Chefs cook up quality recreation time

Max Jacobson

Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2000 | 9:21 a.m.

On his day off, President Bill Clinton doesn't play golf on a public course. David Hockney doesn't paint by number. Bill Gates doesn't balance his checkbook with an adding machine. Why expect our great chefs to behave differently?

These men and women know good food; in fact, their lives revolve around it. Many of them also keep tabs on their culinary peers, so on the rare occasions when they have the opportunity to escape the kitchen, they love checking out the competition. After all, who makes a better audience?

In talking to chefs, though, one gets the impression that they would prefer to keep their culinary preferences to themselves. So, in order to pry loose their recommendations, a little nagging was employed. Here are a few choice suggestions from ten of our most talented chefs, a broad range from modest fish taco chains to swank dinner houses.

Some choices, recited here, may take you by surprise. But now that their secrets are out, why not experience a few of these places yourselves?

Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, Border Grill

Most of our time in Las Vegas is spent in the restaurant, because we both live in Los Angeles. But when we do go out, we have two favorites. One is a little restaurant north of downtown called Salvadoreno. The chopped fruit drinks are wonderful and refreshing, there is great fried pork and yucca root, and the pupusas (stuffed, griddled savory cakes) are amazing. The other restaurant is Lotus of Siam, where our friend Ding (a woman named Saipin Chutima) makes us papaya salad, Thai beef jerky and nam kao sod, puffed rice salad with sour sausage, peanuts and herbs.

Luciano Pellegrini, Piero Selvaggio Valentino

My wife is crazy for bistro food, so the last two times out, we went to Mon Ami Gabi for escargots, steak frites and roast chicken with herbs-which is very flavorful there. The fries are great and so is the service, and if you are lucky enough to sit out on the patio, you get to see the Bellagio water show. The pork chops at Postrio are also something I like to eat when I go out, and so is their carpaccio, although it doesn't beat mine (laughs.)

Laurie Kendrick and Stan Carroll, Wild Sage Caf

We love to go out for ethnic foods, because we don't serve them. Our favorite little Mexican restaurant is located on Pecos just north of Sunset and called Chico's Paradise. We love the margaritas, and we eat stuff like nachos and cheese enchiladas, or steak tacos and chile relleno. We also like the Mediterranean Cafe for falafel, and every once in a while, when we get a craving for Asian, Bangkok Orchid for the vegetarian soups.

Alex Stratta, Renoir

My wife and I like to go casual, and we like to stay close to Summerlin, where we live. One of the best spots is Hamada of Japan, for whatever is fresh for sushi, and for their surprisingly good tempura. Sometimes we'll drop by Spiedini for a bowl of pasta, or, umm, should I admit this, we'll go to Rubio's Fish Tacos for something light. One place my wife and I like on the Strip is Mon Ami Gabi, for steak frites.

Michael Jordan, Rosemary's

I like Jazzed Cafe and Vinoteca on Sahara, because I can go there after I close my restaurant at 1:30 a.m. They stay open until three, and the risotto is terrific. Sometimes my crew and I will go over to the Lakes Lounge for a patty melt-it's a real locals joint-a short order place, also open late. Sundays I'll drop by Panini on occasion, and grab a wood fired pizza and salad. If my wife and I go to the Strip, it's Pinot Brasserie for foie gras and sweetbreads, and later, a stop by the bar at Delmonico's. For high end, I like Aqua, and for contemporary food, Olives, both in Bellagio.

Francois Meulien, Tres Jazz

The Lotus in Henderson, a little Chinese place, serves great salted shrimp and perfect five spice roast duck. I go to a lot of steak houses, too. Ruth's Chris' has the best beef, in my opinion. For upscale dining, I like Le Cirque, but I also like Monte Carlo in Desert Inn. I'm prejudiced, because the chef, Arnaud Briand, is my old boss. But I still say he's the best French chef in town, and his potato crusted salmon is just sensational.

Julian Serrano, Picasso

Tell you the truth, I never go anywhere. But sometimes, I take my 14-year old daughter Stefania to Rubio's Fish Tacos, where she likes the salads and the salsas. Right now, she's on a sushi kick, so we've eaten at Shintaro and also at Malibu Chan's, which isn't bad at all. I do like to eat rice noodle soup with roast duck at the Noodle Kitchen in Bellagio sometimes. The best thing I've eaten lately was baby lamb roasted in a clay pot, in a village just outside Madrid, in Spain.

Grant MacPherson-Bellagio

Because I spent years in the Far East, when I go out, it's usually for noodles. In fact, anything Asian appeals to me. I love Hainan chicken rice, which I've just put on my room service menu, plus sauteed crab and any kind of live fish at Joyful House. Jasmine on Buffalo makes great chicken satay. For a steak, I prefer the ribeye at Smith and Wollensky, which I usually have with freshly made fries and a pile of cooked spinach.

Patrick Glennon-Samba Grill

I usually go out during the afternoon, because that's my free time. I like the simple, delicious Argentine foods served at Rincon de Buenos Aires, beef tongue, cured meats and morcilla, a blood sausage you can't get anywhere else in town. They also play soccer matches there on a big TV, which they beam in. When I have people in from out of town, I love the Palm. My friends get outrageously big lobsters. I go for the Caesar salad and a nice big bowl of lobster bisque.

Megan Romano, pastry chef, Aureole

Rosemary's is one place my husband (Aureole chef Joe Romano) and I like to go, especially for barbecued quail. We also like Pumi, a sushi and Chinese joint, where we sit at the sushi bar and order things like the spicy tuna roll, the eel handroll or whatever is fresh. Just recently we dined at Aqua, and we loved it, especially the caviar parfait. I also like Lupo, for grilled vegetables and shellfish, foods you can eat every day.

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