Question of the Day - 24 October 2008

We actually tackled this same question before in June 2006, but this turned out to be a very timely revisit, since a whole bunch of new options have popped up literally over the last couple of weeks. Here's the current lowdown.

• Trattoria del Lupo: Wolfgang Puck's upscale Italian eatery at Mandalay Bay accommodates groups of 30-40 people for demonstrations with the Executive, Sous, and Pastry Chefs. It's usually hired by outside companies for corporate events or by the casino as a perk for VIP players, but they will happily accept a private booking, provided you have enough people in the party to make it worthwhile (it involves them closing the restaurant for a day). The ballpark fee for a buyout like this is $3,500-$4,000, which covers the chef fee, the lunch fee, and cost per person of the demo and meal (which varies, depending on the dishes served), plus tax/gratuity. Call 702/632-7410 for more information.
• Bellagio's Tuscany Kitchen debuted a few years ago and showcases the talents of Bellagio's numerous chefs and sommeliers in a unique demonstration kitchen that's available for both corporate and private hire. It also hosts a number of "culinary events," the next one of which takes place tomorrow, Oct. 25, featuring chef and restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten of PRIME steakhouse. He'll be giving personal instruction and demonstrating a three-course meal, plus there will be wine pairings prepared by Wine Director and Master Sommelier Jason Smith, and dessert prepared by Eric Hubert, Corporate Pastry Chef for Jean-Georges Management. It's $150 per person and there were still places available when we called yesterday. Call 888/987-8786 and ask for the concierge if you're interested.
• Also tomorrow is a James Beard Foundation cooking demonstration with award-winning chocolatier François Payard at his Pâtisserie & Bistro at Caesars Palace. He'll be giving a hands-on demo of some of the decadent desserts featured in his latest book, Chocolate Epiphany: Exceptional Cookies, Cakes, and Confections for Everyone, which he'll be signing after the demonstration. The event takes place 4-5 p.m. tomorrow and is $20 per person. Click here for more information and tickets (seating is limited), plus details on other future events.
• If you’re not going to be in town tomorrow or don’t have 40 friends to bring with you and $4K to spend, fear not, especially if you like Italian food. Giorgio Ristorante in Mandalay Place has been offering demonstration classes for a while, but has just really built out the program, with all kinds of mouth-watering options to suit different tastes and budgets. For example, for $85 per guest, you can experience Executive Chef Nico Chessa demonstrating a three-course meal of lobster bruschetta, tortellini stuffed with chicken and topped with truffle sauce, and apple strudel, which is then served to all attendees. Or how about a menu of wild mushroom risotto, osso buco, and tiramisu for $110 per person, again taught hands-on by Nico Chessa? These require a minimum of 20 people up to a maximum of 150 guests –- any group of more than 30 requires A/V, which is additional, depending on the size of the class. As part of the package you also receive a chef’s bio and recipes to take home with you; the packages are all customizable in terms of menus and cocktails, subject to additional charges. For further information about any of these options, call Michelle Ellerbe, Director of Catering, on 702/336-0259.
• Over at the Venetian’s Valentino, similar classes are also available with multi-award-winning Executive Chef Luciano Pellegrini. A hands-on demonstration class including how to make your own pastas (gnocchi, ravioli, tagliatelle), the art of grilling, and salads (Cobb, Caesar, Niçoise) costs $100 per guest, while Pastry Chef Alessandro Stoppa will demonstrate the art of making canolis, tiramisu, and biscotti (yum!) for $50 per guest. Lastly, sommelier Robert Kelly is available for cheese and wine classes that start from $65 per guest, again for a minimum of 20 people. Call Michelle Ellerbe (as above) for more information.
• If fish is your thing, SushiSamba in the Palazzo is debuting its SUSHI+SAKE101 interactive two-hour teaching and tasting event starting Wednesday Nov. 5. Participants will apparently learn what it takes to become a "master sushi chef," while sipping sake alongside a five-course meal that includes sashimi, tempura, edamame, and sushi rolls they help prepare. Students will also be given an informative take-away booklet with restaurant recipes and a glossary of terms. It's $85 per person and the class will run 7-9 p.m. every Wednesday. The class size is limited to 25 people, so book early to avoid disappointment. For reservations call 702/607-0700 or visit www.sushisamba.com.
• Henderson's Vox Wine Lounge (2630 W. Horizon Ridge) is also getting in on the act, with its "Saturday School" series, where guests will have the chance to learn how to prepare a three-course seasonal meal. Each class will run noon-2 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month, commencing November 1; the $40 per person charge includes instruction and lunch. Call 702/407-7780 for more information and reservations.
• Cafe Ba Ba Reeba in the Fashion Show Mall still offers its paella-making class on the last Saturday of every month 10 a.m.-noon. It's $35 per person and features complimentary cocktails and tapas, plus a paella cookbook to take away with you. Those we know who've tried it said it was really fun, although they reported that after a few glasses of sangria, their paella-making skills were not necessarily much more advanced after the demo than they were when they started.
• Both Williams Sononoma stores in Las Vegas offer demonstration classes with known chefs throughout the year, but the Rampart Commons (1001 S. Rampart Blvd.) and the Green Valley Ranch (2255 Village Walk Drive, Henderson) branches have finished their current program until the spring (it gets too busy in the run-up to the holiday season). The west-side branch is continuing its free Sunday classes, however, which tend to focus on specific kitchen skills like roasting or soup-making. Call 702/938-9480 for details.

We've just received word that Carmine's on the Hill (brought to you by the founder of the Villa Pizza chain) in Henderson will be revealing the secrets to some of their signature Italian dishes in their first ever cooking class on March 25 at 6 p.m. Class participants will learn how to prepare some favorite dishes direct from Sicily from Carmine's on the Hill's own star chef, Hercules. At the cost of $30 per person, which includes wine as well as the cooking class, participants will have a chance to meet new friends and taste the dishes they learn to prepare. Class size is limited and reservations are required. Call 702/252-7474 to reserve your seat. We're guessing that if this first class is a success, then it may turn into a regular event -- we'll keep you posted.