Las Vegas Weekly

February 27, 2012 · 2:07 PM

Counter Intelligence: Project Dinner Table; wine record; Restaurant Week

By Robin Leach

The grand opening VIP and media party of Bacio by Carla Pellegrino at Tropicana on May 17, 2011. Chef Pellegrino is pictured here with her daughter, Marcelle Braga.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/DonoghuePhotography.com

Hot off the grill! Demand for the annual Restaurant Week that benefits our Three Square food bank has been so strong that now the first spring edition has been added, and more than 70 restaurants will participate starting today through Sunday.

Each restaurant has created a multi-course, prix fixe menu at $20.12, $30.12 or $50.12, with a portion helping the fight against hunger in Southern Nevada. The Conrad Hilton Foundation has pledged $3 million in matching funds.

Among the new restaurants joining regulars Rick Moonen’s RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay, Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill at Caesars Palace and Andre Rochat’s restaurants at the Monte Carlo and the Palms are Eva Longoria’s Beso at CityCenter and Geno Bernardo’s Nove Italiano at the Palms.

Among the participants: Executive chef Kim Canteenwalla has a three-course option at his Society Cafe in the Encore and Billy DeMarco has a wine pairing available with his three-course dinner at La Cave. At Bellagio, check out Michael Mina’s truffle-stuffed chicken, his Seablue at MGM Grand, his Strip Steak at Mandalay Bay and his American Fish at Aria. Bar Masa at Aria has Wagyu beef culinary creations, and chefs Julian Serrano and Jean Georges Vongerichten also are participating.

Wolfgang Puck’s restaurants at Mandalay Bay (Lupo) and Cucina in Crystals are on the list. Hubert Keller serves beautiful bites at his Fleur in Mandalay Bay, while next door, Charlie Palmer’s Aureole highlights black mussel and scallop soup with beef short ribs. Seven restaurants from Caesars Entertainment are participating, including Serendipity 3 and Francois Payard at Caesars Palace, Kerry Simon with his gourmet burgers at KGB at Harrah’s and Steve Martorano’s incredible Italian home cooking at Cafe Martorano at the Rio.

And Carla Pellegrino’s Bacio at Tropicana, Alain Ducasse’s Mix atop the Hotel at Mandalay Bay, Sirio Maccioni’s restaurant at Aria, Akira Back’s Yellowtail at the Bellagio and Todd English’s nearby Olives should be on your dining list.

Check out the full list and menus at HelpOutDineOutLV.org. The regular fall edition of Restaurant Week to benefit Three Square for Hunger Action Month is Aug. 27 through Sept. 2.

WORLD WINE RECORD? Sixty restaurants, 50 chefs and 30 sommeliers will take part in the Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appetit food and wine festival with 30 events at four Strip hotels during the May 10-13 Mother’s Day weekend program. First, though, organizers are hoping to capture a Guinness World Record on Leap Day Wednesday with a star-chef lineup to simultaneously uncork 300 bottles of wine. Scheduled for the uncorking at the Bellagio pool's grand patio: Michael Mina, Julian Serrano, Stephen Hopcraft, Jose Andres, Costas Spiliadis, Gerald Chin and more.

PDT’S NEW SEASON: Known for his jubilant personality and classic American fare with a French twist, James Beard Award-winning chef Michel Richard of Central at Caesars Palace will kick off the new season of Project Dinner Table. His six-course, pop-up dinner is April 14 atop the parking garage at the downtown Molasky Corporate Center.

The 150 guests paying $140 each will sit at one long table with proceeds going to a local charity. Tickets for this third season of local farm produce to dinner table go on sale Saturday at ProjectDinnerTable.com. Since PDT’s launch in 2010, all 13 outdoor dinners have sold out, and more than 1,800 guests have attended. Other 2012 dates: May 19, June 30, Sept. 8, Oct. 13 and Nov. 11.

NEW COOKBOOK: Chef Susan Feniger of Border Grill at Mandalay Bay and Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters” has a new cookbook, “Street,” coming out this summer with great recipes and stories that capture her vibe and philosophy about cooking, life and food. I get an advance look in order to write a back-cover review.

30 YEARS FOR PIERO: Congratulations to the staff of Piero’s Italian restaurant and the Gluissman family of owners for tonight’s 30th anniversary celebration. Hard to believe one restaurant is around after three decades and still as popular with our city’s VIPs and elite. It’s a tremendous achievement!

$10,000 WIN: Congratulations to hometown philanthropist Mary Vail for being one of 10 winners of $10,000 prizes for the food drive she’s hosted the past 13 years as part of USA Magazine’s Make a Difference Day. Paul Newman’s food company Newman’s Own hands out the $100,000 in prizes annually. The April 13 issue will publish her food drive, which I attend with the Gladiator Goddess dance team, John Daly, Anthony Cools, George Wallace and Chippendales each year to benefit Salvation Army. Mary donates her win to Salvation Army, too.

MEXICAN ARRIVAL: Aria today confirmed Vegas DeLuxe story Feb. 14 that Javier’s Mexican restaurant hotspot from Los Cabos and the Orange County, Calif., cities of Irvine and Newport Beach will open here with its menu inspired by cuisine from regions of Mexico. It’s taking over the space of Union and will reportedly be open right onto the casino floor.

Good eating!

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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