Food and Loathing | Covering the Las Vegas Food Scene

It's all about cookbooks and community as Al, Rich and co-host Symantha Gemini Stevens welcome third-time guest Kim Foster. The James Beard Award winning author is also the founder of "Please Send Noodles!!!" That's a Facebook-based book club that focuses on cookbooks. Gemini, who's a core member, also welcomes Natasha Kaul, a local attorney and activist who loves to try out new recipes on her hus...

Physical and mental health has long been ignored by much of the hospitality industry. And Justin Kingsley Hall says he was as guilty as most in that regard. Long out of the daily kitchen, Hall came back to establish Main St. Provisions and Peyote. But now he says it's time to step back again to address chronic, decade-long issues. He shares his journey in a frank talk with Al. Also: a visit with t...

Rick Moonen is back, and he and Al go over a long list of restaurants visited in the past week. Rich, as usual, only has one good one. Al gets the details on Brezza's special dinner to honor Babbo, the venerable New York City restaurant where she got her start. Also: a dive into some Filipino/Vegas desserts, courtesy of Kimmie and Josh McIntosh of Milkfish Bakeshop. In the news: first word of chan...

It's just about that time. Life is Beautiful, the downtown Las Vegas music, arts and food festival happens September 16th through the 18th. And, this being a food podcast, we take a deep dive into what's on offer with the festival's culinary director Sharee Macy and the guy running the cocktail school, Bryant Jane. Yes, you will get to attend cocktail school? Speaking of cocktails, Al, Symantha Ge...

Rick Moonen is back in the co-host chair, just in time to hear Al and Rich talk about Half-Bird, Brian Howard and Jon Anthony's new rotisserie and chicken sando joint at Spring Mountain & Wynn. Al goes straight to the source, a lobster expert in Maine, to learn about colored lobsters (and whether it's OK to eat them). As for the ghost: Chef Iman Haggag of POTs shares her not-so-great experience tu...

Crunchy? Chewy? A pristine hole? Hand-rolled? And what about the water? They're all questions that have surrounded the quest for, and snobbery about, the perfect bagel. Few in Vegas know bagels better than Sonia El-Nawal. After working in top kitchens on the east coast and in Vegas, Sonia ran Rooster Boy in Summerlin - where she developed what she calls the Bodega Bagel. And that's the name of her...

It's the age-old question asked by anyone who's not familiar with Hawaiian cuisine - which in this case is both Al and Rich. Along with co-host Samantha Gemini Stevens, they get schooled by two Vegas chefs who are Hawaii natives: Chef Arnold Corpuz of Brezza and Lee Villalun, Executive Chef of Island Sushi & Grille in Henderson. Also: big news about Vegas' top Thai restaurant coming to Summerlin,...

The sign says the place closes at 10pm. But what does that really mean? Can you sit down at 9:59 and get a full meal? What happens when you show up at 9:30 and the door is locked? There are both sides to this story, and we give them a thorough examination. Al and Rich are joined by co-host Samantha Gemini Stevens, who writes for the websites On The Strip and Off the Strip. Also diving in: two chef...

It's all about the fish eggs, as Al and co-host Rick Moonen sit down with Nina Manchev, owner of Forte Tapas and The Caviar Collective. And all three have plenty of conversation pieces, as they enjoyed the new Sunday brunch at Caviar Bar at Resorts World. Also: lots of talk about Valencian Gold, as everyone went there last week (at different times). Half Bird is closer to opening, Brezza celebrate...

Rick Moonen is back in the co-host chair, telling tales of his trip to Croatia. Al shares his first full dinner at Wakuda, and Rich is back from Portland and an excellent dinner with friends at the Rose City institution The Ringside. But the centerpiece is longtime friend of the podcast James Trees. He's back from France, where he relaxed, ate great food and came back with ideas for his new French...

It was one year ago that Resorts World opened. And on that opening night, we recorded the first episode of Food and Loathing. Al and Rich get an update on the RW food scene from Executive Chef Devin Hashimoto and Chef Joe Elevado, Executive Chef of Fuhu, Red Tail and Zouk Nightclub. Also: Al and Rich share their excellent experience at the opening of Wakuda, the classing Japanese restaurant now op...

We're back at Palms for an audio tour of some of the property's restaurants. Some are old, like the AYCE Buffet. Some are re-imagined, like Serrano Vista Cafe. And some are new - or might as well be, as they had barely opened before the Covid shutdown two years ago. Al and Rich also talk to Jon and Jenelle Batista, the co-owners of Artisanal Foods. They're closing their retail store, but will stil...

