If Santa's sleigh lets him down, maybe he can hitch a ride in our GMC Savanna...

Speaking of which , we are heading back East on Wednesday for not only yuletide gatherings but also a mini-vacation for hubby and me at not one but TWO, count 'em, TWO AC Casinos. We played like lunatics over the summer on slot machines. Luckily there is the delayed payoff of comp hotel nights - which we are gladly using after we drop the kiddo and the dogs off with my parents.

 I'm excited about my first "away just with my 'date' trip" SINCE MY HONEYMOON. Yeah, its been that long - almost 10 YEARS! So our first night will be at one of my favorites, the off-boardwalk HARRAHS. Then we head for two nights at the Tropicana which used to be a dump but has reinvented itself with expansion that includes "The Quarter" - a shopping/spa/entertainment/dining complex that juts off the boardwalk and has served the Trop well in bringing in a younger clientele.

My mom, who is "hooked up" with those in the know of Atlantic City nightlife, secured us hard-to-get reservations at the (in)famous hidden gem, Chef Vola. I described this restaurant to a friend as a sort of "speakeasy for foodies, minus the booze." I doubt any other description could be more apt. You have to KNOW someone who is an established patron there to serve as a "reference" for you. It is cash only, and there is no sign anywhere on its residential street to tell you that in the basement of a classic yet unremarkable Atlantic City home lies a culinary paradise for invited guests.

Its BYOB which is cool because despite the heady menu prices, the tab is usualy reasonable due to no fancy martini drinks - and accompanying taxes - on it.

The worst mistake you can make is passing up the seafood or steaks for pasta. The pasta is just fine...but its really better as a side dish than entree; since many items at Chef Vola are served "family style" (like the salads, and veggie sides) my guess is that the pasta is also more of a side, as well. Since i have seafod allegie s( *sigh*) I cannot partake of the crabcakes, of which my husband is particularly fond. For certain, the desserts - all homemade and quite unique - are unbalieveable - I will go low-carb again after the new year! Best of all, it is about a block from the Trop so we can booze it up with our own wine and walk back to the hotel to gamble away what we didn't spend on Broccoli Rabe and Lemon Cello.

Have a Merry Christmas, everyone!