This week my obsession with Chile Rellenos has been raised to new heights. I wrote about Haven Gastropub’s gourmet version topped with Tillamook’s pepperjack cheese, had a simple but deliciously authentic Mexican chile relleno with homemade tortillas at La Parrilla after wine tasting in Temecula, and now I’m daydreaming about what I declared to be my most memorable meal of 2009: Mesa Grill’s blue corn tortilla coated chile relleno topped with micro greens – es el paraiso!

Now, I’m on a mission to make them myself! Anyone out there have a Chile Relleno recipe that you love?

Vegas is the ultimate playground; there’s a palpable excitement in the air and you just can’t help but be swept up in it. The glamour and bright lights, the adrenaline burst that comes with risk, the expectation. The possibilities…it makes you do things that you would never normally do – caution is thrown to the wind.

My girlfriend and I had been at the pool and she observed that her glasses were not nearly BIG enough – she needed a new pair because, other than a bikini, the only accessory that is de riguer at any pool in Vegas is a pair of glam sunglasses. So mind you, she is the one that caused us to be coerced into the sunglass shop at the Venetian by a tall, handsome and effective salesman. Cha ching! But aren’t they gorgeous and glittery? and the best part is, we’ll actually wear them after we leave – unlike that muumuu I bought in Hawaii.

(Originally published on April 18, 2009 at www.topmomblog.com )