This weekly update covers noteworthy restaurant openings and closings, dining news, culinary events, and entertainment news.
Events
Bellagio Master Mixology Series — August 22-24
The Bellagio, one of the first Las Vegas resorts to offer an elevated beverage program, is debuting a new Master Mixology Series at The Vault featuring cocktails curated by the world’s most talented bartenders and beverage directors.
Global bar professional Tony Abou-Ganim, affectionately referred to as the godfather of Las Vegas mixology, will launch the series as part of The Vault’s first-anniversary celebration on August 22-24 from 8 p.m. to midnight each night.
Abou-Ganim will feature his signature cocktails, such as:
- Cable Car with Koloa Spiced Rum, Marie Brizard Orange Curacao, fresh lemon sour, and egg whites garnished with a spiral of orange on a cinnamon-sugar rimmed coup
- Sunsplash with Stoli Ohranj Vodka, Cointreau, fresh orange juice, cranberry juice, and fresh lemon sour served over ice with a slice of orange and a spiral of lemon
- Primo Margarita: Herradura Blanco Tequila, Cointreau, fresh lime juice and fresh lemon sour, served with a wedge of lime in a Collins glass.
The event also marks a celebratory return for Abou-Ganim, who played a pivotal role in the launch of Bellagio’s cocktail program in 1998. He has since garnered numerous accolades including the Bacardi Martini World Grand Prix in 2002, creating the iconic Cable Car cocktail, and has authored acclaimed books such as The Modern Mixologist: Contemporary Classic Cocktails and Vodka Distilled.
To make a reservation click here or visit The Vault’s Instagram page.
First Friday Beer Festival — September 6
The 3rd annual First Friday Beer Festival will take place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and will feature unlimited sampling of more than 30 Nevada-brewed beers. Guests can enjoy their beers while strolling around the Arts District, tasting culinary creations, and seeing the work of local artists and musicians.
General admission tickets are $45 and include unlimited sampling from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. VIP tickets, which include early entry at 6 p.m., five portions of food pairings specially created for the event, and one welcome cocktail designed by one of the First Friday mixologists, are $60.
A full bar with spirits, wine, cider, and non-alcoholic beverages will also be available as a cash bar option.
Click here for more info and to purchase tickets.
Pick of the Week: Honor BBQ
Mountain’s Edge in Southwest Las Vegas has a new sit-down BBQ restaurant. Conceived by hospitality veteran Andy Hooper of Hooper Hospitality Concepts, Honor BBQ showcases traditional Texas/Tennessee-influenced barbeque classics, house-made sauces, and craft cocktails in a casual, at-home atmosphere.
Situated in the former space of El Luchador at Blue Diamond and Buffalo, the décor features red brick walls, several large screen TVs airing sports programming, and a bar displaying the collection of bottles in the refined whiskey selection. There are also nods to Americana with a US flag, state flags of Texas, Tennessee and Nevada, and license plates from several states. There’s also a large patio with cornhole giant Jenga games.
Hooper Hospitality Director of Operations Carlon Kira explained why the decision was made to transition El Luchador into a BBQ restaurant and the significance of the name: “There are not many BBQ restaurants on Blue Diamond Rd and the area has become saturated with Mexican restaurants. The name Honor reflects showing appreciation to first responders and also the way we cook the BBQ, taking time to do it right.”
Pulling from their eclectic experience, ranging from high-end culinary institutions to family recipes, pitmasters Jacob Williamson and Lorena Telles have created a menu with fall-off-the-bone recipes and countryside favorites. Shareable starters include Fried Pickle Chips, Cauliflower Bites, Fried Green Tomatoes, “Texas Twinkies” (extra-large jalapeño peppers stuffed with a hot link), Crispy Deviled Eggs, and house-made Cornbread with honey-whipped butter.
