Food and Loathing | Covering the Las Vegas Food Scene

Al, Gemini and Rich share their experiences before and during the big game, including the NFL's signature charity event, Taste of the NFL, which benefits GenYouth and its "End Student Hunger" fund. Rich spoke to some of the superstar chefs that took part. Al and Gemini got to "Toast by Tostitos," which featured, well, Tostitos. Gemini got to 00 Pie & Pub, while Rich split his Super Bowl watching b...

After years of shunning us, the NFL is finally letting Las Vegas host its first Super Bowl. And several local chefs will be involved - and just about every joint in the valley will be doing something football-related on Sunday. Also: Al shares several conversations in this episode, including Chefs Leticia Mitchell, Stephanie Sandfrey, Joe Komiski, Sam Pulliam and more. Al also shares his first tas...

Five chefs from Las Vegas have received nominations for James Beard awards, and we've talked to four of them! Plus: comments from Thomas Keller on the 20th anniversary of Bouchon, and Joe Bastianich on the opening of All'Antico Vinaio, one of the most famous sandwich shops in Italy. Also: a new Executive Chef at Bazaar Meats and two big-deal grocery chains are coming to the valley. Learn more abou...

Al and Gemini recorded this episode at the Fancy Foods Show, and talked to a few of the people hoping to find buyers for their products. Also: Chef Lasheeda Perry talks to Al about Taste of the NFL, the annual pre-Super Bowl event featuring some national celebrity chefs and some of our own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The legendary chefs of Border Grill, Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken, are expanding their empire to the Las Vegas suburbs. Barbecue Mexicana is opening at The Bend. The concept is already in place right across the hall from Border Grill, in T-Mobile Arena and Allegiant Field. But this will the group's first stand-alone fast-casual property. Also: Gemini goes all-out at 00 Pie & Pub, while Al t...

Al, Gemini and Rich dive into a great mid-day feast at Bel-Aire Lounge in the new Durango Casino & Resort, courtesy of Keith Eure of Clique Hospitality. Between bites of a tuna roll, burgers, churros, shrimp and more, Keith told us all about Clique's restaurants at Durango, Bel-Aire Lounge, Mijo Modern Mexican and Mijo's speakeasy, Wax Rabbit. Also: Lots of dinners to share, including comments fro...

One of the valley's groundbreaking pizza parlors has, for 12 years, sat in a strip mall nestled between a pet store and a grocery store. But the history of Dom DeMarco's Pizza stretches years before, and all the way to Brooklyn. Owner Albert Scalleat tells the fascinating tale of coming out of retirement and convincing one of New York City's premier pizza makers, the owner of Di Fara Pizza, to coo...

Al and Gemini spend much of this yearend episode reviewing the reviewers. They critique the 'Best Of' lists complied by Desert Companion, Las Vegas Weekly and Eater. Also, stunning news from the owner of two popular Asian restaurants. Chef Bank Atcharawan is stepping down from Lamaii to focus on his health and his future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Table 34 has been under the Batch Hospitality brand for nearly a year. There is also new ownership at Graze Kitchen, the plant-based joint at South Buffalo and Warm Springs. Al talked to the owners of both establishments about their plans for 2024, from new menus to new restaurants. And, as usual, Al, Gemini and Rich share their recent dining experiences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit po...

Seoul Bird Korean Street Food serves up fried chicken strips, sandwiches and more inside the Proper Eats Food Hall at Aria. It's Chef Judy Joo's first Vegas venture after two successful outlets in London. Joo is also a cookbook author, an Iron Chef in the UK (despite being a born and bred New Jersey girl), and a veteran of the flagship restaurants of both Gordon Ramsay and Thomas Keller. Gemini si...

The first ground-up casino in years built especially for locals is up and running. Station Casinos opened Durango Casino and Resort earlier this week. Al got a big preview of the property's food and beverage offerings from Executive Chef Danny Ye. And Rich was there for the ribbon-cutting and very "cozy" slot and video poker play in the huge space that's filled to capacity with machines. Also: It'...

It's been about three years since Chef Todd Harrington challenged himself to make a knife - with no knowledge of how to do it. Now, his one-of-a-kind works of art are the prized tools of chefs and cooks all over. Al went to Chef Todd's home to get the full story - and, it turns out, a knife! Also: news of two sudden closings, some holiday wine paring events, and of course, lots of sharing by Al, G...

The holiday week is a good time to share a couple of interviews about new items on Zouk's patio and the first expansion of The Golden Steer in decades. Al, Gemini and Rich share several restaurant experiences in the past week, including yet another great breakfast place and a 'Spukie,' a Chicago-inspirated Polish dog and Italian Beef. And Al shares the Facebook post that inspired hundreds of share...

