Food and Loathing | Covering the Las Vegas Food Scene

Importing a bar concept to the Vegas Strip is always hard. But doing it from a hospital bed after a paralyzing motorcycle accident would be impossible for most of us. Titan Brands co-founder Scott Frost was still in his hospital bed following his accident when he finalized the deal to bring the Ensenada dive bar Hussong's to Mandalay Place. Frost talks about his life, his accident, and his career...

While a concierge can be a foodie's (or any traveler's) best friend, many don't really understand how to utilize them. So Al, who has been both disappointed by and impressed with various hotels' concierge desks, sat down with Mildred Schneidman, a veteran hotel concierge and president of the Southern Nevada Hotel Concierge Association, for some advice on making the most of the service (as well as...

Gemini's out this week, but Al and Rich are together with reports from Vegas and Chicago, some opinions on The Bear, a bit of news, a Chef Joe Valdez interview we forgot to run last week, and a few longer-form interviews. Rich bumped into a food TV star filming in Chicago. Al dined at Bobby Flay's newest spot, Brasserie B by Bobby Flay – where he was reunited with a true old-school FOH pro, back i...

Al and Gemini get a personal tour of Scotch 80's new Social Hour menu at Palms Casino. And that includes a deep dive into the steakhouse's beef sourcing. Also this week: Gemini checks out Carson Kitchen, which is celebrating ten years of serving up cutting edge cuisine downtown. Meanwhile Al shares what he can about an "off the record" meal at Anima. He also scoped out the brunch at Middle Child,...

This week's episode was recorded live at the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas, and centers around a conversation with chef/instructors, Nick Preston and Culinary Apprenticeship Coordinator Chiara Astriab. They share all sorts of info on how they can help advance your culinary career, whether it's a new idea or a continuation of your journey. Other interviews this episode include Evan Glussman talking...

Las Vegas scored big on the Top 50 Pizza list, as recently announced in New York. And two of our best are here to talk about it: Metro's John Arena and Michael Vakneen of 00 Pie and Pub. Also: Gemini is back with hospital horror stories and lots of love for all who've shown her the love. Oh, and Al and Rich ate food at places. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Not that he needs to after a quarter-century of pro food writing, but Al felt the need to rant just a bit about the difference between being a professional food writer and a hobbyist. And the difference between being a food writer and a food critic (spoiler: Al is the former, not the later). Also, lots of new news from longtime friends of the pod Alicia Shevetone, Sam Marvin, Vinny Rotolo and.......

Longtime Las Vegas journalist Don Chaurensy joins Al to discuss the new magazine Don is helming: Vegas Prime. Also: Al shares his food experiences at Suzuya Café on Spring Mountain Road, Cathedrale in Aria. and Marche Bacchus under new chef Chef Nikko Broznan, and much more. With Gemini out this week, Rich shares his baseball/dining experience in the Executive Suites at Wrigley Field, and his shop...

It's Al and Rich in this week's episode, which starts off with a review of all the festivities surrounding The World's 50 Best Restaurants' time in Las Vegas. We kick off with a post-event rundown from Elizabeth Blau, who was instrumental in convincing the event to come here. She also organized Wynn Las Vegas' companion culinary festival, Revelry. Other interviews include Chinglish's Ken Heck, Suz...

Producer/Engineer Rich Johnson is back for a guest co-host spot, and Al chose the perfect venue: Toasted Gastropub on West Flamingo and the 215. Sharing the info, and three awesome dishes, is Alfie Szeprethy, Executive chef for both Sammy's Woodfired Pizza and Toasted. Rich shares a few experiences from Chicago, and Al goes into detail about the events he attended (and what he ate) linked to "The...

The Red Rocker is behind Sammy's Island, the new pool concept at the Palms Resort & Casino. Al gets the full download from Palms executive chef Marcus O'Brien, including just how involved Sammy Hagar was in the concept and buildout. Also: Gemini talks to Chef Matthew Effendy about his new line of creme brulee called "Creme by ME." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoice...

This special extra-jumbo episode was recorded at Vegas Unstripped, where the best chefs in the valley gathered to show off their skills by cooking up items not on their menus. Al and Gemini talk to a dozen chefs, foodies and others who ate and drank the night away around the pools at the Palms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Al and Gemini try to give you all the information you need to enjoy the World's 50 Best Restaurants' arrival in Las Vegas next month, and the multiple culinary festivals and events surrounding it. You'll hear all about all the events that still have tickets available, and you'll hear from many of the chefs involved -- including Jeff Ramsey, Devin Hashimoto, Gina Marinelli and Nicole Brisson. Also...

