Diner's Notebook
Diner's Notebook
Hot Tiki Action, Brunch that Bares All, and the Return of Daniel Boulud
June 19th, 2013
Veteran rock star Sammy Hagar blew into town for a tiki party/concert at the Venetian pool, aided and abetted by the irrepressible chef Emeril Lagasse, who cooked a whole roast suckling pig for a brave crowd out despite the 110-degree temperature. This has to be why we love Las Vegas. Both the music and the food were terrific. Read more »
Diner's Notebook
Top of the World is Tops, and More Batali, Bastianich for Venetian
June 11th, 2013
On a glorious late-spring evening, nothing is more impressive than watching the sun set and the lights glimmer across the Valley from a white-tableclothed perch at Top of the World, the Stratosphere’s high-end, slowly rotating dining venue (380-7711). Read more »
Diner's Notebook
Chicago's Connections, Hops & Harvest and Exhilarating Organics
June 4th, 2013
Chicago stands tall as a summer travel option, thanks to draws such as Grant Park, Lake Michigan and the music scene on Rush Street. It’s also one of America’s great food cities. Looking beyond the hot dog and Italian beef sandwich, I visited two of the Windy City area’s best restaurants, both with ties to local eateries. Read more »
Diner's Notebook
Project Dinner Perfect, Whisky Wednesays and Bon Chef’s Buon Italiano
May 28th, 2013
The 21st Project Dinner Table, spearheaded by the event’s irrepressible founder, Gina Gavan, was the most impressive to date in the event’s four-year history. What made it so? A lineup of star chefs soon to grace Summerlin’s Tivoli Village, including Sam Marvin of Echo & Rig and Bradley Ogden of Hops & Harvest—plus representation from Angelo Sosa’s Poppy Den and more. Read more »
Diner's Notebook
Uncork’d Pops its Top, Boulud Greets the VIPs and Ferraro’s at Night
May 14th, 2013
This year’s Vegas Uncork’d culinary weekend was the best to date. I ate a sensational lunch at Border Grill, highlighted by a terrific lobster and crab salad on a fat, griddled corn cake; a world-class dinner at Joël Robuchon at the Mansion, ministered to by the “Chef of the Century” himself; and a perfect bone-in New York Strip at Old Homestead in Caesars Palace. Read more »
Diner's Notebook
Game for Posh Burgers and Plenty of Pleasant Surprises at Zenshin
May 7th, 2013
Fine Irishman Conrad Gallagher won a Michelin star for his superlative cooking at Dublin’s Peacock Alley; now, some of the tricks of his trade are on hand at Posh Burger (9921 W. Charleston Blvd., 201-1408), an upscale Westside burger joint where your patty might be just as easily made of duck, elk, ostrich or lamb, as turkey or Kobe beef. Read more »
Diner's Notebook
UNLVino Shines, The Springs Café Cooks and Sambalatte Grows
April 30th, 2013
UNLVino celebrated its 39th year April 18-21, and I attended the Grand Tasting and the new Sunday Bar-B-Q. As always, organizers Southern Wine & Spirits put on a great show for a huge turnout. Read more »
Diner's Notebook
Tasteful Travels, Zenshin Opens and New Menus for Spring
April 23rd, 2013
I’ve just returned from a diverse trip abroad, where I experienced a number of meals with direct connections to what is available here. It was a remarkable and rewarding journey. Read more »
Diner's Notebook
A French Twist, a Tasty Affair, and Hot Food-Truck Fusion
April 16th, 2013
If you haven’t experienced Twist at the Mandarin Oriental (590-8888), or the soaringly imaginative cooking of superstar French chef Pierre Gagnaire, there’s never been a better time to do so. Gagnaire was here in early April to present his newest creations on “Le Menu Espirit de Printemps,” an inspirational spring menu. I had the chance to do so, and had one of the most memorable meals I’ve eaten in our city. Read more »
