Las Vegas Weekly

May 7, 2009 · 1:33 PM

Vegas Uncork’d draws star chefs and food and wine connoisseurs

By Robin Leach

Robin Leach with Bon Appetit Editor in Chief Barbara Fairchild.

Photo: Denise Truscello

The next four days are filled with fabulous feasts and wondrous wines as the 3rd Annual Vegas Uncork’d gourmet dining adventures are at the boil! But first this morning in a wonderful gesture, 20 of the top chefs first remembered the children who still go hungry even here in Las Vegas.

Newly crowned Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton of North Carolina returned to town less than three weeks after her coronation to join with some of our Strip’s top chefs in a charity effort for Three Square Food Bank. She will lead their fight to end hunger by assisting with the local charity’s weekend feeding program “Backpacks for Kids.” Decked out in their chef whites, the culinary all-stars will be stuffing backpacks for Three Square to send to needy children at schools across our valley.

The 20 chefs include Anthony Amoroso from Michael Mina at Bellagio, Akira Back from Yellowtail Sushi Restaurant & Bar at Bellagio, Paul Bartolotta from Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare at Wynn, Carlos Buscaglia from Fiamma at MGM Grand, Rene Lenger from The Country Club at Wynn, Rick Moonen from RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay, Bradley Ogden from Bradley Ogden at Caesars Palace, Carla Pellegrino from Rao’s at Caesars Palace, Megan Romano from Aureole at Mandalay Bay and Cat Cora, Iron Chef winner and Bon Appetit executive chef. The event serves as an unofficial kick-off to Vegas Uncork’d presented by Bon Appetit magazine.

Tonight, Bon Appetit Editor in Chief Barbara Fairchild will host a late-night fundraiser with Food Network chef stars Cat Cora and Bobby Flay for the Three Square hunger relief food bank at Pure in Caesars Palace.

Star chefs, celebrities and food and wine connoisseurs have invaded our fine-dining destination for all the special epicurean events and dine-around experiences. “It’s a spectacular gathering of who’s who in the food world, and Bon Appetit magazine is delighted once again to have a hand in bringing it all together,” Barbara said. “Las Vegas is one of today’s hottest culinary destinations, and this event creates a truly one-of-a-kind experience for visitors who want to mix it up with the world class chefs and some of the finest sommeliers in America.”

Highlights include a poolside Grand Tasting with 75 celebrated chefs and vintners, a high-stakes culinary contest, an after-hours celebrity chef blackjack tournament and tour-de-force Masters series dinners with world-renowned chefs. Even Joel Robuchon, the pope of the food world, has flown in for his culinary adventure featuring the cast of Cirque du Soleil’s Ka spectacular!

So knives and forks at the ready, folks, as we unveil the highlight gourmet menus and attractions for tonight through Sunday in a special foodies version of the Royal Robin Rundown:

Thursday, May 7

*Actor Kyle MacLachlan is the special guest at celebrated restaurateur’s Bradley Ogden’s Masters dinner at his Caesars Palace restaurant hosted by Bon Appetit Features editor Hugh Garvey.

*The cast of Ka joins Chef of the Century Joel Robuchon for “Theater in the Kitchen,” which Barbara will host over the magical midnight hour.

*Food Network star Bobby Flay presents a Patron tasting dinner at his Mesa Grill in Caesars Palace. He’ll serve up his bold flavors of sophisticated Southwestern cooking with insight by Bon Appetit wine consultant Steve Olsen and Restaurant Editor Andrew Knowlton.

*Chef Carla Pellegrino is joined by TV’s Iron Chef winner Cat Cora at Frank Pellegrino’s Rao’s restaurant in Caesars Palace for a multi-course extravaganza of family-style Italian signature dishes.

*World-respected chef Guy Savoy serves a seven-course dinner at his restaurant in Caesars Palace hosted by Barbara. All guests will be treated to Krug champagne and Bubble Bar hors d’oeuvres.

*Chef and owner Francois Payard is joined by Bon Appetit food critic and special correspondent Alan Richman for an intimate evening at Payard Patisserie & Bistro in Caesars Palace.

Friday, May 8

*The all-star Grand Tasting on the pool deck at Caesars Palace. The three-hour event features more than 75 celebrated chefs and vintners. There also will be a book-signing area for celebrity chefs and authors Daniel Boulud, Cat Cora, Tom Colicchio, Jean Joho, Hubert Keller, Mary Sue Milliken, Rick Moonen, Francois Payard, Richard Sandoval, with Barbara Fairchild and David Foster.

*The Encore pool with access to Victor Drai’s XS nightclub will be the St. Tropez-styled setting for the late-night Celebrity Chefs Blackjack Tournament. Bobby, Daniel and Joel will be competing.

Saturday, May 9

*Time to put on your apron and go shoulder to shoulder with the chefs in the kitchen so you don’t starve at this unique hands-on luncheon. You’ll assist in prepping your own menu with firsthand instruction from two-time James Beard Award winner Paul Bartolotta and fellow Wynn/Encore chefs Alex Stratta, Marc Poidevin and Daniel Boulud.

*Teams of seasoned pros and rising stars from Caesars Palace and MGM Grand will go head to head in a spirited cooking contest at MGM Grand’s Conference Center. Todd Williams meets Mary Sue Milliken with Cat Cora refereeing as the emcee. Our local Las Vegas restaurant expert John Curtas will join the judging panel. Then Wynn/Encore chef David Walzog will follow in a similar showdown against Mandalay Bay chef Rick Moonen.

*A five-course dinner is planned for the gala at the Bellagio, and people can stroll through a marketplace showing off the chefs’ handpicked products used for the meal. Restaurants include Michael Mina, Olives, Yellowtail, Prime, Picasso and Jean-Philippe Patisserie.

*After the David Foster and friends concert at Mandalay Bay, the acclaimed producer, pianist and singer who has won 15 Grammy Awards will bring the cast for an after-hours party at chef Rick Moonen’s RM Seafood.

Sunday, May 10

*Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio throws a champagne brunch for Mother’s Day at his Craftsteak in MGM Grand, with Bon Appetit’s Alan Richman hosting. Every guest gets a signed copy of Tom’s cookbook Craft of Cooking to give to Mom!

*Aureole’s pastry chef Megan Romano promises a decadent slice of heaven with chocolates, bubbles and ice. There will be seven chocolate confections served with seven sparkling wines at Charlie Palmer’s Michelin-starred restaurant in Mandalay Bay with its flying wine angels!

*It all wraps with an invitation-only screening of the Julia Child film Julie & Julia, starring Amy Adams and Oscar winner Meryl Streep as the iconic chef, at the Brenden Theaters in the Palms.

Each day there are various lectures, hands-on workshops, wine lessons and other chef gatherings, and you can get that full listing at www.vegasuncorked.com. Vegas Uncork’d is truly a feast of a lifetime with the chefs of the century, and Las Vegas is the rightful place for such a gorgeous gastronomic gala!

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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