This weekly update covers noteworthy restaurant openings and closings, dining news, culinary events, and entertainment news.
Events
Piero’s Italian Cuisine — August 5
Piero’s Italian Cuisine will host a five-course Summer Tuscan wine pairing dinner.
Held in an intimate and private dining setting, the pairings are:
- Amuse Bouche with melon, prosciutto, and parmesan cream
- Hamachi Crudo with plum, radish, lemon zest, mint, basil, and Calabrian chili paired with Felsina Spumante Metodo Classico Brut Rosé
- Caponata with burrata, eggplant, tomato, Castelvetrano olive, pine nut, and focaccia matched with Conti Capponi Tor Solis ‘21
- Duck Ragu with saffron pappardelle, Hudson Valley duck, tomato, and pecorino paired with La Gerla BDM ’19
- Braised Beef Cheek with white polenta, roasted peppers, and red wine jus matched with Capanna Brunello di Montalcino ’20
- Intermezzo of Peach Granita
- Apricot Crostata with Frog Hollow apricot, mascarpone, and local honey paired with Isole e Olena Vin Santo ‘11
Guests will also be able to purchase the featured wines from the dinner to enjoy at home. The dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m., and the cost is $225 per person. Reservations are required and can be made online at OpenTable.
The Front Yard — August 8
After debuting its first “I Don’t Give a Fork” event earlier this year, Ellis Island Casino & Hotel is bringing back the hands-on dining experience in which guests are encouraged to ditch the utensils and dive in with their hands, this time offering a seafood boil feast.
Starting at 5 p.m. in The Front Yard and priced at $50 per person, the seafood boil will feature crawfish, clams, snow crab, oysters, mussels, sausage, and a selection of sides. Guests can upgrade their experience with Alaskan King Crab for an additional $15-$20 per pound. Each attendee will receive a pint with purchase or can add an all-you-can-drink beer package for an additional $25 per person.
To purchase tickets, click here.
19th Annual Bacchus Party — August 8
The Bacchus Awards Party, Grape Expectations/Las Vegas Valley Winery’s annual celebration of the end of winemaking season, will be held at the Orleans Casino from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The event will highlight the winemakers who have made wine at Grape Expectations this past season. There will be an Opening Ceremony kicking off the 19th Annual Bacchus Awards, an Awards Presentation honoring the groups who crafted this year’s wines, a full buffet dinner, complimentary wine all evening long, live music & dancing from 8 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. with a 7-piece country dance band, Steve Sturgis and the Riflemen, and door prizes.
All are welcome to attend. Tickets are $100 per person, and 10% of all ticket sales will go to Behind the Blue, a local nonprofit organization that works closely with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and is dedicated to supporting the physical, mental, and emotional health of law enforcement personnel and first responders across Southern Nevada. This year’s theme is “The Good, The Bad, and The Bacchus,” and guests are encouraged to wear western-themed attire.
To purchase tickets, click here.
NEW: Food and Loathing Events Calendar & Weekly Newsletter
For even more events, check out our new food-centric events calendar at foodandloathing.vegas/calendar-of-events. It’s quite extensive – because we know you love options! – with one or more listings for virtually every day.
AND, make sure you never miss reading this column and other interesting reads! Sign up for the weekly Food and Loathing newsletter, which comes out every Thursday. To get on the list, visit foodandloathing.vegas/newsletter.
Pick of the Week: Alebrijes By Chef Paco
Alebrijes By Chef Paco—Where Mexico City Meets Downtown Las Vegas
Chef Paco Cortes grew up in Mexico City, cooking the dishes his family taught him, and moved to the US at 17. He began his restaurant career in Las Vegas in 1997 and rose to local and international recognition as the creator and Executive Chef of the multi-award-winning El Dorado Cantina. More recently, from 2020-2025, he served as Corporate Chef for Señor Frogs, revamping their menus and launching 16 new restaurants in Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the US. He returned to Las Vegas and opened his Alebrijes By Chef Paco in April 2025. [Click to hear the podcast from August 25, 2026.]
