Las Vegas Weekly

May 8, 2009 · 11:32 AM

Photo Gallery: Chefs’ night of Masters’ Dinners kicks off Vegas Uncork’d

By Robin Leach

Star chefs Bobby Flay and Cat Cora.

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

It was the ultimate turnout of superstar chefs from around the world for the first-night kick-off celebrations of the 3rd Annual Vegas Uncork’d food and wine festival sponsored by Bon Appetit magazine.

Celebrated French chef Guy Savoy used a saber to chop off the cork of the first bottle of bubbly after Mayor Oscar Goodman and his showgirls officially welcomed them to our fine dining destination. Even the Las Vegas Pussycat Dolls joined the launch party atop the open-air patio at Pure in Caesars Palace.

A series of Masters' Dinners followed with Food Network and Iron Chef star Cat Cora hosting alongside Carla Pellegrini at Rao’s in Caesars Palace. Actor Kyle MacLachlan premiered his new Washington state Cabernet Sauvignon with chef Bradley Ogden at Bradley’s Caesars restaurant. It has the unique brand name of “pursued by bear,” and I’ll explain that on Monday!

Southwestern cooking genius and Food Network star Bobby Flay recruited me for kitchen duty as he was slammed with hungry diners wanting his words of wisdom on barbecue skills as he signed copies of his new book Burgers, Fries & Shakes. We’ll have an exclusive set of in-kitchen photos with Bobby next week as he talks about his new summer cookbook.

Tonight is the Grand Tasting at the Caesars Palace pool, with more than 75 top chefs and vintners participating. The second night of festivities will wrap over at the Encore with a Chefs’ Blackjack Tournament on the outdoor decks of XS.

Vegas DeLuxe will be covering all four days of the festival of fine food and wondrous wines, and we’ll have the full photo gallery here on Monday.

As our Merry Mayor of Mirth put it: “Vegas has become the finest dining destination in the world with more star chefs than any other city on Earth.”

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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