This weekly update covers noteworthy restaurant openings and closings, dining news, culinary events, and entertainment news.
Events
Sparrow + Wolf — August 3
Sparrow + Wolf will present Mexico x Southeast Asia, as James Beard Award-nominated Chef Brian Howard teams up with Chef David Castro Hussong and Chef Maribel Aldaco Silva of Fauna Restaurante (ranked No. 17 on Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list, from Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico) to create a one-night-only experience blending the bold traditions of coastal Mexican cuisine with the layered complexity of Southeast Asian flavors.
This collaboration will include dishes such as Crab with charred avocado and coconut, Octopus Al Pastor with pineapple nuoc cham, Golden Tilefish Pibil with fava bean salsa verde, Jungle Curry Empanadas with pork confit and Thai curry, Short Rib with shiitake and porcini mushroom fideo seco, locally sourced Wood-Fired Lion’s Mane Mushroom with corn silk dashi and charred poblano miso, and Black Sesame Tamale and Corn Ice Cream dessert made by world-renowned Pastry Chef Ramon Perez.
The dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the cost is $195 (plus tax and tip). An optional wine pairing of four wines, including selections from Fauna’s cellar, is $85 per person.
To purchase tickets, click here.
SW Steakhouse — August 15
Wynn Las Vegas’s Vice-President of Culinary Operations, James Beard Award-honored Chef Christopher Lee, will present Mastering Perfect Paella.
The Connoisseur Series Masterclass will be an immersive demo on shopping for, preparing, and cooking the perfect Valenciana-inspired paella.
The class will be held at SW Steakhouse at noon, and a casual paella lunch will follow chef Lee’s demo. The cost is $195 per person (plus tax and tip).
Reservations are required and can be made by contacting Wynn Concierge at 702-770-7070 or by emailing conciergeservices@wynnlasvegas.com.
Fleming’s Steakhouse — August 15
Fleming’s Steakhouse at Town Square will host a wine dinner showcasing Paul Hobbs’ pioneering work, which spans two hemispheres: Napa Valley, California, and Mendoza, Argentina.
Pairings are:
- Amuse Bouche of Beef Empanada with caramelized onion, green olive, apricot, and cilantro lime aioli paired with Crossbarn by Paul Hobbs, Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
- White French Salad with spring mix, Caesar croutons, shaved Vino Rosso cheese, pickled cucumbers, and Campari tomatoes, paired with Viña Cobos Felino, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza, Argentina.
- Grilled Lamb Chops with Roasted Plum and Mint Salsa, Whipped Goat Cheese, and Cilantro Oil, paired with Bramare Malbec, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.
- Roasted Beef Tenderloin with cheesy polenta corn cake, charred scallion, roasted vegetable medley, red and green chimichurri, and Merlot salt, paired with Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon, Coombsville, Napa Valley.
- Pavlova Cloud with Mixed Berries and strawberry red wine sauce and Chantilly cream served with coffee or tea.
The dinner will begin at 7 p.m. and the cost is $140 per person (plus tax and tip).
To reserve, click here.
Pick of the Week: Blue Orchid Thai Kitchen
The newly opened Blue Orchid Thai Kitchen comes from the family that created Pin Kaow Thai Restaurant 25 years ago. Kevin Kittisoros, the managing partner of Pin Kaow Restaurant Group and Pin Kaow Founders Kit and Joy’s son, is adding to his family’s legacy and redefining the cuisine for a new generation.
Situated on Las Vegas Boulevard near Cactus Avenue, the 100-seat dining room is a mix of semi-private booths, banquettes, and bar seating, featuring some fascinating décor elements, including native art, artifacts, and Ramakien murals that tell ancient Thai stories. There’s also lush greenery, hanging lantern lights, pops of emerald green and gold, and large windows providing natural light.
The dishes from Executive Chef Steve Piamchuntar represent both Northern and Southern Thai cuisine and are meant to be shared. The small plates section of the menu features Tiger Cry on a Stick—grilled, marinated steak with Thai herbs and cucumber salad, served with sticky rice —and Bangkok Fried Chicken Sliders—brined chicken with a wet dredge, topped with fermented red curry pickles and Kewpie mayo.
Panang Curry is served with eggplant, bamboo shoots, baby corn, and coconut milk in a red curry sauce, accompanied by your choice of protein, including duck, short ribs, steak, lamb, chicken, and pork.
Tiffin is an old-school style lunch box served in ceramic bowls, similar to those brought to school by children in Thailand. It comes with steamed rice, a choice of Chicken Won Ton Soup, Chicken or Tofu Yellow Curry, and Pad Thai, Prik King, Pad See Ew, Pad Krapow, or Blue Garden.
For a bit of dinner theater, there are dishes featuring tableside preparations. The Tom Kha Soup, a mix of coconut milk, broth, lemongrass, Kafir lime, and galangal root, arrives in a dramatic siphon setup, with aromatic herbs steeped as the soup simmers before being poured into a bowl.
You can spice up your selections to your preferred heat level with four spice accoutrements brought to your table: Red Chili Paste, Red Chili Powder, Thai Chili with fish sauce, and Jalapeno with vinegar.
The star of the dessert menu is Breaking Bread, a generous serving of warm honey brioche loaf with buttered ube syrup, berries, taro chips, and vanilla ice cream.
A pleasant surprise is the expansive whiskey selection, which includes the likes of Weller 12, Macallan 12 and 18, Woodford Double Barrel Oaked, and Eagle Rare 10. There’s also a selection of local beers, such as Able Baker Atomic Duck IPA and CraftHaus Watermelon Sour, as well as Thai brews like Singha and Chang. Additionally, there are unique cocktails, such as the Siam Sunset, featuring Papas Pilar Blonde Rum, Chareau Aloe Vera Liqueur, lemongrass syrup, and lime juice.