Located on the 3rd level of Neonopolis, inside the Fremont Street Experience, in the former Crash and Burn space, Alebrijes refers to colorful, fantastical creatures that symbolize Mexico’s imagination and traditions. The restaurant is aptly named, with ample depictions of mythical folk art creatures throughout, adding to the vibe. And Chef Paco’s menu is as authentic as it gets; for the most part, aside from a few Tex-Mex offerings, you’ll find rustic items you would enjoy in Mexico. In addition to the colorful décor, there’s a long bar and sizeable patio where you can enjoy views of the Fremont Street Experience and those gliding through the air on the SlotZilla zipline.
Be sure to begin with Chef Paco’s signature Mole and Chips, and his Guacamole with Hass avocado, garlic, lime juice, and pico de gallo, served with homemade corn tortilla chips; after which you’ll be so spoiled you’ll never want the ubiquitous chips and salsa again.
Tacos are king here, with a plethora of options. I recommend Cochinita, which is served open-faced and topped with Achiote pork, pickled onions, lime, and habanero salsa; and the Mar y Tierra, which I describe as a kitchen sink taco as it is loaded with toasted cheese, guacamole, steak, shrimp, bacon, chipotle ranch, pasilla salsa, cilantro, onion, and queso fresco.
If you’re an adventurous eater like me, you’ll want to indulge in the roasted grasshoppers with garlic salt and lime, which, Chef tells me, are traditionally found in the corn fields of the Oaxaca region in southwestern Mexico.
The Duck Carnitas is a delightful mix of confit duck and pickled onions, served with rice, beans, corn tortillas, and a roasted habanero salsa that is neither too spicy nor too mild, with just the right amount of heat.
Another clear winner is the Short Rib en Salsa de Chicatanas—extremely tender fall-off-the-bone short rib with mashed potatoes, grilled veggies, and chicatana salsa topped with another Mexican delicacy, ants covered in mole (your server will warn you, and yes, you can opt to leave out the insects).
Save room for dessert, with choices of Vanilla or Coffee Flan and Churros with dual Mexican chocolate and banana caramel dipping sauces.
Chef Paco hosts monthly spirits-pairing dinners, and next up, on July 30 at 8 p.m., is a multi-course dinner inspired by the Mexican state of Nayarit, paired with Tres Tonos Tequilas. Priced at $64.99, the five courses will include Caldo de Camaron, Empanada de Camaron, Puerco con Pipian de calabaza, Tamales Colorados, and Pan de Platano. Each course will be matched with a Tres Tonos expression or cocktail. To reserve your seat, call 702-971-5522.
It’s clear that Chef Paco is showcasing his authentic culinary prowess, and his restaurant offers a true taste of Mexico without crossing the border. Alebrijes By Chef Paco is open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight.
For more info and to view the complete menu, visit alebrijesvegas.com.
Dining News
Durango Social Club Announces Permanent Culinary Collaboration Between Chef/Owner Dan Krohmer and Executive Chef Crystina “Mama” Nguyen
Durango Social Club, the Spring Valley restaurant from Chef/Owner Dan Krohmer, has announced a permanent culinary collaboration with Executive Chef Crystina “Mama” Nguyen, marking the next chapter for the restaurant.
Since opening in August 2025, Durango Social Club has evolved through a series of culinary collaborations, and now, with Chef Nguyen leading the kitchen as executive chef, the restaurant has taken shape as a permanent destination for approachable à la carte dining, Vietnamese comfort food, and genuine hospitality.
“I’ve always envisioned Durango Social Club as a place where hospitality professionals could create, collaborate, and build something meaningful together,” said Krohmer. “Over the past year, the restaurant has continued to evolve, but the vision has always been the same. Now that Mama’s ‘home,’ it feels like we’ve found exactly what Durango Social Club was meant to become.”
“My goal has always been to cook food that makes people feel at home,” said Nguyen. “Vietnamese food is rooted in sharing, comfort, and bringing people together around the table. Working alongside Dan gives us the opportunity to build something lasting, where guests know they’ll always find great food, genuine hospitality, and something new to discover.”
Durango Social Club is open Wednesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 3655 S. Durango Drive, Suite 29, in the same retail center as Krohmer’s acclaimed Other Mama.
