The Divine Dish

Las Vegas Restaurant Week Begins August 30

Sage at ARIA is one of the many restaurants participating in restaurant week

Las Vegas Restaurant Week kicks off at the end of this month, offering diners a unique opportunity to enjoy tastes of The Strip’s most popular establishments while raising money to feed the hungry.  The event, featuring specially priced dinner menus at more than 50 participating restaurants, is August 30 – September 5.  A selection of MGM Resorts International’s finest restaurants, as well as other Sin City  restaurants  will offer prix fixe menus at $20.10, $30.10 and $50.10 with a portion benefiting Three Square, a non-profit organization in Las Vegas working to end hunger in Southern Nevada.

The kick-off event will take place Monday, August 30 from 8 p.m. to midnight at WET REPUBLIC with booths and food stations from restaurants including Jean Georges Steakhouse, Shawn McClain’s Sage and L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon.  Celebrity chef Hubert Keller will showcase his musical talents, spinning the hottest hits as special guest DJ during the party.  Tickets to the event are $30.10 and can be used as a dining voucher to any participating MGM Grand restaurant during Restaurant Week.

Interview with Chef Bernard Derviex, Cuistot restaurant Palm Springs

Chef Bernard Derviex

My friend Paul and I were fortunate to have the chance to eat at one of the best restaurants in the Palm Springs area, Cuistot.  We had a fantastic meal and got to sit down with Chef Bernard Derviex for a quick chat, our conversation is below.

Chef Bernard

Bernard was born in Condrieu, France in 1953. His family operated a farm and this is where he gained his appreciation for fresh, tasteful food. His father wanted him to pick up a trade, so at age 13, he became an apprentice charcutier and worked in Vienne until 1972. He worked under the direction of Chef Paul Bocuse in Lyon, France from 1972 to 1974 as a cuisinier and with Roger Verge in Le Moulin de Mougin. Bernard was sent by Paul Bocuse to the United States in 1974 to work at Le Francais in Wheeling, Illinois as a saucier/sous chef under the supervision of Jean Bachet. He then worked at the Pump Room in Chicago, Illinois from 1978 until 1980 as Executive Chef.

Bernard was hired in 1980 at the Beverly Hills Hotel at the recommendation of Wolfgang Puck. He was Executive Chef at the hotel until 1986. After leaving the Beverly Hills Hotel, Bernard went to the Grand Champions Resort in Indians Wells and also to Aspen, Colorado serving as Executive Chef until opening Cuistot in 1987.

In 2003 Bernard and his wife Susan broke ground on their new location. The building incorporates a rustic French farmhouse theme conceived by the Dervieuxs and executed by Design Development in Agoura Hills, CA.

Dine LA Restaurant Week Red Carpet Event at the Roosevelt Hotel

Inside at Dine LA Restaurant Week event

Tonight I took my neighbor Todd to the Dine LA 2010 launch event at the Roosevelt Hotel.  Dozens of local chefs, food writers, foodies and the Mayor showed up for the great food and to discuss the upcoming event, when restaurants will offer huge discounts on their menus.  Dine LA will take place January 24 to 29 and January 31 to February 5.  You can check out the website to see participating restaurants and prices at www.dineLA.com/RestaurantWeek.

Here are some pics from the event:

Chefs were interviewed as they entered the event

Chef Jean Francois Meteigner from La Cachette

Chef Joachin Splichel from Patina and Pinot Bistro

Joseph Gotti and Arterro Herrara from Da Vinci

Neil Fraser and Amy Knoll Fraser from Grace

We sat next to some nice folks from Bubba Gump at Universal Studios, who introduced us to our chef.

Bubba Gump Chef

We also ran into this guy ….

It's the mayor

Here are some pics of the food that was served …

drink with huge ice cube

artichoke salad

chicken

lamb

pork belly

scallop

Specials on both lunch and dinner will be offered during both weeks, so have a great meal at one of LA’s many great restaurants and support your local chefs!

Dinner at the Polo Lounge, Beverly Hills Hotel

The Polo Lounge, Beverly Hills

Last week my friend Nicole joined me for dinner at the famous Polo Lounge.  Since its opening in 1912, the Pink Palace’s famous restaurant  has been the Hollywood meeting place.  Home to some of the Rat Pack’s greatest binges, the lounge oozes fame, fortune, charm, and grace.   The understated traditional elegance of the historic room is lush with dark green and cream striped walls, huge comfortable leather and velvet booths, and soft live piano music.

Inside Polo Lounge

Polo Lounge outside

We sat inside in a plush booth and ordered up some martinis.  Here is what we ordered, all delicious.

tomato mozzarella amuse

The chef sent out an amuse of fresh tomato and mozzarella cheese, a nice way to start.

Duck Foie Gras

I started with the pan seared duck foie gras, served with sweet white poached peaches, brioche French toast and a vanilla ver jus gastrique.

Lobster salad

Nicole had the chilled Maine lobster salad with grapefruit and lambs lettuce with a sesame brittle.  Both yummy.

For the main courses I had the porcini crusted dry aged New York steak, it was huge, with creamed spinach, gremolata bone marrow, tiny potatoes and some mixed mushrooms.

New York steak

Nicole had the caramelized sea scallop risotto with young leeks, lobster mushrooms and a carrot emulsion.  Very tasty.

scallop risotto

Nicole and me, enjoying dinner

Our waiter knew we both shared birthdays recently, so he brought us this nice dessert, in addition to the chocolate souffle and cappuccino souffle we had already ordered.   We were very full by the end of the evening.

dessert 1

chocolate souffle

cappuccino souffle

We spent about five hours enjoying dinner.  The Polo Lounge is the perfect spot to take guests or even to just enjoy a nice dinner with a good friend.  Reservations recommended, open 7 am to 1:30 am, 310/276-2251, Beverly Hills Hotel, 9641 Sunset Boulevard.