As most West Coast foodies are aware, Conant’s empire is expanding doubly by the end of the year, with two more of his Scarpetta restaurants—one at the Montage Beverly Hills, and another at the new Cosmopolitan Resort on the Las Vegas Strip (the Cosmo address will also have a casual Italian wine bar, called D.O.C.)

I’ve been inside some of the most impressive high-roller suites in Las Vegas–almost too many to name (Oh alright, I’ll name them: The Paiza level at Palazzo, Villas at Mirage, MGM Sky Villas, several at Caesars Palace–though not the Presidential–Bellagio, Vdara, Aria, Mandarin Oriental, Tropicana–new and old–Imperial Palace, Harrah’s, and Metro at Flamingo, all the kooky ones at Palms and Hard Rock and a few at Wynn/Encore, though not the Wynn Villas).