Vegas Uncork’d: Grand Tasting, Sip and Stroll

Friday night’s Tasting, Sip and Stroll

Talk about an event! Outside of Caesar’s Palace on their Roman Plaza in a huge tent with over three dozen restaurants, wineries, food and beverage companies represented. Hundreds of people waiting to get in, to see and be seen. Many famous chefs were in attendance, including Wolfgang Puck, Richard Chen, Hubert Keller, Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken. Silent auction. Book signings by Alan Richman, Dorie Greenspan, Cat Cora, Barbara Fairchild et al. French television crews interviewing French chefs like Joel Robuchon, Daniel Boulud, François Payard, Guy Savoy, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera ... What a scene!

Everybody was getting into the act!

A representative from Stella Artois coaxed me into trying this combination of their Leffe Ale with some key lime cheesecake. I sipped the Leffe Ale first. I ate a piece of cheesecake and drank some more of the ale. It was so smooth!! It blended so well together!! The cheesecake and the Leffe Ale didn't fight with one another!! I was blown away!!

Susan Feniger of Border Grill; Eric Klein of Spago Las Vegas; John Curtas of KNPR with One Hot Tamale

Vegas Uncork’d: Payard Patisserie & Bistro

Bon Appétit’s conference, Vegas Uncork’d, started on Thursday night (8 May 2008) with a dinner inside Caesar’s Palace at Payard Patisserie & Bistro, hosted by François Payard and Dorie Greenspan.

It was a small, intimate gathering of about thirty people.

And I finally got to meet Dorie Greenspan! Dorie comes across as a very wonderful lady, very pleasant and down-to-earth. More later ...

I dined with a lovely couple from Canada.

As I was told, the husband didn’t know the real reason for going to Las Vegas until his wife told him ... two hours into their flight.

Attending the food conference was the gentleman’s surprise birthday gift from his wife. Nice little surprise, ehh?

As I was implying, the Payard Patisserie & Bistro is not a huge place,

which made for a nice, comfortable evening.

Dorie Greenspan introduced chef François Payard.

And now, onto dinner ...

Tomato Gelee with Monk Fish & Tomato Salsa
Chartogne-Taillet “Cuvee St. Anne” Merfy, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France

Asparagus Salad, Artichoke & Tamarind Dressing
Skouras Moschofilero 2007, Peloponnese, Greece

Braised Short Ribs, Mashed Potatoes and Baby Carrots
Trapiche Single Vineyard Malbec, Vina Francisco Olive 2005, Mendoz Argentina

Actually, the short ribs were not beef short ribs.

It was boneless veal. It tasted very good, but they were not short ribs.

At this point in the evening, Dorie Greenspan sat at our table.

That's correct, I had ...

Dessert with Dorie

Seared Pineapple with Thyme & Coconut Sorbet
Slow Baking Apple, Cardamine Streusel, Granny Smith Sorbet


Milk Chocolate Payard Candy Bar with Gianduja & Caramel Glaze
Palet d’Or, Hazelnut Succes, Marquise Chocolat & Crispi Wafer
Lustau Moscatel Emilin, Jerez, Spain

My opening Vegas Uncork’d experience started out well. It gets better later.

Payard Patisserie & Bistro
Caesar’s Palace
3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 731-7292