Food and Loathing | Covering the Las Vegas Food Scene

Gyu+ Japanese Sandos and Rice Boxes is the setting for this week's episode. Al, Gem and Andrew Morgan enjoy a sampling of the products, and talk to the principles: Freddie Paloma and Luis De Santos. They spent years plotting how to bring authentic Japanese food to Las Vegas. They also get treat from Chef Yuka Takamizawa, the Lead Pastry Chef at Gyu's sister property, Moignet Café. Andrew shares th...

Food and Loathing has been the voice of the Las Vegas food and restaurant community for five years and counting. And in this anniversary episode we're sharing our takes on some of the biggest stories and issues we've examined in that time. Starting with a discussion of Strip casinos' attitudes towards local culinary talent, we move on to: -        -    Big chefs coming to big new casino -       Ve...

Al is back in town after a nearly two-week vacation in Italy. But not soon enough, so Gemini and Rich have hijacked the show once again. Gem scores the first interview with Las Vegas's own Floriana Pastore of Signora Pizza since it was named "Best Street Pizza" by THE BEST PIZZA AWARDS broadcast from Milan Italy. She also talks to Jake Yorgensen minutes after Bar Boheme's first Sunday Bake Shop ev...

We ask because it's been a while since we've seen evidence of the late, great gourmand in Sin City. But our long shutout streak is over! Sarah Thompson, executive chef of Casa Playa at Wynn Las Vegas, won for Best Chef: Southwest. Gemini was there, and talked to Thompson. She also cored a conversation fellow Best Chef nonminee Brian Howard of Sparrow + Wolf. Rich Johnson checks in from Seatle, whe...

Gemini and Al are together again this week, coming to you from Diamond Spur Provisions and Meats, where they speak to partner Marc Marrone on his journey from corporate chef to Tao Group to a life spent training horses, raising horses, and selling affordable and clean meat to Las Vegas. We also have Mimmo Ferraro talking about the Summer In Italy menu at Ferraro's, and Andrew Morgan offering a Hap...

From the Fabulous Business Center at the JW Marriott Hotel, Al, Gem and Andrew Morgan party down (and poder how that fax machine works) and knock out #263! As we've done every year, we're focusing on Three Square and Las Vegas Restaurant Week. Al sat down with Three Square's Will Edwards, and takes you back to the basics: What is Three Square (uh, the valley's largest food bank!) and how does Rest...

Al and Gemini are reunited in person this week for an interview-packed episode. In addition to all the usual stuff like news, restaurant reports and a Happy Hour report, Neen Williams explains NADC Burgers, Chef Jae Doan tells us about Doanburi Sushi, Fhaye Kerekenich discusses Nocturno's anniversary, Sunset Station's Lee Torres talks about the renovated Gaudi Bar, Roberto Guzman explains Latin Ni...

Sue Mancini fills in for the traveling Gemini Stevens this week in the show's first ever husband-wife co-hosted episode, and the pair are excited to talk about Sahara's new Caribbean Steakhouse, Maroon. In addition to delivering a report on their meal, Al  interviews the restaurant's celebrity Chef Kwame Oanwuachi. Other interviews include local Black historian Gwen Walker discussing the history o...

Happy Hour Vegas' Andrew Morgan sits in for the vacationing Gemini Stevens this week, co-hosting an episode centering around two big interviews. First, Brezza Chef Nicole Brisson tells Al about her return to the suburbs at Amari in Uncommons. Then, Penny Chutima weighs in on the reopening of her family's original Lotus of Siam location on East Sahara Avenue. Other interviews include Luis and Chef...

Al and Rich almost make an episode that comes in under one hour - but not quite. Still, you'll find plenty of value in Al's centerpiece interview with Good Pie's Vincent Rotolo discussing his expansion to the Red Rock Hotel/Casino. Al also gets the lowdown on KJ's, the new restaurant at the English Hotel, thanks to conversations with owner Kevin Jeffers, Corporate Chef Adam Allen and Las Vegas May...

This week's podcast brings Al and his guest co-host Bob Barnes to Main St Provisions in The Arts District, to meet the restaurant's new executive chef Miguel Tapia, taste some of his food, and chat with him and owner Kim Owens. Bob also provides a beer report. And we have interviews with Gina Marinelli, Bryce Krausman, Vincent Rotolo, Eric Gladstone and Clique Hospitality's Craig O'Keefe, as well...

Gemini, Rich and Al are reunited via the Internet for this week's episode, coming to you from Scotland, Seattle and Las Vegas. On the local front, we have extended interviews with Chef Rick Giffen of Rick's Supper Club and Anima by EDO's Joe Mikulich as well as a carbonara report from Eataly's Luca Esposito. We visit the Women In Hospitality Leadership Conference and chat with attendees. Andrew Mo...

This week's episode was recorded at The Hard Rock Café on the Las Vegas Strip, with Al Mancini, guest co-host Don Chareunsy and Happy Hour Vegas' Andrew Morgan running the show, interviewing the Hard Rock's A.G.M. Jason Lent and musician Darren Moore of IKONS of Rock (now showing that the Hard Rock). In addition to getting the lowdown on what it means to be a Hard Rock Café in 2026, the guys share...

