The Divine Dish

Cafe Amuse Provides A Bit of France in Palm Springs

Posted on Jan 15, 2009 under Archives, Food and Travel News | No Comment

The smell of fresh baked scones hits you before you enter the patio at Cafe Amuse.  This casual restaurant serves simple dishes with a French flair.  The decor and music also lend a Parisian ambiance, with indoor and outdoor seating.  I visited the restaurant last weekend while doing a story on the Palm Springs Film Festival.

Here are some pics:

I ordered the Pan Roasted Alaskan Halibut, with came with a saffron risotto, sauteed spinach, asparagus and a champagne beurre blanc.  Very tasty.

My dad had the Amuse Veggie Napoleon which featured portobella mushrooms, pequillo pepper, eggplant, herbs de provance, mozzarella and a port onion reduction.  Also yummy.

We ended with the carrot cake – Chef Wilker’s mom makes this fresh daily.  It is really good and it doesn’t last long, so if you visit Cafe Amuse make sure to request it early.  I didn’t include any family pics here because unfortunately we were all still under the weather with nasty colds.

The food was so good that I met my friends Chris and Paul (owners of Palm Spring’s The Green Guys) for breakfast the next day.  Here are some pics:

Chef Wilker gave us this lovely plate of house cured salmon with huge caperberries, tarragon cream cheese and regular size capers.  So good I had to also include a close up of the caperberries:

Chris ordered the French Scramble, three eggs with Borsin Cheese served with breakfast potatoes.

Paul ordered the poached eggs on toast which came with some nice heirloom tomatoes.

I ordered the Sunny Side Up-Town, a corn pancake with munster cheese, black forest ham, vermont maple syrup and two sunny side up eggs on top.  Delicious!

Yes, we ate all of that food and also had the beignets (we didn’t order these, Chef Wilken brought them over so we had to finish them off – they were yummy).  The beignets came with a cardamom creme anglaise and granny smith apples

Cafe Amuse is located at 241 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way and is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday to Friday from 11 am to 9 pm, Open Saturday for brunch, lunch and dinner, 9 am to 9 pm, and Sunday open for brunch and lunch, 9 am to 3 pm.  Reservations are recommended at 760/322-8880.

Interview with Chef Rod Wilker of Cafe Amuse, Palm Springs

Posted on Jan 15, 2009 under Archives, Chefs, Interviews | No Comment

Cafe Amuse owner/chef Rod Wilker is the third generation of his family to work in the restaurant business.   He worked under many prestigious chefs, including Bradley Ogden, prior to opening up Cafe Amuse in Palm Springs.  Wilker is a graduate of the Culinary Academy in New York. 

Bet on Las Vegas for Your Next Luxurious Weekend Getaway

Posted on Jan 07, 2009 under Archives | 1 Comment

Over the years, Vegas has evolved from a kitschy inexpensive desert playground for gamblers to a world-class luxury vacation destination.  Glamorous palatial resorts, award-winning celebrity chef restaurants, Broadway musicals and lavish spas have replaced the $5.99 buffets and cheesy lounge shows of yesteryear’s Strip.  Here’s some good bets for a perfect weekend getaway in Sin City:

Friday Noon
Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino
3325 Las Vegas Boulevard South
702/607-7777

Check into the palatial all-suite Palazzo.  Located next to its adjacent sister property, the Venetian, the modern European-themed Palazzo stands 50 stories tall and houses luxury shops, world-class restaurants, entertainment and 3,066 rooms.  Loose yourself in Vegas luxury inside the lavish elegantly designed 650 -1,400 square foot suites which offer marble and granite clad bathrooms, sunken living rooms, curtained pillow-top beds with Egyptian linens, three flat screen televisions and handsome wood furnishings.  Enjoy the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows or opt for privacy with the remote control shades and curtain.

Friday Afternoon

Table 10
Palazzo, South Suite 2900
702/607-6363

After settling in, grab a bite at Table 10, one of more than a dozen new restaurants located in Palazzo.  A short walk and ride up the escalator lead to Emeril Lagasse’s latest Las Vegas eatery, named after the table in New Orleans where the Food Network star began planning his restaurant empire.  The French Quarter iron gates at the entrance lend a New Orleans vibe, and the round metal-crafted center bar, glass enclosed wine cellar and display cases full of pantry supplies and chef’s jackets provide a casual upscale environment.  The menu features a roadmap of flavors, including the seafood and andouille gumbo or the Cuban pork sandwich.  Sit at the food bar for a front row view of the big exhibition kitchen.

Canyon Ranch Spa
Palazzo/Venetian
3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Suite 1159
702/414-3600

Work off lunch at one of the many classes (pilattes, yoga, spinning and kinesis) offered at the 134,000 square foot Canyon Ranch Spa Club.  The centerpiece of the bright and airy two-story facility is the 40-foot high climbing wall, but less vertically inclined guests will be content in one of the 62 treatment rooms enjoying a vast array of facials, body treatments and massages.  After a workout, treat yourself to the Middle-East inspired Rasul treatment for two, where you and your significant other can be slathered in therapeutic mud and relax in a beehive-shaped chamber for a herbal steam under a starry fiber-optic sky.

