This weekly update covers noteworthy restaurant openings and closings, dining news, culinary events, and entertainment news.
Events
Mon Ami Gabi — September 24
Mon Ami Gabi at Paris Las Vegas will transport guests to France’s Bordeaux region during its second installment of the Tour de France Wine Dinner Series.
Each pour will be presented by wine director Alex Myerchin, and each course will be paired with Executive Chef Vincent Pouessel’s multi-course menu.
Courses are:
- Amuse Bouche: Pâté Croûte and Mustards paired with Champagne, Collet, Brut, NV
- Endive and Seafood Salad with oyster and caviar, shrimp ceviche, salmon tartare, and citrus snow crab matched with Graves, Château Haut Selve, 2022
- Mouclade and St. Jacques Charentaise with Madras curry cream sauce paired with 2015 Pessac-Léognan, Domaine de Chevalier
- Trio of Moulard Duck roasted breast, confit legs, spiced foie gras, and prunes sausage matched with 2022 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Château Louvie
- Kamichiku Farm Japanese Black Beef Loin and Braised Cheeks with celery, apple, and bordelaise sauce paired with 2016 Saint-Estèphe, Château Cos d’Estournel, “Les Pagodes de Cos”
- Black Mission Figs and Roquefort Tart and shaved Foie Gras au torchon with honey and wine vinaigrette matched with 2016 Sauternes, Château Andoyse du Hayot
- Coffee and Mignardises
Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m., and costs $165 per person (plus tax and tip). To purchase tickets, click here.
Drink Las Vegas Opening Night — September 24
Drink Las Vegas’s official opening night will take over the Yucca Pool at ARIA and will be hosted by one of the world’s most decorated chefs, Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
The walk-around tasting will feature 20 renowned chefs and mixologists and high-energy performances.
This is a 21+ event, and the dress code is elevated casual-chic. General Admission tickets for entry from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. are $325. VIP tickets, which include priority entry and early entry at 7:15 p.m., VIP Terrace with dedicated lounge seating, and exclusive VIP-only Chef and Mixologist tastings, are $400.
For more info, the list of chefs, and to purchase tickets, visit drinklasvegas.com/opening-night.
New Vista Wine Walk — September 26
New Vista will host a wine walk at Downtown Summerlin from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Tickets are $50 in advance ($60 at the door) and include an eclectic mix of wine varietals from more than 18 tasting stations and live entertainment. For those seeking an elevated experience, a VIP ticket priced at $100 ($110 at the door) offers attendees an additional 10 premium tastings and access to a private lounge area.
Each attendee will receive a commemorative souvenir wine glass, tasting card, and map outlining sample locations. All proceeds benefit New Vista Community, a local charity of 36 years whose mission is to provide people of all ages with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities equal opportunities and supported living arrangements so that they may experience life to the fullest.
For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
The Wine Cellar — September 26
The Wine Cellar at the Rio will host an exclusive evening with Orin Swift Cellars, one of Napa Valley’s most iconic and innovative producers.
Guests will be guided through a curated tasting of three bold and expressive wines: Orin Swift Mannequin Chardonnay, Orin Swift Abstract Red Blend, and Orin Swift Palermo Cabernet Sauvignon. We will provide charcuterie to pair with each wine.
The tasting will begin at 6 p.m., and the cost is $45 per person (plus tax and tip). To purchase tickets, click here.
In addition, The Wine Cellar offers weekly specials including 50% off all glasses of wine on Thursdays, $20 wine flights on Fridays, $20 whiskey, bourbon and tequila flights on Saturdays, and buy two glasses, get the rest of the bottle free on Sundays.
ai Pazzi — September 27
Chef Fabio Viviani will host Fabio’s Cooking Demonstrations and Tasting: Fall In Love With Italy at his ai Pazzi at The Resort at Summerlin.
