I'm No Snookie - Virginia's Jersey Shore

Sometimes a girl just has to get away!  I have another vice to talk about - I love Atlantic City, NJ!  About eight years ago, Andrew and I learned to be proficient at playing Video Poker.  We practiced at home and are actually pretty successful when we hit the casinos.  I have won, lost and broken even - but have always had fun!  In fact, between us, we have hit 9 Royal Flushes over the years.  Being relatively low rollers (budget = $300 per day for both of us), we have been very lucky, many times winning enough to pay for a nice gourmet meal at places like Bobby Flay Steak, Mia or Izakaya.

There is so much fun to be had that I will not be able to cover it all!  I will highlight my favorite moments from our latest trip.  Our first stop, because we were starting our stay at Ballys, was at The Trinity Pub in The Pier Shops at Caesars.  It is a great place to unwind after a long trip.

I had the Chicken Reuben with peas.  Very nice!  They have lovely Swirled Rye Bread at The Trinity Pub.

Andrew had the Roast Beef with Cheddar and Whiskey Gravy....great with a nicely poured Guinness!

I am a fan of Outlet Malls!  There is a great Outlet Center in Riverhead, NY, near my home.  There is also a nice Outlet Center in Atlantic City - a two block walk from Ballys.  They have great stores like Banana Rebublic, Van Heusen (I forgot to pack a dress shirt for Andrew) and UnderArmor (we needed a bunch of hunting gear).

One of my favorite things about Atlantic City is the Pier Shops at Caesars.  A non-gambler can spend all day in this gorgeous mall - even if they have a small budget.  There are lovely Adirondack Chairs facing the ocean to sit and enjoy the view, the piped in music or a good book.  There are many high end stores to browse through, such as Prada, Tiffany, Tommy Bahama, Louis Vuiton and Tourneau.  They have lower end stores to have more fun such as Brookstone, Apple, Sugar (candy) and even a Ten Dollar store.  There are many great restaurants, food stalls and even a cafeteria style place where you can get soup, salads, sandwiches and smoothies.  The Pier Shops is clean, safe and comfortable with a wonderful attraction - a water show.  This is a must see and Andrew and I try to check it out at least once a visit.

After a fun day of shopping and gambling we were pleased to go back to Mia in Caesars for dinner - this restaurant had served us one of the best meals we've ever had. This time around, we started with Beet and Blue Cheese Salad and Asparagus Soup.  Andrew had Short Ribs with Polenta and I had Brined Chicken with Panchetta and Polenta.  For dessert, we enjoyed unique dishes of Butterscotch/Rosemary Pudding with Rosemary Biscotti (so different but perfect) and Tahitian Creme Brullee (yes, we cheated on our sugar ban)!  This was a fine meal.  (I was hesitant to use my flash - it has such a intimate feel inside this room).

After a night of sin and debauchery - which for us means Tipsy Video Poker and Penny Slots until 4 AM - we had a nice snack at The Continental in The Pier Shops.  We split a BLT, Salad and Buffalo Chicken Meatballs.  Now I have a new favorite - those meatballs will be eaten every time I return to AC!

After a few nights at Ballys we checked into the Borgata Casino - my Happy Place !

We had a nice lunch at The Metropolitan - the coffee shop at the Borgata.  This is a great place for any meal or snack.  The bartenders are fabulous!  I ordered my favorite sandwich - the Angus Roast Beef Sandwich with Horseradish Sauce and Andrew had  the wonderful Pastrami Sandwich.  We decided to eat half of each others' orders.  What a great way to do lunch!  Two great flavors!

After a nice afternoon of Video Poker we took a cab over to Harrahs Casino for dinner at The Steakhouse.  We have been happy each time that we ate here.  Even though the waitress was snarky and annoying we enjoyed the food.  The back-up staff was professional and pleasant, as usual.  Andrew had a wonderful Angus Beef and Potato Soup and the Flat Iron Steak with Sweet Potato Gratin and I enjoyed an Heirloom Tomato and Maytag Blue Cheese Salad and a super Colossal Shrimp Cocktail.  They also have a bread basket that includes an addictive cheese spread.  It alone will keep us coming back.

Back to The Borgata for some more sin and debauchery!