Dining Issue

Aliante Casino looks to local farms for fresh flavors

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Farm 24-7’s chef salad will be a truly local version of the classic diner favorite, made with produce from two nearby farms.

Change has been a constant at Aliante Casino since the 5-year-old property in North Las Vegas started operating independently a year ago (it originally opened as a Station Casinos property). Its restaurants, for example, have been updated with new menus and concepts.

Now Aliante is creating a brand new restaurant designed to take advantage of its proximity to some of the area’s little-known farming communities. Farm 24-7 is set to open November 1, a classic diner with a comfortable atmosphere and made-from-scratch cuisine utilizing hand picked ingredients from Gilcrease Orchard and Cowboy Trail Farms.

Farm 24-7, which will operate around the clock, will assume a space off the main casino that was once an Original Pancake House. Gilcrease Orchard is located at the corner of North Tenaya Way and Whispering Sands Drive in northwest Las Vegas and is known for producing a variety of apples, apricots, figs, peaches, pears, plums, garlic, eggplant, arugula, beets, carrots, bok choy, pumpkins, zucchini and more. Cowboy Trail Farms is located nearby off Jones Boulevard and Deer Springs Way and grows almonds, artichokes, cantaloupe, herbs, grapes, green beans, kohlrabi, melons, parsnips, pears, sweet corn, radishes and many other vegetables.

Aliante executive chef George Jacquez said he is “passionate about incorporating fresh and natural ingredients into American comfort food and supporting the local community at the same time.” Expect favorites such as homemade pies and pastries, meatloaf with mushroom gravy, Belgian waffles and buttermilk pancakes, and a chef’s salad loaded with ham and turkey. The entire menu will be available 24 hours a day.

The deviled eggs at MRKT are topped with beef just for fun.

Some of those farm-fresh products are already being used at Aliante’s steak and seafood house, MRKT—and no, that name wasn’t one of the recent changes. This sleek, overlooked restaurant has had its name since the property first opened, and has been serving up solid and occasionally spectacular steakhouse fare for just as long. Little bits of local produce have been popping up on some MRKT plates—some fresh herbs here, some microgreens there—and that will expand once the diner opens and the casino streamlines its partnerships with the farms.

MRKT serves only G.F. Swift 1855 Premium Black Angus steaks, and augments those popular entrees with fresh seafood and some homey dishes like calves liver ($21) and stellar boneless fried chicken ($18). Creative appetizers and side dishes set this menu apart, especially savory pork belly bites ($9) and creamy, indulgent deviled eggs ($10) topped with a tiny roll-up of tender beef. A roasted tomato stuffed with creamed spinach ($8) is a nice twist on traditional steakhouse sides, and don’t miss the bourbon sauce-drenched bread pudding ($8) for dessert.

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Brock Radke

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

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