Guests will enjoy an engaging afternoon of cooking, conversation, and tasting as Fabio demonstrates the techniques behind each dish and offers his signature tips for recreating them at home. The menu will include Miso Cod, Eggplant Parmesan, and Mushroom Risotto.
The class and tasting will begin at 1 p.m., and it costs $65 per person (plus tax and tip). 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: Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar
Fan Favorite Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar Is Back at Red Rock
Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar, which closed in 2023 to make room for the short-lived Leoncito Mexican restaurant, has reclaimed its original 6,500-square-foot home inside the Red Rock as part of the resort’s culinary refresh.
The new iteration of Clique Hospitality’s Hearthstone opened in late January with a new layout and design, an expanded bar and an inviting lounge that evokes the feeling of stepping into a beautifully curated home with teal-green wainscoting, sand-toned wallcoverings, woven fabrics, custom marble-and-wood tabletops and brass details. The dining room also features an abundance of real plants, TVs throughout, comfortable booths and tables, and an open feel and bright ambiance enhanced by a high ceiling and large windows overlooking the restaurant’s patio.
Executive Chef Jason Janson leads the kitchen, an East Coast transplant whose Vegas experience includes two years at é by José Andrés and, more recently, Executive Chef at Vetri Cucina at the Palms. When asked about his favorite menu items, he pointed to the Double Smash Burger, Pan-Seared Seabass, Eggplant Parmesan with fresh mozzarella, Meatballs (beef and pork), and Baja Kanpachi Crudo. His menu at Hearthstone showcases ingredient-driven appetizers like Tuna Pizza topped with yellowfin tuna, cilantro, and drizzled with truffle aioli and olive oil; pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven with eight new creations like chef’s own: Calabrese with mozzarella, Calabrese salami, Calabrian chili, and hot honey; signature favorites such as 6 oz Faroe Island Salmon Filet with minted pea puree, Chicken Paillard with grilled jidori chicken breast; and a raw bar highlighted by fresh oysters, Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, and a half-chilled Maine Lobster Tail.
Dessert highlights include Butterscotch Pudding with vanilla Chantilly cream and warm chocolate chip cookies, Samoa Sundae with house-made fudge and coconut soft serve, and Fruit Pies in cherry and apple varieties served with vanilla soft serve.
Weekend brunch offers savory favorites including Breakfast Burrito, Steak & Eggs, and classic Lobster Benedict, plus sweet dishes like Almond Brioche French Toast, Pecan Sticky Bun, and Lemon Curd Pancake. Pair your selections with Bottomless Brunch, featuring endless mimosas, refreshing spritzes, and classic Bloody Marys for $25 per person.
The wine list features a diverse range of international and domestic labels with an impressive collection of 1,500 bottles and a dedicated wine room to store them. Bottles regularly priced at $100 or less are half off on Mondays. Cocktails include specialties and classics with high-end spirits, such as Golden Almond with Hennessy VS Cognac, orgeat, lemon, and Peychaud’s bitters; and Manhattan with Brother’s Bond American Rye, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters.
Happy Hour is offered Monday-Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with six food options for $12, such as Crispy Cauliflower, Apple & Quinoa Salad, and Meatballs; and well cocktails, draft wine, and draft beer all for $9. They also offer $1 oysters on Wednesdays and Martini Mondays, plus $7 Cucumber Basil, Espresso, Lemondrop, or Dirty Martinis all day.
Hearthstone is open daily from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and for brunch Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. To view the complete menus, visit hearthstonelv.com.
Dining News
F1 Arcade Weekday Lunch Special
F1 Arcade, the attraction featuring 87 full-motion racing simulators at The Forum Shops at Caesars, has introduced Pit Stop Lunch, a new weekday lunch special.
Available Monday through Friday from noon to 3 p.m., the deal includes one entrée, one side, and one drink for $15.99 (plus tax and tip).
