Dining News

Dining News & Notes: Chefs on the move, free lemonade and lunch and brunch at Lago

Image
Lago at Bellagio.

Chef shuffles are a constant. When Wynn Resorts moved Marc LoRusso from Encore’s Botero to take over Bartolotta, the company filled the void by recruiting former Wynn mainstay Joe Zanelli to handle Botero. That left an opening at Downtown Summerlin’s Andiron Steak & Sea, which has been filled by chef Brett Uniss, who came over from sister restaurant Honey Salt. So here comes chef Michael Van Staden, the South African who has worked with restaurateur Elizabeth Blau for years, to take the helm at Honey Salt. Meanwhile, back on the Strip, longtime Aureole kitchen commander Vincent Pouessel assumed the role of executive chef at DB Brasserie last month, taking over for the departed David Middleton.

National Lemonade Day is August 20 and Hot Dog on a Stick is celebrating by giving away its famous “hand-stomped” lemonade for free to raise awareness for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Visit any Vegas location on Thursday and say “Lemonade for LLS,” and you’ll receive a free 12-ounce lemonade. Upgrade to a souvenir cup for $3 and $1 from your purchase will be donated to support LLS.

Bellagio’s newest restaurant Lago by Julian Serrano recently launched lunch service with a la carte options or a three-course prix-fixe for $28 (Monday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.), and on August 30 will roll out a three-course brunch for $38 available on Sundays only from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Lago’s brunch will replace the longtime Fountains Brunch at Jasmine which will end brunch service on August 30.

The Daily Meal’s latest list of the Best Food Trucks in America was decided by public survey, and included 101 trucks from across the nation. Two beloved Vegas trucks made the list: Fukuburger (No. 64) and Truck U Barbeque (No. 88). The top truck in the survey was Miami’s Ms. Cheezious Fresh Made Grilled Cheese.

Bachi Burger's James Beard Foundation contest finalist, a mushroom and lamb burger.

The James Beard Foundation’s Better Burger Project challenged more than 200 chefs from across the country to build a more delicious burger by grinding meat with mushrooms for a tasty and healthy alternative. Instagram votes were tallied and among the five finalists is chef and restaurateur Lorin Watada of Bachi Burger in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. He’ll head to New York City in October along with the other finalists to cook their burgers at the historic James Beard House.

Sweet expansion: The Cupcakery opened its third Las Vegas location on East Flamingo Road just west of Maryland Parkway. Sugar Factory its celebrating its sixth anniversary by announcing plans to open its largest restaurant and retail space ever in Las Vegas, a 16,000-square-foot spot on the Strip at the Fashion Show mall, later this year. Also, Pieology Pizzeria opened its second local restaurant in the Hughes Center across from the Marriott Residence Inn. Its first store opened at Downtown Summerlin last year.

And a new casual French café opened this week. Rosallie Le French Café in Spring Valley (on South Rainbow Boulevard) comes from Jonathan Pluvinet. The 2,500-square-foot space has been transformed into a cozy destination for coffee, breakfast and lunch and is open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tags: Dining, Food
Share
Photo of Brock Radke

Brock Radke

Brock Radke is an award-winning writer and columnist who currently occupies the role of editor-at-large at Las Vegas Weekly magazine. ...

Get more Brock Radke
Top of Story