2013 Program Hosted by The Pub’s Executive Chef Timothy Radigan and Nationally Recognized Brewery Representatives

The Pub at Monte Carlo invites guests to experience  pub-style food offerings while sipping refreshing craft beers at Gus’ Beer and Bites, a fun,  interactive beer pairing dinner series. Named after The Pub’s iconic whale Gus, each dinner will showcase beers from renowned breweries, providing guests with insights into the multifaceted world of craft beer, and will be paired with an extraordinary five-course menu created by The Pub’s Executive Chef Timothy Radigan.

Gus’ Beer and Bites begins Wednesday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m. and will be held monthly. Tickets are priced at $64.04 per person, all-inclusive, and available for purchase to guests 21 and older at Monte Carlo’s Reservations webpage or by calling (702) 769-6699.

“The Pub at Monte Carlo is known for its impressive beer portfolio and we are enthusiastic to grow our list by partnering with breweries across the country,” said Radigan. “Craft beers continue to grow in popularity and by offering our guests an exclusive opportunity to taste a variety of notable beers, along with a compelling menu that complements the flavors of each selection, we will create a memorable experience.”

Upon arrival, guests will be escorted to The Pub’s upstairs dining room to enjoy passed appetizers and craft beer samples. Following, attendees will be seated as Radigan and a brewery representative begin the evening’s program. The hosts will guide guests through each intricate pairing, providing specific information on the featured beers and flavor profiles that create the superb combination. Guests will receive a printed dinner menu and a stationary pad for beer tasting notes as a keepsake.

The 2013 schedule of events for Gus’ Beer and Bites is as follows:

Left Coast Brewing Company: Wednesday, April 24

Left Coast Brewing Company, an independent brewer based out of San Clemente, Calif., will start the evening with its highly rated seasonal spring beer Una Mas, perfectly accented by a line-up of satisfying spring eats.

New Belgium Brewing Company: Wednesday, June 26

Based out of Fort Collins, Colo., New Belgium Brewing Company will feature several tempting beer selections, including the well-known tasty amber Fat Tire, alongside Radigan’s summer cuisine menu selections.

Boston Beer Company: Wednesday, August 28

The flavors of a late-summer menu will flawlessly pair with the Massachusetts brewery, Boston Beer Company, including the full-flavored Samuel Adams Boston Logger.

Goose Island: Wednesday, September 25

Known for an innovative selection of craft beers, Goose Island will showcase its flagship Matilda, along with several other offerings that provide a quenching accompaniment to the seasonal menu.

Alaskan Brewing Company: Wednesday, October 30

Alaskan Brewing Company, an environmentally sustainable brewery, will start off the evening with its flagship Alaskan Amber beer alongside the bold flavors of fall-themed culinary creations.

Lagunitas Brewing Company: Wednesday, November 20

The mouthwatering pub-style offerings will seamlessly highlight Lagunitas’ most sought-after beers including the filtered pale wheat drink, Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale.

InBev Belgian: Wednesday, December 11

InBev Belgian, a large brewery based out of Europe, will allow guests to escape the winter chill and indulge in its notable beer, Leffe Blond, accentuated by a warming array of winter-themed cuisine.

The Triple, Five-Star Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas is delighted to announce the launch of the new Jazz Sundays at MOzen Bistro and Mandarin Bar. The weekly get-together features live jazz music while guests indulge in a new brunch menu at MOzen and a special cocktail menu in Mandarin Bar’s stylish and lively atmosphere.

MOzen Bistro Jazz Sundays Brunch

Every Sunday, MOzen Bistro has a live jazz duo of guitarist and stand up bass along with a new all-you-can-enjoy brunch. The USD 58 per person menu offers fresh sushi, an elaborate seafood station featuring Crab claws and Kumomoto oysters, live carving options, traditional Dim Sum, a delectable dessert offering and entree favorites including the Hong Kong Style Steamed Grouper, Belgium Waffle with caramel pecan cream and the Soufflé Omelette. In addition to the exquisite cuisine, free flowing champagne for USD 35 and mimosas for USD 19 per person are available. Brunch is from noon - 2:30 p.m. For reservations and more information, please call 702-590-8882.

