Desserts, cheeses at The Venetian’s Enoteca will knock your socks off

After taking part in my very first card tournament at The Venetian recently to help benefit a local animal charity, my poker face was pooped.

So, after I checked my bet and bid adieu to my last green chip, I picked myself up and headed for Saint Mark’s Square. Being that I live only 20 minutes up the road, I don’t seem to get to the Strip much for entertainment these days. So, when I’m there, I’m there.

It was my first experience dining at Batali’s Enoteca San Marco, a beautifully noisy al fresco-ish spot, where visitors flood the facing square while costumed artisans belt out arias and pretend to be statues made of marble.

If you’ve never been to Enoteca, go. My suggestion, park yourself at the antipasto bar and order a formaggio sampler, where you’ll get a very serious selection of imported cheeses. Then, sip a glass of Lambrusco — only $10 a glass. For a place like this, a real bargain. But whatever you do, don’t leave without trying the black tea and honey sundae. Trust me. I don’t even like honey. But one spoonful of this ice-cream-and-shaved-ice concoction left me literally licking my lips like a 5-year-old and scraping up the sides of the dish to make sure I got every last drop.

A pastry chef sat next to me, scooping through a blood orange sundae. He stopped only long enough to say it knocked his socks off. When I looked down at his feet, I could see his toes wiggling.