Jolene Mannina, Kristin Whittemore and Lindsay Geddes are the main guests this week, talking about the Sip & Savor Grand Tasting that will cap off the Women In Hospitality Leadership Conference. Meanwhile, LeAnne Notabartolo subs for Gemini in the co-host seat.  You'll also hear from Todd Clore of Todd's Unique Dining, Andrew Morgan with a Happy Hour Report and the teams at a pair of Thai restaura...

Al, Gemini and Happy Hour Vegas' Andrew Morgan are coming to you this week from Ocean Prime, the seafood-forward steakhouse located within 63 CityCenter. They spend some time chatting with Chef Gino Rappa and GM John Headley while sampling food and cocktails. Andrew delivers a Happy Hour Report. Our friend LeAnne Notabartolo gives us a report from the International Pizza Expo, and shares interview...

Gemini is back in the host chair this week, sharing reports on her recent visits to Ada's, Main St. Provisions, Nevada Brew Works, Peg's Glorified Ham & Eggs and Jipita. Al shares his experiences at The Bar At Lilli, Pearls Oyster and Crudo Bar (an Aria Pizza popup) and the Vegas Pizza Tailgate. The central interview this week is with Chef Michael Rubinstein of Wynn's brand new Sartiano's Steakhou...

City Cast Las Vegas' Rob Kachelriess is in the co-host chair this week, filling in for the traveling Gemini. He and Al share their thoughts on recent visits to Crush Pad, BOA Steakhouse, St Felix Sin City, Tacos 1986, For The Win and Nocturno. We have interviews with Giulianio Rosso of 303 In The Cut, Joe Yalda of Red Rock and Guerrilla Pizza's Robby Cunningham. The centerpiece interview is actual...

It's only a sliver of the show, but Al has some pointed words about the drive to rid restaurant kitchens of toxic culture -- as recently personified by René Redzepi, the founder and celebrity chef at the iconic Danish restaurant Noma. As for the usual show: VegasPublicity.com's Don Chareunsy sits in for Gemini this week to tell us about some of the great places he's been dining, and comments on op...

Al devoted the center of this episode to a preview of Vegas Unstripped, the annual celebration of local chefs displaying new, cutting edge, items. The two big rules of Unstripped: head chefs must represent their restaurants, and the items they serve may not be on the menu at their places. Another similar-yet-different event is also on the horizon: Taste of Stations. It's Stations Casinos' event hi...

Gemini takes over the pod! Or, at least, the centerpiece with "Girl Dinner," the brainchild of Scotch 80 Prime Chef Marty Lopez. Also, Al talks to the OG of TV chefs, Martin Yan, who came to town for Lunar New Year at the Suncoast. We get the lowdown on the latest at D'Agostino's with Dan Thompson, another pop-up coming from Walbert Castillo, listen in on the grand opening of SMKD in Henderson wit...

Gemini and Al are at Edge Steakhouse in The Westgate, sitting down with Chef Dante Garcia, barman Mike Thompson and GM Richard Douglas for a chat about the restaurant, its offerings and its history. We also have Hell's Kitchen champ Ellie Parker discussing a collaborative dinner with Chef Nicole Brisson. We caught up with Allan Roth of The Macallan at Allē Lounge on 66 in Resorts World. And Chef J...

Al and Gemini are at Ellis Island, the longtime locally-owned value-forward casino, hotel and restaurant complex just east of The Strip. Owner Christina Ellis shows off the new rooftop deck - known for a few more days as "Cupid's Deck." We also talk to Barbara Valle about the new tiki bar at Excalibur, get the lowdown on the new burgers offered by Naked City Pizza, and preview two big Lunar New Ye...

This week, "Mama" Crystina Ngyuen joins Gemini and Al at Durango Social Club to talk about her upcoming Lunar New Year popups at the venue. Al visits Yukon Pizza's Alex White to get the lowdown on the recent online controversy surrounding their decision to close for a day. Other interviews include Edward Pizzarello of the new Venetian Five Guys, Lupe Avila of HUKL Hospitality, Ted Haddad of Ya-Bab...

It's a reunion show as Al, Gemini, Rich and Andrew all gather for pizza at How Ya Dough'n, the new joint atop the new BLVD shopping and eating venue on The Strip right across from City Center. We talk to GM Vince Lawrence about the small pizza chain's first expansion outside its home base of Miami. The episode was recorded the day after we all gathered at the new Ada's in the Arts District, where...

We begin with breaking news from just six hours before the episode dropped: Las Vegas' own Ellie Parker has won Season 24 of Hell's Kitchen! Al was at the watch party at Main St. Provisions and talked to Ellie just minutes after the episode finale. As for the regular show: Bob Barnes sits in for Gemini this week for an episode that centers around a conversation with bartending legend Dale DeGroff....