SOPRANOS STAR LEADS STARCHEF INVASION FOR BON APPETIT’S EPICUREAN EXTRAVAGANZA
Sopranos actress Lorraine Bracco plays celebrity host with Bon Appetit restaurant editor Andrew Knowlton at the first of the magazine’s Masters’ Series dinners in Rao’s at Caesars Palace this evening, chef-owner Carla and Frank Pellegrino welcome guests to a multi-course dining adventure.
It’s the kick-off night of a four-day epicurean extravaganza sponsored by the prestigious food magazine.
Other Masters Series dinners being held tonight at Caesars include famed four-star chef Guy Savoy hosting at his self-named restaurant with chief editor, Barbra Fairchild. Bradley and Bryan Ogden host with famed food writer Alan Roichman at their restaurant, famous Iron Chef winner, Cat Cora presents hot flavors of the Southwest at fellow Food Network star Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill and chef-owner Francois Payard is joined by James Beard award winning author Dorie Greenspan at his bistro patisserie.
Tomorrow (FRI) at the Stripfront Caesars Roman Plaza, owners and chefs from more than 50 top-rated Vegas restaurants offer the Grand Tasting, a sip and stroll culinary tour-de-force. Simultaneously five incredible chefs will serve up five incredible courses in a Bellagio gala. Manning the kitchen there will be Julian Serrano from Picasso, Todd English of Olives, Jean-Georges Vongerichten of Prime, famed starchef Michael Mina and desserts by Jean-Philippe Maury.
Among the four days of celebrity chefs will be chairman Wolfgang Puck, Daniel Boulud, Paul Bartolotta, David Burke, Hubert Keller, Mary Sue Milliken & Susan Feniger, Martin Heirling, Joel Robuchon, Rick Moonen, Alex Stratta, Kerry Simon and David Walzog. They had all posed for a souvenir photo under the Vegas Strip sign when they first announced the four days of feasting.
On both Friday and Saturday there will be culinary pro-am cook-offs (think a very fast version of Iron Chef) between the masters and the rookies. Lorraine Bracco and Spamalot star John O’Hurley will serve as honorary sous chefs. Its not all sizzling stove sessions for the culinary stars, there are two-midnight poker and blackjack tournaments tonight and tomorrow poolside at the Hard Rock starting at 11 p.m.
Five celebrity Wynn restaurants will play host to a Star Chef luncheon series on Saturday and then Sunday it all wraps up with the Mothers Day brunch that chef Rene Lengher is serving up at the Wynn Country Club. Luxe Life will have full photo coverage of the festival of feasting next week along with star commentary from Lorraine and John.