Question of the Day - 08 June 2006

Now there's a question we could really sink our teeth into. It took a fair amount of spade work to get some details on this and the answer is yes, there are some options to see celebrity chefs in action, although not all of them occur in the restaurants themselves. What follows is not a definitive list and if anyone has anything to add to it, we'll happily include other options you know of in an "Update." But this should give you some ideas.

• The Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, whose Las Vegas venues include Spago and Chinois in the Forum Shops at Caesars, Postrio in the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian, Trattoria del Lupo at Mandalay Bay, and the Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at MGM Grand, from time to time holds cooking classes that are open to the general public, although they're not fixed events. When they do take place, it's typically in the morning (i.e., before the restaurant opens for business) in fall and winter and can be held at any of the aforementioned venues. Prices tend to be in the $45-$55 range per person. If you're interested, try calling later in the year to see if anything's scheduled (702/369-0360). If you'd like to organize a demonstration for a corporate event, these can be arranged through the catering office at 702/369-0558. Prices vary depending on the size of the group and the program.
• In December 2004, Bellagio opened its Tuscany Kitchen, the first exhibition kitchen of its kind in Las Vegas, designed primarily to cater to convention and meeting groups, although private parties are also accepted. Outfitted with top-of-the-line Viking equipment and a 60-inch plasma screen so everyone can see, the 1,170-square-foot kitchen was designed specifically to offer cooking demonstrations by Bellagio's award-winning chefs, whose ranks include the likes of Julian Serrano of Picasso fame, Jean-Georges Vongerichten of Prime Steakhouse, and Michael Mina of the eponymous seafood restaurant. Demonstrations vary in length from one to four hours and typically accommodate 15-60 guests. For more information or to make reservations, contact Carlette Hanson in Bellagio Catering at 702/693-7155 or via email at [email protected]
• At the southern end of the Strip, Giorgio Ristorante E Caffe offers cooking classes with Luciano Pellegrini, winner of the 2004 James Beard award for Best Chef in the Southwest. The demonstration features a three-course menu and lasts around an hour. Bookings can be arranged for groups of 15-40 people and include a full tasting of the menu. Call 702/920-2700 for more information.
• If you like Spanish food, check out the paella cooking class at Café Ba Ba Reeba in the Fashion Show Mall. These take place on the third Saturday of every month and cost $35 per person, plus tax. The price includes lunch with wines and sherries, plus a paella recipe book to take home with you. People we know who've done this class say it's a lot of (boozy) fun.
• Another option is to attend one of the cooking demonstrations held at the Rampart Commons (1001 S. Rampart Blvd.) or the Shops@Green Valley Ranch (2255 Village Walk Drive, Henderson) branches of Williams-Sonoma, which regularly feature chefs from name restaurants, particularly at the Rampart location. Classes typically take place in the evening (6-8 pm) three to four times a month and cost $50 per person. Recent featured chefs include Jean Paul from Emeril's (Gulf Coast), Jason Labahn of STACK (Mirage) and Tim and Doug from Sedona. The June line-up at the Rampart venue includes a "knife-skills" and "summer tapas" class by Jason Cote from Nobhill (MGM Grand) on June 20 and "Great Grilling" by Terrence Fong of Chinois on the 27th. Call 702/938-9480 (Rampart) or 702/897-2346 (GVR) for details and reservations.

07/03/2006 On Saturday, Aug. 12, The Forum Shops at Caesars will be hosting the final stop on the Simon Super Chefs Live!" national mall tour, featuring a daylong food extravaganza with chefs from restaurants including Wolfgang Puck's Chinois, Joe's Prime Steak, Seafood & Stone Crab, BOA Palm Grill, The Palm, and Sushi Roku competing in a cook-off. The event will include live cooking demonstrations, wine seminars, food and beverage sampling, and opportunities to meet celebrity chefs for autograph and book signings. The event is free and open to the public. LATEST UPDATE 09/14/2006: From Saturday Sept. 16-27, Chef Saul Garcia from Z'Tejas will be presenting a "Hot! Hot! Hot! Cooking Class" at various libraries around the Las Vegas Valley, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month and the Z'Tejas Chile Festival. Participating libraries include Green Valley, Sahara West, and Enterprise Library. Registration is required. Visit www.lvccld.org for more information.