This weekly update covers noteworthy restaurant openings and closings, dining news, culinary events, and entertainment news.
Events
Basilico Ristorante Italiano — September 3
Basilico Ristorante Italiano Chef Francesco Di Caudo will teach The Art of Italian Cooking: Sicilia, a Sicilian tasting menu pepared with ingredients you can find at your local grocer.
The first of a series of six classes, meant to be hands-on and intimate, ensuring that you get the most out of your time with Chef Francesco. Students will learn how to make Arancino Di Spinaci Al Burro (butter and spinach rice ball, Parmigiano cheese fondue), Pasta Ncasciata (baked pasta, tomato, eggplant, basil, ricotta salata cheese), Braciola Di Vitello (rolled veal scaloppine in tomato sauce), and Cannolo Di Ricotta.
The class begins at 4 p.m. Tickets are $150 per person for the single class package, which includes all ingredients and cooking utensils, and one invited guest to dine with you at 7 p.m. to enjoy the feast you created. To purchase tickets, visit basilicolv.eventbrite.com. There are also 3-class and 6-class packages available.
Gaetano’s Ristorante — September 10
Gaetano’s Ristorante will present a wine dinner featuring Pio Cesare wines hosted by Cesare Benvenuto, 5th generation family member.
Courses are:
- Vitello Tomato—roasted veal loin with tuna caper aioli and grilled crostini paired with Cortese di Gavi 2021 Piemontese
- Beef Fassona Tartare with black truffle and truffle potato chip matched with Barbera d’Alba Fides DOCG Single Vineyard 2021
- Tajarin (10 egg yolk tagliatelle) with organic butter and shaved black truffles paired with Barolo DOCG 2019
- Braised Filet Mignon in Piemontese wine sauce with organic butter mashed potatoes and vegetables matched with Barbaresco Il Bricco DOCG Single Vineyard 2019
- Torta della Nonna—Grandmother’s lemon torte cake paired with Pio Cesare Vermouth.
The dinner will begin at 7 p.m. and the cost is $275 (all-inclusive). To RSVP call 702-361-1661 or email [email protected]. To purchase tickets, click here.
Story of a Muse Pop-up — August 30-31, September 6-7, September 13-14, September 20-21, and September 27-28
Taylor Persh, best known in Las Vegas as the Executive Chef of the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea dinners at the now-closed Lost Spirits Distillery in Area15, will return to the Vegas dining scene with an independent five-week pop-up dinner series inspired by the Greek Muse of Tragedy.
Entitled “Story of a Muse” and set in the sky atrium of Palms Casino Resort’s former Nove Italiano space on the 53rd floor, the nine-course dinner in a culinary narrative will take guests on a sensory journey from sea to land offering several new creations by Chef Taylor, as well as a few favorites from her 20,000 Leagues menu.
There are only 20 seats each for seatings at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and tickets are $300 per person with optional wine pairing for $125 or a non-alcoholic pairing for $100 (plus tax and tip). To purchase tickets, click here.
Pick of the Week: Bramare
Bramare means to crave in Italian, and it’s a fitting name for many reasons, including filling a void for those craving late night dining in a 24-hour town that has relatively few upscale dining options past 10 p.m. (Bramare is open till 3 a.m.) The new restaurant is also a venture of Evan Glusman and Constantin Alexander’s Batch Hospitality and the extremely capable Executive Chef Joe Valdez, who over the past two decades honed his skills at restaurants such as Bar Code Burger, Mercato Della Pescheria at The Venetian, Café Americano at Paris, and Table 34.
The décor contributes to a sexy, romantic ambience that is perfect for late night, with hanging wicker basket lights, exposed duct work, black brick walls, and black banquettes. There are also classy cushioned black suede banquettes.
The menu is divided into small, medium, and large formats; pasta; and pizza. True gems in the small (appetizers) section are the Funghi Fritti—fried mushrooms with a gluten-free rice flour batter that is slightly spicy compliments of a garlic and chili sauce; and Pesce Crudo comprised of Baja striped bass, Calabrian mayo, fennel, orange, and pickled chilis.
The Pizza options have some with nontraditional ingredients: Braised Beef Cheeks with goat cheese, potato, sofrito spread and pickled onion; and Artichoke with truffle cream, artichokes, tomatoes and chickpeas.
