GO EAST YOUNG MAN!!! JIMITHEGREEK GOES TO CHINA

MACAU MADNESS - PART DEUCE

YESSIREEE BOB, YOU PRETTY MUCH CAN SEE THE SANDS CASINO ONCE THE FERRY DOCKS! MACAU IS A VERY INTERESTING PLACE. THERE IS A MIX OF PORTUGUESE / EUROPEAN AND CHINESE CULTURES THAT MAKES AN INTERESTING MELANGE OF THINGS. IT ALSO HAS ALREADY SURPASSED LAS VEGAS AS THE BIGGEST MONEY RAKING IN CASINO AREA IN THE WORLD. IT HAS, HOWEVER NOT YET REACHED THE ALLURE, ATTRACTION, AFFLUENCE'S, FUN, COOLNESS, SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE, SPARKLE & ZEITGEIST OF LAS VEGAS. AN INTERESTING FACT IS THAT MACAU IS WITHIN A SIX HOUR FLIGHT OF 1.5 BILLION POTENTIAL GAMBLERS....OYE VE!!! I DIGRESS, WE GET A TAXI TO THE RIO HOTEL & CASINO WHERE THE GREEK AND A CHINAMAN (HENCEFORTH TO BE KNOW AS OC ; ORIGINAL CHINAMAN) WERE TO SPEND THE NIGHT. ALONG THE WAY WE WERE SALIVATING TALKING ABOUT THE LUNCH WE WERE GOING TO HAVE AT ROBUCHON. THE SON OF A CHINAMAN, WE WILL CALL HIM OC Jr ( I AM GETTING REALLY LAZY!) HIMSELF A BIT OF A FOODIE, WAS GOING BACK TO HONG KONG AFTER THE MEAL. CANT BLAME HIM, WHO WANTS TO HANG AROUND TWO OLDER FARTS TALKING ABOUT FOOD, BOXING, TV SHOWS AND OTHER NONSENSICAL STUFF...TRUE THAT. HE (OC Jr)-> BEING A MUCH YOUNGER AND HIPPER MAN THAN US OLD FOGGIES! NEVER MIND ON TO THE FOOD DARN IT! OFF TO THE VENERABLE BUT DATED FLAGSHIP OF MACAU GAMBLING THE HOTEL LISBOA.

OKAY IT REALLY IS NOT VENERABLE, I THINK IT IS A DATED, GAUDY, WORN HOTEL WITH WARRENS OF GAMBLING ROOMS, SHOPS, & RESTAURANTS. SPEAKING OF RESTAURANTS IT JUST HAPPENS TO HOUSE THE BEST FRENCH RESTAURANT IN EAST ASIA, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT FOLKS. FOOD MADNESS I TELL YOU, IT OVERTOOK US LIKE A DOG CHEWING ON A BONE! (WHAT?) ANYWAYS; ROBUCHON a GALERA IS JUST A WONDERFUL PLACE TO EAT. THE MENU & WINE LIST IS FABULOUS. OC Jr AND I FOCUSED ON THE EXECUTIVE LUNCH MENU - "LUNCH AT YOUR OWN COMPOSITION" AND WE ACTUALLY PICKED THE SAME EXACT ITEM TO EAT. WELL WHAT CAN I SAY GREEK.. UH ER GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE. THE OC WAS TORTURED WITH THE MENU AND WINE LIST! YUP WE WERE IN TROUBLE NOW. OH WELL JUST A LITTLE TASTE OF SOME DIFFERENT ITEMS!

SO OC Jr AND I START OUT WITH THE LIGHTLY SMOKED FOIS GRAS WITH MARINATED FRENCH BEAN. YES, YES I KNOW FOIE GRAS IS NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT BUT IT DOES TASTE DARN GOOD. THIS PARTICULAR VERSION WAS LIGHTLY SMOKED AND WAS WONDERFUL. OF COURSE THE OC WENT OFF THE SET LUNCH MENU TO HAVE AN APPETIZER OF THE VERY TASTY "JAMON NEGRO IBERICA". THIS IS THE AIR DRIED AGED BLACK HAM FROM SPAIN. THE PIGS ARE ONLY FED ACORNS AND IT IS SLICED FRESH FROM THE FORE LEG. IT IS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE USA BECAUSE THERE ARE NO PRESERVATIVES OR CHEMICALS ADDED TO PASS USDA RULES. LET ME TELL YOU THOUGH IT IS MAGICALLY DELICIOUS, SIMILAR TOO BUT BETTER THAN THE FINEST ITALIAN PROSCIUTTO. A KOSHER PORK DISH IF THERE EVER WAS ONE!