F & L has been talking about it since before it was barely an idea. And now the winners of J Dapper's "win a diner" contest are open for business. Winnie & Ethel's co-owner Aaron Lee sits down with Al, Gemini and Rich to explain the journey: learning about Dapper's contest, preparing their entry, making the finals, cooking some of their creations and winning the prize: a spot in Dapper's Huntridge...

Al, Gemini and Rich share their dining adventures for another week, including a deep dive into Pizzafest. Al's guest is chef-turned-photographer and taste-tester Louiie Victa, who talks about her new book for Eater.com: "Eater: 100 Essential Restaurant Recipes." And... after a two-week unsuccessful hunt for McDonald's Mambo Sauce, Rich decides to make his own - and inflict it on Al! And Rich promi...

The patio at Mon Ami Gabi, the excellent French restaurant right along Las Vegas Boulevard at the Paris Hotel/Casino, could be one of the best places to watch this month's Formula One race. Al spends time with Chef Vincent Pouessel to get the lowdown on what he's offering that night, how much it costs, and how the property dealt with the demands of F1. Also: Al shares his big-deal dining of the pa...

There's no Dean Martin singing about the moon to hitting your eye like a big pizza pie, but there is some great pizza at Brent Stanford's new place, Amari, in UnCommons on Durango Drive. From the glass-enclosed wine room, Chef Stanford shares his story of coming to Las Vegas, working in some big-deal kitchens, and making the move from The Strip to the new office/residential/commercial/food center...

Back after a one-year break, Vegas Unstripped was back this month. Chefs from all over Las Vegas (maybe EVEN The Strip) converged on California St. in the Arts District to show off items that are NOT on their regular menus. Among the people stopping by to chat with Al and Gemini: Rick Moonen, Bob Cranston, Gina Marinelli, Jackson Stamper, Jeff Weiss, John Arena and the always shy and retiring Jame...

Wolfgang Puck was the first big-time celebrity chef to open a restaurant in Las Vegas. His empire has expanded all over The Strip. But now Puck has opened a place in The Arts District: 1228 Main. Puck's culinary director for Las Vegas, Dustin Lewandowsky, joins Al, Gemini and Rich to talk about how the place morphed from bakery to pasty shop to coffee to breakfast to lunch and dinner - all before...

Main St. Provisions owner Kim Owens joins Al to talk about the big change in the kitchen: the exit of Executive Chef Patrick Munster. Taking over is a veteran of that kitchen: Adrian Garcia. Kim talks about the changes that Patrick made in the past year, but says we'll have to wait a bit to taste what Adrian has planned. As for dining in the past week: Al talks about his visits to HaSalon at the V...

A longtime fixture of fine dining on The Strip, Roy Ellamar is now cooking in the burbs. He's running Fine Company, a new all-day spot in Downtown Summerlin. Al, Gemini and Rich sit down with Roy at the restaurant to talk about his history in Las Vegas and elsewhere, the items on the brunch/lunch menu (soon to include dinner), and what spurred his move from the very upscale "Harvest by Roy Ellamar...

Al's away this week, but before he left he talked to the people behind El Segundo Sol, the venerable Tacos & Margaritas joint right on Las Vegas Boulevard at the Fashion Show Mall. Wesley Pumphrey and Ryan Richardson talk about the restaurant's recent revamp, and how they keep the prices in check. And they share insight into Lettuce Entertain You, the Chicago-based restaurant company that also own...

Al and Gemini sit down with Natalia Badzo and Brian Beuchner, the husband and wife team behind Big B's Texas BBQ. He's from Texas and she's from Estonia. Also: historically anti-sports Al hits not one but three sports bars, and tries the brunch at Casa Playa. Gemini, fresh from a quick trip to the mouth of the Columbia River, heads back to former podcast venue Little Avalon Coastal Café. And stick...

With Chef Marty Lopez in the kitchen and Jorge Pagani running the front of the house, Scotch 80 Prime has been going strong since the Palms reopened about 18 months ago. The steakhouse is one of the brands at Palms that came long with the change of ownership after Covid. The two talk about Scotch 80 Prime's place in the Vegas steakhouse universe, and how they brought an international flair to a tr...

Al and Gemini sit down with one of the area's newest food writers, Danica Stockton. She shares her journey to the Vegas food scene, a couple of favorite places and what she's observed in her year or so of covering the town. Also: a new barbecue deal, free wine tastings, Bourbon & Blues in the daytime atop Circa, & 25th Anniversary specials at Bellagio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podca...