TravelsinTaste recently sat down with Carlos Guia, Chairman of Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation Las Vegas and executive chef of The Country Club, two other Wynn/Encore chefs who are participating in that event - Kim Canteenwalla, executive chef of Society Cafe Encore, and David Spero, executive chef of Tableau to talk about their commitment to ending childhood hunger and to get a sneak peak at the event and the dishes they are preparing!  To read the entire interview, please click here.

AMORÉ PATISSERIE AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL, LAS VEGAS FASHIONS SEDUCING SWEETS AFTER FAMOUS FOURSOME

Gelato Flavors Inspired by Sex and the City Characters Now Available for a Limited Time

WHAT:          With the highly anticipated arrival of the Sex and the City 2 movie premiere, Amoré Patisserie at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas has created gelatos inspired by fans’ favorite fashionistas.  Chef Gianni Santin has developed the array of stylishly sweet treats that include the “Mr. Big Chocolate”, a rich and robust double chocolate chunk with chocolate swirls; “Carrie’s Cosmo”, a spunky sorbet made with limes, cranberry juice and triple sec flavoring; “Miranda’s Manhattan Mojito”, inspired by the career driven redhead, with fresh mint, lime, blood orange juice and rum flavoring; “Samantha’s Forbidden Apple”, a sinfully delicious green appletini; and “Charlotte’s Straight Citrus”, a flavor as sweet as the Park Avenue princess, with limoncello, a lemon pudding swirl and vodka.  For a girl’s night out, these tasty treats are a great way to settle the sweet tooth of your diva within!

“I won’t comment on what takes place in the city, but love at first bite happens at Amore,” joked Santin. “I enjoyed researching the personalities of the characters to create whimsical flavors for guests to relate with and enjoy.”

WHERE:       Amoré Patisserie at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas, 3752 Las Vegas Blvd., South.  Sex and the City gelato and sorbet flavors are available for a limited time.

Ethnic food sales are on the rise - driven primarily by Asian and Indian cuisine and TravelsinTaste is on the trend!  Check out the article we wrote for TheStreet.com where we interviewed several of our favorite chefs (Jet Tila, Luciano Pellegrini, Kuldeep Singh, Shawn Armstrong) regarding their preparations.

Experience an amazing night of food, wine and music on Saturday, June 5th, at one of Las Vegas’ most luxurious private residences. The night features food prepared by five of Las Vegas’ James Beard Award-winning chefs including Shawn McClain (Sage), Claude Le Tohic (Joel Robuchon/L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon), Luciano Pellegrini (Valentino), Francois Payard (Payard Patisserie & Bistro) and Julian Serrano (Julian Serrano/Picasso). The evening will also feature a special musical performance by members of the Las Vegas Philharmonic.

Tickets are $300 each with proceeds from the event benefitting both the Las Vegas Philharmonic and the James Beard Foundation. This is an intimate affair so purchase your tickets soon by calling: (702) 258-5438 ext. 221

There is a special Spanish wine dinner taking place this Monday, May 24th, at Hearth restaurant in the East Village.

The wine dinner is in honor of Alejandro Fernandez of Tinto Pesquera in the Ribera del Duero region of Spain, who is leading figure of Spanish wine.  An evening with Alejandro is an exhilarating experience - he has an intoxicating personality & brings a distinct historical perspective to the world of Spanish grape juice.

A four-course meal of dishes such as lambs tongue salad, wild mushroom tortelli, roasted Berkshire pork loin will be served to accompany Alejandro’s wine selections.  The cost is $140 all-inclusive; to reserve a seat, please call 646.602.1300 or email pgrieco@restauranthearth.com.

The complete menu follows:

1st Course

LAMBS TONGUE SALAD

Smoked Chickpeas, Frisée, Poached Quail Egg

Condado de Haza, 2006

Pesquera, 2006, Ribera del Duero

2nd Course

WILD MUSHROOM TORTELLI

Almonds, Manchego Cheese

El Vinculo, 2004, La Mancha

Dehesa la Granja, 2004, Zamora

3rd Course

ROASTED BERKSHIRE PORK LOIN

Sausage, Cranberry Beans

Pesquera Gran Reserva, Janus, 2003, Ribera del Duero

Pesquera, Millenium, 1996, Ribera del Duero

Alenza, 1996, Ribera del Duero

Dessert

CARAMEL BUDINO

Caramelized Popcorn

Toro Albalá, Don PX, 2004, Montilla-Morilles

La Caravelle - the phrase exudes a wonderful thoughts of Paris in midtown complete with the most delicious meals one could ever have.  Alas, memories of a begone era as after over 40 years of serving New York City society the restaurant’s doors closed for good on May 22, 2004.  But, it’s not completely gone…the champagne lives on in not only one, but three varieties  - the Cuvee Nina, Rose, and Blanc de Blanc.  Last night Rita Jammet (who, along with her husband Andre, owned La Caravelle)  conducted a champagne tasting on New York’s Upper East side and of course TravelsinTaste couldn’t miss such a fabulous experience and a chance to toast La Caravelle! 