The Large Format is well represented by Skull Island Prawns, oven-roasted and served with tagliatelle and frutti di mare broth. Pasta choices include a quite tasty Tagliatelle with wild boar ragu, sage, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Desserts are equally creative with the “Something” Like Tiramisu (tiramisu cream, espresso syrup, and Italian grissini breadsticks).
The Italian-inspired fare is rounded out with a bevy of wines mainly from Sonoma, Napa, and Italy (Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva 2020 from Tuscany). The whiskey collection is impressive with dozens of American bourbons and ryes (Frey Ranch Bourbon, WhistlePig 10 yr) and Scotch (Lagavulin 16 yr, Macallan 12 yr). The specialty cocktails are rather complex, with most containing an intriguing mix of ingredients like the Bramare Old Fashioned with Henry McKenna 10yr bourbon, Sibona Piedmontese Amaro, blade mace, vanilla, green cardamom, demerara, and aromatic & orange bitters.
Bramare is located at 3900 Paradise Rd at Corporate Dr and is situated next to Cleaver. Hours are Tues.-Fri. from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. To view the complete menu, visit www.bramare.com.
Dining News
Paris Las Vegas Restaurants Offering Prix Fixe Menus
All eyes have been on Paris this summer celebrating the Olympics, but now it’s time to zoom in on Paris Las Vegas as it observes its 25th anniversary. Four Paris restaurants—The Bedford by Martha Stewart, Gordon Ramsay Steak, Nobu, and Vanderpump à Paris—will offer prix fixe menus to commemorate the anniversary from Sunday, Sept. 1 to Sunday, Sept. 15.
Vanderpump à Paris will offer a four-course menu priced at $189.95 with dishes such as Truffle-Stuffed Vanderpump Baguette, Nobu will have a seven-course omakase menu priced at $300 with A5 Wagyu Anitcucho Den Miso with Foie Gras Chimichurri, Gordon Ramsay Steak will offer a four-course menu priced at $249.99 with Land & Sea Beef Wellington, and The Bedford by Martha Stewart will have a four-course menu priced at $129.99 with Lemon Risotto with Sea Scallops.
For the complete Vanderpump à Paris prix fixe menu click here, for Nobu click here, for Gordon Ramsay Steak click here, and for The Bedford by Martha Stewart click here.
In addition, during the anniversary weekend from Friday, Aug. 30 to Sunday, Sept. 1, guests who dine at any of the four restaurants will receive a complimentary chocolate Eiffel Tower (one gift for every two guests).
RPM Italian Tomato-Inspired Menu
RPM Italian at the Forum Shops at Caesars will feature four tomato-inspired dishes by Chef Sani Hebaj from September 5 through 11. The specials include:
- Heirloom Tomato Granita ($24) with buratta, lambrusco vinaigrette, and ciabatta
- Tomato Tart ($23) with cucumber, whipped ricotta, and eucalyptus honey
- Polenta Gnocchi ($22) with golden pomodoro, cherry tomato, and gran Mugello cheese
- Black Cod ($36) with tomato aqua pazza, Fresno chili, and sweet basil.
Entertainment News
Illuminarium Ultimate Football Watch Party Experience
Illuminarium at AREA15 offers Las Vegas’ largest 360-degree screens featuring state-of-the-art surround sound and projection mapping. Now with its Monday Night Football experience kicking off Sept. 9 it will bring the electrifying atmosphere of a real stadium to life.
Adding to the fun will be referee-clad bartenders, game-day-only craft cocktails and an all-you-can-eat buffet priced at $30 per person of stadium classics including wings, BBQ pork sliders, hot dogs, nachos, and jalapeño poppers. A full menu of cocktails and mocktails is also available at the indoor/outdoor bars.
Tickets for general admission are $20 and $10 for those with local ID. The new Illuminarium Local Season Pass is $50 for 6 games or $65 for 8 games. VIP tables, which include buffet access, choice of a VIP platter, and reserved seating for groups of 4 are $146 or $214 for groups of 6. Reservations for VIP tables must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
The football watch parties are held every Monday night for all ages throughout the entire season. Doors open 30 minutes before kickoff, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.showclix.com/tickets/2024-FB.
