VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Epicurean Awards more than just desserts

Friday, Jan. 24, 2003 | 9:34 a.m.

Thursday night was perhaps not the best evening to go out to dinner in Las Vegas.

Virtually every prominent restaurant chef and food personality in town was at the gala fourth annual Epicurean Awards ceremony at Green Valley Ranch Station Casino.

The evening was like a Las Vegas food-industry highlight film.

"Sopranos" star Steve Schirripa presented the Best Italian Restaurant award to Piero Selvaggio of Valentino.

"They got the best wine list anywhere -- outside of Uncle Junior's basement," he said in his best Bobby Bacala voice (his "Sopranos" character).

Wendy Jordan, who won with her husband, Michael, for Best Restaurant Off Strip, had the SRO crowd in tears when she brought up her young son Ben and thanked him for his sacrifice of having a mom who works so much.

Wolfgang Puck made an unannounced appearance to support his longtime friend, Spago Chef David Robins, who walked off with Best Chef honors.

Robins was presented with a $1,200 Baume and Mercier watch; all the winners received a Tiffany-designed trophy and a goody bag stuffed with trinkets from Ethel M, Neiman Marcus, Canyon Ranch Spa and more.

The big winner was the Bellagio steakhouse Prime, which copped Best Service, Best Restaurant on the Strip and Best Overall honors.

All the local restaurant royalty, right down to the critics, were in the house, including Tom Kaplan, Kerry Simon, Andrew Bradbury, Richard Femenella, Tom Colicchio, Joseph Alevado, Rory and Gaetano Palmeri, Roy Hillis, Wes and Laurie Kendrick, Elizabeth Blau, Jeff Fine, Jack Bulavsky and various Maccionis.

Before the awards at a private reception in Whiskey Bar, Carlos Guia of Commander's Palace emphatically said that the rumors his restaurant was closing are not true.

An hour later his eatery was copping Best American honors, in a tie with Wild Sage.

Schirripa proudly told VegasBeat that his book "A Goomba's Guide to Life" had passed the 100,000 mark in hardcover sales, and that the sequel, "A Goomba's Guide to Love," would be out in the spring.

The evening started with a video greeting from Robin Leach, who is off preparing for his new ABC reality-survivor series, "I'm a Celebrity -- Get Me Out of Here."

He offered an insightful look at the growth of the local restaurant industry.

Immediately afterward, from the podium, Greenspun Media Group President Danny Greenspun, one of the evening's hosts, cracked: "That's the first time I've seen Robin without one of his 'nieces.' "

Then, emcee Clint Holmes performed a riotous song parody about diets, called "Haven't Eaten for the Longest Time," sung to the tune of Billy Joel's "The Longest Time."

It included lyrics such as, "Tofu that was mushy ... like J. Lo's tushy."

Winners were decided by votes cast on ballots in Las Vegas Life magazine, which sponsors the awards.

The complete list of winners in all 21 categories is available in the February issue of Las Vegas Life, which has the same corporate parent -- Greenspun Media Group -- as the Las Vegas Sun.

Be a producer

A production of "The Producers" is coming to Las Vegas -- to look for dancers for its touring companies.

According to the Las Vegas show business bible "Call Back," the casting folks from Mel Brooks' Broadway smash are holding auditions from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, at the Backstage II studio.

So if any potential dancers are also pro football fans, they'll miss the Super Bowl for the audition.

Probably not an issue, actually.

Snap shots

It was the modern-day equivalent of seeing Leonardo da Vinci standing next to his painting of Mona Lisa: photojournalist Bob Gruen admiring his timeless image of John Lennon, arms folded and wearing a New York City T-shirt, standing in front of the State of Liberty.

That, or Lisa Law in front of her image of Nico and Lou Reed of the Velvet Underground.

Gruen and Law were two of the many photogs represented in the big Kodak-sponsored "Rock X-Posed" show at The Rio who showed up at the opening party Wednesday night.

Other lenspeople who made the scene: Todd Kaplan, Raeanna Rubenstein, Paul Allen, Greg Alexander, Ed Caraeff, Barry Roden, Maryanne Bilham, Robert Matheu, David Seeling and Jenny Runacre.

About 200 guests rocked to Sweet Al Miller and his band, fronted by the KOMP 92.3-FM morning man.

The show is up through March 23, when it goes out on a two-year tour to nine cities. It will all wind up as part of the permanent collection at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Name game

A few weeks ago we ran an item about the contest to name Siegfried & Roy's three Royal White Tiger cubs.

The master illusionists told VegasBeat they had received a staggering 10,000 responses at the conclusion of the contest on Monday.

So, the cubs -- who turned 3months old on Wednesday -- will have to wait a little longer than expected to learn their new names.

"We are proud to share our cubs with the community but we never imagined so many entries," Roy told VegasBeat.

"We are carefully going through them all and will announce the selections next week with the winners having an opportunity to meet and pet the cubs."

The little guys can be seen nightly at Siegfried & Roy's show, and at their Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, both at The Mirage.

Popcorn bowl

Professional athletes are starting to flood into town for all the Super Bowl parties.

Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher was partying at Studio 54 inside MGM Grand this week with retired hockey star Dominic Hasek.

Hall of Fame tight end and 1985 Super Bowl-winning Bears coach Mike Ditka told friends he plans to watch the game at the Caesars Palace Race & Sports Book.

Thursday night Miller Lite scheduled a private bash at ESPNZone at New York-New York. Broadcasters Rich Eisen and Tom Jackson were to host. Among others, William "The Refrigerator" Perry and NHRA champ Larry Dixon were on hand.

Tonight gridiron legend Jim Brown heads a Pro Bowl lineup at the Hard Rock Hotel for a pre-game bash. On the guest list: Dennis Rodman, Vivica A. Fox, Peerless Price, Todd Lyght, Mikhael Ricks, Ricky Williams, Marshall Faulk and Mr. Sharpie himself, Terrell Owens.

The Hard Rock event is boasting that the Raiders' Rod Woodson will attend, but there is a better chance of me winning all my Super Bowl bets than Woodson -- who is playing in the game -- being allowed to leave San Diego for a party in Las Vegas.

Postponed

Late Sun executive Sandy Thompson was scheduled to be honored at the Nevada Opera Theatre's 17th Annual Opera Gala tonight at Paris Las Vegas. But due to a request by her family, the ceremony will instead take place at the Opera Theatre's fall event. The rest of the show goes on.