Jazz Sundays at Mandarin Bar

High above the world-famous Las Vegas Strip on the 23^rd floor, Sunday evenings continue at Mandarin Bar from 4 - 8 p.m. with live jazz bands and new libation offerings. While enjoying an exhilarating ambience, guests will take pleasure in Mandarin Bar’s delicious light bites, domestic and import beers at USD 6, and expertly crafted cocktails for USD 14 including the Cherry Amour and Golden Leaf Martini which was created exclusively for the Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas.

TAO Asian Bistro and LAVO Italian Restaurant have announced a locals and Venetian/Palazzo hotel guest happy hour. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays at TAO and Monday and Thursdays at LAVO, guests can enjoy two-for-one cocktails and complimentary small bites from 5 pm to 7 pm and after 11 pm at the restaurant bars and lounges.

Guests must show their Nevada ID or Venetian/Palazzo room key before ordering to receive the happy hour special.

Vodka is the most consumed liquor in the United States–yet many leading cocktail authorities hold it in low regard. With VODKA DISTILLED: The Modern Mixologist on Vodka and Vodka Cocktails, Tony Abou-Ganim turns his attention to renewing our appreciation for this oft-maligned spirit. Abou-Ganim is at the forefront of the craft cocktail resurgence and has worked with Mario Batali, Steve Wynn, Dale DeGroff, and Harry Denton, among others. His first cocktail book, The Modern Mixologist, was praised widely and is now in its fourth printing.

Vodka Distilled profiles sixty of the world’s diverse vodkas, featuring detailed descriptions and tasting notes. Abou-Ganim also breaks down the history and production of vodka, specifying key differences between vodkas from different regions. The centerpiece of the book is a collection of twenty-five classic and contemporary cocktail recipes selected, adapted, or created by Abou-Ganim, chosen to showcase vodka’s true character. With a forward by cocktail master Dale DeGroff and gorgeous photography by James Beard Award-winning photographer Tim Turner, Vodka Distilled is sure to become the go-to resource on vodka and vodka cocktails.

Tony Abou-Ganim has been at the forefront of the craft cocktail resurgence of the past decade, building a reputation as one of the world’s most respected mixologists. Vodka fell out of favor with craft-cocktail enthusiasts in recent years, as spirits like gin and rye returned to prominence. Too many see vodka as a simple, uncomplicated vehicle for simple, uncomplicated drinks. In truth, vodka is a complex, multifaceted spirit with an important role in cocktails when it is distilled and mixed correctly. With Vodka Distilled, Abou-Ganim seeks to return vodka to its proper place in the contemporary cocktail scene.

Vodka Distilled explores some of vodka’s rich history and cultural heritage, and details the significant differences between vodka made in Europe and vodka made elsewhere. One chapter focuses entirely on the “anatomy” of vodka, breaking down the raw materials, fermentation, distillation, and filtration processes used to make different vodkas. The centerpiece of the book is a selection of terrific recipes for great vodka based cocktails, as well as instructions regarding the proper type and serving style of traditional vodka accompaniments such as caviar and canapés. The book is rounded out by in-depth tasting and distilling profiles of sixty vodkas from around the world.

Vodka Distilled, February 15, 2013 $22.95

Whether you are interested in becoming a sommelier or want to become an expert at planning wine dinners to impress your friends, Valentino Las Vegas is now offering a hands-on opportunity for guests to hone their wine skills with its “Sommelier for a Day” experience. Featuring the finest wines of the greatest cellar in the United States, carefully assembled throughout the 40 years Valentino Restaurant Group has been open, wine enthusiasts can undergo this unique experience for $250 per person.

