A:
Sadly, this is all too true. Never mind all the truffle oil and Kobe burgers. Las Vegas is also home not only to such gastronomic marvels as the Bacon Martini (Double Down Saloon), the six-pound burrito (NASCAR Cafe at the Sahara), the 22-inch hot dog (Longhorn Casino), and the 80-ounce life-sized guitar-shaped cocktail (Rockhouse at the Imperial Palace). And last, but by no means least, we can also also offer you the deep-fried Twinkie, the home of which is the Mermaids Casino downtown on Fremont Street, which also serves deep-fried Oreos. Both delicacies sell for 99ยข.
The deep-fried Twinkie was apparently invented by Christopher Sell in his restaurant, the ChipShop in Brooklyn, New York. The preparation involves freezing the popular Hostess cake, dipping it into batter, and deep-frying it, and while the whole concept makes us feel more than a little queasy, according to the New York Times, "Something magical occurs when the pastry hits the hot oil. The creamy white vegetable shortening filling liquefies, impregnating the sponge cake with its luscious vanilla flavor. ... The cake itself softens and warms, nearly melting, contrasting with the crisp deep-fried crust in a buttery and suave way."
We'll take their word for it. But if you give it a try, let us know what you think.
Yikes
Update 20 April 2009
Some more reader feedback:
"I've had both the deep fried twinkies (tasted like a donut) and deep fried Oreos (tasted like a greasy donut with Oreo crumbs in it) and enjoyed them both. For people who want a fried twinkie and can't get to Vegas, an alternative is to throw them on a George Forman (grill). Grilled Twinkies are less calories then battering & deep frying - so you can use the spare calories to put ice cream on top :0 But the grill MUST BE CLEAN. You don't want them to taste like burgers. Or fish...
"PS: when will Vegas offered deep-fried pizza? They have it in Scotland and I've heard it's deLISH. They say the trick is to freeze the pizza before it goes in the deep fryer."
04/19/2009 From some readers (warning: don't read the last one if you're of a squeamish disposition):
"The Deep Fried Twinkies are great, but I prefer the Deep Fried Oreos. We make a special trip downtown just to get them. It was a little heartbreaking on our last trip when we were pressed for time and they were changing the oil when we got there. It was going to take 20 minutes for the oil to heat up. We had to leave before they were ready."
"I love the deep fried Oreos in all their hot, gooey, chocolatey sweetness and I always stop by for atleast one round each trip to Vegas. In Vancouver, where I am, there are a couple of restaurants where Deep Fried Mars Bar or Snickers Bar are on the dessert menu. The Snickers are the best!"
"I love the deep fried Oreos in all their hot, gooey, chocolatey sweetness and I always stop by for atleast one round each trip to Vegas. In Vancouver, where I am, there are a couple of restaurants where Deep Fried Mars Bar or Snickers Bar are on the dessert menu. The Snickers are the best!"
"Just wanted to let you know that toby keiths in harrahs has deep fried twinkies also!"
"In response to the 4/19/09 QOD, after many years of threatening to do so, my wife and I finally gave into temptation and tried the deep-fried Twinkies and Oreos at Mermaids. It was not a pleasant experience. The super-greasy batter was overpowering, the creamy Twinkie filling became molten hot and the double-thick coating of powdered sugar made us look like coke-heads after a two-week bender. The Oreos were even worse. Nowadays, when I want to stick to a healthy diet, I just think about that nasty, greasy smell and taste of these formerly favorite treats and am satisfied with some raw veggies or an apple. Adding to the experience was the small area in Mermaids set aside to stand and eat by the snack bar. It is also next to the casino's restrooms. We were lucky enough to visit on a day when a homeless crone had just painted the ladies room with explosive diarhea. The employees were going in to survey the wreckage and running back out holding their stomachs and gagging. Ah, the memories. Good times. Good times..."
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