Food and Loathing | Covering the Las Vegas Food Scene

We hang with Top Chef Portland's fan favorite, and Las Vegas' own, Jamie Tran! Also along for the ride is this week's co-host Mercy Baron. She's host of the "All Forked Up" podcast, a certified master barbecue judge, author of the Baron's Barbecue Beat website, and administrator of the Las Vegas and San Diego Food Fanatics pages on Facebook. Jamie tells all about Top Chef, including her reluctance...

Rick Moonen is back to co-host an episode that looks at the state of Mexican cuisine in Las Vegas. Chefs Francisco Alvarez, Mariana Lavarado, and Sarah Thompson join us to talk about the history, nutrition and variety of Mexican cuisine, and some of the unfair expectations many Americans bring to the table. Al also opens up a bottle of Singhani 63, the new spirit championed by acclaimed film direc...

We take a closer look at the current state of celebrity sightings in Las Vegas: where to go and who you might find there. And we get top-shelf help from two people who do it for a living: Melinda Sheckells of "Off the Strip" and John Katsilometes, the Man About Town for the Las Vegas Review Journal. And this week's co-host is Diana Brier, owner of Valley Wine & Cheese in Henderson. Wonder about he...

It's time for Life is Beautiful, downtown Las Vegas' celebration of music and food. We talk with a couple of chef-owners at their new Fremont St. spot, and get the lowdown of what it's like to cook for rock royalty on the road - as well as the uber-rich in their exclusive enclaves! Our co-hosts this week are Justin Kingsley Hall, Kim Owens and Jolene Mannina, who created Peyote at Ferguson's on Fr...

In all modesty, this is a big deal episode - because we have two very big deal chefs joining us. This week's co-host is Rick Moonen, former owner of RM Seafood and Rx Boiler Room. Rick shares what he's doing these days, and why he continues to call Las Vegas home. Also: It's a huge job feeding an NFL team and all of its staffers. And for the Raiders, it's a high priority - an amenity the team uses...

We love getting into the minutiae of this valley. But this time we're getting the view of Vegas from far away. Andy Wang has been traveling and writing for LA Magazine, Food & Wine, The Robb Report, The New York Times and many other publications. Over the past 20 years, Matt Vilano has written more than 100 stories about Las Vegas and has edited at least a dozen travel guide books. In Time Magazin...

It's all things beer with one of the valley's best brewers and best beer writers: Crafhaus co-owner Dave Forrest and Bob Barnes, who's been covering the Nevada beer scene since 1998. Al, Jason and Rich talk to Dave and Bob in the tasting room at Crafthaus, which is in a light industrial park that's become known as the Henderson Booze District. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices...

The Pizza Episode isn't enough to hold all the fun, so here's a bonus episode. Al, Jason and Rich talk to some pizza makers and pizza fans at "Slice Out Hunger," the charity fundraiser that kicked off the International Pizza Expo. Nicole Bean and Laura Myer educate the guys about the Women in Pizza movement. Vincent Rotolo, Scott Wiener and Gio Mauro also drop by. Learn more about your ad choices....

It's all things pizza, starting with the kickoff event for the International Pizza Expo at Good Pie in the Arts District. Al, Jason and Rich get the overview on the Vegas pizza scene and talk to two of the valley's best: John Arena of Metro Pizza and James Trees of Esther's Kitchen. Then it's a review of highlights from the convention. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adc...

A growing part of the Las Vegas food scene are restaurants and bars owned by, aimed at or just friendly towards LGBTQ Community. Al, Jason and Rich talk with two pioneers on the scene: D-W Bistro co-owner Bryce Krausman and longtime LGBTQ promoter Eduardo Cordova, owner of The Garden, the only gay bar in the Arts District - and the soon-to-open Strip-adjacent piano lounge, Star Lounge. Also: the c...

Al, Jason and Rich dive into the world of professional Instagrammers - and try very hard to avoid the hideous word "influencer." - with Philipo Tzeng (@lasvegasfill) and Emily Romero (@eatmelasvegas).   Also: news of a well-known chef at The Bellagio moving on, the end of a pop-up ice creamery in the Arts District, and Michael Mina's new concept for his original place in San Francisco. Also: Jason...

Al, Jason and Rich are hoping all over the valley, starting and finishing at DW Bistro in Southwest. But the anchor of the episode is time spent at Le Thai in downtown Las Vegas. Le Thai co-owner Dan Coughlin talks about opening his cutting edge joint when there was no place else outside a casino to have a meal on East Fremont St. Also on board to sample fried rice and Dan's wacky whisky mash-up i...

Al, Jason and Rich head out on the highway, with an emphasis on 'HIGH,' as they visit The Source dispensary in west Las Vegas. Along for the ride: Chef Stacey Dougan and Beth Schwartz of Elevate Nevada magazine. Chef Stacey talks about developing THC edible recipes, and Beth gives us an overview of the crazy patchwork of marijuana laws around the country. Also on board: comedian Tom Papa, who's pl...

It's a big job, and Al, Jason and Rich were ready to do it: cover the wide world of Las Vegas buffets. Closed during the pandemic, buffets are back on The Strip and in the neighborhoods. The guys are on scene at Mint Indian Bistro, and talk to owner Kris Parikh. Then it's a comprehensive education in buffetology with two masters: Chef Jennifer Murphy of Bacchanal at Caesars Palace and Chef Jason D...

It's Italian food in Las Vegas, from traditional to cutting edge. Two chefs representing both worlds join Al, Jason and Rich: Gina Marinelli from Le Strega in Summerlin and Piero's Chris Conlon, 'live' from the historic, infamous main bar at Piero's. Also: Rich shares a new meat discovery, Jason talks charcuterie and Al shares his first 'wow' thoughts on Delilah, the new clubby supper joint at Wyn...

It's a packed Episode Two, as Al, Jason and Rich record from a cabana at Kassi Beach Club at Virgin Hotel & Casino. They talk to the property's executive chef, David Werly, about his many years in Las Vegas - and why's he's traded the kitchen for the office. The guys also sample of Kassi's excellent appetizers. They also take a deep dive into the Vegas vegan scene with two serious experts: Diana E...

Welcome to our first full episode! Al, Jason and Rich share the fun of the Opening Night party at Resorts World, the mega-casino/hotel that's now open. It's the first brand new property on The Strip in a decade. It features an enormous gaming floor, 3,500 hotel rooms and eventually 40 different restaurants - some of which are run by local Las Vegas chefs. But do local chefs get a fair shake on The...