News for Restaurants in Las Vegas
November 2008 Archive

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If you haven't picked a place to eat tonight, you're in luck. Gayot has all the restaurant news for your area right here. Learn which new restaurants have opened in Las Vegas and which restaurants in Las Vegas have recently closed. Find out where your favorite chefs are cooking and locate special events.

RESTAURANT NEWS

Openings

December 22 marked the debut of Encore Las Vegas and its restaurants. Adjacent to Wynn Las Vegas, Encore upholds its sister hotel's mantra: The chefs have moved to Las Vegas and are cooking in their new kitchens each night. Marc Poidevin, former executive chef of Bellagio's Le Cirque and most recently Wynn's executive chef of catering and special events, is at the helm of Switch, a French-inspired steakhouse and seafood restaurant with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. Mark LoRusso, who received critical acclaim for Tableau, introduces Botero Steak. Named after Colombian artist Fernando Botero, LoRusso's restaurant features a modern steakhouse menu in a sexy and sophisticated setting beside the resort's nightclub, XS, and overlooks Encore's sparking pool. (Tableau is being transformed into Larry Forgione's An American Place.) As executive chef of Society Café Encore, Kim Canteenwalla offers guests a classic American menu of old school favorites that have been reinterpreted with a modern sensibility. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night weekends, Society Café Encore features appealing food in a casual, fun and dynamic atmosphere. Kim, who worked with Mr. Wynn at Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi, has consulted on projects at The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach and One&Only Palmilla. Jet Tila, a nationally recognized chef and expert in Asian cuisine, is well known for his widespread knowledge of Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean and Indian cuisines. At Encore, he opens Wazuzu, a modern Asian bistro, named after a Chinese word that means "Nine Dragons." The name references a well-known painting of nine young dragons from the end of the 16th century. In homage to the original work, a large crystal dragon comprised of 90,000 Swarovski crystals and 2,400 flickering lights graces Wazuzu's wall. Open for lunch and dinner, the casual yet vibrant restaurant features the various cuisines of Southeast Asia, also offering sushi, sashimi and creative rolls. Encore Las Vegas, 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89139, 702-770-7000.

News Bytes

Check back soon for more news.

Chef Shuffle

Former Table 10 executive chef Jean Paul Labadie has moved from Emeril's Palazzo restaurant to locals' favorite Marché Bacchus. Labadie brings more than 14 years of professional experience working in a variety of chef Emeril Lagasse’s restaurants. Marché Bacchus, Lakeside Center, 2620 Regatta Dr., Ste. 106, Las Vegas, NV 89128, 702-804-8008.

Closings

CLOSED FOR GOOD
Take your taste buds on a walk down memory lane! Check out our exclusive closed restaurant database for Las Vegas to virtually visit your favorite dining spots from yesteryear. Aristocrat, R.I.P.

AJ's Steakhouse, a classic restaurant in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, is closing its doors after 10 successful years on January 10. As a farewell, AJ's invites guests to "Dine Like Its 1999" with menu items priced equivalent to the time the restaurant opened in 1999. Entrées such as the 20-ounce New York Strip or the 2.5 pound Maine lobster with a variety of sides from which to choose will cost up to 25 percent less than the 2008 cost. For example, the $44 New York Strip is now priced at $33, as it was in 1999. In appreciation for the support throughout the years from Las Vegas locals and visitors, AJ's has brought back its trademark grand piano for local pianist Peter Radd to play signature tunes from the 1960s on Friday and Saturday nights from 9 p.m.-11 p.m. Fine cuisine prepared in the gleaming open kitchen has included ahi tuna, seared foie gras and Guinness-braised beef short ribs served with garlic potato purée, pearl onions and sage. AJ's Steakhouse, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89109

Bistro Zinc, Joseph Keller's eatery at Montelago Village, has closed. Bistro Zinc, MonteLago Village, 15 Via Bel Canto, Henderson, NV 89011, no phone.

CULINARY EVENTS
Want to learn to cook? Try new dishes? Meet a foodie friend for fun? Check out our compilation of culinary events in your area.

View our calendar of Wine Dinners & Tastings in Las Vegas

BEYONCE INSPIRED LIBATIONS

Try these whiskey cocktails inspired by Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album.

Check the recipes.

BOURBON IN YOUR AIOLI

This cashew aioli recipe gets a kick with bourbon.

Get the recipe.

GAYOT'S RESTAURANT AWARDS

Over the years, we have been electing restaurants to be on GAYOT's Yearly Restaurant Awards.

Check the list.

News for Restaurants in Las Vegas November 2008 Archive

News for Restaurants in Las Vegas
November 2008 Archive