This weekly update covers noteworthy restaurant openings and closings, dining news, culinary events and entertainment news.
Events
Wine Spectator’s Grand Tour — May 4
The Wine Spectator’s Grand Tour wine tasting will be held at Resorts World from 7-10 p.m., featuring over 200 wines scoring 90+ on Wine Spectator’s 100-point scale and a chance to mingle with top winemakers. General admission tickets, which include unlimited wine tasting, a selection of food, a tasting book with descriptions of the 200 wines, and a souvenir Riedel wine-tasting glass, are $275 per person. VIP access, which includes early admission at 6 p.m., is $375 per person.
To view the list of wines being poured and to purchase tickets, visit grandtour.winespectator.com/lasvegas.
Borracha Mexican Cantina — May 5
Borracha Mexican Cantina at Green Valley Ranch will celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a live DJ during brunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and during dinner, a live mariachi band performance from 5 to 7 p.m. followed by a live DJ who will keep the party going until late. In addition, there will be a ceremonial cake cutting to celebrate the restaurant’s eighth anniversary at around 9 p.m.
Three Cinco de Mayo drink specials, priced at $16 each and available exclusively for the event, include the Berry Blanco Buck with Espolón Blanco, blackberries, lime juice, and Fever Tree ginger beer; the Grand Margarita with Espolón Blanco, Grand Marnier, agave, and lime juice; and Raspberry Fizz with Espolón Reposado, raspberry syrup, lemon juice, and Fever Tree lime yuzu soda.
BJ’s Beer Dinner — May 6
The five Southern Nevada BJ’s Brewhouse locations will host a five-course beer dinner featuring some of Mexico’s best pale ales and lagers. The dinner will include welcome beer of Estrella Jalisco, Modelo Especial paired with California Club Flatbread, Dos Equis Lager matched with Chicken Tortilla Soup, Victoria Lager paired with Santa Fe Salad, palate cleanser of BJ’s CureVeza Mexican-Style Lager, Dos Equis Amber Especial matched with Blackened Shrimp Tacos, and Modelo Negra with Cookies ‘N’ Cream Pizookie.
The dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 in advance and $50 (excluding tax and tip) the event day. To purchase tickets, click here.
New Vista Wine Walk — May 11
New Vista will host a wine walk on May 11 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 18 tasting stations and live entertainment. Each attendee will receive a commemorative souvenir wine glass, tasting card, and map outlining the locations of the samples. All proceeds benefit New Vista Community, Nevada’s largest non-profit residential provider supporting people of all ages with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit newvistanv.org/event/wine-walk.
Pick of the Week
Carson Kitchen, a partnership between Chef/Restaurateur Cory Harwell and his dear friend, the late Chef Kerry Simon, is self-described as creative American cuisine and has proven to be a major player in the Downtown Las Vegas dining scene since its opening in 2014. The restaurant has excelled at presenting dishes that change with the seasons and featuring ingredients you likely won’t see on most other menus. Going to an excellent restaurant and trying unique new dishes is great; fortunately, the new “Greatest Hits” menu celebrates its 10th anniversary with popular dishes from the last 10 years and was launched on April 17.
18 of the 33 menu items are new. The Farm & Garden section boasts the largest amount of new fresh dishes, like Shrimp Campanelle with hemp seed pesto, Broccoli Crunch with sunflower seed and dried cherry, Brussels Sprouts Caesar with bacon fat crouton, and Asparagus with tarragon gribiche and hard egg.
“Social Plates” feature Gyro Tacos with feta crema and tomato cucumber relish, Pork Belly with Buffalo bleu beurre blanc, and Grilled Oysters with Bloody Mary butter.
“Between Bread” has new sandwiches, including the Country Cuban with mojo mustard and capiola ham and Jerk Turkey Burger with mango chutney slaw. All are served with spicy tater tots.
“Meat & Fish” offers Barramundi with chive oil and red pepper romesco sauce made with walnuts instead of the traditional almonds, as well as Veal Meatballs with sherry foie gras cream and mint pea pesto.
New flatbreads include Italian Sausage with balsamic vinaigrette and red pepper and Wild Mushroom with hot honey and bleu cheese.
Banoffee “Pie” with Bailey’s pudding and chocolate crumble is the sole new dessert creation.
About a dozen menu favorites, which GM Brendon Young refers to as legacy items, always remain, as their deletion could cause a major uprising. They include Crispy Chicken Skins with smoked honey (Owner/Chef Cory Harwell’s rendition of the southern staple); “Devil’s Eggs” topped with caviar and crispy pancetta that is butchered and cured in-house as are all the meats; Killer Shrimp with rocoto peppers and aji amarillo pepper cream; Tempura Green Beans with pepper jelly cream cheese; and Glazed Donut Bread Pudding with 3-rum caramel made with dark, white, and spiced rum and vanilla crème anglaise.
Carson Kitchen is open Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Dining News
Ocean Prime in the 63 Las Vegas Center at Harmon and Las Vegas Blvd. is hosting a live jazz brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. performed on the restaurant’s outdoor terrace (weather permitting) with a view of the Las Vegas Strip.
The menu includes a custom-built seafood tower, sushi rolls, Lobster Bisque, Ocean Prime House Salad with goat cheese and sherry mustard vinaigrette, Crabcake Eggs Benedict, 6 oz NY Strip and Poached Egg, Chilean Seabass, and Sea Scallops. Complementing the fare are Citrus Rhubarb Mimosa, Peach Bellini, and cocktails such as Bloody Mary with house-made pepper-infused vodka and shrimp cocktail and Tequila Sour with Don Julio Reposado and Velvet Falernum. During the jazz brunch, valet parking is free after you have validated your valet ticket at the restaurant. Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar
Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar at Mandalay Bay is giving locals a new reason to venture out to the Vegas Strip: an all-new Industry Night on Wednesdays from 7 to 11 p.m. Guests with local ID can get gourmet sliders (wagyu beef, hot chicken sando, and smoked BBQ pork) with a three-beer flight pairing for $20, Flamingo Punch Bowls for $50, and bottles of Tito’s Handmade Vodka for $125. In addition, from 7 to 11 p.m., DJ Technicolor spins old-school hip-hop and R&B, and Flanker’s 30-foot-long LED viewing screen is tuned to sports programming.
Entertainment News
On May 5, the Plaza Hotel & Casino will host downtown Las Vegas’ largest party to celebrate Cinco de Mayo starting at 4 p.m. in and around its Carousel Bar and the property’s iconic Main Street dome.
The Plaza’s “Cinco de Drinko” party is free to attend. It will feature a Mariachi band, Folklorico dancers, a DJ spinning top radio hits with a mix of Latin music, and downtown’s largest piñata. Guests can commemorate their fun by taking selfies inside the Plaza’s photo house, including various festive props.
Fresh churros will be available for purchase from Churros 101, street tacos and Mexican street corn salad from Fresh Mexican Grill, Cinco de Mayo-themed doughnuts from Pinkbox Doughnuts, and all night long, Carousel Bar will offer drinks specials on margaritas, micheladas, Modelo beer, and tequila shots.
For more information, visit www.plazahotelcasino.com/entertainment/cinco-de-drinko-party
