This weekly update covers noteworthy restaurant openings and closings, dining news, culinary events, and entertainment news.

Events

La Cave Wine & Food Hideaway — February 20

Wynn Las Vegas continues its Connoisseur Series events with its Small Plates, Big Flavors Masterclass taught by La Cave Wine & Food Hideaway executive chef Billy DeMarco.

Chef DeMarco will demonstrate how to prepare small plates at home and provide a tasting inspired by the restaurant’s small plates menu. The 90-minute class will be held at La Cave beginning at 2 p.m. and cost $195 per person (plus tax and tip). Participants must be 21 years or older.

To reserve, call the Wynn Concierge at 702-770-7070 or email [email protected].

Kusa Nori — February 21

Kusa Nori Japanese restaurant at Resorts World will collaborate with celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi (Eating House 1849, Humble Market Kitchin, GOEN Dining + Bar, and Roy’s Worldwide) as he joins Kusa Nori Chef Ryan Nuqui for a one-night-only popup.

The specialty menu will include:

Amuse of chutoro poke, Kaluga caviar, avocado mousse, and pie tee pastry cups
Yukari Sake Cure Kanpachi made with uni, smoked trout roe, verjus Shiro ponzu, and ogo peppercorn gel
Lobster & Truffle Soup Dumpling with Maine lobster, Perigord truffle xiaolongbao, and Okinawa sweet potato & kabocha squash puree
Onaga made with seared long-tail snapper, ikura, finger limes, baby heirloom beet and fennel, and yuzu miso dulse beurre blanc
48-hour Braised Short Rib with curried kaffir lime bordelaise, saffron ulu, and confit root vegetable
Ono Pina Colada with pineapple compote, coconut mousse, lime cake, macadamia nut crumble, and blue Hawaiian sorbet.

Seatings are available from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., costing $150 per person, with an optional wine pairing for $48. Taxes and tips are not included.

To purchase tickets, click here.

Honey Salt — March 4

On Fat Tuesday, Honey Salt owners and James Beard nominees Elizabeth Blau and Kim Canteenwalla will bring the vibrant spirit of New Orleans to Las Vegas as they present their 7th annual Mardi Gras Farm Table Dinner, featuring NOLA-inspired dishes.

The menu will include a welcome cocktail of French Quarter Fizz with Madre Prosecco, St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur, and Crème de Violette; starters of Sharp Cheddar & Jalapeno Cornbread with whipped honey butter, Fried Green Tomatoes with Pimento cheese and tasso ham, and Old Bay Crawfish Boil with “Live” Louisiana crawfish and corn on the cob and red bliss potatoes with optional pairing of Albarino Abadia de San Campio; entrees of Nola Barbecue Shrimp with house hot sauce and stone ground grits, and Creole Jambalaya (with Redbird chicken, Andouille sausage, holy trinity, and Carolina gold rice) matched with The Federalist Zinfandel Aged in Bourbon Barrels; sides of Collard Greens with smoked ham hock, and Hush Puppies with sweet onion and chow chow paired with Creole Espresso Martini; and finales of Kings Cake (cinnamon-spiced brioche, orange, and vanilla glaze), and Café Du Monde Style Beignets with powdered sugar.

The dinner will begin at 6 p.m.; the optional libations pairing is an additional $29.

Tickets are $85 per person. For more info and to purchase tickets, click here and select Mardi Gras.

Pick of the Week: Al Solito Posto

Al Solito Posto opened in early 2021 and has since been established as one of the anchors of the Tivoli Village shopping and dining center in Summerlin.

The restaurant’s name means “in the usual place,” and the dining room exudes class and grace with a fabric sculpture on one wall, tall, dark green columns, large windows, hanging Edison light chandeliers, dark wood tables, hardwood floor, black leather chairs, and white tile above an open kitchen. The splendor continues in the bar, with a beautiful display of its voluminous selection of spirits with hundreds of bottles on both sides and a spacious outdoor patio for al fresco dining.

As for the culinary offerings, the menu is the handiwork of Chef-partner James Trees, whom I’ve dubbed the king of Italian dining in Las Vegas and whose culinary resume places him on the who’s who and the best of the best of Las Vegas chefs.

Born and raised in Las Vegas, the Culinary Institute of America graduate rose through the ranks under chefs including Michael Mina, Bradley Ogden, and Eric Ripert and opened multiple restaurants across the USA as Corporate Sous Chef for the Mina Group. He opened his first independent restaurant, Esther’s Kitchen, in the Arts District, followed by Ada’s Wine Bar and Al Solito Posto in Tivoli Village. Adding to his accolades was being named a Finalist for the James Beard Award: Best Chef Southwest in 2020 (unfortunately, due to the pandemic that year, the final awards were not awarded).

You could make a meal out of the numerous insalata and antipasti selections, like Fried Squash Blossoms with basil aioli and lemon, Artichokes Alla Romana with parmesan breadcrumbs, Nonna’s Meatballs with fried polenta, Grilled Octopus with potato and scallion, and Wagyu Beef Carpaccio with garlic truffle aioli.

