Great American Bites: 5 best meals of 2018

After 12 months on the road, crisscrossing the highways, byways and urban avenues of this vast continent in search of delectable dishes, this is the time of year when we recap the greatest of Great American Bites. Our rating scale goes up to OMG!, our highest praise, but even in this rarefied category there is a pantheon, and among the less than one dozen spots that earned this lofty status, these were our favorites – and they span a broad culinary range. A couple of years ago, the legendary celebrity chef duo of Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, TV’s “Too Hot Tamales,” earned the OMG! rating for their flagship South of the Border-inspired Border Grill. So it was not a big surprise when their newest endeavor, a venture into Latin-influenced slow-smoked barbecue, wowed us. As was the case with Border Grill, they focused on the highest quality, farm-raised, chemical-free, sustainable ingredients and cooked just about everything from scratch. But this time, instead of a nice sit-down restaurant, BBQ Mexicana is a simple takeout window like you would find in an airport or sports stadium, set in a hallway at the back of the huge Mandalay Bay casino resort. It could not be any less pretentious or any more unassuming, yet the food blew us away. Bottom line: The burnt end brisket burrito is the best burrito we have ever tasted, and it is now the standard against which all others are to be judged.

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Auberge Resorts Collection Announces Strategic Partnership with Bdt & Msd Partners

PR Newswire | February 02, 2024

The Friedkin Group announced today that the company has entered into a strategic partnership with BDT & MSD Partners ("BDT & MSD"), a merchant bank built to serve the distinct needs of business owners and strategic, long-term investors. BDT & MSD, through its affiliated hospitality investment vehicle, will make a minority investment in Auberge Resorts Collection, the manager of the award-winning portfolio of luxury hotels, resorts, residences and private clubs set in some of the world's most desirable locations. In addition, BDT & MSD's hospitality vehicle intends to invest significant capital towards acquiring and developing luxury hotel and residential assets that will be branded and managed by Auberge Resorts Collection. The partnership reflects BDT & MSD's belief in Auberge Resorts Collection's unique brand positioning and focus on creating one-of-a-kind luxury hospitality experiences. The investment will support Auberge's continued strategic growth in the Americas, Europe and beyond, with a focus on gateway urban markets and high-profile experiential destinations. "This partnership further solidifies Auberge Resorts Collection's position as the leading name in boutique luxury hospitality and marks a new and exciting era for our world-class portfolio," said Dan Friedkin, chairman of Auberge Resorts Collection and chairman and CEO of The Friedkin Group. "BDT & MSD's differentiated, long-term capital and expertise in luxury hospitality investments makes them a perfect strategic partner and will allow us to further grow the strength of the Auberge brand." "Auberge is a world-class manager of distinctive luxury hotel properties, with an exceptional track record of delivering curated guest experiences in the world's leading hospitality markets. We are excited to be a part of its future and look forward to partnering with Auberge's talented team to build on its differentiated strengths and accelerate further growth," said Coburn Packard, partner & head of real estate at BDT & MSD. Since becoming part of The Friedkin Group in 2013, Auberge Resorts Collection has grown into the leading name in boutique luxury hospitality, comprising 27 unparalleled properties across the U.S., Latin America and Europe, with a development pipeline of over a dozen hotels and two additional hotels planned to open in Florence and South Carolina this year. While each property is unique, all share a crafted approach to luxury and bring the essence of the location to life through one-of-a-kind design that reflects the destination, exceptional cuisine and dining experiences that attract both the local community and global traveler, innovative spas and wellness retreats and highly personalized service.

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