I learned a few things this past week. Most notably my ability to push my limit of eating, drinking, and socializing about town every day for seven days straight.
Life as an editor is not easy– queue the tiny violins. I was up-to-the rim FULL with the most exquisite meals and libations from the finest chefs and bartenders in the world, double cheek air-kissing with industry peers at all the must-attend events in the sweltering city of Las Vegas. But, even then I was not going to miss Vegas Uncork’d. For the past 12-years, Bon Appétit has brought together the world’s most acclaimed chefs and epicurean personalities for one weekend. To better help you understand and feel the notworthiness of this affair: it’s basically the Coachella for foodies.
Name-Dropping The Culinary Elite
Some of the biggest names in the culinary world headlined Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appétit were Lorena Garcia, Giada De Laurentiis, Susan Feniger, Guy Savoy, Masaharu Morimoto, Nobu Matsuhisa, Guy Fieri, Timon Balloo, and Gordon Ramsay to name a few of the 20 in attendance. Everywhere you turned, these master chefs were there greeting guests into their restaurants like Savoy on Saturday at his namesake restaurant inside the Caesars Palace, or firing-up the grill al fresco — no bodyguards around– like Fieri at the Grand Tasting at the romantic, grand Venus Pool at Caesars Palace on Friday. Très magnifique scène de la semaine!
Basketball, Hot Dogs, and Champagne
This set the tone for the extravagant and highly-energized weekend. Saber-Off at The Park, MGM Resorts International’s outdoor dining and entertainment district, kicked-off Vegas Uncork’d with an unbelievable all-access star-studded bang. Savory pretzels with cheese and mini-hot dogs were served by The Park restaurants and cocktails courtesy of the Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits company. Attendees freely mingled with celebrity and acclaimed chefs like Susan Feniger of Border Grill and hooped with the new Las Vegas WNBA team the Las Vegas Aces. And, what’s a celebration without champgane flutes spilling at the rim with proseco from a magnum bottle popped-open by Chef Morimoto?
Most Notable Dining Scene at Uncork’d
Saber-Off is only Day 1 of Vegas Uncork’d and The Park is only one of the eight participating properties. Bellagio, Caesars Palace, The Cromwell, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay, The Venetian and The Palazzo Las Vegas also had foodies walking in-and-out of their luxurious lobbies and into their featured restaurant’s dining tables. Take the Master Series: The World’s Best, An Epicurean Affair with Guy Savoy the Michelin-starred chef. Only the world’s best award-winning wines were paired with premiere meals made from the ultimate ingredients at his Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond Las Vegas restaurant for a measly $419– live violinist included. Guy Savoy was the most notable, five-star sensory, unmatched experience of Vegas Uncork’d.
A La Carte Experience
Unlike music festivals where you’re unable to choose who you’d like to watch perform, Vegas Uncork’d is entirely a la carte. You simply read the schedule, decide what you want to eat, who you want to see, and purchase your ticket. For foodies worldwide, Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appetit is the master epicurean affair you must experience before you die.
Press Play: Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appetit
Photo Courtsey: Kirvin Doak, Venue, Getty Images