Handmade pasta is well represented by rigatoni enhanced with vodka tomato sauce and cappelletti with pumpkin puree and brown butter.

“The Classics” is a popular section of the menu that includes Seafood Cioppino, Stuffed Eggplant Parmesan, Roasted Bay Scallops with truffle risotto, and 10-ounce Porcini-Rubbed Prime Creekstone NY Strip Steak.

If you happen to have saved room for dessert, you can indulge in Tiramisu Cheesecake, Apple Crostata with vanilla gelato, Chocolate Hazelnut Semifreddo, and Cannoli. A cart with several cognacs, cordials, grappa, and Amari options is wheeled to your table.

The beverage program includes approximately 150 wines, mainly from Italy, Napa and Sonoma; more than 100 choices of bourbon, rye, and single malt whiskey; dozens more of tequila, mescal, rum, Amari, gin, and vodka; and more than a dozen signature cocktails like the Aranciata with Campari, Pamplemousse, orange marmalade, lemon, and Aranciata.

Al Solito Posto is open for dinner from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The bar has a daily happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m.

For more info and to view the complete menu, visit alsolito.com.

Dining News

Su Casa Unveils New Menu

Su Casa, the hidden sushi bar helmed by Chef Shayne Galan within the Silverton Casino Lodge’s Mi Casa Grill Cantina, has unveiled a new menu.

The Asian-inspired dishes include:

Spam Musubi, available classic ($6) or deep-fried ($7)
Thai Green Papaya Salad with green papaya, heart of palm, green beans, grape tomatoes, and roasted peanuts ($13), with the option to add chili garlic shrimp or tempura soft-shell crab ($10)
Lava Flow Poke Bowl with spicy tuna, Kanimi “crab,” chili garlic crunch, chili oil, green scallions, masago, furikake tempura crunch, and a choice of matcha green tea soba noodles or white rice ($25)
Baked Salmon Roll with tempura salmon, salmon sashimi, avocado, gobo, garlic bake sauce, crispy potato curls, and scallions ($18)
Firecracker Roll with shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, avocado, Cajun salmon, habanero ponzu, and togarashi crispy fried onions ($20)
Sexy Salmon Signature Nigiri topped with avocado, lemon slice, and chili garlic ponzu ($17).

Ferraro’s Ristorante Launches Pre-Show Menu

Ferraro’s Ristorante, located just minutes from the Vegas Strip on Paradise near Harmon Avenue, has launched a new four-course pre-show menu designed by Executive Chef Mimmo Ferraro, available daily from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Priced at $65 per person (plus tax and tip), the four-course menu includes:

Antipasti choice of Burrata with grilled zucchini, pistachio pesto, arugula, pistachio, and lemon zest; Vitello Tonnato with chilled roasted veal, tuna sauce, and capers; or Insalata Mimmo with Valdivia tomatoes, avocado, fresh bufala mozzarella, red onion, extra virgin olive oil, and 4 Foglie balsamic
Primi choice of Gnocchi Pistachio with potato dumpling, pistachio pesto, roasted tomato, and crushed pistachio or Featured Seasonal Ravioli
Secondi choice of Mediterranean Branzino Seabass with hazelnut crust, guanciale, zucchini, tarragon, white wine, and spinach; Vitello Saltimbocca with prosciutto, sage, white wine, and fried artichoke; or Pollo Limone—airline chicken breast with lemon, white wine, garlic, and rosemary
Dolce of Tiramisu—lady fingers, mascarpone cheese, and espresso.

Entertainment News

Colors of Mexico at Fashion Show Mall

Fantasy Lab at the Fashion Show Mall recently converted its space to Colors of Mexico, a 20,000-square-foot family-friendly concept exploring Mexico’s art, tradition, heritage, folklore, history, and traditions.

The free attraction includes seven rooms with unique experiences such as Alebrije Dream with magical creatures, Kaleidoscope with visions of Mexican art, Dia De Muertos where guests can upload and project pictures and pay tribute to deceased loved ones, Prehistoric with Aztec and Mayan history, and Colors Experience with a film featuring Mexican sites, nature, dance, and culture.

A restaurant and bar offering authentic Mexican cuisine with a menu divided into regions of Mexico is situated near the main entrance. Menu items include Guacamole Tradicional ($13)—mashed avocado with tomato, onion, cilantro, serrano peppers, and lime juice served with corn tortilla chips; Esquites ($10)—corn prepared with mayo, lime, and chili; Cochinita Pibil ($19)—slow-cooked pork marinated in achiote and citrus, wrapped in banana leaves served with tortillas; Mole Poblano ($19)—chicken in a rich, complex sauce made from chocolate, chiles, and spices served with tortillas; desserts of Flan ($10) and Arroz con Leche ($10); three Mexican-themed milkshakes ($10); and a children’s menu offering Chicken Tacos ($10) and Quesadilla ($12).

Beverage options include an assortment of aguas frescas, Mexican coffee, several classic and specialty cocktails, Mexican beers, and more than a dozen tequilas and mescals.

Colors of Mexico is located on the east end of the mall. Visit colorsofmexico.com for more information on the seven experiences, opening hours, and the complete food and drink menu.