Las Vegas Weekly

November 13, 2008 · 10:29 AM

Strip Scribbles: Wolfgang Puck imports Italian chef friend for weeklong cook-off

By Robin Leach

Wolfgang Puck

Photo: TVT

*The original celebrity chef, Wolfgang Puck, will be at his Lupo restaurant in Mandalay Bay tomorrow night, so make your reservation now. His chef friend Tonino Mellino from the extraordinary Ristorante Quattro Passi on the beautiful Italian Amalfi Coast arrives for a week of special guest chef dinners. Wolf gave his wedding day luncheon at this restaurant, so you know Tonino is as great as he is funny! I was at that luncheon, which ran five incredible hours, and I promise you he is a fabulous king of the kitchen. Wolf is in for the cook-off with both men “hot on the grill,” but Tonino stays on through next Friday night.

*Michelin-rated star chef Alessandro Stratta has come up with a creative “eat and be entertained” economic dining and show package at the Wynn for these tough economic times. For $195 per person, you get a three-course dinner and a bottle of Wattle Creek Pinot Noir and two of the Premium VIP seats for the water-themed Le Reve spectacular. Now that’s a deal, and taxes and tip are included, as well! Alex serves up a menu of rustic Italian-American food that’s delicisio and magnifico!

*My friends the Alizma triplets, who will be Kenny Loggins’ opening act next week at The Orleans Arena, went with screen legend Tony Curtis to see the Tom Jones show at MGM, and all went backstage afterwards to meet the Welsh-born, sexy, hip-swiveling singer!

*I think I’ve got the scoop first about Scary Spice singer-dancer Mel B (Melanie Brown) headed to Vegas -- and I’ll have all the first-flashes early next week. But for sure my British compatriot is going to start a huge buzz now that her deal has been set in cement. Now the only mystery is who she’ll be partnered with in the new venture here.

*Here are two unique New Year’s Eve ideas from Palms kingpin George Maloof already. His new condo-tel Palms Place will let you throw a private three-hour party in the sprawling, luxurious penthouse there for you and up to 10 of your closest friends. Iron Chef winner Kerry Simon will cater your bash with champagne and appetizers from his poolside Simon restaurant, and the next day you’ll be his guests at the bar there for his New Year’s brunch. One of the Palms deejays will pre-program an iPod stereo system for your party dancing. In addition, VIP passes for Kid Rock’s Pearl Theater concert and his after-party in Moon will be available for a discounted rate of $200. Spa treatments also are discounted 20% with this unique package. The penthouse party comes with four one-bedroom suites, so you crash anytime you wish. No driving, no hassles, and they’ll even have it all cleaned up fresh and new next day when you wake up! It’s a mere bagatelle at $25,000 all-in! George has also set a $399 New Year’s rate for a two-night minimum stay in the Palms Place studios, which includes the Kid Rock show, comped champagne awaiting you on check-in, and use of the Drift Spa and Hammam room is free. Better book early and fast! It’s a steal!

*Star surveillance: Wrestling legends Bill Goldberg and Hulk Hogan tamed up for sushi and sashimi at Nobu in the Hard Rock Hotel and then joined New York Yankee Jason Giambi, who is a co-owner in Carey Hart’s Wasted Space rock club there. White-haired wrestler Brian Knobbs, one half of The Nasty Boys tag team, also joined them. … NASCAR greats Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler were with AMA Pro Roadracing team member Johnny Rock Page at a SEMA party in Rok Vegas at New York-New York, and former New York Knicks player Jerome “Junkyard Dog” Williams wound up in the party! … Racing legend Mario Andretti will be at super chef Charlie Trotter’s new restaurant in the Palazzo on Saturday for an awards ceremony.

Tonight’s tip

Singer-pianist Neil Sedaka has been writing and performing his hits -- “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” and “Calendar Girl” are just two of hundreds of them -- for five decades, and he’s still at the top of his game. “Sweet Sixteen” is still great for whatever age you are at The Orleans for his run through Sunday night.

Tomorrow’s tease

It’s a major UFC fight weekend, and the Strip is busy with all the KO punchers’ parties -- we have the full details of the star-studded 72 hours to make your Vegas visit the best ever. Siegfried & Roy get ready for our Great Santa Run, and Roy is determined to walk this year even farther than the first mile, plus we’ll also meet the hypnotist who has mesmerized audiences at more than 600 shows since deciding to live in Vegas.

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