Gretchen Allen, the wine director at Valentino and certified sommelier, will guide each guest through a distinctive evening at the restaurant in a one-on-one training session. Guests can expect to learn the history of wine and explore Valentino’s wine list, which features more than 2,400 selections with choices for both the connoisseur and novice alike. Guests will also learn all aspects of wine service, as well as wine and food pairing, to make the joy of wine accessible to anyone. To finish off the evening, guests will be treated to a tasting of Valentino’s most elite wines paired with James Beard Award-winning Chef Luciano Pellegrini’s cuisine.

Located inside The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino, the fine dining room at Valentino Las Vegas is open daily at 5:30 p.m. To enlist in this exclusive opportunity, call (702) 414-3000 and ask for Gretchen Allen to make reservations.

Starting in January 2013, Tavernita, the popular River North destination for dining and imbibing from Mercadito Hospitality, will launch Taps for Tap, a new charitable series featuring kegged cocktails.  Given the popularity of the innovative and efficient kegged beverage system created by the renowned Tippling Bros., Tavernita has joined forces with some of the country’s best mixologists to offer a monthly signature kegged cocktail.  The featured cocktail will be sold throughout the month at Tavernita and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Freshwater Future, a charity whose mission is to ensure the healthy future of the water in the Great Lakes region.

The Tippling Bros. and Tavernita’s in-house batchologist will work with the guest mixologists to develop recipes for large batch cocktails. Each month will kick-off with a new drink recipe, with the guests mixologists joining for a debut party on occasion.

For the inaugural month, Dale DeGroff, aka King Cocktail, is sharing the Coctel Iberia, a delicious blend of Irish whiskey, two types of sherry, DeGroff’s signature pimento bitters and fresh orange.

Tavernita will welcome recipes from the following noteworthy mixologists for the first half of the spirited series:

• January: Dale DeGroff, aka King Cocktail, is the author of The Craft of the Cocktailand The Essential Cocktail.  He is a winner of the James Beard Wine & Spirits Professional Award and is also the founder and president of The Museum of the American Cocktail in New Orleans.  DeGroff’s most recent project includes launching his new brand of PIMENTO AROMATIC BITTERS - developed with renowned absinthe distiller Ted Breaux.

• February: Jeffrey Morgenthaler is an award-winning mixologist and the current Bar Manager of Clyde Common in Portland.  His cocktails have been featured in countless magazines, blogs and websites, including his own:www.Jeffreymorgenthaler.com. In 2011, he was named a Rising Star Mixologist by StarChefs.

• March: Steve Olson, aka Wine Geek, is a Wine & Spirits consultant for Bon Appétitmagazine.  He teaches, lectures, and writes all over the world about wine, beer, spirits, sake, and virtually any other beverage.  Olson is the voice behind the Virtual Bartender kiosks in retail stores nationwide. He is also nationally renowned for his consultation behind some of the country’s most innovative beverage programs and service systems in the industry.

• April: David Wondrich is an award-winning author and cocktail historian.  Wondrich serves as an Esquire magazine Drinks Correspondent, as well as the Wine & Spirits editor of Saveur and as a columnist for The Malt Advocate.  His most recent book,Imbibe! From Absinthe Cocktail to Whiskey Smash, a Salute in Stories and Drinks to Professor Jerry Thomas, Pioneer of the American Bar, won a James Beard Award.

• May: Dushan Zaric is a pioneering bartender and co-owner of the famous cocktaileries Employees Only and Macao Trading Co.  Zaric helped co-found The 86 Company in NYC as well as The American Bartending Institute of New York.  He is also the co-author of two books: You Didn’t Hear It From Us and Speakeasy - Classic Cocktails re-imagined by New York’s Employees Only Bar.

• June: Simon Ford, recently named Industry Visionary in the UK, currently works in the capacity of International Ambassador for Plymouth Gin and overseas with the on-premise portfolio specialist team for Pernod Ricard USA. From running a wine shop to opening some of England’s most lauded cocktail bars, judging spirits in competition and marketing some of the biggest brands on the planet, Ford is a highly respected voice in the spirits industry.

