EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE WITH NICK LACHEY, NICKY HILTON & WILMER VALDERRAMA AS THEIR NEW COMPANY RESTAURANT OPENS: WILD WEEKEND FOR PARTYING STARS
It was a 48-hour nonstop weekend for Nicky Hilton and pals Nick Lachey and Wilmer Valderrama when they declared their new restaurant, Company, “officially open.”
Although big sister Paris Hilton stayed home in LA so as not to take any spotlight away from younger sister Nicky, and MTV gal-pal Vanessa Minnillo remained out of sight to avoid stealing Lachey’s thunder. A slew of other celebrities showed for the glittering gala. Mindfreak magician Criss Angel even pulled out the world’s largest collection of super-bling for the fun festivities!
Click here for our Luxe Life coverage when we took a sneak preview tour and interviewed executive chef Adam Sobel 10-days ago.
A packed posse of paparazzi and photographers greeted the stars’ red carpet arrival and the Luxor pyramid lit up when the three charmed celebrities posed for the flashbulb frenzy.
Inside they took over separate VIP banquette tables for their own groups but warmly greeted first night diners in the bar, the wine cellar and throughout the dual level restaurant.
Nick told me why he’d gone into the restaurant business, joining the PURE Management Group as an investor. The company operates several Las Vegas nightclub and restaurant venues.
“Vegas is all about having an experience,” said Nick, “so when you have restaurants next door to nightclubs you are showing people a great time. It’s to have a great experience. I look at the restaurant as a warm-up to what’s going to happen later in the night. Part of the Company experience is that you can just have a bite and call it a night or stay for a long time and then enjoy the LAX experience afterwards without walking more than five steps! We want you to stay, though, as we do have a great vibe. This is my first restaurant venture. I’ve been approached about things locally, but this felt right. PURE has been highly successful and they know what they’re doing. I’ve known Wilmer and Nicky for years, so the fit is really good and it all came naturally. I actually jumped at the opportunity. This is more than just getting a couple of free meals. I look at it as a great investment opportunity. I want it to make a mark and hopefully expand it in other hot city locations. I like to see my career as multi-faceted and I see this as another part of that puzzle. Yes, there will be other investments in the future. I try to be smart and wise with my money, so hopefully this will work out and at the same time we have some fun. I already have a sports team and am into real estate. I want to keep my money, and if I make some more that would be great.”
Inside the rustic-chic restaurant surrounded by aspen trees, hurricane candles, antler chandeliers and a state of the art wine wall, the trio enjoyed their first memorable meal in their collaborative new dining venue.
Nicky picked the mouthwatering rock shrimp and Caesar salad with boyfriend David Katzenberg and Madhouse showman, Jeff Beacher. Nick chose a tasty selection of oysters with Tanqueray and tonic. Valderrama and his guests sampled Waggu steak.
Also joining the grand opening was Celine Dion’s husband, Renee Angelil, Disney star Ashley Leggat and poker pro David Williams. Renee took off after his inspection tour for dinner at PURE’s other hot Strip restaurant, Social House at the TI where he treated his cousin to salmon tartar, tamaran ribs, and tuna and lobster salad married with a fine Puligny Montrachet wine as they waited for Celine to finish her show.
(Don’t forget our Luxe Life countdown with Celine in the final performances at Caesars continues on Wednesday)
After dinner, Nick hosted the official Company grand opening after party right next door at premier party nightclub hotspot, LAX. Valderrama and Nicky joined him for a toast with ice-cold shots of Patron tequila.
With Wilmer on the club’s mic, Nicky partied until the early morning hours, dancing to her favorite songs with her boyfriend. Criss mingled with lucky fans and sipped on Montecristo rum and coke along with Ashley, comedian Russell Peters and NHL center Peter Forsberg.
Highlight of the grand opening weekend was when Nicky Hilton and her celebrity friends sharpened their poker playing skills inside the Luxor Poker Room. At the tables were Nicky’s boyfriend, David Katzenberg and Ashley Leggat, star of Disney Channel’s Life with Derek. Nicky wowed the crowd when she won first place in the 1-by-1 elimination.
She and Wilmer celebrated at Company for a second consecutive night enjoying “The Greek” salad, and Chicken ‘n Waffles. Jenny McCarthy also stopped into Company American Bistro on her way to LAX nightclub for the evening.
She simply let the talented team of chefs pick out all the dishes for a grand sampling. In the hot nightspot she stuck with Grey Goose and Red Bull alongside Criss Angel, partying for a second consecutive night also. In Vegas you don’t just stay in one nightspot, so Nicky and Wilmer took off for their sister PURE Nightclub, where he hosted its Saturday night bash. Wilmer, who told us he’s got three upcoming movies, mastered the mic and played emcee throughout the evening. Hilton also heated things up, dancing on the main VIP stage of the mega-club with Life with Derek Disney darling Ashley Leggat—both sipping Grey Goose cocktails as Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler watched the festivities.
Nicky summed up the entire weekend for me: “This was so exciting to see a dream come true. We are all in great Company. It’s turned out better than we expected. The food and the atmosphere are sensational. It’s going to be a great success and we’re pleased to be part of the business community of this fabulous city. We’ll be here even more often from now on, and you’ll always find us in our own restaurant. If we get super-busy I’ll even wait the tables to help out if necessary.”
My other remaining notebook jottings: Nicky had her hair done for the festivities by Michael Boychuck at his AMP Salon in the Palms where she told the color king she’s off to Hawaii for Christmas with boyfriend, David Katzenberg and then she’ll return to launch a new fashion collection, “Nicholai.” Also, PURE’s nightclub Tangerine at the TI will officially close January 2 and will be re-opened early Spring as “Love-Hate,” a new nightlife concept with the Miami Ink folks who will film 12 episodes of their TV show there!