Now in its seventh year and third time at the venerable Palms Casino Resort, fancy food fest Vegas Unstripped has grown up quite a bit from its humble but ambitious origins on the patio/parking lot space behind the original Esther’s Kitchen in the Arts District. But most things about the event haven’t changed, most importantly that it remains a showcase for many of the Las Vegas Valley’s most creative chefs.
“We’ve had different opportunities when it comes to how you would grow an event, but we just refuse to give up on the original ideas,” says Eric Gladstone, who operates the Feast of Friends agency and co-founded Vegas Unstripped with chef and restaurateur James Trees. “We created it for a clear reason and people really responded to all those things, both the guests and the chefs, and we’re proud that this is one event that chefs really clamor for and look forward to. We started it saying it’s as much for them as for guests, and we’re sticking to that.”
Unlike other culinary events that Vegas has seen come and go through the years, Unstripped is about the chef (instead of the restaurant), and although it’s not a competition, participating chefs are required to serve a dish created specifically for the event—a one-night-only special. So when you wander the Palms pool deck on April 26 sampling anything and everything, you know you’re tasting something truly special.
“I’ve done it when we had (former restaurant) Eatt and it was behind Esther’s Kitchen, and it was pretty dope. I enjoyed the vibe,” says Partage owner and executive chef Yuri Szarzewski. “That first year, I got my ass kicked, I was short on staff. The good thing this year is it’s on a Sunday and the restaurant is closed … so I’m bringing the whole team. We’re going to have fun, and I’ll get to talk to more people.”
Szarzewski is one of three Unstripped chefs who were named James Beard Award semifinalists this year, along with Trees and Calabash African Kitchen’s Oulay Ceesay Fisher. It’s an interesting development, because this event has been putting these Las Vegans on the culinary pedestal long before national media and awards organizations started consistently recognizing our local stars.
“It feels like we’re getting somewhere, in terms of people really understanding what we have here,” says Gladstone, who also teased a second event coming later this year, Vegas Bites, which will focus on classic dishes from favorite Vegas restaurants.
You know the food will be off-the-charts great at Vegas Unstripped—which always donates net proceeds to local charities every year—but the exposure for the people behind the food and restaurants that are constantly pushing for higher ground is so meaningful.
“We are a small restaurant in Chinatown and a lot of locals know us, but not everyone knows,” Szarzewski says. “(Awards) are important because they give us more visibility, and they can attract more tourists off the Strip, which for us is amazing. There is such a great local scene growing and it’s been amazing to witness that over the eight years since we opened Partage, and to be able to change and grow with the community.”
Vegas Unstripped chef lineup
• Oscar Amador Amador Cocina Fina
• John Arena Metro Pizza
• Myrhissa Bautista SoulBelly BBQ & Burgersmith
• Dio Buan Istorya
• Daniel “Izzy” Cabrera Gyu+
• Anthony Carron Alexxa’s
• Johnny Church Johnny C’s Catering
• Francisco Cortes Alebrijes by Chef Paco
• Oulay Fisher Calabash African Kitchen
• Kari Garcia TSP Bakery
• Anothony Jamison La Casa de Juliette
• Dylan Jobsz Esther’s Kitchen
• Bruce Kalman SoulBelly BBQ
• Gary LaMorte Fortune Events
• Marty Lopez Scotch 80 Prime
• Gina Marinelli La Strega & Harlo Steakhouse
• Marc Marrone Diamond Spur Provisions
• Matt Meyer Earth A.D.
• Tayden Poha-Ellamar Braseria
• Alex Reznik Hayworth & SMKD
• Adam Rios & Jake Yergensen & Sean O’Hara Timeless Hospitality
• Jackson Stamper Ada’s
• Yuri Szarzewski Partage
• Yuka Takamizawa Moignet & Milk Bread
• Rang Tan Rang’s Cocina Moderne
• James Trees Esther’s Kitchen & Bar Boheme
• Joe Valdez Basilico
• Tyler Vorce Lilli
• Kai Yau Send Noodles
VEGAS UNSTRIPPED April 26, 6 p.m., $158+. Palms Pool, vegasunstripped.com.
Click HERE to subscribe for free to the Weekly Fix, the digital edition of Las Vegas Weekly! Stay up to date with the latest on Las Vegas concerts, shows, restaurants, bars and more, sent directly to your inbox!
