Desert Companion (‘zine) – Best Cheap Eats

If you shopped at Whole Foods in the past two months, and let’s face it who hasn’t?, you probably grabbed a Desert Companion magazine as you were leaving. Behind the hot chile pepper cover was an article by you-know-who, on where to find some of our town’s best ethnic (and inexpensive) eats. Here is the PDF of that article for your perusing pleasure.

FYI: You may be hearing big things about RAKU in the coming months…..the national food press has taken notice of our little Japanese gem (thanks to someone who needs no introduction), and universal recognition of its excellence may soon be forthcoming.

Letter Of The Week

Readers of ELV: The following letter was sent to KNPR – Nevada Public Radio by a listener. Eating Las Vegas thought you might be interested in its contents and our response.

Dear Editor,

I recently read “My almost dinner with Andre”, column, posted at www.eatinglv.com by John Curtas, KNPR’s “Food Critic”.

In it, John Curtas brags about spending $19,000 a year in restaurant tabs.
Let’s look at this figure and break it down some.
– 20% of this amount consists of gratuities, leaving $15,833 in gross
restaurant tab
– 7.75% of this is tax, leaving $14,694 in net restaurant tab
– Divided by 12 months, this makes it $1,224 per month in restaurant tab or, per week, $282.57.

$287.57! That’s just what one expects to spend on an average check for
food and wine, for two people, at the great majority of fine restaurants in town (The kind Mr. Curtas promotes on his website).

One could conclude that Mr. Curtas either eats out only once a week,
hardly the hallmark of any serious food critic’s research standards, or, eats “freebies”
the rest of the days and thus, looses the objectivity required and expected of a true crtic. Which is it?

John Curtas, a Bona Fide Food Critic? Where is Ruth Reichl, I ask? Enough said.

Chris Mullis
KNPR Listener
Las Vegas

Dear Mr. Mullis,

Your arithmetic is correct but your methodology is wrong. Continue reading “Letter Of The Week”

KLAS TV (CBS) Channel 8 – Dishing and Dining – BARTOLOTTA RISTORANTE DI MARE

We’re long overdue to feature Paul Bartolotta’s as-fresh-as-it-can-be Italian seafood on KLAS TV’s Restaurant of the Week. Now that the segment has officially been re-named: Dishing and Dining, we thought we’d kick it off by featuring this Italian master and his craft.

Now that you’ve seen ELV espouse the virtues of this magnificent restaurant, go here to hear him praise its pisciform productions in the sonorous tones for which he is known.

FYI: Alan Richman loves to tell people the best (and most affordable) way to experience Paul B’s food is to go here an not order the whole fish. As tempting as that may be, unless you’re celebrating your inheritance (or someone else is picking up the tab), stick with the pastas and a la carte items and you’ll have an incredible meal for less than a house payment.

BARTOLOTTA RISTORANTE DI MARE

In the Wynn Hotel and Casino

3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Las Vegas, NV 89109

702.770.3305