Las Vegas Weekly

August 27, 2010 · 3:01 PM

Over 80 restaurants taking part in Restaurant Week Aug. 30-Sept. 5

By Robin Leach

Chef Hubert Keller spins in the Fiji Water DJ Booth at the Vegas Uncork'd Grand Tasting at Garden of the Gods in Caesars Palace on May 7, 2010.

Photo: Keith Shimada/The Associated Press

All next week, from Monday through Sunday, Sept. 5, more than 80 of the most popular restaurants in Las Vegas will celebrate the annual Restaurant Week with prix-fixe meals priced at $20.10, $30.10 and $50.10, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting food bank Three Square working to end hunger in Southern Nevada. And new this year: wine pairings for an additional $10.10 at some of the restaurants!

Restaurant Week kicks off in grand style with MGM Grand’s Wet Your Appetite celebration at Wet Republic with booths and food stations from many of the 80-plus participating chefs. Fleur des Lys and Burger Bar chef Hubert Keller is leave his pots and pans long enough to show that he’s both king of the kitchen and turntable, playing guest DJ for the party (Hubert also spinned the wheels of steel during this year’s Vegas Uncork’d).

America’s Got Talent stars Recycled Percussion and the sexy and gorgeous girls from Crazy Horse Paris will provide the entertainment, as synchronized swimmers and dancers from Studio 54 turn one of the pools into a unique dance floor.

Chefs serving up taste treats for the launch party include culinary wizards from MGM restaurants Joel Robuchon, Craftsteak and Fiamma, plus Jean George Steakhouse, Sage, Sensi, Olives and Osteria del Circo. Among the celebrity chefs’ restaurants taking part in the weeklong event are Wolfgang Puck, Tom Colicchio, Julian Serrano, Michael Mina, Rick Moonen, Todd English, Jean Georges Vongerichten and Stephen Hopcroft presenting the perfect paella at Seablue.

Said Rick in a statement: “We look forward to taking part in Restaurant Week because each year it’s a great opportunity for chefs and restaurants to give back. Three Square’s mission holds a special place in my heart and has furthered my awareness and call-to-action to help this worthy cause.”

There are dozens of events, but two that caught my eye are “Tease in the Kitchen” on Tuesday at Joel Robuchon’s L’Atelier, with a live burlesque show and band, and then on Thursday a Japanese sake and beer tasting with 28 varieties at Shibuya in MGM, when you can also get a temporary Japanese tattoo.

Restaurant Week here is part of the nationwide Hunger Action Month Feeding America’s Give a Little, Feed a Lot campaign. For more information and the list of participating restaurants, go to Three Square’s Web site ThreeSquare.org. Vegas DeLuxe will have reports next week from different restaurants with daily highlights of what’s happening and where.

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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