Columnist Muriel Stevens: Epicurean Awards themselves worthy of award

Friday, Feb. 7, 2003 | 9:48 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' dining column appears Fridays. Her shopping and travel columns appear Wednesday. Reach her at (702) 259-4080 or muriel@lasvegassun.com.

Las Vegas Life magazine's fourth annual Epicurean Awards at Green Valley Ranch Station Casino on Jan. 23 was a delicious event. The Epicurean Awards honor Las Vegas' best restaurants and chefs in 21 categories. The handsome awards are designed by Tiffany & Co.

Winners are chosen by Las Vegas Life (a Greenspun Media Group property as is the Las Vegas Sun) readers who cast the ballots that determine the winners. All of the winners are profiled in the February issue of the magazine.

More than 500 guests, including such culinary notables as Tom Colicchio and Chris Albrecht (Craftsteak); David Robins and Tom Kaplan (Wolfgang Puck restaurants); Piero Selvaggio (Valentino); Wendy and Michael Jordan (Rosemary's); Brad Brennan and Carlos Guia (Commander's Palace); Mario Maccioni (Le Cirque, Circo and Tre); Kerry Simon (Simon Kitchen); Andrew Bradbury and Richard Feminella (Aureole); and Joseph Alevado (Nobu) mingled and munched along with the rest of us.

Green Valley Ranch Executive Chef Joe Mulligan, Banquet Chef William Bierlein, Chef Garde Manger Suwit Skarthonsup and Pastry Chef James Fricket presented lavish food stations, including a savory martini potato bar, pasta bar, carving stations featuring rosy juniper-maple smoked salmon and glorious Moroccan-seasoned rack of lamb.

Servers offered a stunning array of hors d'oeuvres. Among them: Vietnamese beef rolls, bite-size venison Wellington, Thai chicken satays on sugar cane batons, truffled duck confit on golden beet chips, seared foie gras on glazed pineapple carpaccio, scrumptious sesame coronets filled with spicy ahi tuna tartare, lobster medallions on tiny brioche, wonderful cardamom-cured duck in scallion pancakes with a smidgeon of pickled vegetables and fingerling potatoes with golden American caviar and a dollop of creme fraiche.

Tanquery No. 10 presented specialty drinks galore: Perfect 10 martini, Lavendar Orchid martini, TENacious martini and the Ten Grand martini, all made to order at a super bar. Awards sponsors included Ethel M Chocolates, Viking Kitchen Equipment, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and Best Agency.

After the awards guests made their way to the cool Whiskey Bar for fancy coffees and fine teas from the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Dessert stations offered assorted petits fours, a variety of truffles, miniature pastries, creme brulee, cups of chocolate fondue -- white, milk and dark chocolate -- and all sorts of fruits and such for dipping.

For the fourth year Harrah's headliner Clint Holmes hosted the presentations. And once again he composed food-related ditties that brought down the house. With him were backup singers. It was a sensational turn for the talented Holmes. A special appearance by Steve Schirripa ("The Sopranos") was the frosting on the Epicurean Awards cake.

And the winners were: Best Chef, David Robins; Best Brunch, Bellagio; Best Chinese, Jasmine; Best Desserts, Postrio; Best French, Le Cirque; Best Italian, Piero Selvaggio Valentino; Best Japanese, Nobu; Best Mexican, Lindo Michoacan; Best New Restaurant Off the Strip, Gaetano's; Best New Restaurant on the Strip, Craftsteak; Best Power Lunch, Palm; Best Restaurant off the Strip, Rosemary's; Best Restaurant on the Strip, Prime; Best Restaurant Overall, Prime; Best Service, Prime; Best Seafood, Aqua; Best Steakhouse, Delmonico; a tie for Best American, Wild Sage and Commander's Palace; Best Wine List, Aureole; Best Cocktails, Red Square; and Best Lounge, Fontana.

Wolfgang Puck was a surprise attendee. He came to honor David Robins, who not only won the Best Chef award, but also made the cover of Las Vegas Life and was given a Baume and Mercier watch from Berger & Son Jewelers. Also adding their support to Robins were Spago partner Joe Essa, Lupo Executive Chef Mark Ferguson and Spago corporate Pastry Chef Christophe Itthuritz.

With so many new restaurants opening in Las Vegas and more on their way, next year's Epicurean Awards should be more dazzling than ever.

Chinese New Year

Asia at Harrah's: Asia at Harrah's is celebrating the Year of the Ram by offering a number of specialties that will be available through Tuesday. Included are the dragon appetizer, fried rice wrapped in a lotus leaf, wonton soup with seafood and Kowloon-style Dungeness crab. Asia's kitchen offers not only Chinese. Also available are a selection of Thai, Indian and Japanese dishes and many signature dishes, such as sliced abalone with seasonal greens, seabass with miso sauce, Thai-style spicy scampi and steamed live shrimp with fresh garlic paste. For dinner reservations, call 369-5084.

Little Buddha and cinema: Little Buddha Asian restaurant at the Palms has added a new twist to dinner and a movie. Dine at Little Buddha every Monday through Wednesday in February and enjoy Chopsticks and Flicks. Couples who purchase two entrees at Little Buddha will receive a discount gift certificate for two general-admission tickets at Brenden Theaters. The regular price is $17; the Little Buddha price is $11.50.

Couples participating in this promotion will have opportunities to enter a drawing for various prizes. The winner will be "determined" March 1. Little Buddha is a good place to dine at any time of the year. A new chef and new management have made a significant difference in the food and service. And the sushi bar's excellent.

Chinese New Year celebrations will take place in many Chinese restaurants, so check with your favorite.

Valentine's Day dining

Oh Cupid, you've got your work cut out for you this year. Of course, if you haven't already made a reservation at such romantic places as Picasso, Renoir, Le Cirque, NOBHILL, Alize, Eiffel Tower Restaurant it's probably already too late. Never before have I had such a spate of e-mail requests for romantic dining suggestions. Who could list them all? The ones included here are but a few.

Bally's: Bally's Steakhouse and the Italian al Dente will feature three-course Valentine's Day dinners. The Steakhouse dinner ($39.95) includes wine, a choice of salad or soup, a choice of herb-crusted rack of lamb or pan-seared halibut and dessert. Al Dente will feature an Italian-themed meal ($35.95) that includes a complimentary glass of wine. Reservations are suggested for both restaurants. Call 967-7999.

Wolfgang Puck restaurants: Chefs at all four Puck properties will warm the hearts of lovers with sublime cuisine designed to titillate the senses. The award-winning David Robins will offer an inspired four-course dinner for $90 per couple at Spago in the Forum Shops at Caesars. Chef Joseph Bennett at Chinois at the Forum has his imaginative dinner for two priced at $52 per couple. At Trattoria del Lupo in Mandalay Bay Chef Mark Ferguson will offer a special tasting menu for two ($80) that can also be offered a la carte for one. And at the romantic Postrio inside the Venetian's Grand Canal Shoppes Chef John LaGrone is featuring a pair of tasting menus for $55 per person. Reservations are suggested for all of these restaurants.

Dinner and a view: Viaggio Italian restaurant in Green Valley/Henderson is serving up a three-course Valentine's Day meal with choices for each course for $79. A glass of champagne is included. Reservations are requested. Call 492-6900.

Gustav Mauler restaurants: Sazio, BullShrimp, OXO and Spiedini will all feature Valentine's Day menus. They will offer three-course dinners for $36 per person. Reservations requested.

More suggestions to come.

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