Eating Out Paleo – Bouchon Bistro, Las Vegas, NV
I’ve been a long-time fan of all of Thomas Keller’s restaurants (he’s most known for The French Laundry, often called the best restaurant in the US, and the popular/very-non-paleo Bouchon Bakery).
This was about my 5th or 6th time at Bouchon Bistro in Las Vegas, and I still rave about it. So why do I always keep going back?
Have you ever heard of Europeans (especially French and Italians) talk about a great little restaurant in their neighborhood serving hearty traditional foods that they pop into for dinner all the time? That’s how I think of Bouchon Bistro even though it’s not in Europe (although the food is French) nor in my neighborhood! It’s just I know I will always like the food, and it won’t break the bank.
Is Bouchon Bistro Paleo?
To me, pretty much all French cuisine is Paleo! Fine, there’s a bit of bread here and there, but overall, it’s very Paleo. For instance, traditional French cuisine places a huge emphasis on nutrient-dense foods (think organ meats, red meats, and seafood) cooked in good fats (think clarified butter and duck fat).
The Menu At Bouchon Bistro
We enjoyed a pretty light menu that night (having just come out of a buffet 3 hours earlier!).
Appetizers
We started with 2 appetizers (which I forgot to photograph): pan-seared Hudson Valley foie gras and an assortment of Charcuterie served with pickled vegetables, Dijon mustard & petite baguette (which we didn’t eat).
Poulet Roti
I ordered the Poulet Roti (roasted chicken with whole grain mustard spaetzle, poached pears, cavolo nero & brown butter chicken jus). This is often considered one of Thomas Keller’s most famous dishes. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of chicken, but I have to say, this was pretty dang good chicken!
The dish comes with 2 pieces of chicken (a dark meat piece and a white meat piece). Both pieces come perfectly cut with really flavorful, crispy skin. But the jus is the best part. Without that jus, it’d just be really good roast chicken. With the jus, it’s superb chicken! (I left the spaetzle as I had forgotten to ask for the dish to be gluten-free.)
Veal Steak
This isn’t on their regular menu but is often on their specials board this fall (their menu changes a bit each season). Jeremy and one of our friends got it this time. Both of them were good, but Jeremy’s was sadly cooked a bit too rare (he still finished it).
Steak Frites
My friend ordered this traditional pan-seared 9 oz. flat iron steak with caramelized shallots & maître d’hôtel butter served with French fries. I’ve never had it, but she’s ordered that same dish multiple times at Bouchon Bistro, so I assume it must be pretty good! (In case you’re wondering, I generally consider potatoes to be Paleo, but I try not to eat fries at restaurants because they’re typically not cooked in a Paleo fat).
What’s Your Favorite Las Vegas Paleo-Friendly Restaurant?
There are always new restaurants (and new casinos) opening up in Vegas. In fact, every time I come, I discover something else new. So, what’s your favorite Paleo restaurant in Sin City?