Las Vegas Sands announces chef for Singapore resort

By Steve Green (contact)

Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009 | 3:17 p.m.

Las Vegas Sands Corp. on Thursday said Michelin Guide three-star winner Daniel Boulud will be one of the featured chefs at its Marina Bay Sands resort preparing to open in Singapore.

Boulud is known in Las Vegas for his Daniel Boulud Brasserie restaurant at Wynn Las Vegas, though that restaurant is closing when its operating agreement expires in April.

Boulud recently made news in New York, where his Daniel restaurant received the top Michelin three-star rating.

Las Vegas Sands said Boulud would be one of six world-renowned chefs featured at Marina Bay Sands when it launches in Singapore next year.

"We are delighted and honored to have Chef Boulud join our efforts to create a truly memorable and unique experience at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore," Michael Leven, president of Las Vegas Sands, said in a statement.

Boulud plans to bring a new version of one of his New York restaurants, DB Bistro Moderne, to Marina Bay Sands.

He said in a statement: "I've had the privilege of traveling to Singapore and enjoyed some incredible meals by local chefs. It's a superb city where I discovered a culture with a love of food from every corner of the world. Singapore is a wonderful place for me to create a restaurant in partnership with Las Vegas Sands and the international community of chefs they are bringing together. The Marina Bay Sands will be a great addition to a place that is already a dining destination."

The 2,500-room Marina Bay Sands hotel, gaming and entertainment destination recently announced it will feature the Broadway musical the "Lion King" in one of its theaters. Retailers such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Hermes and Ferragamo are part of the 800,000-square-foot Marina Bay Sands Shoppes.

At Wynn Las Vegas, the company issued this statement Sept. 29 about Boulud's restaurant:

"Wynn Las Vegas announced to staff today that the Daniel Boulud Brasserie at Wynn Las Vegas will close in April 2010. The collaboration began with the opening of Wynn's flagship property in 2005. The entire Wynn team has the greatest admiration and respect for Daniel Boulud and his staff. With the terms of the commitment fulfilled, the time is right to move on to other projects.

"Wynn will reinvent the restaurant and is currently exploring new opportunities for the space. The new concept will be consistent with the culinary philosophy of the property where the chefs are cooking in their kitchens nightly."

Marina Bay Sands also made news Thursday when the Wall Street Journal reported that competitor Genting Bhd. of Malaysia may partially open its Singapore resort by Christmas, ahead of the $5 billion Las Vegas Sands project and potentially gaining a competitive edge over Marina Bay Sands.