Thanksgiving has usall thinking about eating, so here are a few excerpts from City Cast Las Vegas’conversation about “hidden food gems”withBrent Holmes, an artist and bon vivant who wrote theStreet Foodie columnfor Desert Companion.
What makes a place a hidden food gem?
Authenticity is really up there. We have really great chefs who can cook you up cuisine from almost anywhere in the world. And I love those guys; more power to ’em. But when I’m going for a hidden gem, I’m really going for the real deal. I want an abuela in the kitchen, you know what I mean? I want to be standing in the parking lot of a tire shop, going, “These are the best tacos (imitates chewing sounds).” I think that’s a big part of it. I think price is a big part of it.
Can we talk about Chinatown? Pick a place.
Fellow food critic Jason Harris pointed me to this place, Yen Viet Kitchen (3575 S. Decatur Blvd). My goodness, is that some incredible Vietnamese food with some really off-the-wall dishes. And it’s got that classic — I don’t know what the Vietnamese term for grandma is — but it’s got the abuela in the kitchen, making the food, and the dishes are absolutely stellar.
Do we have a hidden gem soul food spot in Vegas?
My favorite soul food spot is Soul Foo Young.
Yes!
Dude! Dude! The Bruce Leroy itself is a miracle! Soul Foo Young is a soul food joint cum Chinese restaurant in the best Wu-Tang Clan, kung-fu-movie remix sense of the word. It is egg foo young with pork neck-bone gravy. It is the Bruce Leroy, which is two chicken wings and fried rice. It’s got that blending of flavors. It is wonderful, wonderful food, and a hilarious concept; they do not take themselves seriously, and you’re going to be satisfied on both ends.
(Edited for length and clarity.)
