The Last Course: My Final Notes on 2009 Vegas Uncork’d

Posted by Jennifer Heigl

What a weekend indeed! So many wonderful people, so much wonderful food, so many wonderful cocktails! It’ll be hard to top in 2010, but I’m willing to check it out.

My last few pictures and notes from the 2009 Vegas Uncork’d event:

Chef Carlos Buscaglia

1) I had a great time at Friday’s Culinary Workshop: A Passion for Pasta with Executive Chef Carlos Buscaglia of FiAMMA in the MGM Grand. Chef Buscaglia demonstrated a whole host of fabulous pastas, including gnocchi with a black truffle crema, short rib raviolini, and a yummy panna cotta.  The pasta buffet and matching wines were outstanding. My only complaint? That I had to leave most of my food uneaten in order to run to the next event!

Chef Joel Robuchon

2) I couldn’t wait for the Celebrity Chef Blackjack Tournament at the Wynn/Encore, and it definitely did not disappoint. Though most of the celeb chefs were eliminated in the first round, it was quite the sight to see such big names, including Colicchio, Flay, Bartolotta, and Joho, trying their hands at a little 21. Master chef Joël Robuchon took his post at the tables very seriously. Recent James Beard Award winner, Paul Bartolotta, won the whole shebang, for the second year in a row!

3) Finally, you know it’s a party when the Travelocity gnome makes an appearance at every event. Who knew that he actually traveled as much as he does! What a  job!

Many thanks to Bon Appetit magazine, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority,  R&R Partners, and all of the many hotels and participating chefs! I can’t wait for Vegas Uncork’d 2010!

Chef Tom Colicchio

Chef Guy Savoy

Chef Paul Bartolotta

Chef Daniel Boulud

Grand Tasting at the 2009 Vegas Uncork’d Event

Posted by Jim Rennie

Tonight we attended the Vegas Uncork’d Grand Tasting event, held poolside at Caesar’s Palace. We agreed that if you could only get tickets to one event this weekend, this was the one to pick!

Over thirty-five of Vegas’ best restaurants were on hand to provide samples from their menus.  Many executive chefs such as Bobby Flay, Hubert Keller, Bradley Ogden, and François Payard, were present to work the line and mingle with Vegas Uncork’d guests. Dishes we sampled included Braised Short Ribs with Ramps from Colicchio’s Craftsteak, a White Bean Gazpacho with Rock Shrimp from Bradley Ogden, and a mini Chili Burger from BLT Burger.  Plenty of wine (and not enough water) was available to go along with all the food, with reps from fifteen vineyards vying for our glasses, as well as sake and cocktail selections .  Overall, it was a great night for foodies in Las Vegas.

Paul Bartolotta, Alessandro Stratta, Cat Cora, Bobby Flay at Vegas Uncork'd Grand Tasting

Want to see more of our exclusive Daily Blender pics? Check it them out here! Don’t forget to stay tuned for more Vegas Uncork’d events tomorrow!

Vegas Uncork’d Kicks Off With Events at PURE!

Posted by Jennifer Heigl

Woo! We finally made it in to Las Vegas late last night to start the Vegas Uncork’d show! Arriving to the late-night benefit at PURE for Three Square, the intimate gathering atop the Caesar’s nightclub was a great way to start the party. Fellow foodie guests included Bon Appetit’s Barbara Fairchild, Andrew Knowlton, spirits consultant Steven Olson; celeb chefs Bobby Flay, Cat Cora, and Kerry Simon; and Las Vegas restaurant reviewer, John Curtas. The drinks were fab, the seats were comfy, and the view of the Strip was well worth the short hike in tall boots!

You can check out a few of our Twitpics from the event, and continue to follow us at #vegasuncorkd on Twitter!

What Happens In Vegas… 2009 Vegas Uncork’d Begins This Week!

Posted by Jennifer Heigl

The Daily Blender staff had such a great time at the 2008 New York Wine & Food Festival that we just couldn’t wait to get ourselves to the 2009 Vegas Uncork’d event!

Kicking off this Thursday with a champagne toast hosted by Bon Appetit’s Editor-in-Chief Barbara Fairchild and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, the Vegas Uncork’d show looks to be a blast!

Follow our live coverage of the weekend’s events here at Dailyblender.com and via our Twitter feed. We’re even introducing a new Las Vegas Daily Blender correspondent! Could it get anymore exciting!?

Some of the events we’re attending include:

• Thursday’s after-hours cocktail reception at the Caesar’s Palace PURE nightclub, benefiting Three Square, southern Nevada’s only food bank, featuring chefs Cat Cora, recent James Beard Award winner Paul Barolotta, Rick Moonen, and Kerry Simon.
• Cocktails & Cuisine at the Wynn, hosted by Bon Appetit’s Wine & Spirits Consultant, Steven Olson, and celebrity mixologist, Tony Abou-Ganim.
• The Grand Tasting at Caesar’s Palace featuring 150 top chefs and spirit mavens!
• And, perhaps the big event we’re most looking forward to -  the Celebrity Chef Blackjack Tournament, at the Wynn’s Encore! Hosted by actor Kyle MacLachlan, the players list includes a number of our favorite celebrity chefs – Tom Colicchio, Daniel Boulud, Rick Moonen, Bobby Flay, Carla Pelligrino, François Payard, and Joël Robuchon, among many others.

Bon Appetit’s BA Foodist Andrew Knowlton, who’ll also be attending this weekend’s events, chimed in earlier this week with his favorite Uncork’d picks as well.

It’s Kentucky Derby Time! What Are You Serving?

Posted by Jennifer Heigl

Get your horses ready! Today’s Kentucky Derby looks to be like a fun one, despite all the recent drug-related controversy. Can’t make it for this year’s Run for the Roses? We’ve wrangled some of our favorite Kentucky Derby recipe links for your at-home entertaining!

Not sure how to decorate the place for a horse race? About.com has a few suggestions for throwing the best Kentucky Derby party!

Bon Appetit’s Andrew Knowlton has posted a fabulous Mint Julep recipe just in time!

Chef Bobby Flay teamed up with Churchill Downs to provide a whole array of yummy Southern recipes for your Kentucky Derby party. He has a great Blackberry-Bourbon Julep recipe over at the New York Times as well.

Now, throw on your hats, gals, it’s time for the races!

Tickets On Sale Now for the NYC Wine and Food Festival!

Posted by Jennifer Heigl

Tickets went on sale this week for the upcoming 2008 New York City Wine and Food Festival, sponsored by the Food Network and presented by Food & Wine magazine. Events include evening soirees with Bobby Flay, Tom Colicchio, and what’s hot website, DailyCandy.com; talks with Chef Gordon Ramsay, Chef Anthony Bourdain, Chef Alton Brown, Chef Masaharu Morimoto, and the legendary Chef Alain Ducasse. So, essentially the event features every chef you can imagine from the Food Network – with a few other culinary masters thrown in!

Don’t miss out on what looks to be a fantastic food event this fall! Maybe I’ll see you there!