TimeOut

Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour

 

Hope everyone had a great Christmas holiday weekend.  Just wanted to share my Christmas travel in Las Vegas.

For this years' Christmas present I was lucky to receive tickets to the Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour.  The debut was made in Las Vegas (where else?) and the last show was tonight before moving on to Phoenix, Arizona and then across the US and Canada for 2012.  I've been to virtually all the Cirque du Soleil shows in Vegas and I've heard some very positive things about the Michael Jackson one.  So on Saturday night Christmas Eve we headed over to the Mandalay Bay Resort to watch the show.  Sorry, no pictures from the inside because photography is not allowed. 

Overall I really enjoyed the show.  It was similar to the Viva Elvis Cirque du Soleil show at Aria but of course featured Michael Jackson songs.  IMO they did a really nice job using his music with his voice but had a live band and backup singers.  The acoustics at the Mandalay Bay Events center were fantastic.  And this being a Cirque du Soleil production there was the typical integration of acrobatic performers.  There was a lot of things going on during the show with a T shaped stage and moving platforms.  If you all have a chance to see it when it comes to your area I would highly recommend it.  I think if you're a MJ fan you'll definitely enjoy the show.

On Christmas Day we had dinner at Michael Mina inside the Bellagio Resort and Casino.  The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens were all decked out in feastive holiday themes with polar bears, penguins and a giant Christmas tree in the center.  The new Omega Boutique was open and located across from the conservatory.  I also noticed the Breguet Boutique was open as well but I didn't have a chance to go into either one.  Will have to do it on my next trip coming up soon.  Anyway,  our group all ordered the tasting menu:

 

 We arrived early but it started to fill up pretty quickly:

All of the MGM Properties have beautiful floral arrangements in the lobby and other areas and also inside the restaurant:

On this meal, we didn't receive an amuse bouche, but instead the manager treated us to glasses of Vueve Cliquot grande dame champagne.  For our starter we had the ahi tuna tartare with ancho chili, mint, pine nut and sesame oil. 

Waiters were next to each of us and mixed the ingredients:

And here's the final product....delicious!

Next up is the signature dish from Michael Mina.  It's a Maine lobster pot pie, with vegetables and brandied-lobster cream and black truffles:

Our waiters delicately sliced the flaky crust and the aroma of the black truffles were amazing:

A peek at the insides:

And lots of large chunks of perfectly cooked lobster:

Our main course was an American Kobe rib eye with poached porchini mushrooms, pea pods, over a bed of creamed corn.  It's hard to tell from my pics (taken with iPhone) but it was perfectly medium rare and much better than the rib eye from my prior visit:

Dessert was a pleasant surprise compared to my last visit.  Dessert was a mini multi course serving starting with hot mulled apple cider with a vanilla sugar cookie:

Reminds me of the hot apple cider that I get whenever I go to the Julian Apple Festival:

Then a glazed chocolate brownie with spiced pecans:

Chocolate bon-bon's on a stick:

And brown sugar wafers with vanilla creme:

Our table was full of desserts:

And last but not least the signature Michael Mina dessert of root beer float with freshly baked, straight from the oven chocolate chip & nut cookies.  Two cookies per person, yum!

To keep this post watch related, gotta have my AP with me for a picture

Regards,
ED-209