Jambalaya though. Only Dirty or Cajun Rice. Every location should have jambalaya IMO …and fried chicken liver!

Jody picked up a Shrimp Po-Boy and that looked great. We brought it back to our hotel and stood in the lobby talking, where we saw an old man without any pants holding onto the luggage rack. I couldn’t tell if his glasses were super thick that made his eyes super wide or if he really was a deer in headlights. We think he might have been in one of those situational comedies where he was hanging with a lady and got locked out of his room. That Popeyes Shrimp Po-Boy tasted really good.

Then we met back up with Jay where he was doing sound at One Eyed Jack’s for Dax Riggs. That was a fun show. After, we stumbled around for more food. There really isn’t much open, except Arby’s. Two years ago, Rusty totally Hasselhoff’d on Arby’s down in the Big Easy. He was dipping his fries and roast beef sandwich in the Horsey sauce that got on his bed. Good thing the line was crazy long at Arby’s this time. It could’ve been Hoff Deux. Not that I wasn’t ready to videotape it.

There’s this weird illusion when you wake up and open the windows at the St. James Hotel. You see your reflection from the building across the street and think you’re in the Twilight Zone. It freaked us out.