Columnist Muriel Stevens: Epic Epicurean Awards capped with a lively affair

Friday, Feb. 4, 2000 | 8:34 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' dining column appears Fridays. Her shopping column appears Wednesdays. Reach her at muriel@vegas.com or 259-4080.

Las Vegas Life magazine created quite a stir with its first annual Epicurean Awards party at the Four Seasons recently. Chefs, restaurant owners, media members and contributors gathered to celebrate the debut of the Epicurean Awards, and the winners. The event was planned to coincide with the release of the Epicurean Awards story in Las Vegas Life's February issue, available now.

Co-sponsoring the event were the Four Seasons, Kosta Boda, Tiffany & Co., Southern Wine & Spirits and Absolut.

The cocktail reception was a festive affair with a lavish food table. It was a grand opportunity for the chefs to visit with each other, something they rarely have time to do.

Not too long ago the idea of a tribute to fine dining and related pleasures would have been impossible. Today, with every renowned chef in the world showing an interest in opening a restaurant here, anything is possible.

Epicurean Award ballots were mailed to members of the Las Vegas chapter of the Chaine des Rotisseurs, the oldest food and wine society in the world, and to a small group of independent food and wine aficionados. Voting was done anonymously.

Ballots listed only the categories. Voters wrote in their top five choices in each of the following categories: Best Restaurant on the Strip; Best Restaurant off the Strip; Best Chinese; Best Fusion; Best Mexican; Best Steakhouse; Best French; Best Japanese; Best Italian; Best Desserts; Best Lounge; Best Wine List; Best Margarita; Best Microbrew; Best Martini; Best Cigar Lounge; Best Cigar List; and Best Restaurant Overall.

Before the awards were announced there were welcoming remarks from Four Seasons General Manager Randy Morton, LVL Publisher Danny Greenspun and VP Del Rusher. Emcee for the awards was Harrah's star entertainer Clint Holmes. Holmes wowed everyone with his wit and charm. He's a beguiling personality who's exceptionally warm and humorous.

And the winners were: Picasso at Bellagio, Best Restaurant on the Strip; Rosemary's, Best Restaurant off the Strip; Kevin Wu's Royal Star at the Venetian, Best Chinese; Wolfgang Puck's Spago in the Forum Shops, Best Fusion; Sue Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken's Border Grill at Mandalay Bay, Best Mexican; Emeril Lagasse's Delmonico at the Venetian, Best Steakhouse; Renoir at the Mirage, Best French Restaurant; Nobu at the Hard Rock Hotel, Best Japanese; Ferraro's, Best Italian.

Best Desserts, Puck's pastry chef Stacey Cosor White at the new Postrio at the Venetian; Best Lounge, Fontana at Bellagio; Best Wine List, Charlie Palmer's Aureole at Mandalay Bay; Best Margarita, Border Grill; Best Microbrew, Gordon Biersch; Best Martini, Petrossian bar at Bellagio; Best Cigar Lounge, Hamilton's at New York-New York; and Best Cigar List, Gustav Mauler's Spiedine at the Resort at Summerlin.

Picasso at Bellagio was winner of the Best Restaurant Overall. Chef Julian Serrano was there to accept his two awards. Also accepting their awards were: Wendy Jordan (Rosemary's); Arthur Snyder (Royal Star); Tom Kaplan and David Robins (Spago and Postrio); Sue Feniger (Border Grill); Kevin Vogt and General Manager Richard Ziegler (Delmonico); Alex Stratta (Renoir); Joanne Takahashi (Nobu general manager); Gino Ferraro (Ferraro's); Steven Geddes (Aureole); Dean Biersch (Gordon Biersch); and Gustav Mauler (Spiedini's).

Among the many enjoying the awards party were Tiffany & Co. General Manager Suzi Nagle, Bellagio's Elizabeth Blau and Gamal Aziz, Mirage's Bart Mahoney, Andre Rochat and Mary Jane Jarvis (Andre's), Freddy Glusman (Piero's), Craig Gilbert (Rio), Perry Fusilier (Mon Ami Gabi), Denise Mauler, Mark Ervin, Luis de Casas, Gil Lempert-Schwarz and many more.

This was a lovely event that will continue to grow. I look forward to Epicurean Awards 2001.

The complete Epicurean Awards story, plus restaurant picks from the award winners and a short history of the Chaine can be found in the Las Vegas Life February 2000 issue, available by subscription (call 990-2440) and on newsstands.

Border Grill: After the awards party Barbara Greenspun and I decided to check out the winning margaritas and food at Border Grill. The restaurant is near the Mandalay Bay convention area and is not easy to find, but well worth looking for. We dined on a variety of appetizers -- empanadas, mushroom quesadilla, avocado salad, skewers of chicken, zesty homemade salsas and tortilla chips and shakers of the justifiably noted margaritas. An added dining companion reveled in the marinated ribeye steak. The portion was large enough for two.

For reservations, call 632-7403.

Alliance of Black Culinarians: The Alliance of Black Culinarians will pay tribute to Black History Month on Feb. 20 when it presents its annual Gourmet Grazer at Sam's Town from 2-5 p.m. Dishes will be prepared and served by a number of Las Vegas' finest black chefs. I've attended a few of these delicious events and thoroughly enjoyed the variety of foods offered. It's a terrific deal at $25 per person.

The Alliance of Black Culinarians is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the education, training, advancement and recognition of black culinarians. Proceeds from the Gourmet Grazer are used for educational scholarships and community service projects. For tickets, call Chef T.E. Williams, 799-7528, or Chef Datron Green, 437-2935.