JUST WRITING ABOUT THE APPETIZERS AND I HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN UP TWICE TO RUMMAGE THRU THE FRIDGE. GOOD THING THERE'S NOTHING BUT FRUIT AND SALAD IN THERE!! AFTER THE OOHS AND AAAHHS OF THE FIRST COURSE WE HAD A "WHITE ASPARAGUS VELOUTE WITH SEMI-CONFIT SALMON AND CROUTONS"... WHAT? YEAH WELL IT BASICALLY WAS A CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP WITH A PIECE OF SALMON, BUT A TASTY SOUP! OH AND THE OC HAD THE "SAFFRON SOFT BOILED EGG IN TOMATO ASPIC WITH BLACK OLIVE TOFU AND A MEDLEY OF MIXED HERBS" EATING LITE & HEALTHY, EH? BY THE WAY WE WERE WASHING THIS ALL DOWN WITH SOME NICE CRISP WHITE WINE AND SOME FRESHLY BAKED BREADS AND ROLLS WHILE CRITIQUING THE GREAT FOOD AND HAVING A SMOKE IN BETWEEN.

YEAH, I SAID IT! A SMOKE IN THE RESTAURANT, NOT GOING IN THE ELEVATOR, OUTSIDE IN THE RAIN, I SAID IN THE RESTAURANT!!! AH, THE GOOD OLD DAYS! YOU CAN STILL SMOKE PRETTY MUCH ANYWHERE IN MACAU! GOOD THING I AM A SOCIAL SMOKER AND ONLY HAD A TASTE OR TWO JUST TO KEEP THE OC COMPANY.

ONWARDS TO THE MAIN DISH. ME N MY NEW MAIN YOUNG MAN OC Jr HAD THE "PAN FRIED KUROBUTA PORK LOIN, FRICASSEE OF MUSHROOMS WITH PINK GARLIC AND PARSLEY FOAM" YEAH I KNOW THE FOAM, THE FOAM ...BOSS. THE FOAM STUFF AND THE MUSHROOMS WERE UNNECESSARY. THE KUROBUTA PORK ITSELF WAS FANTASTIC ENOUGH. A NICELY COOKED, MAGNIFICENTLY MARBLED PIECE OF DARKER SWINE! IT WAS MELT IN YOUR MOUTH MAKE YOU WANT TO SLAP YO MAMMA GOOD! WE BOTH ENJOYED IT TREMENDOUSLY. OF COURSE BY NOW OC Jr HAD TAKEN OFF HIS SUNGLASSES AND WAS REALLY ENJOYING THE MEAL! SPEAKING OF ENJOYING THE MEAL, OC HAD THE FOIE GRAS AS HIS MAIN DISH (APPETIZER PORTION DUE HE WAS EATING LITE!) DARN GOOD. BY NOW WE WERE WELL INTO THE RED WINE AS WELL.

ABOUT TWO AND A HALF HOUS LATER WE GET UP TO THE "CHARIOT DE FROMAGES FERMIERS AFFINES", THAT MACAUNESE FOR A SELECTION OF CHEESE FROM THE CHEESE TROLLEY. NOW I CANNOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHICH TYPES I HAD , ONLY THAT THEY WERE SIMPLY MARVELOUS. THEY HAD THE FINEST CHEESES YOU COULD HAVE. WE ALL SINFULLY HAD AT LEAST TWO OR THREE OR FOUR TASTES. ALRIGHT I'M BACK TO MY FRIDGE , THERE'S GOTTA BE SOME PREPACKAGED INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED PROCESSED AMERICAN CHEESE OR SOMETHING IN THERE FOR ME.

NOW ROBUCHON IS FAMOUS FOR HIS DESSERTS, WHICH HAS SUCH LUXURIOUS TREATS AS LOLLIPOPS, CHOCOLATE STRAWS, CAKES, TARTS ETC. SUFFICE IT TO SAY THEY ARE ALL EXTRAORDINARY! WE HAD A LITTLE TASTE ALONG WITH SOME COFFEE. I AM NOT EVEN GOING TO GET INTO IT BECAUSE I WILL BE IN MY FRIDGE SUCKING DOWN SOME HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE SYRUP RIGHT OUT OF THE BOTTLE! ALAS THE MEAL HAD TO END (THREE AND A HALF HOURS LATER). WE ALL WADDLED OUT & BID FOND FAREWELL TO OC Jr AND HE WAS OFF TO CATCH THE FERRY BACK TO HONG KONG. OC AND I WENT BACK TO THE HOTEL TO REST ERH TAKE CARE OF SOME BIZNESS (TOILET & NAP)!?!

