While some might have enjoyed merely rubbing shoulders with Gail Simmons and the many Top Chef “Cheftestants,” this past weekend’s Food + Wine All-Star Weekend was a reminder of one important thing: Aria, City Center is one of the strongest destinations on the Las Vegas Strip for fine dining. Of all the restaurants represented at [...]
Sometimes when you run a steady, sturdy ship it’s easy to get overlooked relative to newer, flashier restaurants with more marketing money. Such might be the case for Ping Pang Pong, perhaps one of the few perennial winners of the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s “Best Of Vegas” that actually deserves it. Both local and national critics [...]
Social House is easily the strongest culinary destination in Crystals, and one of the Strip’s most creatively approachable, ingredient-driven Japanese restaurants. No, it does not necessarily compete with the most adventuresome Japanese eateries in town, such as Spring Mountain’s Iburiya Raku and Ichiza, but this is a more relaxed, lavish, internationally-appealing experience, with strong quality and technique. The kitchen understands how to balance salty, sweet, sour and bitter with crispy, crunchy and soft textures for mouth-pleasing bites. That talent is all too rare.
Among the myriad fine dining grouped on the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas’ third level, Blue Ribbon appears as something of a sleeper. Unlike the flashy, hostess-heavy Jaleo and STK, the uber-fancy Milos, or classically modern Scarpetta and Comme Ça, Blue Ribbon is in a darker corner and somewhat hidden behind a patterned screen wall. But [...]
It’s not often I get to announce big food world news, but a right place-right time conversation with Scott Conant this morning about his wine program brought this bombshell. Master Sommelier Paolo Barbieri, late of the recently shuttered Restaurant Alex in the Wynn resort, has joined Conant’s team as Wine Director of both Scarpetta and D.O.C.G. in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
What I’ve been trying to say to Al, without becoming “that guy,” is that I really don’t need to see the list. I know what it is. That’s not to say I’m uninterested in seeing how they ranked the restaurants, and who loved/hated what. But the Top 50 spots in Vegas? Since I’ve had the really fortunate opportunity to experience almost as much as they have, I pretty much know what they picked—partially because I know which places are the best, and partially because I know which places the guys all have soft spots for (and also, hard spots).
Exploring the broad and unpredictable world of fine cheeses can often feel like a bottomless mystery, but a visit to Morel’s Bistro, where cheesemongers offer over 60 selections, can become an elegantly guided tour.
Here’s my take on the hot Sunday Pajama Brunch at Kerry Simon’s spot in Palms Place.
Even while it caters to tourists from Boise, Beijing and Bavaria, Las Vegas has become a legitimate foodie destination…if you know where to go. Here’s a primer on All The Star Chefs of Vegas… And click here for my ratings on:
• Top Ten Strip Steakhouses
• Top Ten Italian Restaurants
• Top Ten Gourmet Burgers
• Top Ten [...]