It's a Celebration Meal!

Ok folks, let's face it, I have been very erratic with my posts! No schedule or regularity and I truly apologize.  With nursing school coming to a close my priorities have been elsewhere but at the cost of my beloved blog!  I plan on creating more regular posts, so hopefully not too many of you have moved on!  On that note, thank you to loyal readers.  Also, just so you all know, this sacrifice was not wasted.  In the past month I passed my exit exam for school, graduated, studied my booty off for state boards and am now a legitimate license holding Registered Nurse!  It's only natural I have a celebratory meal and this post is definitely a doozy, so sit back, relax and take a peek at the meal that literally ranks as the best I've ever had!

Despite my deep love affair with food, I rarely find myself in a fine dining situation, not only where fancy food exists but often the most innovative.  I pride myself in finding the small spots, the local favorites where innovation and taste meet for a friendly budget.  This night definitely was no regular night for me, and I mean that in the best of ways.

This brings us to Aburiya Raku, found in the corner of a strip mall center in Chinatown, soo inconspicuous you could miss it if you weren't looking for it.  Despite it's low key appearance, Raku has been considered a top restaurant in the city of Las Vegas, often recognized as a semi-finalist for the national James Beard award.  Their specialty revolves around traditional Japanese charcoal grilling, using Binchotan charcoal.  Binchotan charcoal is shipped straight from Japan, the only place it is found, and offers a unique flavor found with no other charcoal.  All their dishes are classic, some with modern gourmet twists, each prepared with their own special sauces and rich flavors.  The restaurant itself is very small and intimate, offering up their dishes in small well thought out presentations.