I’ve been going to the Nugget Casino Resort since I was six-years-old and so much has changed but so much has stayed the same. Granted they have a new tower, spa, remodel here and there and a Starbucks but the nuts and bolts of the property has stayed the same. I’ve seen so many entertainers in the showroom and remember meeting Bertha and throwing such a fear fit that my father had to take me back to the car. The Nugget was my first buffet and my father kept bringing me food I didn’t want to eat, but he did, and that way my mother would not scold him for the heaps of potato or pea salad he would Matterhorn on the plate. I miss seeing John Ascuaga walk through the property daily to stop and say hello, but everyone needs to retire at some point, except Carol Channing.
I had a hankering for a pan roast the other day so we headed to the Nugget Oyster Bar. It is an iconic restaurant that has been around in one location or another inside The Nugget since 1959. So any restaurant that is older than I am is one to be enjoyed. My father joined me and had the best of times since we weren’t eating on his dime, as he put it. Dad ordered the Combination Seafood Cocktail (an assortment of lobster, crab and shrimp) and opted for the New England Lobster Roll and I had a traditional Combination Pan Roast. Their pan roast never lets me down – it is the perfect combination of white wine, clam broth, heavy cream, real butter, lemon and I’m sure spice-wise a secret ingredient or two – is that Tabasco I tasted? I had asked them to go easy on the oysters and they were kind enough to add in additional crab, which is a favorite, because it just sponges up the cream, butter and lemon. The lobster roll was nicely done; I mean after all isn’t everyone doing one, the Nugget’s was not over mayonnaised and had a nice crunch with the chopped celery. I find restaurants seem to bury the lobster in mayonnaise. Basically the ratio should be ¼ cup of mayonnaise per 2.5 lobsters and remember to use celery, please, and include the leaves. What I didn’t understand was the side of fruit that was served with the sandwich. I’m assuming we could have substituted but we didn’t catch the fruit until the sandwich was served. Is someone confused and serving “fruits de mer”
(French for a plate of seafood – raw and cooked shellfish served cold on a platter, usually on a bed of Ice.) with the lobster? My father thought it was lovely and ate the fruit saying it was good for his waistline – which might be the very reason The Nugget serves it as a side. Make sure you visit the Oyster Bar it is a Sparks “must” and the food is a delight. Nugget Casino Resort, 1100 Nugget Avenue, Sparks, (775) 356-3300 (nuggetcasinoresort.com)
With so many family members visiting for Hot August Nights we decided to go on a quest for the best French Fries in Sparks. This turned into quite the search; we were not sure if it should only be fries from drive-thru restaurants or include all restaurants. Finally we narrowed it down to just simply best fries anywhere in Sparks. My family members were all over and reported that their favorites were at Rail City in the Ale House it was the dipping sauces that got them. Close second was Scooper’s chili cheese and third was a beloved chain, Dairy Queen – just the right amount of salt and the fries were scalding hot. Honorable mention goes to Carolina Kitchen & BBQ Co.
fries with their various barbecue sauces plus our company brought a lot of ribs home which were devoured the moment they hit the door.
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