The key to the great food was the use of local ingredients. Virginia has a wealth of great local ingredients especially now with the harvest season is upon us. Create a tasting menu that gives your guests the chance to sample many food options. The trendy name for this is small plate offerings. We started out Border Grill dinner with plantain empanadas. Plantains are not indigenous to Virginia but you could do an apple empanada. Maria from Hispania Bakery has just added them to her offers. If you are in Richmond she is at the Byrd Market on Tuesdays, the Tricycle Garden farm stand in Church Hill on Thursday and the Market at St Stephen’s on Saturday or find for her on Facebook (she takes special orders).

At Bouchon we started our meal with a sweet corn soup, which is available here in Virginia. A mixture of chicken or vegetable stock with cream and sweet corn (maybe some caramelized onions) would be a nice offering for guests at your Vegas in Virginia party. Serve it in oversize coffee mugs for easy maneuvering at the gaming tables. Our “main" dish at Border Grill was a marinated skirt steak, handmade tortillas, corn salsa and a tomato, cucumber and red onion salad. All readily available at your local farmers market, note the skirt steak must be served medium rare, if cooked to more it will be too tough.

My main course at Bouchon was local duck with seasonal vegetables and the most divine sauce, Stephen had steak frites which was pan-seared prime flatiron, caramelized shallots, maître d’hôtel butter & French fries. Both are a little tricky to prepare and serve so they may be better for another party or might be items to get from your favorite local caterer or restaurant. Vegas style

With your Vegas inspired menu set it's time for the fun stuff! Set up three or four gaming stations. Blackjack is a must; you will need a table, a dealer, chips and cards. Poker is another must; again you will need a table, a dealer, chips and cards. A craps station is a little more difficult but will promote the most community at your party because it is a game that encourages multiple bets and interaction between players. As defined by Wikipedia, craps is "a dice game in which players place wagers on the outcome of the roll, or a series of rolls, of a pair of dice. Players may wager money against each other (street craps, also known as shooting dice or rolling dice) or a bank (casino craps, also known as table craps). Because it requires little equipment, street craps can be played in informal settings." Another possible station could be a Baccarat; again you again will need a table, dealer, chips and cards.