Las Vegas Weekly

June 3, 2009 · 2:24 PM

Strip Scribbles: Mario Batali sets up farmers market in the Palazzo today

By Robin Leach

Mario Batali outside Babbo Ristorante.

Photo: Pasta Resources

Celebrity chef Mario Batali has gone green with Molto Vegas and today, for the first time ever in Las Vegas history, sets up a farmers market in a Strip casino. You’ll find seven local farmers in the waterfall atrium of the Palazzo with Mario and his restaurant partner Joe Bastianich, who will present his own biodynamic wines.

Photo: Kirvin Doak Communications

Chefs Wolfgang Puck and Mario Batali.

Their three Las Vegas restaurants -- Carnevino in the Palazzo and B&B Ristorante and Enoteca San Marco at the adjoining Venetian -- will be certified as the first restaurant group in a LEED building to achieve full green status. The farmers market will display local products including desert honey, chicken and duck eggs, fruits, juices, vegetables and homemade breads. It runs from noon to 6 p.m. today.

*Bud Light’s Spuds McKenzie, one of the advertising world’s greatest and most successful animal icons, died 16 years ago this week. In the beer wars of the late 1980s, Spuds premiered in a very expensive Super Bowl commercial and overnight became the biggest hit imaginable. I was the voiceover for a slew of Spuds spots, and one of them was even a parody titled Lifestyles of the Original Party Animal. I always remember the anniversary of Spud’s death because as fast as the legend rose to the top, the campaign crashed just as hard.

First the scandal when it was revealed that Spuds was a she, a Bull Terrier named Honey Tree Evil Eye. But what did the most damage was parents and media watch groups complaining to Washington that Spuds had become such a merchandising character, they alleged that Spuds was promoting beer to youngsters. The claims were never proved, but the uproar was enough to get Anheuser Busch to bring an end to the party animal in 1992. We had the most fun you can imagine creating and recording these, and so I raise a Spuds McKenzie beer mug to toast the marvelous memories! (A quick check on eBay this morning showed 115 Spuds souvenirs still selling at premium prices all these years later!)

Photo: Pure Management Group

Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag.

*With NBC airing a new version of I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here from the Costa Rican jungle and Las Vegas nightclub regulars Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt having had their breakdowns and reportedly quitting, I’m reminded of the drama we had on the original version. I was “stranded” with Melissa Rivers, Cris Judd, Bruce Jenner and stuttering John Melendez among others in the Australian jungle. None of us broke down under the worst imaginable rain conditions of all time, but I can assure you that 16 days of being in nonstop heavy rain, trying to sleep in mud and cooking meals and boiling river water under a tarp was no picnic. We had complaints against the ill-prepared producers, but at least we went on with the show!

I’ll be checking them out over the next few nights to see even more of the tears, fights and explosions. My pal John Salley, a regular Las Vegas visitor, is on the series. He just concluded a seven-year stint serving as the co-host of The Best Damn Sports Show Period, which filmed two weeks of shows each year here.

Photo: Cashman Photography

America's Next Top Model photo shoot director Jay Manuel with the cast of Bellagio's O.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

Wilmer Valderrama.

Star surveillance

Superstar Eddie Murphy with maybe a new girlfriend on his arm made magic at Criss Angel’s Believe at the Luxor. The couple kept it low profile on arrival but sucked on massive lollipops during the show, according to our spywitness. Eddie’s Vegas visit came just a few days after his former lady love, Peepshow headliner Mel B and the mother of their baby, celebrated her birthday at Planet Hollywood. … America’s Next Top Model’s Jay Manuel with three of The CW show’s producers watched Cirque du Soleil’s O at the Bellagio. Backstage, Jay told the cast that he is obsessed with the show and plays their soundtrack every morning to get his day started right! Now what were those producers scouting for: future talent or a future location? … Actor Wilmer Valderrama and friends were at Tao in The Venetian enjoying sushi bar specialties including the sashimi trio, toro and Alaskan rolls and washed them down with beer and Patron Silver margaritas. They also ordered grilled tuna, Buddha chicken and wasabi filet.

Tonight’s tips

Whitney Houston’s long-troubled ex-husband singer Bobby Brown sticks to the straight and narrow with a performance at Rok Vegas in New York-New York, and One Trick Pony entertains at the Revolution lounge in The Mirage as the ladies compete for a $2,500 prize.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Kobe Bryant takes a shot while playing for Team USA.

Tomorrow’s teases

It’s the first game of the 2009 NBA Finals between the L.A. Lakers and Orlando Magic. Call it the showdown between Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard, and we reprise our photo album from the last time they went head to head right here in Las Vegas. … Our beloved comedian Marty Allen just celebrated his 87th birthday and is still headlining on cruise ships with wife Karon, but he’s staying close to home for an upcoming South Point show. In our exclusive one-on-one interview, he reveals his secrets for his longevity, and it’s not just the two miles he runs every day on the treadmill. … Plus, Frank Marino and Annie Duke celebrate the wrath heaped on them by Joan Rivers, and Donny Wahlberg parties with Jabbawockeez!

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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