Diner's Notebook
Diner's Notebook
From Russia, with love. And lobio.
October 13th, 2011
GREETINGS FROM ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA. Even though I haven’t been here in more than 35 years, it all feels familiar to me, especially the food. The one major change I can see is cars. I always maintained that private cars were the biggest discernible difference between capitalism and communism, and the feeling hasn’t changed. One doesn’t have to stand in line for food anymore here, and there is no shortage of bread or meat in this thriving city of museums, palaces and upscale dining. Read more »
Diner's Notebook
Seeing stars, a table for 150, more food fests and faster fast food
October 6th, 2011
Wow, time sure flies. Food & Wine magazine’s All-Star Weekend is already upon us this year, Oct. 21-23 at Aria and the Bellagio. This year, there will be six events in all, some with limited availability. We’re guessing the Champagne and Caviar Brunch, hosted by Food & Wine contributing editor Anthony Giglio with brunch favorites from Top Chef Season 5 winner Hosea Rosenberg, will go fast. Read more »
Diner's Notebook
Swan’s new song, beef to beat all, Café de Japon and Jean-Louis remembered
September 29th, 2011
Mark Oct. 16 in your calendar for the 10th annual Jean-Louis Palladin Foundation Fundraiser, this year held at Alizé (951-7000), Andre Rochat’s restaurant at the Top of the Palms. Proceeds from the dinner benefit the James Beard Foundation. This is, by my lights, one of the most impressive dinners anywhere, with more than a dozen of our star chefs contributing to a seven-course dinner, which includes spectacular wine pairings such as Emil Beyer ’09 pinot gris from Alsace, and a Broadbent Malmsey Madeira. Read more »
Diner's Notebook
OysterPalooza, late-night beer pairing, Festivino and extraordinary Chinese
September 22nd, 2011
It’s almost October, and therefore almost National Seafood Month. Two restaurateurs from Southern California, Sal Casola and Chipper Pastron, are celebrating by once again offering an OysterPalooza menu at two of their Vegas eateries, D.vino Italian Food & Wine Bar at Monte Carlo and Morels at the Palazzo. Read more »
Diner's Notebook
Big Wong, good Greek, Sushi Roku 2.0, and the inaugural Asian Food Festival
September 15th, 2011
It took considerable audacity for Wei Lee to open Big Wong in the same mall already home to Monta Japanese noodle house, a Korean barbecue joint, and Raku, our best Japanese restaurant. But Lee, who sports a black T-shirt with the Big Wong logo and has Cantonese and Brooklyn accents at the same time, isn’t intimidated in the least. Read more »
Diner's Notebook
Coffee and cupcakes, steak and martinis, and brunch according to Rick Moonen
September 8th, 2011
There is a new sheriff in town at the Hard Rock: 35 Steaks & Martinis (693-5585) just replaced Rare 120 as the hotel’s signature steak joint. Read more »
Diner's Notebook
Back at Table, fall for Andre’s, Myers’ best pizza and Desert Hops
September 1st, 2011
Come one, come all, to Vegas Seven’s inaugural Desert Hops Beer Fest, to be held 6-10 p.m. Sept. 10 in Green Valley Ranch’s Backyard concert venue. More than 150 beers from every corner of the world will be poured, including Canada’s Unibroue, Dogfish Head Brewery of Milton, Del., and Brewery St. Feuillien of Le Roeulx, Belgium. Read more »
Diner's Notebook
Show dining at Aria, a tasteful jaunt, a noodle find and the British are coming
August 25th, 2011
If you’ve been hankering to dine upscale at one of Aria’s heavy hitters, there is good news: The resort is offering early evening menus and Viva Elvis show packages in eight of its best restaurants—American Fish, Blossom, Jean-Georges Steakhouse, Julian Serrano, Lemongrass, Sage, Sirio and Union. Read more »
Diner's Notebook
Central coming in, Puck and Tila out, and one tasty week on the way
August 18th, 2011
Much of the action these days is taking place at Caesars Palace, because the casino-resort is doing a major food service overhaul. Nobu Matsuhisa is building a restaurant and lounge to open—along with Caesars’ Nobu Hotel tower—next summer, and Central, from Washington, D.C.’s superstar French chef Michel Richard, will be opening within the next month. Read more »
Diner's Notebook
A Mayoral beef, road food, Rochat gets technical and one hot roast By Max Jacobson
August 11th, 2011
Over at the Silverton, Daniel Pfeiffer, a native of Germany who has stints in Sweden, France and Switzerland on his long résumé, is the new executive chef. I greatly enjoyed his homemade sausages and smoked pork that he did for Oktoberfest while running the kitchens at Boulder Station, and I am looking forward to whatever surprises he will be unveiling this fall. Read more »