We're poolside and lakeside for this episode, co-hosted by Palms Executive Chef Marcus O'Brien. He joins Al and Rich from a cabana at the Palms poll (don't call it KAOS!!).In the centerpiece interview, Al sips wine by the lake at Marche Baccus with Janna Karel, the new editor of Eater Vegas. Also on the show: visits to Sickie's Garage, Nellie's Southern Kitchen, and China Poblano. In the news: big...

The restaurant industry's annual give-back to the community is well underway. Restaurant Week benefits the region's premier food bank, Three Square. Nearly 200 restaurants are offering lunch and dinner prix fix menus, and donate a portion of each check to Three Square. Restaurant Week actually runs nearly two weeks, through June 17th. But several restaurants extend their specials (and donations) f...

Al and Rich report back from their weekend in Napa, California to attend Bottlerock, the huge music, food and wine festival. And Rick Moonen tags along, as well. He's a principle in a progressive food, wine and charity venue called Feast it Forward. Among the many people appearing on this episode: Feast it Forward owner Katie Shaffer, Chefs Marcus Samuelsson, Aaron Sanchez, Roy Choi, Stephen Hopcr...

Al and Rick Moonen grab some sun and, well, scenery in an episode recorded poolside at Sapphire Gentlemen's Club. But food is still the subject, as they're joined by three chefs who did time in the kitchens at strip clubs in Las Vegas and New York many years ago. They are Gary Fx LaMorte, Bob Cranston, Steven Geddes, and Rick, himself! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adc...

Before celebrity chefs became the faces and the names of restaurants, the man (almost always a man) who ran the front of the house was often the one associated with a high-end place. That concept is making a bit of a comeback, and Al talks to three veteran 'front men' this week: John Anthony of Sparrow & Wolf, Ivo Angelo of Haro (but long associated with Le Cirque), and David Oseas of Rosa Ristora...

It may not be as elegant as Delilah or Mayfair Supper Club, but a couple of joints proudly serve up great pizza and great music. Al and Rich talk to the owners of two lively spots, starting with Nathan Gates and Anthony Jamison, co-owners of the Sand Dollar Lounge. While its original Spring Mountain Road location is going strong, the pair has opened a second Sand Dollar inside The Plaza Hotel in d...

It's all about the brunch this week. The combination of breakfast and lunch has mushroomed, so to speak, in recent years in Las Vegas. And two longtime downtown restauranteurs discuss how they do it. Michael Morton, owner of La Comida, recently started weekend brunches at the Mexican joint just off Fremont St. Liam Dwyer, owner of 7th & Carson, offers brunch every day. Also: this week's co-host, a...

What's the deal with that uniquely Nevada form of tavern/restaurant/mini-casino, the gaming bar? Al and Rich get the intel from the people behind the bars and in the kitchens. First up to talk food: Executive Chef Jeff McCarthy and Summerlin Kitchen Manager Josh Fietek of Distil - A Local Bar. Also joining in, Brian Slipock, owner of Jackson's Bar & Grill on West Flamingo. Then it's all about the...

Celebrity chef Michael Symon is coming back to Vegas, as his Mabel's BBQ will return to the Palms Casino Resort. Symon shares what the renewed Mabel's will look like, as well as the future of Sarah's the speakeasy behind the main restaurant. Rick Moonen is back in the co-host chair (actually a couch on his patio) to recount cooking for the VIP suites at the BTS concerts. Al plays his conversation...

It's once again all about the beer. Well, mostly about the beer as Al and Rich get a preview of The Great Vegas Festival. Formerly known as the Festival of Beer, this year's edition will include spirits and tacos. Organizer Brian Chapin has the lowdown, along with our resident beer guy Bob Barnes. Also: news about the latest finalist for The Great Las Vegas Coffee Shop Giveaway, an update on Marin...

Al, Rick and Rich welcome a ton of guests for short conversations on all kinds of subjects. Sami Ledeki talks about converting another of his pizza joints into a 'Gastrobrunch' restaurant. Luis DeSantos shares his vision for The Great Las Vegas Coffee Shop Giveaway. New mom Marina Alvarado is a contestant on a new competition show on Food TV. And, while her show is a serious cooking show, a couple...

Lost Spirits, caviar, Other People's Pinot and menu add-ons are among the subjects in an action-packed show. Thrillist Las Vegas editor Rob Kachelriess joins Al, Rich and Rick Moonen for the entire episode. Also: a UNLVino update and news of a "cannabis friendly" hotel coming this fall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're back for another bonus episode, again centered on pizza. But not completely. James Trees joins us with all the details of the upcoming expansion and move of Esther's Kitchen - and what will occupy the current Esther's space. Pizza Rock owner Tony Gemignani has much more to say about the first full-participation Pizza Expo in about two years. Metro Pizza's Chris Decker is very, very happy to...