The menu includes:
- entrée choice of F1 Arcade Classic Burger with chuck brisket blend and aged cheddar, Dynamite Chicken Sandwich with buttermilk fried chicken thigh and chili kimchi aioli, Impossible Burger with impossible patty and plant-based cheese, Margherita Flatbread with San Marzano tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, or Pepperoni Flatbread with Old-World pepperoni and whole-milk mozzarella
- French Fries, Truffle Fries with truffle aioli, or Sweet Potato Fries with chipotle aioli
- Fountain Soft Drink, Iced Tea, or Coffee
For more info on F1 Arcade, click here.
Distilled Spice Blends at Local Bars
Bars used to offer free or reasonably priced snacks to go with your drinks, but this perk is getting harder to find.
To the rescue is local chef, author, and culinary entertainer Alicia Shevetone, who has partnered with local bars to feature her Distilled Spices to transform bar snacks into an elevated product. Some lounges offering snacks made with her spice blends include Nowhere Lounge and Bleau Bar at Fontainebleau on the Vegas Strip (offered complimentary), and in Henderson at The Cask and Vegas Valley Winery (for a nominal charge).
The locally made spice blends include Al Pastor, Chai, French Onion, Limoncello Pepper, Manhattan BBQ, Mojito, and Pomodoro.
Chef Alicia says, “By building the snacks directly from my spice line, Distilled Spices, we’re able to deliver consistent, distinctive flavor with repeatable quality. I love taking familiar snacks like Goldfish, kettle chips, and Chex Mix and transforming them into something elevated and memorable. When the bartenders are hooked, I know I’ve hit the mark.”
All of Chef Alicia’s Distilled Snacks are custom and made to order. For more info, to view and purchase the spice blends, and to contact Chef Alicia, visit distilledspices.com.
Red Rock Casino Restaurant Closures
Red Rock Casino issued a statement saying the entities that operate Lotus of Siam, Naxos Taverna, and the Red Rock Oyster Bar outlets have agreed that their tenancies will end effective October 29, and Station Casinos will resume operations of the Red Rock Oyster Bar on October 30. Plans for replacements for the other two restaurants will be announced in the coming weeks.
Regarding the closure of Lotus of Siam, the Chutima family issued a public statement clarifying that the ownership and operation of that location have operated without Penny Chutima’s or the Chutima family’s participation, and the family-operated Lotus of Siam restaurants on Flamingo Road and Sahara Avenue remain open. The statement went on to say: “Red Rock was established through a separate venture involving an outside business partner, and for approximately the past two years, its current operator has run the location without Penny or the Chutima family’s participation. Chef Chutima’s pending federal lawsuit challenges this operator’s continued use of the Lotus of Siam trademark, alleging that this use risks harm to the brand.”
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.
Last Friday, they touched on Michelin again – an ongoing conversation – and discussed Border Grill, including an interview with Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, and a make-your-own Amaro class with mixologist Anthony DeMaria at Amari in UnCommons. They also visit Anima by EDO, Italio by GYU+, Monzu, Echo & Rig, Ellie’s Chinese, and so much more.
And, as always, a Happy Hour Report from Happy Hour Vegas’ Andrew Morgan.
To listen, click here.
Entertainment News
90’s Rewind Concert — September 26
If you grew up in the 90s or love the music from that time period, you’ll want to mark your calendar for September 26. The 90s Rewind Concert will feature All-4-One and Color Me Badd coming to the Silverton Casino Lodge’s Veil Pavilion stage for a night of slow jams, harmonies, and 90’s nostalgia.
All-4-One is known for their “I Swear,” which sat at #1 for 11 straight weeks and became the biggest-selling single of 1994. The Grammy-winning quartet also had hits including “I Can Love You Like That” and “So Much In Love,” has the same original members, and has sold more than 25 million records.
The 90’s R&B Color Me Badd has 12 million records sold with hits including “I Wanna Sex You Up,” “I Adore Mi Amor,” and “All 4 Love.”
General Admission tickets for the all-ages show (no assigned seating, first-come, first-served) are $65. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m.
To purchase tickets, visit click here.
