Las Vegas Weekly

April 15, 2010 · 5:16 PM

Counter Intelligence: Special menus at Mozen Bistro, Sinatra and Origin

By Robin Leach

The Mandarin Oriental grand opening at CityCenter on Dec. 4, 2009.

Photo: Don Chareunsy

Hot off the grill! Chef Shawn Armstrong should get more credit for his authentic cuisines from China, Japan, Thailand and India that he presents at Mozen Bistro in the new Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas at CityCenter. Not only is the four-course meal a sensation, but he also changes it with new tasting menus every week.

If you make a res via Facebook or mention our Vegas DeLuxe blogs, you’ll receive a complimentary flight of sake. His newest menu includes sesame seared ahi tuna, cream of salsify, herb-crusted lamb rib eye and a passion fruit milk chocolate mango sorbet. Dinner is $58 per person.

*Chocolate lovers will be thrilled to know that Max Brenner’s Chocolate by the Bald Man is finally expanding to Las Vegas for his 30th worldwide location. Only two of the other 29 are in the United States -- in New York and Philadelphia. When doors open to Chocolate by the Bald Man at Caesars Palace’s Forum Shops at 9,400 square feet, it will be the largest of his stores. Enormous white vats will mix the chocolate to flow into pipes that run throughout the entire space with its decor of huge bricks, candles, pralines, colorful toy-tines and crates overflowing with cocoa beans.

*Chef Theo Schoenegger of Sinatra in Steve Wynn’s Encore is celebrating spring with a new menu of such dishes as panzanella con granchio (blue crab, brioche croutons, tomato, cucumber, tomato fonduta, $24) and insalata primaverile (farmer’s market spring vegetables with white balsamic vinaigrette, $17). New entrees include branzino alla genovese (grilled Mediterranean sea bass, cannellini bean and baby vegetable ragu, pesto, $41) and ippoglosso (butter poached Alaskan halibut, asparagus, morels, sherry cream sauce, $46) that join Frank Sinatra’s own signature dishes osso buco “My Way” ($48) and risotto with Maine lobster ($45).

*Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria Parker has welcomed the warm weather by opening until midnight nightly a 1,500 square-foot patio at her Beso steakhouse that overlooks the bustling Aria fountains at CityCenter for outdoor dining and a special menu.

*Five specialty import beers will be paired with five courses at Origin India tonight for $55 a person. The dinner includes black pearl sea scallops, cumin and chili chicken tikka, southern Indian lamb stir fry, baby aubergine and sesame curry peanut sauce and panna cotta.

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.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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