A Culinary Crossroads

Once known for its all-you-can-eat buffets and bargain shrimp cocktails, Las Vegas has transformed itself into a top culinary destination. Within a decade, Las Vegas has redefined the culinary and wine experience by offering the most comprehensive collection of celebrity chefs and world-class restaurants, more Master Sommeliers than any other city in the world and more wine sold per capita than in any other destination.

Las Vegas’ credibility as one of the globe’s centers for fine dining grew even more when, in 2008, it became the fourth U.S. city to be profiled by the authors of the Michelin Guide, the prestigious restaurant and lodging guidebook. For more than a century, the Michelin Guide has provided reviews of restaurants and lodging and its one- to three-star rating system is regarded as the most discriminating in the world. This year, the Michelin Guide Las Vegas 2009 features 140 restaurants and 32 hotels.

Bon Appétit magazine, a leading authority in the culinary world, cemented Las Vegas’ place among U.S. dining capitals by declaring the destination as one of the nation’s top five restaurant cities. In fact, the publication has partnered with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, and Las Vegas resorts, to host an annual epicurean event called Vegas Uncork’d. This four-day event in May provides an intimate connection with legendary chefs, along with grand tastings of their delectable creations.

Las Vegas continues to be recognized year after year for its quality restaurants. In 2009, two restaurants were honored with a five-star rating by Mobil Travel Guide, Alex at Wynn Las Vegas and Joël Robuchon at The Mansion at MGM Grand. Recently, AAA announced their Five Diamond Award-winners for 2009, considered one of the most prestigious recognitions that a restaurant can achieve. AAA Five Diamond Award-winning restaurants include Alex at Wynn Las Vegas (fourth consecutive year), Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand (third consecutive year), Le Cirque at Bellagio (sixth consecutive year), Picasso at Bellagio (eighth consecutive year) and first-time winner Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace. AAA rates nearly 60,000 restaurants and lodgings each year throughout all 50 states, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, providing the broadest coverage of any U.S. rating system, both geographically and by number of properties rated. Of those, only 103 resorts and 59 restaurants earned the highly coveted AAA Five Diamond rating for 2009.

As the dining scene continues to evolve in Las Vegas, new restaurants continue to open nearly every month, providing unique experiences for repeat visitors. Some of the many new restaurants in 2009 include the following:

In keeping with the culinary standards set by Wynn Las Vegas, Encore introduces a new all-star team of chefs to the dining family, each of whom is in their kitchens cooking dinner every night. Five signature restaurants pair these master chefs with personally prepared gourmet fare. Sinatra is a salute to Ol’ Blue Eyes. Chef Theo Schoenegger’s modern Italian cuisine riffs with Sinatra tunes as guests revisit the entertainer’s legendary charisma. A surprise awaits at Switch, Chef Marc Poidevin’s French-inspired seafood and steakhouse. Diners can appreciate the art collection by Columbian artist Fernando Botero at Botero Steak while sampling Chef Mark LoRusso’s modern cuisine. Society Café Encore was designed with the whimsical era of Oscar Wilde in mind, to match the imaginative cooking of Chef Kim Canteenwalla. Turn a corner in the casino and come face to face with a 27-foot crystal dragon, mounted at Wazuzu, where rising star Chef Jet Tila serves up pan-Asian cuisine.

M Resort Spa Casino has opened nine restaurants. Studio B, the resort’s show kitchen buffet, integrates a state-of-the-art restaurant with a live-action cooking studio. At Marinelli’s guests can enjoy authentic Italian dishes in the stylish restaurant or overlooking the Villaggio Del Sole. Terzetto combines great charcoal-grilled steak and seafood with an even better social atmosphere. Gracing the summit of the M Resort, Veloce Cibo combines an extensive menu of appetizers, entrees, sushi, sashimi and nigiri with satisfying desserts and a range of hand-crafted cocktails. Red Cup Café, a 1920′s art-deco inspired 24-hour gathering spot, is the place for hand-prepared American classics. The Hostile Grape is known as the cellar and tasting room with an attitude. Baby Cakes, a European-inspired pastisserie offers an impressive assortment of confections including pastries, cakes, chocolates, cannolis, and a variety of coffees. Adjacent to the race and sports book, guests can order by the numbers at Vig Deli with an extensive menu that includes hot dogs, burgers, BBQ, sandwiches and hand-tossed pizza. A casual outdoor dining experience, Piazza Grille is a sun-soaked Mediterranean-style experience.

ARIA, the resort casino at CityCenter, has named the chefs set to oversee its culinary offerings. Sirio Maccioni will introduce “Sirio”, featuring Italian favorites. Michael Mina will head up “American Fish”, featuring refined American Cuisine. Julian Serrano will offer a more casual concept featuring innovative interpretations of Spanish fare. Jean-Georges Vongerichten will add Jean Georges Steakhouse to the mix. The Light Group will unveil an edgy American dim sum style concept. Jean-Philippe Maury will open JP Patisserie featuring a variety of breakfast pastries, sandwiches and desserts. These well-known chefs who run acclaimed eateries at Bellagio, The Mirage, MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay, will be joined by Masayoshi Takayama, the world-renowned chef of the famed Masa in New York City and Shawn McClain, celebrated executive chef and partner at three of Chicago’s top restaurants. ARIA also will be home to Blossom, a classic Chinese restaurant; Lemongrass, a modern Thai restaurant; Café Centro, serving three meals each day; and The Buffet, a contemporary take on the standard.

