We like our potatoes like we like our women: Oiled and buttered.

We’d be tempted to be cynical about the tuber experience as a whole and say the book was written a long time ago on all the ways to prepare America’s side-dish. But then we’re confronted with brave, daring potatonauts who’ve risked it all to bring us the bleeding edge of potato advancement.

Strip House’s Executive Chef John Schenk is one of those potatonauts.

The Ripped Potatoes are, essentially, steak fries on steroids. Whole, chopped potatoes are quickly fried in a little light oil and tossed in a hint of butter, then dusted with parmesan, sea salt and parsley. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Tequila isn’t just lurking, it’s daring you.

There are only so many ways to gussy up a traditional Margarita, yet the one that never fails is blowing it out of the water with high-end tequila.

The Strip House Margarita at the Planet Hollywood restaurant takes DeLeon Tequila Diamante — which retails around $100 to $125 a bottle — and mixes it with lime, agave nectar and Grand Mariner. Agave nectar aside, it’s a basic build that hews to the traditional recipe.

Still, the DeLeon is a smooth, smoky, woody, robust tequila that takes over the drink and lends a little elegance to a cocktail that we normally prefer to consume by the pitcher. (In all fairness, we prefer to drink most of our cocktails by the pitcher — your mileage may vary.)

It’s surprising in that for a Margarita, it’s not overly sweet — a little floral touch of agave nectar underneath, notwithstanding. If anything, it’s unbalanced, but in a good way. This is a Margarita that lets you know who’s in charge.

By Jason Scavone

FYDL!

Ivan Drago. He-Man. Elvis impersonator. The greatest actor of our, or any, generation, Dolph Lundgren, had dinner at Planet Hollywood’s Strip House last night.

He’ll be in the house again tonight for the premiere of The Expendables with Jason Statham, Randy Couture and Sly Stallone. So at least there’s a chance of a red carpet Rocky IV re-enactment. Oh man, why didn’t they get Carl Weathers to come out? This is really a missed opportunity.

By Jason Scavone

His name is Tim … the Enchanter.

The Ministry of Silly Walks is apparently closed for the summer. John Cleese was at Strip House inside Planet Hollywood last night for cocktails. Fortunately it was just cocktails. Had he been there for dinner, we do worry about what might have happened if anyone started tossing wafer-thin mints around the place.

By Jason Scavone

Wow, Pete Sampras has really let himself go.

Hot off the set of K-9 2: Fetch the Police (we hope), “According to Jim” star Jim Belushi was spotted eating dinner at Strip House at Planet Hollywood Monday night.
Best known for refusing to die of a drug overdose before out-staying his welcome in the world of television and movies, The Belush finished dinner and headed over to a performance of Peep Show.

By Jared Harmon

It seriously took forever to find a “Safe For Work” photo of this broad.

Adult film actress and professional tube sock ruiner Tera Patrick was spotted in a rare fully-clothed appearance at Strip House at Planet Hollywood on Saturday.
Patrick was seen having drinks in the lounge sans ex-husband Evan Seinfeld, better known as pornstar, rocker and ugliest man alive Spyder Jonez, so… y’know…maybe you have a shot now.

By Jared Harmon

We’ll bring all our shoes and our glasses with us. So we have them.

We’re still reeling from the sheer genius of this. What do you order before you get your steak? More. Steak. Truly, we’re living in the age of wonders.

Strip House Executive Chef John Schenk took a good hard look at his menu and decided the steak house could benefit from a little steaking up. And the Strip House beef jerky was born.

“It was cut off prime strips. We always have a lot of vein ends. We’re constantly looking for things to do with the vein ends,” Schenk said. “We went out to eat at Lotus of Siam.” Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Wine with strippers on the front? We love it when our favorite things come together.

Is there anything more satisfying than washing down steak with a big healthy gulp of wine? Other than doing all that while simultaneously playing video games and getting a lap dance, we guess, but that starts to make things really complicated.

Strip House got together with winemaker Sashi Moorman of Evening Land Vineyards to come up with their Strip House Napa Valley Reserve, a 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon to go with their steaks

“It’s a full-bodied Cab that they chose it to pair perfectly with the char on our steaks, which is kind of our signature,” Strip House GM Dave Gonzales said.

It’s a nice, bold red that lets the light through. It’s not as heavy as some Cabs — Gonzalez called it “juicy” — and it carries a nice bright touch. It has a little bit of spiciness to it that does a perfect job of drawing out the pepper in the Strip House beef jerky.

“There’s definitely a lot of flavor with the jerky, and you need a big wine to stand up with that,” he said.

By Jason Scavone

All’s fair in war, poker and turning people’s sexual frustrations against them. (Photos by Al Powers | SpyOnVegas.com)

It’s got to be kind of awesome to be a professional poker player when you’re a chick. Anyone who’s spent more than eight minutes in a poker room knows that any girl within 10 yards of a poker game completely derails the action. Have you ever played at the Wynn on a Friday night near the rail when girls are coming in to go to Tryst or XS? There are like two hands an hour and they have to keep calling for a fresh setup because the deuce of hearts got marked with drool. Basically, what we’re trying to say is if you’re a chick poker player and you flash a little cleave around, you can do alright for yourself. Look at Jennifer Tilly.

Vanessa Rousso, who’s top five in women’s all-time money winnings, may or may not use that strategy, we have no idea. But we’d totally do it if we were in her shoes. Regardless, she celebrated her 27th birthday Friday night at Tao, and it was sponsored by All In Magazine and GoDaddy. In retrospect, maybe the GoDaddy affiliation answers our question.

Over at sister club Lavo, David Copperfield and a ladyfriend were spotted having dinner. Hopefully, she knew enough not to go to his island. That’s just a friendly reminder fellas: Get accused of rape, still get dates. Assuming you can make doves appear from your pants. In the non-euphemistic way.

Revenge of the Nerds’ Ogre, Donald Gibb, had dinner at Strip House inside Planet Hollywood. NEEERRRRDS! The Palms saw former Raiders QB Jim Plunkett at N9NE Steakhouse dor dinner with George Maloof before heading up to the Playboy Club. Upstairs at Nove Italiano, Jon Lovitz and a friend ate dinner.

By Jason Scavone

We’re in the same boat, dude. Everywhere we go broads are always lifting up our shirt and drawing on us in lipstick.

No, it wasn’t Tom Cruise. Co-star of the Rumer Willis/Audrina Patridge/Briana Evigan vehicle Sorority Row (clocking it at a solid 34 percent on Rotten Tomatoes), Julian Morris, was at Tao Beach yesterday with a few friends. We’re guessing there is a 100 percent chance Morris agreed to do that movie when he found out he’d be hanging around on set all day with Briana Evigan and Audrina Patrige. Who could blame him? You stand a better-than-average chance of meeting one of My Two Dads that way.

Meanwhile over at Planet Hollywood, Miss America Katie Stam was having dinner at Strip House.

By Jason Scavone