For more information, visit www.tavernita.com. For reservations, please call (312) 274-1111.

January is a busy time for Corkbuzz Wine Studio.  Guests can get started on their resolutions with new classes to expand their wine knowledge including “Exploring New Zealand & Australia” and “Exploring South America.”

Courses include:

1/5 A Tour of France

1/6 Bubbles Before Brunch

1/7 Blind Tasting

1/9 Wine 200 Intro to Europe - France

1/11 Take Out Pairing

1/12 Exploring South America

1 A Tour of Italy

1/14 Wine 101

!/15 Wine 200: Intro to Europe - Italy

1/18 Pairing Basics: Fortified & Dessert Wine

1/19 1 Pairing 3 Ways

1/20 Natural, Organic & Biodynamic Wines

1/25 Seasonal Pairing

1/26 Exploring New Zealand and Australia

1/27 Wine 101

1/30 Wine 200 Intro to Europe Spain & Portugal

Also, Sunday nights in January are corkage-free! Friends and fellow wine enthusiasts can share bottles and order from the full dinner menu all night. Reservations for classes and events can be made online: www.corkbuzz.com.

Corkbuzz Wine Studio

13 East 13th Street (5th-University)

646.873.6071

ARIA Resort & Casino’s AMERICAN FISH by Michael Mina, known for its celebration of the rustic American dining legacy, showcases a gourmet approach to culinary classics with both its food and beverage offerings. Continuing at the forefront of this growing trend, AMERICAN FISH’s bartenders have elevated the art of classical mixology to create modern twists on cocktail favorites.

AMERICAN FISH serves The Strip’s taste buds a lesson from history through extensive research of tried-and-true cocktail classics, as well as cutting-edge techniques, to inspire 21^st century craft-beverage innovations.  Each drink has a story to tell and AMERICAN FISH’s menu enlightens guests to the tales behind our nation’s legendary libations and their modern-day counterparts, such as:

Sun Bitten

This AMERICAN FISH original is designed with Vitamin C and vodka-lovers in mind. A mixture of orange vodka, Cointreau and hand-pressed orange juice creates a burst of citrus refreshment, served up with an orange peel to maintain its classic feel.

Broke & Bloodied

A spin on the classic Blood & Sand, this cocktail created by bartender Christian Hall combines St. George’s Breaking & Entering bourbon, blood orange liqueur, cherry Heering, orange juice and Angostura bitters and is garnished with an orange peel and brandied cherry.

Vieux Carré

Translated to “Old Square,” this iconic beverage is named after the French Quarter of New Orleans, the city credited as the birthplace of the American cocktail. This well-balanced blend of Sazerac 6-year rye whiskey, Hennessy VS cognac, Carpano Antica sweet vermouth, Benedictine, Angostura bitters and Peychaud’s bitters was the signature cocktail at the famous Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans and is garnished with a lemon peel for a refreshing zest.

Sloe Gin Fizz

This cocktail celebrates the early 1900s “fizz sensation” as drinks featuring the technique were introduced to the world in 1887 by the widely influential mixology manual, The Bartender’s Guide. Various recipes exist for one of the most popular fizz creations, Sloe Gin Fizz, but AMERICAN FISH’s version takes the cocktail back to its roots by combining egg whites with sloe gin, lemon juice and simple syrup.  The simple mixture is then topped with club soda and swiftly shaken, forming the light frothy texture that make fizzes highly coveted libations.

Remember the Maine

Another creation of AMERICAN FISH’s mixologists - Remember the Maine - is even more elating than the moment in American history it commemorates.Named in remembrance of the 1898 sinking of the USS Maine in Havana harbor, which sparked the Spanish-American War, this classically inspired drink combines Bulleit rye whiskey, Carpano Antica sweet vermouth, cherry Heering and absinthe served with a brandied cherry garnish.