Reservations are encouraged and may be made by calling 725-205-9846 or visiting durangosocial.com.
Twin Creeks Steakhouse Cowgirl Dinner
Twin Creeks Steakhouse at the Silverton Casino Lodge is now offering the Cowgirl Dinner available on Fridays and Saturdays through the end of August.
Priced at $25 per person, it includes a choice of Lemon Drop or Classic Martini; Caesar Salad with little gem lettuce, white anchovies, parmesan and croutons served in a bread bowl; Truffle Fries with parmesan cheese, herbs, and truffle aioli; and Cavatappi alla Vodka with spicy vodka sauce, stracciatella cheese, basil, and prosciutto bits.
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue Free SPAM Musubi
For the first time, National SPAM Musubi Day falls on a Saturday.
To celebrate one of Hawaii’s most recognizable local foods, on August 8, participating locations of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue will offer one free SPAM Musubi from noon to 4 p.m. to the first 100 customers in line. Select locations will also have entertainment, giveaways, and menu promotions.
Musubi has roots in Japanese food traditions brought to Hawaiʻi by immigrant communities in the 19th century, and SPAM became part of Hawaii’s local food culture during and after World War II. The modern SPAM Musubi, created on Kaua’I in 1983, features grilled SPAM over rice and wrapped in nori. L&L Hawaiian Barbeque sells more than 6,200,000 SPAM Musubi annually throughout all its locations.
There are 17 locations in Southern Nevada. To view the locations, visit hawaiianbarbecue.com/locations.
Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House New Happy Hour
Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House at MGM Grand has launched a new daily happy hour.
Available from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. exclusively in the bar area, the menu features $2 freshly shucked oysters; a lineup of handcrafted cocktails for $8 including the Blueberry Lemon Drop, Sazerac Rye Old Fashioned, and Emeril’s Strawberry Lemonade; $7 well cocktails, select wines by the glass for $9-$10; and beer specials ranging from $5-$7.
To view the complete menu, visit emerilsrestaurants.com.
Recently, on the Food and Loathing Podcast
Be sure to check out Food and Loathing this week (and every week). The podcast features veteran food writer Al Mancini, along with co-host Samantha Gemini Stevens and producer Rich Johnson, as they give the lowdown on what’s new, hot, and delicious in America’s most glamorous city, as they talk with chefs, bartenders, journalists, and other experts on where to go and what to order when you get there.
For this week’s episode, it’s a full house at Aroma Latin American Cocina. Al, Gemini, Bob Barnes, and Andrew Morgan pay a visit to sample chef Steve Kestler’s cuisine and chat with him about his recent move from Henderson to just outside of Chinatown. We also check in with Ceselia Berumen and Chef Keris Kuwana at the new monthly Soiree event in Liam’s Den at The Palazzo, get a beer report from Bob, and chat with Sam Facchini about the new Sliceteria by Metro Pizza. And, of course, a Happy Hour Report from Happy Hour Vegas’ Andrew Morgan.
To listen, click here.
Entertainment News
Bolero Extends Run at the Plaza
Given the great success of its initial performance last month at the Plaza Hotel & Casino, Bolero – The Show has been extended for a 6-show limited run in the Plaza’s classic Vegas showroom.
The six Saturday night show dates of Bolero – The Show are Aug. 1, Aug. 15, Aug. 29, Sept. 12, Sept. 19, and Oct. 3.
The large-scale Latin musical and theatrical experience features a live band, singers, and dancers. Led by Las Vegas-based producer, singer, and songwriter Adan Alejandro, the production is inspired by Afro-Caribbean and Latin American traditions and includes bolero, salsa, tango, flamenco, mambo, and other Latin rhythms in a format created specifically for the Las Vegas showroom environment.
All shows will be at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m., and cocktail service will be available throughout the 90-minute show. The Plaza’s showroom will then stay open after the show concludes for an after-party with a DJ, dancing, and cocktails.
Tickets are $69 per person (plus taxes and fees). To purchase tickets, visit plazahotelcasino.com/entertainment/bolero.
