Las Vegas Weekly

March 11, 2010 · 1:57 PM

Counter Intelligence: Mario Batali’s restaurants screen documentary

By Robin Leach

Chef Mario Batali at Carnevino in the Palazzo.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Hot off the grill! The three Mario Batali restaurants at The Venetian and Palazzo -- Carnevino Italian Steakhouse, B&B Ristorante and Enoteca San Marco -- played host to a screening of a documentary about over-fishing narrated by Ted Danson. The End of the Line was shown for staff yesterday and today, but restaurant guests also saw it at a midnight screening last night.

The first major documentary to reveal the crisis facing today’s oceans, The End of the Line warns that the current pace of fishing will deplete most edible fish stocks by 2048 and issues a call to action for diners, chefs and restaurants to choose sustainably sourced seafood over imperiled species. All three of Mario’s restaurants are Certified Green Restaurants and have implemented steps for recycling and composting, elimination of bottled water, energy-saving light sensors, water-saving aerators, energy-efficient hand dryers and its own farmers market.

*Every celebrity and guest at the 82nd Academy Awards was gifted with handcrafted chocolates made with Moet & Chandon champagne by Caesars Palace superstar chef Francois Payard. His chocolate creations also were packed up in mini buckets of the bubbly for sale at wine stores and liquor outlets across the country.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

The chefs of CityCenter gather for the Grand Opening of Aria on Dec. 16, 2009. Michael Mina is pictured here in his restaurant American Fish.

*Celebrity chef Michael Mina has created an Elvis Presley menu at his American Fish in MGM CityCenter’s Aria opposite Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis theater. Michael is serving a three-course meal with three or four choices for each featuring Elvis’ down-home Southern cooking alongside Michael’s fish and meat favorites. The cost is $55 per person and $70 with wine pairing.

*An all-beer, six-course dinner is on the St. Patrick’s Day menu at chef Shawn McClain’s Sage in Aria. Six Sierra Nevada brews will be poured for each course with everything from oysters, blood sausages, mussels and lamb to blue cheese with black truffle honey at the James Beard Award finalist for Best New Restaurant.

Photo: Jeff Kauck

Shawn McClain.

*The new Fountains Sunday brunch at Jasmine in the Bellagio might well be the prettiest room in town with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean blue lake and iconic fountains. It’s an amazing combination of Chinese taste treats and American favorites including oysters, shrimp, smoked salmon, caviar, sushi, lemongrass panna cotta, cold lobster medallions, pan-fried Asian buns, Wu Xu braised short ribs and Sui Mai pork dumplings. They’ll even carve slices of Peking duck at your table or bring you a traditional eggs Benedict. Sunday brunch also includes bottomless champagne.

Photo: MGM Mirage

The Bellagio and its world famous waterfalls.

*Incidentally, Bellagio has just become the only hotel in the world with four master sommeliers now that Darius Allyn, a distinguished member of the Court of Master Sommeliers, has been appointed to Sirio Maccioni’s restaurant Osterio de Circo and Martin Heierling’s Sensi. Darius joins the impressive team of Master Sommeliers Joseph Phillips of Michael Mina, Robert Smith of Picasso and Director of Wine Jason Smith.

In all, there are 17 sommeliers at the Bellagio, but the title of Master Sommelier is the highest honor among wine professionals and recognizes the utmost level of wine and spirits knowledge. Three levels of training must be completed before pursuing the Master Sommelier diploma.

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.

Share This