The “meat” of the menu is the variety of responsibly raised, high-quality meats sourced out of Texas that are mesquite and hickory smoked “low and slow” for up to 11 hours. Available by the half-pound or served as a sandwich, entrees include Sliced or Chopped Brisket, Pulled Pork, 3.5 lb Beer Can Chicken, Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage Links, Pork Spare Ribs, Sliced Turkey, Wings, and “Hot Link of the Day.” All meats are available with Honor BBQ’s homemade sauce in original, spicy, and sweet.
Classic sides include Baked Beans, Bacon-Braised Green Beans, Street Corn, and Fried Okra. Desserts continue the all-American theme, with options of Banana Pudding,Carrot Cake, or Triple Chocolate Cake.
What goes better with BBQ than beer and whiskey? You’re covered here with plenty of brews including locally made Big Dog’s Tailwagger Wheat, CraftHaus Resonate IPA, and HUDL Chantilly Cream Ale; and an upscale whiskey selection of about 20 whiskies includes favorites such as High West Straight Bourbon, Horse Soldier Bourbon, WhistlePig 6 yr Rye, and Texas-made Balcones Pot Still Bourbon.
There are also several specialty cocktails, including the Spicy B*tch with Chacho Aguardiente Jalapeno, fresh lime juice, pineapple syrup, and agave nectar; Apples & Brown Sugar with Evan Williams Apple Whiskey, fresh lemon juice, apple syrup, and brown sugar; and Honor Old Fashioned with Horse Soldier Bourbon, bitters, and black sugar syrup.
The restaurant is living up to its name by bestowing the honor of a 50% dine in food discount to Military Personnel and First Responders in uniform and 20% off for those out of uniform with proper identification.
If you sit at the bar, you can enjoy happy hour all day long with Bud Light and Michelob Ultra drafts for $3.79, house wines for $5, well drinks for $6, and cocktails for $10 (except for the Old Fashioned). In the dining room the happy hour deals are from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. To view the complete menu visit honorbarbeque.com.
Dining News
Tailgate Social at Palace Station is ready for football season and is offering its Ultimate Tailgate Package on Saturdays and Sundays starting Aug. 31.
Priced at $29 per person, the all-you-can-eat feast includes cheese quesadilla, chicken tenders, potato skins, warm pretzel bites, Tailgate nachos, Philly cheesesteak, Tailgate burger, stadium dog, fries, tater tots, and deep-fried Oreos.
Tailgate Social is equipped with more than 30 HDTVs, providing optimum views throughout the space.
Jaleo by José Andrés Group at The Cosmopolitan is offering a special menu in celebration of La Tomatina, the famed annual festival in Buñol, Spain, where participants throw tomatoes at each other.
Available from Monday, Aug. 26 through Sunday, Sept. 8, the menu includes:
- Tomate Verde Frito—fried green tomatoes with Mamá Marisa blue cheese and px reduction
- Lomo de Buey con Tomates y Piparra—10-oz Creekstone Farms Prime striploin with heirloom tomatoes and piparra peppers
- Coca con Tomates—pan de cristal with heirloom tomato, kalamata olive, piquillo puree, piparras, and conserved tuna
- Albondigas con Tomate—Ibérico meatballs with tomato sauce, Pasamontes Manchego cheese, and chives
- Tortilla de Patatas con Tomates Confitados—Spanish omelet with confit tomatoes, idiazabal cheese, and chives
- Bizocho de Aceite de Olivo con Sorbete de Tomate—olive oil sponge cake with tomato sorbet and yogurt espuma.
Entertainment News
Jeffrey Osborne Concert on September 28
R&B and jazz artist Jeffrey Osborne, whose successful solo career brought him five gold and platinum albums, will perform at The Club showroom at the Cannery Casino. He began his musical career in 1969 as the drummer of the funk band L.T.D., where his singing talents were recognized and led him to become the group’s lead vocalist. After more than a decade with the band, Osborne went on to pursue a solo career, producing Top 40 hits like “Don’t You Get So Mad” and “Stay with Me Tonight.”
Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets start at $39.95 plus tax and fees. To purchase tickets click here. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Cannery or any other Boyd property at their retail gift shops.