Espressamente Illy
Palazzo
702/869-2233

Head downstairs to enjoy a perfectly brewed espresso at the Espressamente Illy coffee bar.  This modern Italian café has bright red walls, black and chrome tables and chairs and an abundance of paninis, soups, salads, pastries and 54 flavors of gelato to indulge in along with your imported cup of joe.  Grab a seat by the window to people watch and view the three-story waterfall and reflecting pools in the Palazzo’s octagonal domed atrium.

Friday Evening

Phantom of the Opera – the Las Vegas Spectacular
Venetian
3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South
702/414-9000
7 pm show

Enjoy a walk through the many luxury shops at Palazzo on your way to the $40 million custom built Phantom of the Opera Theater.   The Paris Opera House and phantom’s lair is appropriately found in the Venetian, the only place in Las Vegas where gondolas carry real life lovers down narrow dark canals.  Although the familiar tortured love triangle and haunting melodies are shortened into a 90-minute format, the elaborate sets and stellar cast successfully bring the music of the night to Vegas.

Craftsteak
MGM Grand
3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South
702/891-7318

Take a short cab ride to MGM’s Craftsteak, the newest steakhouse from Bravo “Top Chef” judge  and restauranteur Tom Colicchio, for the perfect wagyo filet or ribeye for two.  The exotic Brazilian wood flooring, highlights of leather and bronze, rich earth-toned walls and fine wood tables reflect the restaurant’s natural approach to décor as well as food.  Choose from a wide variety of roasted, braised and grilled meats, fish and vegetable sides or opt for the affordable $39 three-course market menu.

Saturday Morning

Wynn Buffet
Wynn Las Vegas
3131 Las Vegas Boulevard South
702/770-3340

Check out the giant waterfall and lagoon before entering the spectacular Wynn resort, bursting with bright reds, purples and yellows throughout the casino.  The bountiful buffet is divided into several dining rooms with tile, carpeted and marble floors, but wait for a table in the atrium which is flooded with natural light and tons of blooming foliage and flowers for the best brunch seat in the house.  Diners have an extensive range of breakfast choices from 16 food stations, including salmon benedict, made-to-order omelettes, seafood and freshly baked breads and desserts.

Forum Shops
Caesars Palace
3500 Las Vegas Boulevard South
702/893-4800

Walk down the Strip to the roman-themed Forum shops at Caesars Palace.  Spend the morning shopping under a baby blue sky through an array of designer retailers including Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Dior.  With over 160 shops and luxury boutiques spanning 634,000 square feet, there’s plenty to keep a shopaholic busy.  Weary walkers can rest their feet and watch the statues come to life at the Atlantis Fountain Show.

Saturday Afternoon
Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South
702/693-7111

Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Next door to Caesars is the beautiful Bellagio Hotel.   Past the lobby’s vibrant glass flower petal chandelier lies the spectacular Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.  Arched glass ceilings tower 50 feet above the 13,000 square foot garden, which typically holds 31 trees, 500 shrubs and 6,000 flowers.  The garden is totally transformed four times a year, offering guests a guaranteed fresh floral experience on each visit.

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art
702/693-7871
After a peaceful stroll through the gardens, head to the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art.  The marble floored museum houses small rooms filled with paintings by Rubens, Rembrandt, Monet, Degas, Cezanne and Van Gogh and also features traveling exhibits from other museums.  If you can’t afford to buy one of the master paintings, stop by the Gallery Store next door for a keepsake.

Jean-Philippe Patisserie
702/693-8788
On the way to the spa, stop by Jean-Phillipe Patisserie to view the world’s largest chocolate fountain where rivers of white, milk and dark chocolate cascade through the 27-foot tall edible masterpiece.  If your appetite is whetted for a chocolate fix, pastries, desserts, crepes and candy are available at the adjacent patisserie counter.

Bellagio Spa
702/693-7472
Situated above the fragrant conservatory, the Bellagio Spa oozes European charm and opulence.  The two-story spa and salon offers guests 65,000 square feet of pampering in a Zen inspired design, blending travertine and jade surfaces with large water walls.  Choose from 13 stress-relieving massages, 14 rejuvenating facials and 12 luxurious body treatments.  Make sure to leave time to enjoy the jacuzzis, cold plunge pools, saunas and co-ed meditation room.

Saturday Night
Jersey Boys
Palazzo
702/414-9000
7 pm show

Get in line early at the Palazzo showroom for the musical hit Jersey Boys, chronicling the careers of ‘60s idols Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.  The songbook musical with a dramatic biography attached includes performances of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You,” “Oh What A Night,” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry” among others.

Carnevino
Palazzo
702/789-4141

Just as the restaurant’s name implies, it’s all about the meat and wine at Mario Batali’s Carnevino.   Pass the life-size bronze bull to enter the elegant formal dining room with high ceilings, heavy drapes, Italian marble and dark wood sideboards.  For a meal to remember, order the juicy “bistecca fiorentina” for two, fresh peas with walnuts, braised fennel and parmesan and rosemary pan fried fingerling potatoes.  Make sure to leave room to share a bottle of one of the dozens of exceptional wines offered on the international wine list.

