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I Got My Salad Tossed Tableside


	The Tropicana Hotel has a special place in my memory. It was 1958, and The Trop was like no other hotel in Las Vegas. It looked like a top Miami Beach hotel, low slung, stark white walls with portholes. There was a giant white fountain in front, like a big artichoke rising out of the earth. Even at age 10, I was a budding eating champion; food was always on my mind. The Trop was last stop on the strip before the eight-hour drive back to LA. On very hot days, it was always ice cold inside The Trop. Dark hallways surrounded the very dark and very quiet casino. The guys that built Las Vegas in the ‘50’s all came from the east coast. Therefore, they modeled their hotels after the ones in Miami Beach, Cuba, and New York. The DI had class, but the Trop, had elegance. It was the finest rub joint of the day

These fond memories returned because I was going to dinner at The Trop’s Tuscany Italian Café. My father’s is Italian from Brooklyn, and he taught me to do a great job cooking Italian. For me, eating Italian out can be tricky. The new restaurants go for looks and presentation, instead of the one important thing, the SAUCE. Without a good sauce... Forget about it!

As I sat down, they served a relish plate with roasted red peppers, along with two kinds of bread. I am already feeling good about this place. The Fried Zucchini appetizer was next, it came with a marinara dipping sauce, but I was looking forward to the Caesar Salad, and was delighted when the waiter tosses the salad tableside. As he was tossing, I asked him if knew where the Caesar Salad originated. He was not sure, but the busboy jumped in and said Tijuana, correct answer.

I am having the Cheese & Spinach Ravioli with the Bolognese sauce, a fancy word for meat sauce, and a side of Sausage. The Sausage only comes mild, but I like it hot. It’s not like the old days; you can’t find hot Sausage or hot babes anymore. I can live without the former, but I miss the latter.

So, what’s the story?

The sauce was good; it was tastefully decorated, very good service, nice presentation and Spumoni ice cream to top things off. In a world of higher prices, for less, The Tuscany Italian Café was a good deal; I could eat there again, and again. No entrée was over $20, most less then $15.

So OK, I finished dinner, now it’s time for a nap.

Tuscany Italian Café is open Friday through Tuesday, 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Closed Wednesdays and Thursdays. Reservations (702) 739-3561.