Caesars Palace has opened two new restaurants featuring authentic cuisine from the many regions of mainland China. Beijing Noodle No. 9 is a stunningly designed casual restaurant serving signature hand-pulled noodles, authentic Shanghai-style soup dumplings, braised and roasted meats and live-to-table seafood and fish. Sea Harbour is an authentic Cantonese-style fine seafood restaurant.

NOBHILL TAVERN by Michael Mina at MGM Grand infuses a new concept into the ever-evolving Las Vegas dining transformation. Tavern cuisine, an innovative drink menu that pays homage to classic cocktails, and an expansive lounge area where guests can relax while listening to a music selection of popular songs from a variety of genres make up the NOBHILL TAVERN experience. The menu affords guests the opportunity to enjoy Michael Mina’s signature trio concept.

Bar Louie, a casual neighborhood restaurant and bar, has opened a location at Town Square. The popular Chicago-based chain is known for its signature sandwiches, uniquely prepared appetizers, inventive pizzas and specialty cocktails. The 6,500-square-foot space seats more than 200 and features design elements characteristic of all Bar Louie locations. The venue, which is the 49th in the nation, is open for lunch, dinner and late-night dining.

Combining the bold flavors of Southern Brazil with the generous spirit of Texas, Texas de Brazil has opened at Town Square Las Vegas. The Las Vegas location marks the restaurant’s 14th worldwide. For the fixed price of $44.99, guests can enjoy tantalizing cuts of meats, appetizers, soups, salads, gourmet chesses and a variety of sides served tableside. Texas de Brazil offers guests a truly unique Brazilian experience, complete with sword carrying Gauchos (a.k.a. Brazilian cowboys), who roam the dining area serving various delectable cuts and types of meat. Complimenting the meal, Texas de Brazil also offers an extensive wine list, signature cocktails, an assortment of desserts and hand-rolled cigars.

Celebrity Chefs
Historically, major hotel-casinos featured “gourmet rooms” in order to cater to high rollers’ tastes. Each restaurant created an ambience designed to transport diners to a world far away from the action of the casinos. However, by the late ’90s, high-end eateries became the rage with their appeal extending beyond just high rollers. Las Vegas hotels recruited some of the top chefs in the world to open and run restaurants inside their properties. Today, Las Vegas has the most comprehensive collection of the world’s top chefs and television icons. Continuing to satisfy Las Vegas visitors’ appetites, they include – in alphabetical order:

Paul Bartolotta (Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare at Wynn Las Vegas)
Mario Batali (B & B Ristorante and Enoteca San Marco at The Venetian)
Daniel Boulud (Daniel Boulud at Wynn Las Vegas)
David Burke (David Burke athe Venetian)
Kim Canteenwalla (Society Café at Encore)
Tom Colicchio (Craftsteak at MGM Grand)
Alain Ducasse (Mix at Mandalay Bay’s THEhotel)
Todd English (Olives at Bellagio)
Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken (Border Grill at Mandalay Bay)
Bobby Flay (Mesa Grill at Caesars Palace)
Jean-Marie Josselin (8-0-8 at Caesars Palace)
Joseph Keller (Bistro Zinc at Montelago Village at Lake Las Vegas)
Hubert Keller (Fleur de Lys at Mandalay Bay)
Thomas Keller (Bouchon at The Venetian)
Emeril Lagasse (Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House at MGM Grand and Delmonico Steakhouse at The Venetian)
Mark LoRusso (Botero Steak at Encore)
Sirio Maccioni (Le Cirque at Bellagio at Sirio at ARIA)
Steve Martorano (Café Martorano at Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino)
Nobu Matsuhisa (Nobu at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino)
Jean-Philippe Maury (Jean Philippe Patisserie at Bellagio and JP Patisserie at ARIA)
Maurizio Mazzon (Canaletto at the Venetian and Il Fornaio at the New York-New York and Green Valley Ranch)
Michael Mina (NOBHILL TAVERN and SEABLUE at MGM Grand, MICHAEL MINA at Bellagio and Strip Steak at Mandalay Bay and American Fish at ARIA)
Tom Moloney (AquaKnox at the Venetian)
Rick Moonen (RM Seafood at Mandalay Place)
Bradley Ogden (Bradley Ogden at Caesars Palace)
Charlie Palmer (Aureole at Mandalay Bay and Charlie Palmer Steak at The Four Seasons)
Francois Payard (Payard Patisserie at Caesars Palace)
Marc Poidevin (Switch at Encore)
Wolfgang Puck (Spago and Chinois at The Forum Shops at Caesars, Postrio at The Venetian, CUT at The Palazzo, Trattoria del Lupo at Mandalay Bay and Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at MGM Grand)
Joël Robuchon (L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon and Joël Robuchon at The Mansion at MGM Grand)
André Rochat (Alizé at the Palms, Andre’s Monte Carlo)
Guy Savoy (Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace)
Piero Selvaggio (Valentino at The Venetian and Giorgio and Ristorante at Mandalay Place)
Julian Serrano (Picasso at Bellagio)
Theo Schoenegger (Sinatra at Encore)
Kerry Simon (CatHouse at Luxor, Simon at Palms Place)
Alessandro Stratta (Alex at Wynn Las Vegas)
Joachim Splichal (Pinot Brasserie at The Venetian)
Jet Tila (Wazuzu at Encore)
Jean-Georges Vongerichten (Prime at Bellagio and Jean Georges Steakhouse at ARIA)
Michael White (Fiamma at MGM Grand)
Takashi Yagihashi (Okada at Wynn Las Vegas)

