Las Vegas Weekly

November 6, 2008 · 10:32 AM

Strip Scribbles: The $2,000 truffle pasta and the $1,000 truffle soup

By Robin Leach

Valentino chef Luciano Pellegrini.

Photo: Courtesy

*Don’t panic! The prices aren’t quite that stratospheric yet -- but inching ever closer! Two or three pricy platters topped with heapings of the rare and prized Italian white truffle, only found in Alba, will send the credit card into sky-high overdrive. You’ll find the precious delicacies starting next Tuesday at our five-star restaurants on the Strip. Check out Luciano Pellegrini’s Valentino at The Venetian and Wolfgang Puck’s Spago at Caesars Palace, where I’m going to splurge on my all-time-favorite truffle ice cream. At Restaurant Guy Savoy, also in Caesars Palace, the chef-owner himself flies in from Paris to oversee the highly anticipated return of the white truffle. Guy has created an amazing, three-course truffle meal of scallop carpaccio, pumpkin soup and poached egg and risotto -- all with as many shavings of le truffe as you can afford! He’s also added a four-course Wild Game dinner with Foie Gras and wild squab, roasted grouse or mallard duck! Don’t even ask the price: Just close your eyes and say,

“Charge it.” As they say en France: a mere bagatelle!

Photo: Pure Management Group

Jamie Pressly puts a bling-ified grip on Eric Cubeechee.

*Regular Vegas club DJ Eric Cubeechee has split up with his longtime lady love, 31-year-old actress Jaime Pressley. They are the parents of a baby daughter born earlier this year. The couple had dated for five years but, although engaged for two years, never married. Reports from Hollywood say the 34-year-old disc jockey moved out of their apartment earlier this week. They have been seen together here on a regular basis when he’s played at either the Palms or Pure.

*I’ve heard of 3-D but didn’t know about 4-D. Starting a week from tomorrow, the special-effects 4-D rides will open among the 20 new carnival-styled Fantasy Faire Midway attractions at the Excalibur. A highlight is “The Polar Express” adventure. Based on the popular movie, this magical journey to the North Pole will come alive in an unforgettable, multi-sensory adventure complete with faux snow. Guests also are invited to experience the charming antics of “SpongeBob SquarePants in 4-D.” The special holiday run continues through Jan. 6 and is open during the week from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. and midnight on weekends.

Photo: Light Group

Simeon Rice at Bank.

*NFL star Simeon Rice took a VIP table at the Bank in the Bellagio to take in the party scene while he sipped on Grey Goose and soda … Over at Lavo inside the Palazzo was Detroit Tiger Gary Sheffield displaying an abundance of bling as he drank Grey Goose and water alongside UFC light heavyweight Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, who in his red Affliction shirt ordered cranberry juice to go with his Grey Goose.

Photo: TVT

Andre Rochat with chef Hubert Keller at Fleur de Lys at Mandalay Bay.

* Star chef Hubert Keller has come up with his contribution to fight the economic woes plaguing the country: He’s created a special tasting menu at his posh Fleur de Lys restaurant in Mandalay Bay. You can order between Truffle Onion Soup or Yukon Gold Potato Ravioli for an appetizer, select Alaskan King Salmon or the Beef Short Ribs for your entrée and grab the Chocolate Feast for dessert. It’s a stupendous buy for just $59, and the only catch is that you have to dine there from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. daily for the early evening prix-fixe marvel. Now that’s a bargain even at that hour!

Tonight’s tip

It’s Round 4 as the multi-million-dollar Professional Bull Riding Championships resume at the Thomas & Mack to crown the new world champion, and we’ll have those results here early tomorrow in advance of the weekend finals … Please support our local Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation by shopping now for your Christmas goodies at the new Tory Burch fashion boutique at the Palazzo. The designer is giving 10% of the sales from 6 to 9 p.m. today to the charity, and the store has some really cute items for the holidays … Tom and Dick but no Harry! Those beloved brothers Smothers open a four-night run headlining at the Orleans to prove which one was better blessed by Mom … Mad Mike of MTV’s Pimp My Ride hosts a SEMA auto-parts show convention party at the Hawaiian Tropic Zone inside Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile.

Tomorrow’s tease

A giant celebrity bonanza weekend with Lindsay Lohan and girlfriend Samantha Ronson at Pure, superstar singer Madonna at MGM and Tao’s glittering, star-studded 3rd anniversary celebration! Only thing to ace them out of the headlines will be the final nine table at the World Series of Poker. The players will battle for their share of the $32 million pot, with one prince walking away with a whopping $9 million payday. Plus the $1 million bonus take-home check for the $3 million world champion professional bull rider. Luxe Life and VegasDeluxe.com has the full, hour-by-hour rundown of all the mega-million exce$$e$ for the extraordinary 72 hours that lie ahead! We’ll even find a way to get up close to the sizzling Sin City Kittens as they striptease at the Valley gateway!

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