Clock-Work Orange

Guests usually believe Clock-Work Orange is named for the famous Stanley Kubrick film, but this creation takes on the nickname of the 1970s Dutch soccer teams known for their positive chemistry and consistent roster of world-class players. AMERICAN FISH bartender Eric Forlini stirred up Nolet’s silver gin, lemon juice and red jalapeño, flavors that work perfectly together to create a truly distinctive taste.

Whether guests are looking for their favorite cocktail classics or the latest creations, the beverage program at AMERICAN FISH has a drink sure to please, paired with symbolic historical facts designed to impress.

A dynamic restaurant and a bar made for mingling come together at the new Meatball Spot, opening across from Rave Motion Pictures at Town Square in November. Featuring the celebrated fare of renowned chef Carla Pellegrino and a compelling cocktail menu, Meatball Spot will offer meatball dishes, pizzas, salads and a gelato bar, as well as an array of mojitos, sangrias and cocktail floats.

“Everyone will feel right at home at Meatball Spot,” says Pellegrino. “I created this menu with the same love and attention to detail I would put into cooking for my own family. Whether you’re going out for date night, for dinner with friends or just want a quick bite before the movies, our salads and meatballs will keep you coming back for more.”

Pellegrino has a lifetime of experience when it comes to cooking. She has been widely recognized for her culinary talents through such accolades as “Best of Las Vegas - 2012″ and “Best of Henderson - 2011, 2012,” and has appeared on the “Today Show,”  “CBS Morning Show” and “Throwdown with Bobby Flay,” which she won. Pellegrino has also been featured in “Bon Appétit” and “Food & Wine” magazine.

French country design unites with a SoHo meets Malibu setting at the dynamic new restaurant, where a white picket fence frames a spacious patio with a garden-style setting outside, and a lively bar is the centerpiece to the dining room inside.  A takeaway counter offers pizza by the slice and other quick bites. Altogether, the 7,000-square-foot restaurant seats 250 guests.

Meatball Spot’s menu features an array of farm fresh selections, starting with delectable meatballs in several variations including Classic, Pork, Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Lamb and Vegetarian. Weekly specials will include items like Buffalo Chicken Meatballs with bleu cheese, Taco Meatballs and more. Patrons will enjoy three meatballs with their choice of sauce and toasted French bread for $6.95. Provolone and mozzarella cheeses or a fried egg may be added for an additional $1. Sandwich selections include The Meatball Slider, prepared with one meatball on a brioche bun with sauce and cheese, priced at $3.95; The Meatball Smash, made with two meatballs on a French Baguette with sauce and cheese, priced at $4.95; and The Meatball Hero, made with three meatballs on a French baguette with sauce and cheese, priced at $5.95. The eatery will also offer a daily, specialty meatball selection. Meatball Spot’s delicious, house-made sauces will include: Pesto, Garlic Parmesan, Spicy Meat Sauce, Mushroom Gravy, Classic Tomato and a daily specialty sauce.

Carla Pellegrino, Tom Recine and Jesse Shen Prepare To Cut The Red Ribbon

Meatball Spot will also serve traditional ‘Roman Style’ thin crust pizzas, served in half-tray portions that serve two to four people, and full-tray portions that serve four to six people. Guests will be able to load their pizzas with various toppings, including pepperoni, sausage, meatballs, pineapple, jalapeños and more. Half-tray portions are priced at $7.95, and full-tray portions are priced at $14.95. Salad selections include the Strawberry Balsamic Salad, made with baby spinach, cucumbers, candied pecans and balsamic strawberry vinaigrette; the Kitchen Sink Salad, made with romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, salami, pepperoni, mozzarella, provolone, croutons and herb vinaigrette; and the Baby Arugula Salad, made with Bosc Pears, candied pecans, crumbled gorgonzola cheese and Sherry vinaigrette. Every salad is available in half portions or full portions, with pricing for half salads starting at $4.95 and pricing for full salads starting at $8.95. Hearty side dishes will include Rigatoni, Risotto Balls, Spaghetti, Mac and Cheese and Truffle Fries.

