We met at E.P. & L.P. first thing in the morning with a few long nights at Cecconi’s and Jumbo’s under our belts – as fresh as daisies, natch… It’s only a four-to five-hour drive to Vegas, but we had the whole day mapped out for the journey, and our crew was ready to roll.

On the trip were me, Icebergs director Maurice Terzini, Vic’s Meat CEO Anthony Puharich, sommelier James Hird, E.P. & L.P. chef Louis Tikaram and Vittoria managing director Rolando Schirato.

The day before, we’d collaborated with Louis at his restaurant, so we packed the muscle cars with food and hit the road.

Driving through LA, we passed famous spots like the Playboy Mansion and Dodger Stadium, and eventually got to Nick’s Cafe for a pit stop. This place is a classic diner with a reputation of 70 years and a cult following; there’s currency of every kind pinned behind the bar next to some interesting cartoons. It opens from early morning to mid-afternoon, making it popular with the shift-working cops who stop in for four-egg and bacon hashes and chilli dogs – and on the morning we were there, six pints of Coke, in one case. The foot-long chilli dog made my breakfast, with braised spicy chilli, cheese, fried onions and fresh tomatoes – served with fries, of course. It was epic, and huge.

Next stop was a suburban mall on the outskirts of the sprawling city to an LA-style Chinese joint called Kang Kang. Serving up dumplings and noodles faster than you can remember you already ate, this is good, cheap food. Fully fed, we set off through the myriad highway systems to Las Vegas. In-N-Out Burger is a rite of passage in California. We stopped in Barstow; a town that feels like it exists to service the drivers travelling huge distances, it’s made up of roughly four cul-de-sacs with about six different offerings of fast food in each. I think the In-N-Out Burgers are average, but they’re servicing the people for US$2!

Grappling with a mid-afternoon thirst, we pulled over in the desert to stir up a few martinis and have a glass of natural wine. It’s such wide, open landscape. Completely uncultivated, with no industry. We must have only driven past about 10 shacks, and you have to wonder who lives in them. Who owns this land? It’s such a contrast: the nothingness of the desert and the epicentre of ownership that is Vegas.

Then we came across fake Vegas. The town is called Primm; the gambling laws in the state of Nevada are very different to California, so for people who can’t wait to get to the real thing, Primm is for them.

The sun is going down and it’s getting cold out there, but we are going to get to Vegas with the roof down if it kills us, literally – 90mph didn’t help for the wind chill!

Finally, we rolled into Vegas and pulled up at the Bellagio. The size of the place, especially when you work in hospitality, is overwhelming. The check-in area is as big as when you’re at the airport. No matter where your room is, you have to walk through gaming to get there. And there are characters everywhere.

We get to our balling suite and it’s plush with purple, blue, black and silver furnishings. There are views straight down the Strip both ways; if you’re going to stay in Vegas, this is the place to be.

When we set up for our sweet suite party, I riffed with Louis on the food. We wanted a menu befitting of the suite, but with an Aussie approach. The Italianism speaks for itself in Vegas dishes because of the mafia element. So it was natural for me to bring in those notes, like in Bella’s fried chicken – a nod to Belle’s Hot Chicken, but made Italian – and Louis contributed with his Pacific vibes – most prominent in the punchy prawn cocktail.

Momofuku Las Vegas Overlooking the Strip from The Cosmopolitan, this beauty is great for a bowl of noodles at lunch, or go all out for dinner. Roast duck with dirty rice and pancakes is absolutely next level. Peppermill Bar Super-chilled sports bar vibe… but with red sunken lounges, great service and burning pools. Yeah! Carbone Classic American-Italian from NYC. The spicy rigatoni vodka was a revelation alongside a big bottle (or two) of Emidio Pepe, foie gras toast and salads.

Buffet at the Bellagio or Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Most people aren’t in Vegas long enough to try multiple buffet offerings, and it’s questionable you should enter the frenzy – but it is an amazing thing to witness. Caesars has nine separate cuisines in nine different show kitchens and is like a dinner and a show in one, while the Bellagio has more lobsters than seats and sports a killer weekend Champagne brunch. Chengdu Taste If you’re not lucky enough to have a local by your side in Vegas, then this little off-Strip Sichuan joint will satisfy the need for some sanity. Get stuck in with cold chopped rabbit with peanut, fresh fish with peppers, spicy rice, and fried chicken with chilli. It’ll be busy, but well worth it.

The following dishes are casino classics with a Pacific-Australian spin. We focused on products we love like Cloudy Bay Clams, Skull Island prawns, De Palma prosciutto, Blackmore Wagyu and Sterling Caviar.

Fried chicken and hot sauce, whats not to love? Bella’s fried chicken