Gemini sits down with Yukon Pizza's Alex White to discuss the pizza that won him a World Champion title. Al chats with Circa's Director of Player Development and Special Events, Whitney Genevieve Godard, to talk about Legacy Club's popular special event series. We also have interviews with Chef Gina Marinelli discussing Harlo's monthly tasting menu, Chef Nicole Brisson of Brezza sharing details on...

Two popular local businesses – Gyu+ sandos and Suzuya Patisserie – are preparing to open new concepts in The Center At Spring Mountain, and Al sits down with restaurateur Luis De Santos to talk about them. Other interviews this week include Bazaar Meat's Frank Medina talking about a new $99 tasting menu being offered on weekdays in their lounge and Nicole Brisson with details of Mother's Day 2024...

Las Vegas Distillery is back, with new owners and new ideas. Gemini gets the full download General Manager/Tap Room Wrangler/Tour Commissioner/Swag Dude Cody Fredrickson. She also shares a long dining week, which included stops at Half Bird, La Madre Canyon Grill and The George at Durango Casino. Al helped Chef Roy Ellamar open patio season at Fine Company, and made stops at BBQ Mexicana, La Streg...

The annual event to benefit food education for the valley's under-served children is coming up in early May, and Al gets a full preview from Chef Mark Sandoval at UNLV. As for dining this week, Gemini plays the hits with stops a Garagiste, Esther's and Nevada Brew Works. Meanwhile, Al stretches his sushi chops with some wacky rolls at Mizumi, then heads back to Wynn for the pop-up Safta 1964. Also...

It's a "clean out the closet" episode, as Al and Gemini share some interviews that have been looking for a home. Most important: author and past podcast guest Kim Foster tells us about her book that she first mentioned more than a year ago. "The Meth Lunches: Food and Longing in an American City" tells tales of what happens when the traditional family dinner includes poverty, mental illness, homel...

Al and Gemini podcast from Wineaux, the new wine bar in UnCommons. Chef Shawn McClain and Sommelier Nick Hetzel share how they came together for this project and what it's all about. Also: Al takes a deeper dive into the new iteration of Esther's Kitchen, while Gemini explains This Mama's House, which popped up at 00 Pie & Pub. Also: lots of pizza news, a whiskey experience and, yes, it's true! Ve...

Gemini and Al sit down with UNLV student Paiton Zilio and Allen Carter of Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits, to discuss UNLVino's Sake Fever event on April 19 at the Resorts World pool. Together, they dig into the history of UNLVino, and discuss the role it plays in educating future generations of culinary workers, and bringing together the Las Vegas community. In the meantime, Rich Johnson repor...

Al and Gem are back at Dom DeMarco's, hosting a mother-daughter social media team. Emmy Kasten is a longtime Vegas writer and lifestyle journalist. Her daughter, Alix, is a TikTok creator, with accounts followed by more than 80,000 people. Her videos show off a store, restaurant or other location in a lightning-fast 13 seconds - and Al is frustrated and amazed by his own inability to come that clo...

Al and Gemini record an entire episode on location at the restaurant everyone is talking about this week, the newly opened Esther's Kitchen. They're joined by the restaurant's top chef, and owner, James Trees. In addition to telling them all about his new digs, Trees reminisces about his early days in The Arts District, and reflects on Esther's success to date. He also shares what's next, and anno...

Al and Gemini do a semi-serious test-drive of the first cannabis lounge in the valley, Smoke & Mirrors. It's the first cannabis consumption lounge to open under Nevada's new regulations for those businesses. Consultant Chris LaPorte helped build the place, and he explains it all. As for dining, it's a gallery of the usual (and excellent) suspects for Gem: Ada's, Marche Bacchus and Winnie & Ethel's...

And we did... at the brand new Federal Chicken & Donuts, next to the food hall at Red Rock Resort. The Philadelphia-based chain is putting out four varieties of chicken sandwiches, chicken strips and more than a dozen kinds of fancy donuts. Also: Al gets schooled in all things Parma and Iberico at "Cure Camp," EAT's Natalie Young is not happy with downtown street work, and another effort to help t...

We're back at Dom DeMarco's Pizzeria & Wine Bar on West Charleston for, what else? More pizza talk! And the big topic is Barstool Sports' Dave Portnoy doing is famous "One Bite Pizza Reviews" in Las Vegas during Super Bowl week. Of the four places Dave visited, Dom DeMarco's got the top review. We talk to owner Albert Scalleat, as well as Good Pie's Vincent Rotolo. Also: reaction from two other su...