In a city full of splashy food festivals built around celebrity chefs and corporate sponsors, Vegas Unstripped has carved out a very different lane.
Chef-Driven
The chef-driven event returns to the Palms on April 26, bringing together more than two dozen of Las Vegas’ most respected culinary names for a one-night tasting experience. Early tickets are priced at $150 for early purchasers, and only $10 more as the event gets closer. That includes unlimited food and drinks — a relative bargain in a market where large-scale events can easily cost twice as much.
But what really sets Vegas Unstripped apart isn’t the price, it’s the philosophy. This is not a festival where chefs lend their names while their teams execute the food. Here, the city’s most creative chefs personally cook for the public, and each other. That gives the evening a very different energy: more like an industry potluck than a flashy culinary production.
The dishes are created specifically for the event, often reflecting a more personal or experimental side than what appears on their restaurant menus. And every chef wants to taste what his or her colleagues are serving.
“We all know each other, but we don’t ever get to see each other,” Johnny C’s Catering’s Chef Johnny Church told the Food and Loathing podcast in a recent interview. “So it’s fun. I love that part.”
Participants this year include a mix of familiar names and rising talents, with veteran chefs like Gina Marinelli (La Strega and Harlo), Brian Howard (Sparrow + Wolf) and Oscar Amador (Anima by EDO, Amador Cocina Fina) contributing dishes alongside relative newcomers to the scene, like Istorya’s Dio Baun. The roster continues to evolve each year, but the focus remains the same: local chefs, original food, and a shared sense of community.
Community Focused
Community focus is key. Vegas Unstripped operates as a nonprofit, with proceeds supporting local charitable causes. The chefs donate their time, not just to put on a great event, but to give something back to the city that supports them.
For attendees, the result is one of the more unique food events on the calendar. The all-inclusive format encourages grazing and exploration. The relatively intimate setting makes it easier to interact with the chefs themselves. And the one-night-only nature of the dishes means there’s always something you won’t find anywhere else.
In a town known for excess, Vegas Unstripped stands out by keeping things simple — and by putting the focus where it belongs: on the chefs, the food, and the community that connects them.
“It’s a real opportunity for chefs to do something for the community and get their name out there,” says festival co-founder James Trees.