First, I’m not a card player or slot machine addict – I don’t even care much for Las Vegas as a venue for conferences. So I approached an evening at MGM Foxwoods with my family as an unsure bet for success.

I’d been convinced to make the 4-hour round-trip to the newest “kid” on the entertainment block in Connecticut’s Mystic Country because of one of my sons. Raw fish and spicy foods are not usually the domain of young teenagers but his unusual tastes at such an early age is welcomed by both me and my wife.

And we’d been invited to visit the Shrine Restaurant at MLM Foxwoods.

As taking a 4-hour round trip solely to sample an Asian-style restaurant in Connecticut defies logic we decided to take the opportunity to see the “Illumination by Cirque Dreams” during our visit as well.

We arrived around 5:00pm so we could eat before the show and without rushing – I’ve had too many Boston shows where we are trying to cram dinner down to make show time, and it’s not relaxing and doesn’t do justice to your taste buds, stomach, or restaurant service.

The Shrine Restaurant at MGM Foxwoods:

The Shrine Restaurant is not just a culinary experience but also a lounge and nightclub. As we are not desert lovers but instead prefer to sample appetizers, and as sushi was on the menu, we ordered the Tempura Rolls.

Not only were the rolls beautifully presented but they fell to pieces in our mouths and we wished we’d ordered more as one helping between three was not enough for our appetites. This was the first time my wife had sampled sushi and though like many people she was apprehensive about getting beyond the “raw fish” label she agreed it was a delicacy she was willing to try again. Five stars to the Shrine for their sushi.

We all had different main courses – my wife had a salmon dish, my son had chicken, and I choose a beef dinner. Now while the base dinners sound familiar the presentation, side dishes and spices used were most definitely not. The award-winning chefs at the Shrine take the flavors of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore, Korea, Japan and China and create memorable coatings, sauces and side dishes. And that makes all the difference.

We went hoping to meet Executive Chef Kevin Long as we have been posting his summertime BBQ tips at the blog all through the summer and wanted to thank him personally for his suggestions. Chef Kevin was not available that night but we were well taken care of by the management and staff.

The food, service, and atmosphere at the Shrine are first class and I can recommend it as a great dining experience.

Illuminations by Cirque Dreams:

After our meal we had reserved tickets for the evening’s performance of Cirque Dreams at the MGM Foxwoods Theater. This has a 4,000-seat capacity and a good view of the stage.

We had general admission seats and so it was first-come first-served and we arrived early to ensure we got as close to the stage as possible.

In a recent trip to Orlando we got to see a Cirque Du Soleil show and we all loved it, and so we were looking forward to seeing a similar performance.

Just to be sure, Cirque Dreams put on by Cirque Productions, an American company, has no affiliation with the Montreal based Cirque Du Soleil. However, the performance is in the same vein. And if you have enjoyed a Cirque Du Soleil show then you’ll enjoy the equally elaborate productions of Cirque Dreams.

Essentially European circus artistry is combined with American circus arts and Broadway theatrics to create an engaging display of entertainment. It was a fast-paced show that combined with the memorable dinner at the Shrine created a high quality evening spent with our son.

Illuminations by Cirque Dreams will be at MGM Grand at Foxwoods until September 6^th, 2009.

For lots more ideas on things to see and do, and places to stay in the Mystic region check out our special East Connecticut vacation guide here.

Another New England post by one of our writers is being prepared right now so be sure to visit again or just subscribe to our RSS Feed here and get notified automatically of events and news.

Cliff Calderwood
Publisher
New England Online Magazine

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