Category: Events

Kickin’ Off Our Uncork’d 2011 Journey In Style…

First came the private wine tasting at some trés lûxe suite atop the Hilton (yes Virginia, there still are trés lûxe suites in this old warhorse of a hotel….who knew?):

[nggallery id=1109]

…involving some serious juice from a fellow named Dennis De La Montanya (whom you may not of heard of), and rock ‘n roll dude/songwriter/keyboardist Jonathan Cain, from a band named Journey, of whom you just may have.

Turns out, De La Montanya got his good buddy into the wine making biz, and their results are pretty impressive. The pinot noirs are what got ELV’s attention, but Cain’s Finale cab is a keeper too. Expect to start seeing these on lists soon — and expect a mouthful from these estate grown grapes.

From there, it was off to Caesars Palace for the now traditional kick-off Grand Masters Dinners from some of their top chefs. ELV took his usual seat at Restaurant Guy Savoy (alongside some frustrated Borscht Belt comedian named Slapsie Maxie Jacobson) and settled in for the usual French-filled festivities and fulsome fare:

[nggallery id=1110]

Besides the lame jokes we endured, it was a hoot and a half to hang with The Daily Blender’s Jennifer Heigl.

Jennifer, we’re looking forward to hangin’ with today and tomorrow at Uncork’d. Slapsie Maxie’s jokes we can do without.

Example:

Did you hear about the bad Jewish restaurant?

The food is terrible…and oy veh…the portions are so small!

Thankfully, we won’t have to suffer through any more comedic and (not to mention gastronomic) indignities over the next two days.

Vegas Uncork’d 2011 Begins Today!

“…poultry is for the cook what canvas is for the painter.” – Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

[nggallery id=1106]

In honor of Vegas Uncork’d beginning today, ELV thought a few tasty snaps of the other-worldly guineahen (aka pintade) — served to him at and by Guy Savoy last year — were in order. In keeping with tradition, we will be dining avec Mon. Savoy again this year — tonight as a matter of fact — and are licking our chops in anticipation.

Whether he will serve us another gallina farona (the Italian name – “pharaoh’s hen”) is unknown (and we’d be perfectly happy if he did), but in honor of last year’s meal, and to celebrate the fifth year of Vegas’ most celebratory gourmet food festival, here are a few fun food facts about this obscure-yet-tasty bird:

> Waverly Root (writing in the 1970s) described it as the most flavorful of all barnyard fowl.

> Their tiny heads resemble those of vultures.

> It’s slightly darker white meat, retains a hint of wild gaminess and has often been compared to pheasant.

> Although domesticated, they enjoy roosting in the top most branches of the tallest trees, and are shot down from such elevated perches as sport by farmers in Southwestern France.

> They are the noisiest of all domesticated fowl, probably because the plumage from male to female is almost identical, and they need to keep yakking to distinguish themselves.

> Thomas Jefferson raised them, and was particularly fond of their flesh.

> Because the first ones were imported from North Africa, the Romans considered them a rare and exotic delicacy.

> They got their name from the Portuguese, who started importing them to France from Guinea in West Africa (which it controlled), in the 16th Century.

All this research has given ELV a hankerin’ for a dinner most fowl tonight…but whatever Restaurant Guy Savoy is serving, we’re sure it will be spectacular.

RESTAURANT GUY SAVOY

In Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino

3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Las Vegas, NV 89109

702.731.7286

www.guysavoy.com