Friday, Dec. 10, 2004 | 8:52 a.m.
Reservations Requested: Culinary Secrets of Las Vegas' Celebrity Chefs" by Sarah Lee Marks (Huntington Press $24.95) is a knockout. Just off the press, it can be found at Borders Books in Henderson, The Reading Room at Mandalay Place and Waldenbooks in the Fashion Show mall. Photography by award-winning Audrey Dempsey is smashing.
The food shots are exquisite. Dempsey has captured the essence of each chef with penetrating photos that look beyond the kitchens the chefs command. These sexy chefs would make a super calendar.
It's difficult these days to find a quality Las Vegas memento for just under $25, one with recipes yet. Most of the recipes require a skill level beyond basic, yet there are enough here to encourage experienced cooks. Recipe skill levels range from one to five, but don't sweat it. Enjoy this lovely volume for what it is; a wonderful tribute to the chefs of Las Vegas as recounted by the author.
One caveat -- some of the chefs have moved on to Las Vegas kitchens other than the ones they inhabited when the book was in the works. It's just the way it is in a city that is constantly reinventing itself.
No word yet on any book signing, but it's a sure bet that the chefs will be happy to autograph your copy when you dine at one of their restaurants.
Renaissance opens with Envy: Renaissance Las Vegas hotel has opened at 3400 Paradise Road nearby the Las Vegas Convention Center. A nongaming hotel, the Marriott Renaissance Las Vegas is 14 stories tall and houses 548 rooms and 30 suites. Hotel amenities include spa treatments, concierge services and Envy Steakhouse adjacent to the hotel.
Envy Chef Richard Chamberlin has a resume that includes a stint as executive chef at the ever-popular Little Nell Hotel in Aspen, Colo., a favorite with the ski resort's rich and famous clientele. The stories Chef Chamberlin could tell are probably as juicy as the steaks.
Chamberlin has created menus for every meal of the day; breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The breakfast menu includes traditional choices, as well as such fit-for-you specialties as a low-carb egg white frittata and wild blueberry whole wheat pancakes. The lunch menu includes starters, sandwiches, entree-size salads and a selection of steaks and chops. The dinner menu is extensive, offering soups, a caviar tasting (market price), a fresh seafood "tower" ($65), appetizers ($8 to market price), salads ($8-$14), a good selection of side dishes ($6-$12), steaks and chops ($24-$38) and seafood ($28 to market price).
For reservations, call 733-6533.
Holiday events at Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas: In celebration of the holidays, the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas will be offering hotel guests hot cider and gingerbread cookies at the front drive area from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. This cheerful treat will be provided through late December.
Tea With Santa in the Firenze Lobby Lounge will be featured at 2 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 18. Families will love the experience, which includes a holiday tea with sandwiches, cookies, sweet treats, warm noncaffeinated beverages, storytelling, a photo with Santa and a complimentary teddy bear. Cost is $32 per adult and $25 per child 12 and under. Children under 2 will be admitted free.
Strictly for adults is the Small Batch Bourbon Tasting coming to the Ritz-Carlton on Dec. 18. For this one night bourbon aficionados will converge in honor of their favored libation. This rare sampling experience will pair commentary by Fred Noe, great-grandson of Kentucky legend and notable distiller Jim Beam, with the sampling of four ultra-premium small batch bourbons from Booker, Baker, Basil Hayden and Knob Creek. These tasting bourbons are handcrafted in limited quantities and traditionally aged for nine years. They are hand-bottled when they reach 100 proof.
Noe will begin his remarks at 6 p.m. Guests are urged to arrive by the beginning of the evening, so they won't miss any of his expert commentary. The tasting ends at 9 p.m. Cost per person is $35. Participants must be at least 21 years old. Reservations are required and may be made by calling the hotel at 567-4700. Prepaid tickets can be picked up the night of the event and include complimentary short-term self-parking. For more details or room reservations, visit www.ritzcarlton.com.
Short orders
The District celebrates Hanukkah: The District at Green Valley Ranch and the Chabad of Green Valley will host a traditional menorah-lighting ceremony on 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson will offer a few words, followed by Rabbi Mendy Harlig, who will recite the blessings as the candles are lit. The ceremony will take place at the free-form bronze sculpture behind The District stage. There will be treats and live music. Admission is free. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call Chabad of Green Valley at 617-0770 or e-mail [email protected].
More of The District: The District's old-fashioned holiday theme continues throughout the season. Dec. 18 is cookie-decorating time for kids. From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. chefs from the Culinary Institute of Las Vegas will help the children decorate holiday cookies. The District stage is the place. Panera Bread will supply one cookie for each child to decorate. To learn more about the holiday activities at The District, call 564-8595 or visit www.thedistrictgvr.com.
'Wolfgang Puck Makes it Easy': Wolfgang Puck will be signing copies of his new cookbook, "Wolfgang Puck Makes it Easy: Delicious Recipes for Your Home Kitchen" (Rutledge Hill Press, $34.99), from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 19 at Postrio in the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian during their special Carnavale celebration. For this special signing event, the book will be available for a special introductory price -- $23.99. This is a cookbook for cooks of every skill level. It's a keeper.
Gingerbread Village at Hyatt Regency: A 300-pound gingerbread village was recently unveiled at the Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas. The eye-catching creation was unveiled while more than 60 children from the Boys & Girls Club of Las Vegas looked on. After the unveiling Executive Chef Eric Howson treated the kids to a special cooking lesson. They decorated their own gingerbread cookies using some of the same materials that decorated the village. The village was a joint effort between the kitchen and the engineering department. Painter Kay McCarthy contributed more than 60 hours to the display. Santa can direct you to the site.
Man bites dog: There are plenty of dogs to bite at d'Mustard at The District. "We're going to be known as the best dog and burger joint in town," said d'Mustard consultant Roger Wagner, who added d'Mustard serves "dinner-style breakfasts" at 7 a.m. daily. Prices are family affordable. A breakfast platter -- two eggs, bacon or sausage and toast -- is $2.99. Hot dog prices are $1.49 for a "naked" dog to $2.89. Kids love this place. Call 434-7477 for more information.
See's Candies: Holiday candy items at See's Candies will be available through Dec. 24. Gifts can be purchased by calling (800) 347-7337 or visit www.sees.com. Among the new holiday items are a teddy bear box ($4), a 4-pound-plus holiday basket ($65), a small holiday tree tote ($4.50) with See's classic lollipops, candy canes, a small chocolate Santa and much more. For a holiday catalog, stop by any See's store or call the number above.
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