Las Vegas Weekly

June 11, 2009 · 11:38 AM

Counter Intelligence: Joel Robuchon’s new menus; Society Cafe’s mojito bar

By Robin Leach

A pineapple mojito from Encore's Society Cafe.

Photo: Brian Steffy

Since opening in September 2005, legendary chef Joel Robuchon’s restaurant at MGM has received the Mobil Five Star, Michelin Three Star and AAA Five Diamond Awards, the top accolades for each organization. His peers hail Joel as the “Pope of the Palate.” Now in his own economic stimulus plan, he wants guests to sample his formidable cooking talents at not-so-formidable prices.

Joel’s first U.S. fine dining restaurant, Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand, now offers Les Selections Gastronomique, four new menus that provide guests the chance to choose the number of courses and cuisine. Ranging from $89 to $195 per person, the menu choices include such delicacies as octopus and tiger prawn in a seaweed gelee, spiny lobster in a sake broth with turnip and shiso sprouts, beef rib eye with spiced spinach and crispy vegetables, and strawberries and champagne rose over fresh mango granite with crunchy red fruits.

Photo: MGM Mirage

An appetizing La Tomate from L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon.

“I created these new menus to make the cuisine of Joel Robuchon more accessible to all guests during these difficult times,” he said. “I am proud that we continue to be able to showcase the best ingredients in the best dishes in the most luxurious of settings.”

At his other restaurant at MGM Grand, L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, a Michelin One Star restaurant, guests can observe the creation of their meal. Joel has a new menu L’Unique, a pre-theater express meal allowing diners to choose an appetizer, main course and dessert served bento box style. It’s priced at $39 per person and includes chilled gazpacho with croutons, lamb kebab with vegetable ratatouille and pistachio creme brulee with caramelized pistachios.

Photo: Brian Steffy

The view from the bar at Encore's Society Cafe.

Over at Steve Wynn’s Encore, the good folks at Society Cafe have created an amazing bar just for mojitos. The mojitos look great and taste phenomenal. Somehow I managed to take a sip of all of them and can wholeheartedly recommend the basil mojito and the watermelon mojito. The selection of fruits, rums and vodkas is sensational. The chefs also have created a nibbling menu to accompany the mojitos.

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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