Las Vegas Weekly

November 18, 2008 · 1:39 PM

Wolfgang Puck imports one of Italy’s finest kitchen kings to the Strip

By Robin Leach

Tonino Mellino and Wolfgang Puck.

Photo: TVT

When celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck celebrated his wedding in Italy two summers ago, he gave the day-after luncheon at his favorite Amalfi Coast restaurant with good friend Tonino Mellino, one of Italy’s most extraordinary chefs. Now all week long, Tonino is cooking for Wolf at his Lupo restaurant in Mandalay Bay.

Wolf told me: “He’s not only a great friend, he’s a genius of a cook. His restaurant there is one of the most beautiful and romantic anywhere in the world. We had such a fabulous five-hour luncheon there for our after-wedding feast, we just had to bring him here to share it with all our Vegas friends.”

I got to join a whole slew of foodies and critics from across the Valley and country when the two star chefs presented their debut dinner over the weekend. Tonino brought three kitchen helpers and the menu secrets handed down from generations with him from his Quatra Passi Ristorante (Four Steps Restaurant) between Naples and Positano.

Tonino will be at Lupo all this week, so hurry in for incredible Italian taste treats, including: homemade shortcut fettuccini pasta with eggplant and smoked mozzarella, vegetables and sausages under shaved pecorino cheese; sea bass carpaccio from the Mediterranean with crispy veggies and balsamic vinegar; lentil soup and baby squid; pizza-styled veal medallions with potatoes and peeled tomato, basil, garlic, sardine and olive oil stuffing; and citrus risotto with pumpkin and zucchini blossom with crab and lobster stuffing and candied lemon!

Wolf watched over the first night’s meal -- and then was so happy with his kitchen king friend running his kitchen that he sat down with the other guests to enjoy it for himself and left Tonino to take over! Wolf has now returned to his Beverly Hills headquarters, and Tonino is in charge here. Don’t walk -- run! -- to make your rez!

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