Sunday Morning
Bouchon
Venetian
702/414-6200

Go for the perfectly brewed coffee, the flakiest croissants outside of Paris, or the French country fare, but don’t leave Sin City without a visit to Bouchon for breakfast.  Renowned for his French Laundry fame, chef Thomas Keller’s Parisian bistro atop the Venetian’s Venezia Tower is relaxed, large and airy with tall mahogany columns running down the center, murals, and floor to ceiling paneled windows overlooking a flowering garden patio.  Ask for a table outside and dine al fresco on fresh French bread with butter and pistachios, Croque Madame (toasted ham and cheese sandwich on brioche with fried egg and mornay sauce), Oeuf and Bourdin Blanc (white sausage with scrambled eggs and croissant)  or select from Bouchon’s extensive bakery items including muffins, pastries, croissants, quiches and breads.

Sunday Afternoon
Palazzo Pool Deck

Before checking out and checking back into reality, take a cool diversion with a dive into one of the six pools at the Palazzo’s new expansive pool deck.  Lush greenery, outdoor sculptures and gushing fountains span the 4-acre space, which also includes four spas and a variety of smaller lagoons and dipping pools.  Opt to lounge on the comfy chaises or stay cool in one of 41 private cabanas.

HOT LAVO New ultra-hip restaurant and nightclub features bathhouse theme

Posted on Dec 27, 2008 under Archives, Food and Travel News, Las Vegas | 1 Comment

In recent years, Las Vegas has explored a new trend of combining fine dining and nightlife with openings such as Cathouse at Luxor, rumjungle at Mandalay Bay and TAO at the Venetian.  The newest addition to the theme hybrid restaurant/lounge/nightclub movement on the strip is LAVO at Palazzo.

Created by the same team that brought TAO to the Venetian (Jason Strauss, Marc Paker, Richard Wolf, Noah Tepperberg and Louis Abin), LAVO has a Mediterranean bathhouse theme.  Partner Wolf traveled to Morocco to personally choose the huge clay pots, antique copper bathtubs, glass tiles, Moroccan rugs, Turkish water basins and other furnishings featured in the restaurant and lounge.

The entryway introduces the bathhouse theme with worn tile walls and water stained plaster.  To one side of the lounge is the restaurant area which seats 200 and to the other side is the patio which seats 100 and features a hookah lounge and panoramic views of the strip.  Inside, the 200-foot ceilings made of weathered wooden beams house low-lying chandeliers above diners in leather booths and Moroccan tables.

The restaurant follows suit serving Mediterranean cuisine.  Burgudian Chef Ludo Lefebure serves up creations designed to encourage sharing.  I took my friend Ernesto (say hi to him at Espressamente Illy at Palazzo – he is the manager there) on my last visit.  We started the meal off with a deconstructed Bloody Mary – spicy tomato sorbet, pureed celery and a vodka gelee.  Sounds strange but it is very good.

We enjoyed appetizers including the caprese salad with buffalo mozzarella and honey marinated cherry tomatoes, a trio of hummus, baba ganoush, artichoke spread and warm pita, crispy artichokes with aged balsamic glaze and parmigiano cheese and kobe meatballs (our favorite).

We chose the oven baked whole dorade with red and yellow peppers, red onions, lemon and olives and the mediterranean sea bass with roasted olives, caperberries and lemon for our main courses.

Dessert was bread pudding and yummy baked apple and ice cream.

The menu also features Specialty cocktails feature fresh muddled fruit, top-shelf liquor and Mediterranean influences.  Good bets are the Lavolini (Prosecco, passion fruit puree and St. Germain) and the Mademoiselle (Ketel Citron, peach puree, Lillet and St. Germain).

After dinner, guests can cross the glass and wood screened elevated bridge designed with Turkish water basins that leads to the 4,500 square foot second-floor nightclub.  The entire dining room and lounge can be viewed from the catwalk.  “It creates energy throughout the venue,” said Strauss.  “The sightlines are dramatic.  It is one of our wow factors.”

The nightclub is modeled after the Parisian watering hole Les Bains Douches and features a bar/lounge area, dance floor, raised VIP stage and a mural of a lounging nude model.  Cocktail tables are lit from below to create a glowing lantern effect.

The dome above the dance floor projects alternating images of water, sunsets, forests and spaceships.  The club also features 40 bottle service tables and the sounds of resident DJ’s Vice, Reach, Galleano and Berrie.

Whether you seek a lounge for lingering on a cocktail, a restaurant for an evening of fine dining or a unique intimate place to dance the night away, LAVO has got you covered.

LAVO restaurant and nightclub
Palazzo
3325 South Las Vegas Boulevard
702/791-1800
Restaurant and Lounge:  Sunday – Thursday, 6 pm – 12 am, Friday and Saturday, 5 pm – 1 am, Nightclub: Tuesday- Sunday, 10 pm – 5 am.