An excellent value is the happy hour offered weekdays from 3 to 5 p.m. with 50% off the entire small plates menu, beer and well spirits for $5, cocktails for $10, and glasses of wine for $12.
Blue Orchid is open noon to 10 p.m. daily. For more info and to view the complete menu, visit blueorchidthaikitchen.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.
On this week’s show, fresh from the drama surrounding the closings of Table 34 and Bramare, Chef Joe Valdez has taken over the kitchen at Basilico, the modern, elegant Italian restaurant in the Evora Apartment complex on S. Buffalo, between Sunset & Russell. Joe explains what he has kept and what he has changed since assuming the role of Executive Chef.
Also: news of a big James Trees’ birthday event, Big B’s Barbecue’s West Side location, a smashburger popup at Resorts World, and some big stars coming to The Golden Tiki. Also, Al, Gem, and Rich recount recent visits to Taco Escobar, Delilah, Evolve Brewing, Flanker, and Aromi (among many others!).
To listen, click here.
Dining News
Summer Pre-Theater Menu at Bar Boheme
Bar Boheme, James Trees’ new French restaurant in the Arts District, is offering a Summer Pre-Theater prix fixe menu.
Served from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily and priced at $70 per person, the meal includes Chef’s Choice of Canapes; choice of Escargots Vol-au-Vent with puff pastry and onion jam, Fines Herbes Salad with butter lettuce and goddess dressing, or Tuna Tartare with ratatouille and basil (+$5 supplement); Boeuf Bourguignon with red wine braised beef and pomme de terre au chevre, Gnocchi a la Parisienne with morel mushrooms and sauce vin jaune, Trout Amandine with haricot vert and brown butter, or 8 oz Bavette Steak with avec frites (+$7 supplement); and Paris Brest with crispy choux and hazelnut praline or Crème Brule Tart with caramelized vanilla custard, apricot, and cherry.
In addition, show your ticket to a performance at a downtown theatre (including Smith Center, Majestic Repertory Theatre, and others), and you can get 10% off anything you order before the show, including the Summer Pre-Theater deal.
The Party at Superfrico
Spiegelworld is now offering an exclusive two-hour experience at its Superfrico restaurant at The Cosmopolitan.
Called The Party at Superfrico and set inside Superfico’s new Blue Room, the “dinner show” priced at $150 per person (plus tax and tip) is limited to 50 guests and includes a three-course meal while enjoying live entertainment led by longtime Spiegelworld collaborator Laurie Hagen with performances including burlesque, comedy, and Spiegelworld’s signature brand of theatrical mischief.
The menu includes Table Snacks of Puccia (bread roll) with warm olives, butter, and parmesan; choice of Tuna Tartare with truffle lime vinaigrette, Pepperoni Arancini with tonnato aioli, or Little Gem Salad with Calabrian ranch; Rollatini with dry-aged beef Bolognese, Branzino Piccata with lemon and capers, Seared Mushroom Gnocchi with black truffle, or 6-ounce Creekstone Farms Petite Filet with roasted bone marrow sauce; and Tiramisu or Arborio Rice Pudding. There are also add-ons such as Australian Wagyu Ribcap, Lobster Roll Tacos with caviar, and Oishi oysters.
The Party at Superfrico is at 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. The first month is already sold out, but reservations are available for August and beyond.
For more info and to book a reservation, click here.
New Restaurant
ai Pazzi, an elevated Italian dining experience from acclaimed celebrity chef, restaurateur, and television personality Fabio Viviani, is now open at the JW Marriott/Rampart Casino in the former Spiedini space.
Showcasing the Florence, Italy native and Top Chef and Top Chef: All Stars alum’s talent for transforming comfort Italian food into high-end cuisine with sophistication and heart, the menu includes Whipped Fresh Ricotta Bruschetta with charred Cabernet grapes, toasted pistachio, and truffled honey; Short Rib Agnolotti with taleggio crème and summer black truffle; Zuppa di Pesce with Manila clams, P.E.I. mussels, shrimp, calamari, rock fish, and lobster tomato broth; Bistecca alla Fiorentina, a grilled and sliced 32-ounce Linz Heritage Reserve Porterhouse; and Sticky Toffee Date Pudding with caramel-soaked toffee date cake, vanilla bean gelato, and brittle.
ai Pazzi is open nightly for dinner. To view the complete menu, click here.
Entertainment News
Caspian’s Kelly Clarkson “Kellyoke” Karaoke Nights
Caspian’s Cocktails & Caviar at Caesars Palace, Clique Hospitality’s new caviar bar and live music speakeasy, is celebrating Kelly Clarkson’s “Studio Sessions” residency at The Colosseum with themed karaoke nights.
Dubbed “Kellyoke” and hosted every Wednesday night from July 16 to August 13 in the lounge’s Caviar Karaoke, each night begins with a live acoustic set at 8 p.m. followed by onstage karaoke with a live band starting at 10:30 p.m. Guests can live out their dreams of stardom with an expanded karaoke setlist featuring country favorites and Clarkson’s greatest hits.
During Kellyoke Caspian’s is offering a menu of limited-time libations and comfort food favorites including Since You’ve Been Gone with Grey Goose la Poire, cucumber, thyme syrup, and lemon; the Kelly with Monkey 47, honey pomegranate, and prosecco rimmed with a pom-sugar; Deviled Eggs made with yuzu aioli and sriracha topped with caviar, crispy shallots, and micro chervil; and Caspian’s Chips & Dip with Kaluga caviar and house-made French onion dip served with Pringles.
Reservations are encouraged and can be made here.
