Oh, Vegas. The bright lights, big city, sounds of ding-ding-dingity-ding in every direction. I don’t make it there often, but when I do, it always amazes me how there seems to exist a full-fledged metropolis within an metropolis, an excess of eating, imbibing, and miscellaneous debauchery all along one long strip. It’s warmly reminiscent of a time gone by full of Frank Sinatra and dollar buffets, replaced instead with flashy hotels of every theme and size packed to the gills with guests and business people alike – and one of …

This ain’t your Mama’s reheated meal! From now through the end of 2011, travelers aboard Lufthansa Airlines will be treated to meals designed by chefs of the luxurious Ritz-Carlton hotel line. With rotating menus, the airline’s “Star Chefs” program will feature a chef from a different property each month. Through April 30th, a dishes designed by chef Josh Becker, chef de cuisine at the Ritz-Carlton South Beach’s DiLido Beach Club, are offered on the cross-Atlantic flights, with menu selections including tuna confit ajo blanco and roasted grapes; …

Stars of the silver screen descended upon our neighbor to the north earlier this week to celebrate the thirty-fifth annual Toronto International Film Festival. Joining celebs like Bill Murray, Jon Hamm, and Mickey Rourke, top-notch chefs from both the U.S. and Canada were on hand to create dishes of delight for the cinema celebrants.
Chef Kerry Simon, whom I recently bumped into at the Taste of Beverly Hills, made the trip to Toronto to present two Las Vegas-themed “pop-up” restaurants for festival fans, as well as lavish bites for the the …

The latest issue of Australian Gourmet Traveller features a review on chef Gordon Ramsay’s first Australian location, which is surprisingly two restaurant concepts in one spot. With a development price tag of nearly $300 million, Ramsay’s maze and maze grill opened in Melbourne in mid-April to mixed reviews.
According to the GT article, maze, the more formal of the two dining rooms, delivers dishes that are “all about exact cooking, clean flavours and precise presentation”, with Australian favorites making their way to the menu.
The Aussie flag is raised over dessert with …

Vegas Uncork’d isn’t all food tasting and cooking demos – there’s also the type of high-quality nightlife that only Las Vegas can provide.  Such was the case at Saturday night’s Fashion Feast Gala at the Bellagio.

The gala’s opening cocktail hour was catered by Todd English (who mentioned that when not eating caviar straight out of the tin, he enjoys kicking back with a Pabst Blue Ribbon – you heard it here first!).  Immediately in front of the main entry, Mr. English was personally serving oysters two ways: crispy with a …

Cooking demonstrations where you can get up close and personal with your favorite chef are a big part of Vegas Uncork’d.  And it’s likely that no demo was as much fun as Saturday’s “Culinary Theater: All the Kitchen’s a Stage” featuring chefs Rick Moonen, Hubert Keller, and Susan Feniger. The fantastic event took place at Moonen’s RM Seafood at the Mandalay Bay.

The trio were introduced by Andrew Knowlton of Bon Appetit who got the good-natured ribbing underway immediately by making fun of Moonen’s recent outburst on Top Chef Masters, …

Over the weekend, it was Vegas Uncork’d time – one of the biggest and best gourmet food festivals in one of the best food towns in the country! Now in its fourth year, the weekend-long event continues to grow round, showcasing local favorites as well as many of the big names in the industry.

While a few cooking demonstrations took place on Thursday, the main event was Friday evening – the Grand Tasting at the lush Caesars Palace. Just imagine the food court at your local county fair, but with all …

One of my favorite food and wine events of the year is Vegas Uncork’d, centrally located on the shiny Las Vegas Strip during the second weekend of May. The whirlwind festival, which benefits local food charity Three Square, highlights the cream of the culinary crop found along the popular Strip, including kitchen greats like Joël Robuchon, Alain Ducasse, Rick Moonen, Guy Savoy, Charlie Palmer, Michael Mina, and Wolfgang Puck. This year features another fantastic lineup with flavors and pairings that only Las Vegas can offer. Come hungry because the food …

Chef Todd English is taking a surprising turn by making his next restaurant development – a food court! It was announced last week that the celebrity chef has partnered with New York’s prestigious Plaza Hotel to develop a high-end version of the mall favorite. The 5,400 square foot location, christened The Plaza Food Hall by Todd English, will include eight food stations offering a mix of dishes, including sushi, burgers, and pizza. Retail food and kitchen items will also be available for purchase within the space.
“I’m delighted to be collaborating …

With grand openings staggered throughout December, the Las Vegas CityCenter looks to be a fabulous addition to the already spectacular Las Vegas strip. The much-anticipated space will include luxurious new accommodations, from hotels to condominiums, as well as a bounty of delicious new restaurants.
Visitors to the 61-story gaming resort, ARIA, will have a tough choice deciding a spot to eat with seven restaurants to chose from, including Chef Michael Mina’s AMERICAN FISH, Bar Masa and Shaboo, from Masa New York chef Masayoshi Takayama, and Jean Georges Steakhouse, from Chef Jean-Georges …

From exclusive wines to faux furs, ice bars to headless Russian leaders, Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay offers a host of memorable destinations for discerning imbibers. On a recent visit, I spent an evening at the gorgeous Las Vegas south strip location, enjoying food, drink, and fabulous friends.
We started with wine and dinner at Charlie Palmer’s Aureole. The West Coast sister of Palmer’s lush New York restaurant is great for parties large or small and offers a gorgeous custom glass wine cellar, with harness-clad attendants lovingly dubbed ‘Wine Angels’. Sommelier William …

I was a bit surprised when Las Vegas sommelier William Sherer mentioned how difficult it is to get Australian and New Zealand wines on his wine list. In the dining room of a bonafide white tablecloth restaurant serving decadent foie gras and champagne, you’d think most wine and spirits distributors would be clamoring to have their beverages poured. Not so, says the wine director of Charlie Palmer’s Aurole.
“For some reason, they don’t want their wines in Vegas,” Sherer explained.
My fellow guests and I wondered if perhaps the vision of the …

Starting on Monday, world-class dining at cash-saving prices comes to Las Vegas! Running August 31 through September 6, Restaurant Week provides diners with discounted menus, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Three Square Food Bank. Participating Vegas restaurants will offer prix fixe menus from three tiered price points: $20.09, $30.09 and $50.09.
Many hotels are getting into the Restaurant Week mix as well, offering accommodation and dining packages for Vegas visitors. The fabulous MGM Grand is offering deluxe accommodations and a tasting menu for two for just $159 at …

A lot of news on celeb/master chefs moving into new locations! Out of the New York Times, French chef Alain Ducasse is heading up a new spot at the W Retreat & Spa in Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, opening in November. According to the article, the restaurant will be named Mix on the Beach, and will incorporate Caribbean and Mediterranean influences. Ducasse joins other great …

Ever curious why the waiter seats you by the bathroom in an empty dining room? Revered restaurant reviewer Frank Bruni posted a bit yesterday on the mystery of receiving a bad table in a nearly deserted restaurant. While the inquiring customer seemed baffled by the mis-seating, Bruni notes that it’s rather common, with most restaurants leaving empty tables for no-show reservations, late night VIPs, and kitchen relief.
“All of that said, you could be sitting at a bad table at a bad time in a half-full restaurant because the restaurant is …