Friday, Oct. 1, 2004 | 8:41 a.m.
Doing brunch at Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!, a new tapas restaurant in the Fashion Show mall, proved to be a wonderful idea one recent Sunday morning. With two friends in tow, I headed for the valet entrance right off the Strip and adjacent to the restaurant, an easy way to access the cafe.
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! offers such a varied menu we decided we would have a mini-adventure. Our mini-adventure turned major when we each wanted to try different foods and got carried away and ordered more than we should have, but we didn't regret one delicious bite.
We shared everything except the gazpacho, a refreshing, traditional chilled soup that whetted our appetites for the feast that followed. Here's what we ordered: shrimp paella (made-to-order), citrus-cured salmon served with slices of toasted bread topped with grated cucumber salad; chicken salad with curry; a traditional potato and onion omelette (tortilla Espanola); sea scallops on a bed of raisin and pine nut-studded couscous; chicken empanada and frisee salad with apples, Marcona almonds and cheese.
An open kitchen gave us a full view of the cadre of chefs who prepare the dishes. It's lovely to watch. Service was paced perfectly, with the cold dishes first, followed by the hot. We shared each plate as it came. It was a relaxed, thoroughly enjoyable meal. There were no misses, just hits. At the top were the citrus-cured salmon, the perfect sea scallops and the savory paella.
Desserts were tapa-sized, too ($1.99 each). We ordered the tiny flan, a Lilliputian slice of chocolate cake and the lemon torte. All scrumptious. We nibbled on the few bites the portion allowed and were content (well, almost). Pastry Chef Michele Briand, who created these delish demi desserts, deserves an award.
There's so much more to taste. There are more than 60 tapas, a variety of paella and two calderos -- paella-like seafood stews served from a cast-iron kettle at the table. The sangria and cocktail list is terrific, the list of Spanish wines is good and interesting. Spanish and other imported and domestic beers are also available.
Cafe Ba-Ba Reeba! is a Lettuce Entertain You Group property. The Chicago-based company, headed by entrepreneur Rich Melman and his associates, owns The Eiffel Tower and Mon Ami Gabi restaurants at Paris Las Vegas, Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! in the Fashion Show and Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab opening in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace Oct. 22.
Chef Gabino Sotelino, who created the concept for Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! in Chicago in 1985, is a Lettuce Entertain You senior vice president and divisional partner. He now makes his home in Las Vegas and spends much of his time at the tapas restaurant.
Reservations are not requested, but are advised for prime times and weekends. Call 258-1211.
Caesars Entertainment Inc. luminary to be honored: Wally Barr, President and Chief Executive of Caesars Entertainment, Inc., will be honored by The Epicurean Club of Las Vegas at its Annual Evening of Distinction scholarship dinner Dec. 3 at Caesars Palace. Barr has long been active in numerous charitable and community initiatives. After his return from Atlantic City he continued his strong support of young people with generous contributions to the youth of Las Vegas.
This special evening includes a four-course dinner prepared by a host of stellar chefs, including Bradley Ogden (Bradley Ogden at Caesars Palace), David Robins (Spago at the Forum Shops at Caesars), Hubert Keller (Fleur de Lys Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay) and award-winning executive pastry chefs Patrice Caillot (The Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas), Jean-Phillippe Maury (Bellagio) and Jean-Claude Canestrier (Paris Las Vegas). A plentitude of fine wines are included.
Also included is entertainment by legendary Motown groups The Platters, Cornell Gunter's Coasters and Beary Hobbs' Drifters, as well as outstanding tenor Michael Amante. The always-charitable Robin Leach will conduct a live auction.
In 2003 the Epicurean Club's second fund-raising dinner raised $320,000 for scholarships for area high school students seeking a career in the hospitality industry. Epicurean Club officers are President Joe Essa, Vice President Bart Mahoney, Secretary Scott Farber and Treasurer Brian Lerner.
Dinner co-chairs are Sandy Colon Peltyn and Rino Armeni. For reservations and ticket information call 248-3312.
Neon chefs compete: It will be a fight to the finish when the neon chefs compete Oct. 5. Imagine owners and chefs from Spago in the Forum Shops and Nobu at the Hard Rock hotel competing against the top chefs from Le Cirque and Osteria del Circo at Bellagio. What a battle it will be.
Commentary by Leach should add a bit more spice.
Judging this awesome competition won't be easy, but the food should be good. It all happens at the Las Vegas Convention Center as the keynote for the opening of the G2E Exposition sponsored by the American Gaming Association and the Epicurean Club of Las Vegas. A full report will follow; I'm one of the judges.
A galaxy of chefs at March of Dimes benefit: More than 40 notable chefs representing outstanding restaurants will be performing feats of culinary legerdemain on Oct. 8 at the March of Dimes Star Chefs of Las Vegas at the Rio resort.
Among the many restaurants represented are Shibuya, Rosemary's, Bouchon, Alize, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, Le Cirque and Osteria del Circo, Valentino, Buzios, Postrio, Kennedy and Lutece. The list is fabulous.
Funds raised from this event will support research to develop new treatments for birth defects and other infant health problems and other important children's health issues.
For ticket information and reservations call the March of Dimes office, 498-2162.
"Bringing it Home" live in Las Vegas: "Bringing it Home," a new television cooking program, airs on KTNV channel 13 and is shot completely on location at regional farms -- except, it appears, when it comes to Las Vegas.
An upcoming episode will feature Albertson's fastest checkers and baggers from all Albertson's locations. A "generous" cash prize awaits the winner.
The action takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Albertson's at 10250 W. Charleston Ave. "Bringing it Home" host Laura McIntosh will be there with chefs Joshua Rivas and Eric Burke of Teddy's Kitchen Catering in Los Angeles. Call Albertson's for more information -- 838-4322.
archive