All-You-Can-Eat
In the early ’40s, the first buffet opened at the original El Rancho Vegas Hotel, the Las Vegas Strip’s first hotel. Beldon Katleman, El Rancho’s owner, initiated the all-you-can-eat-for-a-dollar “Midnight Chuck Wagon Buffet” in an effort to keep patrons on the property during late-night hours. His idea of treating guests to an elaborate array of food for a small price was copied again and again. As a result, the Las Vegas buffet has earned its place in the city’s history.

Buffets are still popular in Las Vegas. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the average buffet features about 45 food selections per meal including salads, fruits, roast beef, baked ham, roast turkey, vegetables and a variety of desserts. Several properties are taking their buffet experiences to the next level. The Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino renovated its Rio Carnival World Buffet and Village Seafood Buffet by increasing its dish selections. The Carnival World Buffet has more than 300 offerings and 70 dessert dishes from around the world – from pizza to omelets and from teppanyaki to fresh pasta. The Buffet at TI (Treasure Island) and Cravings at The Mirage both showcase an international line-up as well with American barbeque, a sushi bar, and specialty pastas – all in addition to the traditional buffet items. Meanwhile, Flavors, Harrah’s Las Vegas’ newest buffet, features live cooking stations, freshly prepared seafood, Prime Rib and a varied menu that also includes Churrasco (Brazilian BBQ), hand-rolled sushi and Italian casseroles prepared in a wood-burning oven.

Entertainment Dining
Dining and entertainment go hand-in-hand at several locations throughout Southern Nevada. Dinner theater options include the “Tournament of Kings” at Excalibur where guests are transported to the feasts of the Renaissance while watching a knightly battle. If you’re in the mood for love, how about “Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding” at Planet Hollywood? Be a special guest of Anthony Nunzio, Jr., and Valentina Lynne Vitale, an Italian-American couple who come from two slightly dysfunctional families. The wedding is complete with drunken guests, a pregnant maid-of-honor, an impromptu “YMCA” dance and, of course, family bickering. Guests can either participate in the wedding with actors who never step out of character or they can simply watch the family drama unfold.

Themed Restaurants
Las Vegas also boasts a bevy of themed restaurants. Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas, located near The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, is an authentic replica of the Munich Hofbräuhaus. The restaurant features German/Bavarian cuisine, imported Bavarian beer, meat and sausage produced exclusively for Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas and Bavarian pretzels imported directly from Munich. Music connoisseurs can nosh on gourmet hamburgers while soaking up the unique atmosphere and music memorabilia at the Hard Rock Café. Planet Hollywood serves up the best Hollywood fare inside the Forum Shops, while NASCAR Café (Sahara) and ESPNZone (New York-New York) are must-sees for sports enthusiasts. Parrotheads can nosh on a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville at the Flamingo and the Harley-Davidson Café serves up chow for Hog aficionados.

Cooking Classes
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to prepare cuisine like a world-class chef, now you can. Numerous restaurants now offer cooking classes. Renowned restaurateur Piero Selvaggio’s Italian eatery, Giorgio Caffè & Ristorante, offers custom cooking classes for groups ranging from 15 to 40 people. Located at Mandalay Place, the classes include a full tasting menu and can be scheduled any day of the week. At Café Ba Ba Reeba! at Fashion Show, groups can learn how to prepare paella, the classic Spanish dish. This class is offered on Saturdays and includes a five-course lunch with tapas and two wines. Master Sushi Chef of Loews Hotels, Chef Osamu “Fuji” Fujita, will personally conduct sushi classes every second Saturday, starting Jan. 10, of every month through 2009 at 3 p.m. inside Marssa restaurant at Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort. The two-hour sushi and sake clinic is designed to educate participants about traditional Tokyo and Osaka-style Japanese cuisine in a fun, hands-on environment. SUSHISAMBA Strip, located on the retail level of The Shoppes at The Palazzo, has announced an interactive, two-hour teaching and tasting event called SUSHI+SAKE 101. Participants learn what it takes to become a master sushi chef while sipping sake alongside a five-course meal. The class introduces students to the art and history of this unique cuisine. In addition to classes on the Strip, there are off-Strip cooking schools as well, such as Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas. Classes cover the culinary gamut, ranging from vegetarian cuisine to Thai to Southwest Thanksgiving. Classes are limited in size and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.