The champagne line has been crafted in Epernay with the best quality grapes from the Champagne region of France.   The Cuvee Nina is named after one of the Caravelle ships built by Columbus for his trip to the New World and features 40% chardonnay, 30% pinot noir and 30% pinot meunier.  The rose uses the same blend as the Nina, but also includes Ay and Bouzy reds.  Our favorite happened to be the Blanc de Blanc, which is 100% chardonnay harvested primarily from the Cote des Blanc and aged for three years.  It was wonderful to chat with Rita and re-live the Caravelle experience.  For more information on their champagne line, please click here.

Cheers to La Caravelle!

qualia’s new Great Barrier Feast series will welcome one of Sydney, Australia’s most renowned chefs, Chef/Owner Justin North of Becasse and Etch, as he takes the helm Friday, July 23 - Sunday, July 25, 2010 for Part 2 of the three-part guest chef event. Taking place beachside at qualia and the new Hamilton Island Yacht Club overlooking the picturesque Coral Sea, this food and wine extravaganza, dreamed-up by Robert Oatley of Oatley wines, is hosted over three exclusive “Chef’s Table” weekends, the third of which is in November. North, whose illustrious career has included work at Michelin 3 Star restaurants such as Pierre Gagnaire and Guy Savoy in Paris, France, was recently awarded “Chef of the Year” in 2009 and 2010 by the Sydney Morning Herald and GQ magazine, respectively. For the Great Barrier Feast, North will offer his modern-French cuisine with wines paired by renowned Australian Wine Critic and Writer James Halliday while former MasterChef Presenter and Australian Cosmopolitan

Restaurant Reviewer, Sarah Wilson, emcee’s. Wine pairings will incorporate the Oatley family of wines, which includes the new Tic Tok label.

The weekend’s events including beachside meals and master classes with North will be hosted at the world renowned qualia and the new Hamilton Island Yacht Club. Packages are available for qualia starting at AUD $1650 in a Leeward Pavilion and AUD $2150 in a Windward Pavilion. Guests may also stay at the boutique Beach Club with packages starting at AUD $1295. All prices are per person, based on twin share.

Packages include:

• Welcome dinner by qualia Executive Chef Jane-Therese Mulry
• Multi-course dinner by Chef Justin North with a live camera link so guests can watch every precise move in the kitchen
• Veuve Clicquot Champagne Lunch
• Wines paired by James Halliday with tasting tips
• Two Electrolux Master Classes
• Two night luxury accommodation
• Two breakfasts
• VIP chauffeur service
• VIP return Hamilton Island Airport/Marina transfers
• Use of non-motorized watercraft
• Hire of a golf buggy (qualia only)

“It’s such an honor to be working with Australia’s most talented chefs for the series,” says Chef Mulry of qualia, whose career accomplishments have included being the first female head chef at Marco Pierre White’s London kitchens. “Together, we’re offering our guests an experience that is unmatched anywhere else in the world-incredible food, wine, and company in a beautiful, one-of-a-kind location.”

Part 1 of the 2010 Great Barrier Feast opened in March with internationally acclaimed Chef Tetsuya Wakuda, James Halliday offering wine pairings, and MasterChef presenter Sarah Wilson hosting as emcee. In previous years, guest chefs have included Curtis Stone, Shannon Bennett, and Christine Manfield.

‘21′ Chef’s Table in the Wine Cellar

Executive Chef John Greeley

Join us Friday, May 21st as we open the legendary wine cellar at ‘21′ as a communal chef’s table. Individual diners, couples and small groups may now be combined to form parties of 10 to 20 guests and experience dinner in the wine cellar.

After gathering with your fellow guests during a Champagne reception with hors d’oeuvres in our cocktail lounge, be led through the kitchen to the basement and learn the secret of the hidden door to the cellar. Enjoy Chef Greeley’s sumptuous 6-course tasting menu perfectly paired with wines selected by our sommelier.

You will find this a wonderful opportunity to dine with family, friends or business associates and it makes the perfect gift for any occasion.

Sample Menu:

(Subject to change)

First Course

American Hackleback Caviar with Lemon Crème Frâiche and Corn Blini

Second Course

Organic Lola Rosa and Tango Greens Wrapped in Cucumber with Oven-Dried Pear Tomato, Shaved Parmesan Cheese, Icicle Radish and Champagne Vinaigrette

Third Course

Butter Braised Nova Scotia Lobster with Chestnut Purée, Red Corn Kernels, Black Trumpet Mushroom and Lemon-Chervil Sauce

Fourth Course

Rack of Colorado Lamb with Herb and Breadcrumb Crust, Roasted Salsify, Spaghetti Squash and Medjool Dates, Honey and Natural Jus

Fifth Course

Chilled Fruit Soup Intermezzo

Sixth Course

Valrhona Chocolate Soufflé with Vanilla Malt Ice Cream and Caramelized Pears

Petits Fours and Chocolates

Coffee & Tea Service

This Saturday, May 22^nd, head to Le Bernardin for a Seminar on Wines from South America taught by Aldo Sohm, the restaurant’s wine director.  Aldo will review the terroir and vinification of each wine as well as how to properly taste. This will then be followed by a dinner where he’ll dine with attendees to further discuss wine and food pairings.

Aldo was named the “Best Sommelier in the World” in 2008 by the Worldwide Sommelier Association and received the 2009 James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine Service.

The gourmet burger is alive and well at many fine dining establishments, but there are also options with a bit of a less decadent twist - or options to try at home.  Click here to read our article on TheStreet.com to find out all about them!  Enjoy National Burger Month!