Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appétit once again managed to dazzle guests with an array of world-class chefs who took over Las Vegas from April 27th through the 30th. Whoever the chef or whatever type of event you wanted to experience, you were likely to find it and everyone left this amazing weekend with a overwhelmed palate to go along with a smile on their face and amazing memories.
The highlight of the weekend had to be the “Picnic in The Park,” held at MGM Resorts’ new outdoor dining, and entertainment district, The Park. Everywhere you turned you were bumping into a famous chef. From Chef Tom Colicchio and his amazing Craftsteak barbeque display to Chef Roy Ellamar and his Hawaiian-style pig roast, the chefs and the food were spectacular. While the food was fitting of the chefs cooking it, the atmosphere was over-the-top beginning with a 40-foot-tall sculpture by artist Marco Cochrane, cocktails galore including Veuve Clicquot, there was The Park’s Edible Gardens and social games including giant Jenga, cornhole and croquet to go along with great live music.
“This is amazing cooking over wood like a barbeque or picnic, this is part of the show. We aren’t dishing out little tiny bits of food, we are cooking up some great wood burning barbeque for an amazing crowd,” Chef Tom Colicchio said. “I don’t see a lot of these chefs often, Julia Serrano and Charlie Palmer I haven’t seen in a couple of years. You get to do a fun event like this and you get to see some old friends.”
“I have been here fifteen years now and it really is amazing how much it has grown and what is great is that it used to be steakhouses, now it is everything. Now you can come here and eat really, really well and it isn’t just on the strip, it is off the strip as well, it has just become a big time food destination,” Tom said. “It is a town that was built on food and entertainment, but now food is such a part of entertainment that it makes perfect sense that food is such of big part of Las Vegas now.”
Celebrity chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger of Boarder Grill fame, put on a number of events and with the two of them you were always guaranteed fantastic food and you would hear some great stories about their early beginnings and how they built their amazing partnership. The ability to interact with chefs on this level and to hear so many great stories is what really sets Vegas Uncork’d apart from other events.
When it came to great conversation, you would be hard pressed to top the Culinary Journey Around the World at Bacchanal Buffet (Caesars Palace) hosted by Robin Leach & Gary Selesner. You know you are in for a great afternoon when you pair “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” host Robin Leach and Caesars Palace President Gary Selesner. Guests were treated to food from; Asia, Japan, France, Italy and Mexico and there was a great story for each region. While the conversation was great, the food just as good, highlighted by the fabulous artichoke and black truffle soup that Chef Guy Savoy paired with his brioche. A true delicacy that punctuated a fabulous afternoon that sadly came to an end with guests wishing they could hear at least one more story.
The Grand Tasting is always one of the highlights of Vegas Uncork’d and this year over 2,500 food enthusiasts enjoyed a seemingly endless amount of signature dishes to go along with wine and cocktails at the five-acre Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis at Caesars Palace. Some of the other highlights of the weekend, and there were many, included: Brunch at GIADA, Dinner with Gordon Ramsey at part of the Master series, two different events with Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Brunch with Bobby Flay at Mesa Grill.
Simply put, if food is your thing, this is the weekend for you. You are never likely to find so many great chefs to go with once-in-a-lifetime events in one city. Start planning for 2018 and grab your tickets early as they will as always go fast.
For more information visit: Vegas Uncork’D
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