Meatball Spot will also offer a social bar scene as well as special events on the patio. On weekends, a DJ will spin an eclectic mix on the outdoor patio for late-night entertainment. The new dining and drink destination will feature a food and drink happy hour menu from 3 until 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 3 until 5:30 p.m. on Friday; and a reverse happy hour from 9 p.m. until close, Sunday through Thursday. Happy hour menu items will include the four meatball dish priced at $4.95; Meatball Sliders for $2.95; Meatball Heroes for $3.95; full-tray ‘Roman Style’ pizzas for $7.50; and half-off all well drinks and draft beers.

Meatball Spot will feature a varied drink menu that will include a wine and beer list, mojitos, margaritas, signature Sangria that will come in red and a seasonal white, and even “spiked” root beer, grape, orange and strawberry floats. Other specialty cocktails include the Strawberry Float, made with Bacardi Dragonberry and strawberry soda, and the Sunshine Tea, made with Jeremiah Weed Sweet Tea Vodka and a hint of lemon. JELL-O shots, 10 quart punch bowls filled with sangria, Long Island iced tea and more will keep the mood fun and festive.

Patrons can polish off their meals with a vast selection of desserts, including gelato in Nutella, Pistachio, Sea Salt Caramel and more; Lemon, Strawberry, Coconut and Mango Sorbets; and Vanilla Bean, Chocolate and Strawberry ice cream flavors. These treats can be enjoyed for $2.50 per scoop. Guests can also indulge in ice cream sandwiches for $5.95, with choices such as Bananas Foster, made with white chocolate macadamia nut cookies and Bananas Foster ice cream; and the Mudslide, made with double chocolate chip cookies and coffee fudge ice cream. Creamy milkshakes, priced at $5.95, include the Birthday Cake, made with vanilla cake, vanilla ice cream and sprinkles; and the Cookie Explosion, made with Oreo cookie crumbles, chocolate chips, chocolate sauce and caramel.

Meatball Spot will be open for lunch, dinner and late-night dining, daily: Sunday through Wednesday, from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., Thursday, from 11 a.m. until midnight, and Friday and Saturday, from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. Meatball Spot, located directly across from Rave Motion Pictures at Town Square Las Vegas, will remain open for special screenings and big opening nights.  More information is available on the website, www.MeatballSpot.com, by calling 702.641.7768, on Twitter @meatballspot, and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MeatballSpot. Meatball Spot is available for parties and special events.

Ring in the holidays YOUR way with the finest Scotch tasting in the land at Andre’s Cigar Lounge, Dec. 5th.

Andre’s famed Whisk(e)y Wednesday is closing out the year in classic style when Southern Wine & Spirits representatives join us for an education on none other than “The Dalmore,” the highland Single Malt Scotch award-winner in production for 180 years.

You will be tasting 12, 15 and 18-year blends, in addition to the very rare Cigar Malt and King Alexander III bottlings. As usual, RSVPs in advance are $25 by calling (702) 798-7151, and any possible remaining tickets are $35 at the door.

Just 60 people are allowed into Andre’s Cigar Lounge Whisk(e)y Wednesday, so gather your friends and welcome the holidays in true Scottish spirit with 5 distinct, unlimited Dalmore tastings!

The Dalmore, long known for its iconic family crest of royal stag antlers, was begun by the Clan Mackenzie in 1839. Located on the northern shores of the Firth of Cromarty in the spectacular Scottish Highlands, the distillery enjoys rare salt air. Even its warehouses are aligned to face the North Sea to provide unique conditions for smooth and tasty maturation.

Whisk(e)y Wednesday’s patrons will enjoy the rare introduction to The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve, too, a 44% alcohol compilation of scotch stock drawn from three different casks: American white oak ex-bourbon casks, 30-year-old Matusalem oloroso sherry butts, and premier cru Cabernet Sauvignon white barriques.

Southern Wine & Spirits will also be bringing The Dalmore’s King Alexander III to the table, which unites six specially selected casks from bourbon, sherry, Madeira, Marsala, port and Cabernet casks and barrels.