Columnist Muriel Stevens: Easter is complete with all the dressing

Friday, April 2, 2004 | 8:39 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.

"In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it / You'll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade." -- Classic Irving Berlin; nostalgic Irving Berlin.

Pretty hats and soft, frilly dresses are seldom seen on visitors who come to dine and relax; it's the locals who shine. On Easter Sunday women will be splendiferously attired, especially the young girls who love to play dress-up, whatever the occasion.

One thing is certain -- locals and visitors will find many wonderful things to eat. Most hotels and restaurants will feature the Easter Bunny. Buffets will be festive; food stations will offer a wide array of traditional holiday fare, along with ethnic stations and lavish displays of desserts.

Wherever possible, make reservations.

Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas: Popular locales such as the Medici Cafe in the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas are always sold out. Medici Cafe faces the Florentine Gardens, with its profusion of foliage and flowers. Dine inside or on the covered terrace. For reservations call 567-4700.

MonteLago Village: Those seeking casual dining will find it in the MonteLago Village nearby the Ritz-Carlton. Joseph Keller's Como Steakhouse is fine for any meal of the day. Casual foods, as well as steaks and seafood, are available. Reservations are accepted.

Early birds will find the newly opened Caffe Positano in MonteLago Village offers breakfast specialties, croissant sandwiches, cinnamon French toast and more; lunch offerings include soups, sandwiches, burgers and a variety of salads. Italian smoothies are also offered. Caffe Positano is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Four Seasons at Mandalay Bay: Children adore the pint-sized buffet table, where they can help themselves. The adult buffet is a splendid affair, offering a variety of breakfast foods, including made-to-order omelets, hot and cold meat and fish dishes, lovely cheeses and memorable, freshly made sticky buns, warm from the oven.

For reservations or more information, call 632-5000.

Wolfgang Puck restaurants: At Spago, Wolfgang Puck's acclaimed Corporate Executive Chef and Partner David Robins will present traditional Easter dishes, such as roasted lamb chops with string bean ragout and thyme jus; honey-glazed ham with Yukon Gold potatoes and green beans. Among the other choices on the Easter menu are sauteed halibut with fennel-arugula salad, blood oranges and Nicoise olives; also fettuccine with portobello mushrooms, pea shoots and Parmesan cheese. Easter hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. For reservations call 369-6300.

At Trattoria del Lupo at Mandalay Bay, Executive Chef Mark Ferguson keeps the Easter Bunny hopping with fettucini and spring vegetables and Nantucket scallops. Hours are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Call 740-5522.

Postrio's Executive Chef John LaGrone lures diners at The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian with herb-roasted leg of lamb, roasted baby vegetables and Madeira natural jus. Puck's Chinois in the Forum Shops at Caesars will serve its regular carte on Easter Sunday.

Easter Brunch at JW Marriott: Join the Easter Bunny at Ceres restaurant on Easter Sunday. Three seatings are offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Adults are $30 per person; children 3 to 12 years are $16.95 per person; babes under 3 dine free. Dine inside or out.

The Easter Bunny, a real party animal, will be bringing along five of his hutch mates to entertain the children. Face painting, balloon creations and a craft table will keep the kids busy. Families can have their photos taken with a floppy-eared friend. A photo with a frame is complimentary, and an egg hunt, of course, is planned. The buffet features a variety of foods -- salads, seafood, pasta, fruits, cheeses, made-to-order omelets, many hot dishes and desserts galore. For reservations call 869-7381.

Make your own natural Easter egg colors: Whole Foods Market in Summerlin offers a list of natural dyes for coloring eggs. It's simple to do. Use just enough water to cover the eggs and always add a teaspoon of vinegar to the water to set the colors. An example: carrot tops give a pale-gold result, onion skins a golden tan. For the complete list of colors and instructions, stop by the store or call 752-4400.

Twin Creeks Steakhouse at Silverton: Twin Creeks Steakhouse inside the Silverton will feature Easter Sunday specials along with the regular menu. Included among the entrees are maple-glazed Smithfield ham apricot compote and mashed potatoes, a roasted, double-cut pork chop with herb and cheese mashes potatoes and a roasted peach. Sauteed shrimp and spring pea risotto is a delightful alternative. Silverton is three miles south of the Strip at I-15 and Blue Diamond Road. For more information call 263-7777.

Mark your calendar: On April 17, Sunrise Children's Foundation presents Color Us Friends, a black-tie gala and art auction at the MGM Grand Conference Center. Call the Sunrise Children's Foundation for additional information call 380-1725.

On April 24, Chefs for Kids will "cruise" their way through their annual fund-raiser at the Four Seasons. Tickets are $150 per person for the joint venture between the Fraternity of Executive Chefs of Las Vegas and the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. Included are a silent auction during the cocktail reception and a lively live auction during dinner.

Monies raised benefit the chefs' many charitable causes, including nutrition instruction for the children. No tickets are needed. Seating is done at the door. For more information call 257-5516.

On May 6, Share Our Strength, a national hunger feeding program, will celebrate 12 years in Nevada with its annual "Taste of the Nation." This year's local recipients are Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, Community Food Bank and Chef and Child Foundation. Leading the event is Jesus Cibrian, event coordinator and executive chef of Aramark. SOS will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center South from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $50 in advance or $60 at the door. Call 943-6868 for more info or visit www.tasteofthenation.com. Community restaurateurs, corporate sponsors and community members go all out to provide a remarkable array of food and beverages.

Short orders

Low-carb mania: Piero's Trattoria in the Hughes Center is offering a low-carb selection during lunch. The recipes are authentic Atkins. Permission was granted by the company to owner Evan Glusman. Try the Kobe beef burger. Included in the meat mix are feta cheese and tomatoes. My friend Michael Fuller raves about these burgers.

Mama Jo's Durango Drive location is making some sauces without sugar and featuring dishes that may be long on fat, but fit the low-carb profile.

There's no end to this low-carb madness. Eating this way is not for everyone, so check with your doc before starting any radical diet change.

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