Wine Down with Warren | Best Seat in the House Part 2

Senior Vice President of Food & Beverage, Warren Richards,  is the “go-to” person whenever you are looking for the best of anything at Ocean Casino Resort. Whether you’re hungry for brunch or feeling a little adventurous at dinner, Warren’s world travels and food & wine expertise makes him the perfect person to elevate your Ocean experience. Here are his recommendations when dining at Harper's, Zhen Bang, Villain & Saint, and Topgolf Swing Suite.

Harper’s

1. • Best seat: When it's time for Brunch, I always try to squeeze in a trip to Harper’s. There are some great views out towards The Park; in the mornings, the sun fills this space with warmth.
   • Indulge a little: The Bourbon Sticky Bun & the Bananas Foster French Toast Cube are all well worth the calories, but it is the savory Chicken & Waffles that might be the best “brunch” item of all. The Chef makes his own English Muffins, and I usually find myself compelled to enjoy a classic Benedict.
   • Sips to start your day: An experience at Harper’s should always begin with a French Press Coffee, Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice, or one of their three Mimosas. If you’re feeling really adventurous, I recommend the Harper’s Bloody Mary, which comes with a Feta Stuffed Olive & Paprika Smoked Bacon. Keeping things simple, you could always just do a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label instead & save space on the table for more food.

READ WARREN'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AMADA, AMERICAN CUT AND DOLCE MARE

Zhen Bang

1. 1. • Best seat: At Ocean’s Asian outpost, I prefer to sit as close to the kitchen as I can get so I can see the activity on the wok station.
      • Quick bites: Chef Michael Leung’s Steamed BBQ Pork Buns are worth the visit in themselves. Along with three buns all to myself, I enjoy a cup of Wonton Soup, within which the pork & shrimp dumplings have excellent bite & flavor. Honestly, these two items with a pot of earthy Chinese Tea (preferably Pu-Erh) are all I need.

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1. • Noodles & Rice: If I’m in the mood for a full meal, the oft-overlooked Singapore Mai Fun is excellent, and the Honey Walnut Shrimp over Steamed Jasmine Rice would round things out nicely.
   • Drinks, please: At Zhen Bang I enjoy either a Junmai Ginjo Saki which is extremely versatile, or a steady flow of Tsingtao, a beer from the Chinese mainland modeled after classic German pilsners. This beer can stand up to some of the more robust & popular dishes that we all enjoy such as Beef Hor Fun or the synonymous General Tso’s Chicken. View more Zhen Bang pairings here

Villain & Saint

1. • Best seat: To the left of the stage are tables that give you the best of both worlds. If you can time your visit during live entertainment on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, this is the perfect hideaway while keeping you in the action.
   • Shared plates & paired brews: I recommend starting with either the Shrimp Diavolo Flatbread (Gulf Shrimp, Spicy Tomato, Red Onion, Fresh Basil) or Veggie Flatbread (Zucchini, Squash, Brussels Sprouts, Tomato Fondue, Gruyere). This is the perfect moment to take advantage of the deepest Beer List in the building. The Tripel Karmeliet from Belgium or something more local like the Ship Bottom Brewery “The Shack” American IPA from New Jersey both work well in this “Pizza & Beer” combo.
   • Villain & Saint staples: You’ll find me quickly onto the Grilled Pork Chop with Cheesy Grits, Brussels Sprouts & Bacon, or either  “The Villain” or “The Saint” lobsters. The first of these two lobster entrées features Romesco, Spicy Tomato, Garlic Confit & Friend Jalapeno, while the second takes chunks of Tempura-battered Lobster & Shrimp & pairs with Sweet & Spicy Red Pepper Aioli & Blistered Shishito Peppers. I would move things from the brew-house to the cider-house here, with a classic pairing of Pork & Cider which also can carry through into the Lobster. The Downeast Cider from Boston, Massachusetts will hold up nicely.
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   • Ice cream finish: For dessert, the “Taking Back Sundae” includes Monkey Bread & Butter Pecan Ice Cream with a Bourbon Caramel. Just for fun, a snifter with 2 ounces of Casamigos Reposado would get along very nicely with both the caramel & vanilla notes.

Topgolf Swing Suite

1. • Best seat: The best kept secret is starting to get out – there is great food at Topgolf to go along with the hugely entertaining Swing Suite bays. Another secret is the fact that there are also incredible views of the ocean and famous Atlantic City boardwalk at Topgolf.
   • Your favorite sports bites: Chef Darin Shanks serves up a Ribeye Cheesesteak with Provolone & an essential stack of napkins! Similarly, his interpretation of Crab Dip Fries, took a popular concept to the next level with a decadent Mornay Sauce & generous chunks of Jumbo Lump Crab. Topgolf has also quietly become a hub for seafood with the crown jewel being Chef’s Maryland Crab Boil with Snow Crab, Mussels, Clams, Crawfish, Andouille Sausage, Potatoes & Corn.
   • Shake up your night: I’m going to cheat a little on this one & say that the beverage pairing aspect for Topgolf is one of the larger-than-life Milkshakes that are real show-stoppers. The Birthday Party Shake features vanilla shake, rainbow sprinkles, an entire frosted donut & whipped cream.  It is so over-the-top that it doesn’t even need the optional spiking with Vanilla Vodka & Amaretto – but then again – why not?

GET TO KNOW WARREN RICHARDS, OCEAN'S SVP OF FOOD & BEVERAGE