ABOUT AN HOUR OR TWO LATER WE ARE OFF TO THE SPA AT THE HOTEL. THE SPA IS BASICALLY A WHOLE FLOOR IN THE HOTEL CONSISTING OF VARIOUS PRIVATE AND LARGE PUBLIC AREAS WHERE YOU GET ALL SORTS OF MASSAGES, MANICURES, PEDICURES ETC. THE CHINAMAN ARRANGED IT SO WE HAD OUR OWN PRIVATE AREA. AFTER BEING SERVED A SOFT DRINK, WE BOTH OPTED FOR THE FOOT MASSAGE. THIS IS NATURAL AFTER HAVING SUCH A LARGE MEAL...HUH? NOW I TELL YOU THEM GALS KNOW HOW TO DO A FOOT MASSAGE. WITHIN TEN MINUTES I WAS DOZING OFF. FOR SOME REASON I AWOKE AND THOUGHT I WAS STILL DREAMING OR SOMETHING! I THOUGHT I SAW THE OC WITH SOMEONE STICKING A CHOPSTICK IN HIS EAR? EGADS! DID I EAT SOME HALLUCINOGENIC MUSHROOMS OR SOMETHING? AS MY HAZE CLEARED UP I REALIZED HE WAS JUST GETTING A GOOD OLD FASHIONED EAR CLEANING! HMM, I WAS NOT QUITE UP TO THAT FOR MYSELF. PERHAPS I COULD CONVINCE THE MRS JIMITHEGREEK TO DO THAT FOR ME WHEN I GET HOME? WELL MAYBE NOT! OK, NOW THAT I WAS SUFFICIENTLY WOBBLY FROM MY FOOT MASSAGE, I WENT OFF TO GET A SAUNA. STEAM BATH & SHOWER WHILE THE OC CONTINUED ON WITH HIS MASSAGE, EAR CLEANING, MANICURE ETC ETC.!! YUP, HE'S GOT THE HIGH LIFE, I TELL YA'LL! AFTER ALL THIS EXCITEMENT WE WERE GETTING A LITTLE HUNGRY AGAIN! WE DECIDED TO GO OUT AND FORAGE FOR A LITE SNACK! WHAT BETTER PLACE TO GO TO THAN THE WYNN MACAU HOTEL & CASINO?

THE WYNN IS A SMALLER REPLICA OF THE WYNN LAS VEGAS. IT IS BY FAR THE NICEST, CLEANEST, SPARKIEST & CLASSIEST HOTEL CASINO IN ASIA. WE DID A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF THE PROPERTY AND ITS EATING ESTABLISHMENTS AND DECIDED NOT TO HAVE CHINESE FOOD AGAIN AND TRY THE LOVELY ITALIAN RESTAURANT; RISTORANTE IL TEATRO. THE PLACE HAS A HUGE OPEN KITCHEN TO ALLOW VIEWS OF REAL IMPORTED ITALIANS COOKING. SPEAKING OF VIEWS, YOU CAN SEE THE ARTIFICIAL LAKE WITH ITS PERFORMING FOUNTAINS FROM VIRTUALLY EVERY SEAT IN THE PLACE. OF COURSE WE WERE NOT LOOKING AT THE WATER VIEW BUT A THE THE MENU! (THAT RHYMES!)

ANYWAYS THE MENU WAS FULL OF CLASSIC ITALIAN DISHES. WE DECIDED TO EAT LIGHT (MEANS NO WINE, JUST A DRINK EACH). THE FOOD WAS TO NOTCH. I STARTED WITH THE TASTY SEARED TUNA WITH SALAD & SWEET ONION RELISH, THEN OUT TO A CLASSIC RIGATONI WITH SAUSAGE & BROCCOLI RABE. BOTH DISHES WERE IMPECCABLY ITALIAN GOOD AND DEVOURED QUICKLY. THE CHINAMAN HAD THE LOBSTER CARPACCIO WITH CAESAR SALAD & THE BEEF RAVIOLI WITH TOMATO SAUCE WHICH BOTH DISAPPEARED IN RECORD TIME. I'D PUT THIS PLACE IN WITH SOME OF NYC'S TOP ITALIAN JOINTS. IT MUST HAVE BEEN THOSE EXHAUSTING MASSAGES THAT FORCED US TO SHARE THE WONDERFUL DESSERT SAMPLER! SUFFICIENTLY STUFFED WE GOT OUT TO THE STREET AND STUMBLED BACK TO THE HOTEL PAUSING TO PERUSE SOME OF THE WATCH & JEWELRY SHOPS ALONG THE WAY.

MEANWHILE BACK IN THE ROOM I WAS A BIT RESTLESS AND DECIDE TO GO DOWNSTAIRS AND GAMBLE A LITTLE BIT SINCE I HAD SOME VOUCHERS! I HAVE TO SAY IT WAS AN UNCOMFORTABLE EXPERIENCE. THE LAYOUT IS BASICALLY A BUNCH OF INDIVIDUAL LARGE CLOSED OFF ROOMS. I HAD TO GO THRU METAL DETECTORS AND A FIRM PAT DOWN. THE TABLES WERE A BIT WORN AND THE SLOTS WERE UNRECOGNIZABLE TO ME. I WAS THE ONLY NON-ASIAN THERE AND FELT LIKE I WAS BEING CLOSELY SCRUTINIZED. I PLAYED SOME SLOTS AND QUICKLY WENT BACK TO THE ROOM TO FINALLY GET SOME SHUT EYE.

THE NEXT MORNING IT WAS A LIGHT & FREE BUFFET BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL, TAXI TO THE PIER AND ON THE FERRY BACK TO HONG KONG! IT WAS THEN I REALIZED IT WAS ONLY SUNDAY, THREE DAYS INTO THE TRIP! WE STILL HAD A COUPLE OF DAYS IN HONG KONG AND BEIJING TO GO!! I FIGURED IT WHEN I GOT BACK TO HONG IT WAS EITHER TIME TO DO SOME SERIOUS WORKING OUT OR JUST LOOSEN UP THE BELT! OH WELL

COMING UP NEXT........ HOORAY IN HONG KONG!!