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Feature: The World's Finest Foods Converge in Las Vegas (1) Gallery
Gallery
June 23, 2015

Feature: The World's Finest Foods Converge in Las Vegas (1) Gallery

The popularity of Uncork'd is growing year by year, with popular events selling out quickly.
Las Vegas is also a shopping street lined with luxury brand boutiques.
Hotels themed after world landmarks—from the Egyptian desert to Monte Carlo, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and the skyscrapers of New York—stand in rows, creating a scene akin to a theme park.
The "Paris" hotel, featuring an Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, houses "Gordon Ramsay Steak," by the popular British chef Gordon Ramsay, and "Maltarano's," by Steve Martorano, hailed as the "Godfather of Italian-American Cuisine."
A full 80% of Las Vegas visitors are Americans, followed by Canadians, Australians, Germans, French, Chinese, and South Koreans.
New establishments continue to open, such as "Hexx Kitchen + Bar" (pictured), the first "bean-to-bar" chocolate maker in Vegas, which opened in March.
All-you-can-eat buffets long dominated Las Vegas, but in the last decade or so, other dining options have rapidly increased.
Las Vegas's main thoroughfare, commonly known as "The Strip."
As a city renowned for its shows, aspiring artists could be seen everywhere.
Everything in Las Vegas is on a grand scale. Moving between hotels takes longer than expected, so be mindful of this. Monorail stations are located behind the major hotels, so it's worth utilizing them.
The kickoff event for Uncork'd, signaling the start of the festival, was held at the "Bellagio" hotel, famous for its fountain show. Pictured is the beautiful ceiling decoration in the lobby.
The kickoff event for Uncork'd, signaling the start of the festival, was held at the "Bellagio" hotel, famous for its fountain show.
The venue was filled with a stellar lineup of chefs participating in Uncork'd, including the renowned French chef Guy Savoy.
"Lago" is the first Italian restaurant by Julian Serrano, one of Las Vegas's most celebrated chefs.
Uncork'd also serves as a valuable networking opportunity for chefs from around the world who travel extensively throughout the year.
Guiding us through the highlights of Uncork'd and the latest gourmet scene in Vegas was Andrew Knowlton, Restaurant & Drinks Editor for the popular gourmet magazine "Bon Appétit."
When asked about a memorable episode from Uncork'd, Knowlton replied, "We used to hold poker tournaments every night after the event, but playing poker next to Alain Ducasse was a special experience. However, most of my other memorable moments involve alcohol, so I'll refrain from sharing those (laughs)."
The opening of Uncork'd was proudly declared by Adam Rapoport (pictured right), editor-in-chief of "Bon Appétit" magazine and one of the event's organizers.
Vegas Uncork'd, a culinary festival where top chefs from around the world gather and showcase their skills, took place this year from April 23rd to 26th, spanning four days.
It was striking to see the chefs enjoying the event in a consistently relaxed manner throughout Uncork'd.
The kickoff event was held at "Lago," a newly opened restaurant within the "Bellagio."
There was also a monorail station behind my hotel, the "Aria."
Elements to delight visitors are scattered throughout the city. Pictured is an art installation by contemporary artist James Turrell within the "Crystals" shopping center.
At the "Chefs' Counter: All-Star Feast," six select chefs from the Uncork'd lineup gathered to serve dishes in a Vegas-style buffet.
Staff from "Masa," the restaurant of Japanese chef Masa Takayama, who achieved great success in New York, were in charge of the Japanese cuisine.
There was a constant queue at the sushi counter of "Masa." Chef Takayama reportedly sources his seafood daily from the Tsukiji market.
Boiled crab was also served generously. This area was slightly less crowded than the sushi counter.
Michael Mina was also seen interacting with guests in a relaxed manner.
On this day, Michael Mina offered a selection primarily of charcuterie, including hams, terrines, and pâtés.
Colorful desserts by Claude Escamilla, a rising pastry chef from the South of France.
The Thai restaurant "Lemongrass" within "Aria" also had a booth. The satay was popular.
Jean-Georges Vongerichten, who is reigniting the "Wagyu boom" in Europe and America.
On this day, Jean-Georges Vongerichten presented fine dining-style steaks, prepared differently depending on the cut of meat.
The offerings included dishes from top chefs whose restaurants are notoriously difficult to book. It was a realization that a buffet style is perfect for when you want to try a little bit of everything.
In addition to dishes from top chefs, there were also ethnic foods prepared by the "Aria" hotel.
On this day, Julian Serrano served Spanish tapas, reflecting his roots.
It was also pleasing to see a wide variety of offerings, from seafood to meats.
The "Chefs' Counter: All-Star Feast," held on the second floor of the "Aria" hotel at "The Buffet," concluded the first day's events.
Michelin-starred chef Julian Serrano interacting with fans.
Las Vegas is synonymous with casinos. This image holds true, as casinos can be seen everywhere from the airport to the city center. However, recently, entertainment industries such as gourmet dining, shows, and shopping have grown rapidly, reportedly surpassing casino revenues.
"Caesars Palace," the venue for the "Grand Tasting," is particularly grand even among the cluster of massive hotels in Las Vegas.
The "Grand Tasting," which started about five years ago, is the event that "Bon Appétit" editor Andrew Knowlton highly recommends.
The popularity of Uncork'd is growing year by year, with popular events selling out quickly.
Every year, someone reportedly jumps into the pool at the end of the event. How about this year...?
In addition to food, the venue featured various attractions, such as a silent disco demonstration.
As the festival is named "Uncork'd," meaning to open wine bottles, there was also a wide selection of beverages to pair with the food.
Over 75 top chefs presented their dishes on the vast poolside of "Caesars Palace."
Gordon Ramsay's booth was the most lively on this day.
Guy Savoy (pictured left) also enjoyed the event, mingling with guests.
A constant stream of people wanting to take photos with Gordon Ramsay (pictured center) flocked to his booth.
True to his British roots, Ramsay served bite-sized portions of a local specialty, Beef Wellington.
At some booths, chefs themselves explained their dishes.
The booth of Japanese chef Masa Takayama's restaurant "Masa" was also very popular on this day.
"Masa" offered a tropical-inspired dish featuring squid and other seafood, prepared with a fruity flavor and served in a pineapple.
This year's Uncork'd recorded a record-breaking 5,060 attendees.
The statement "American tastes have changed" is certainly convincing. There were also many dishes featuring vegetables.
Chef Sean McLain, based in Chicago, was participating in Uncork'd for the second year. He praised it as "the best festival, enjoyable for both chefs and guests."
"Vegas is essentially a microcosm of America. The fact that Vegas continues to evolve means that the American gourmet scene is changing. Gone are the days when restaurants with unchanging menus were popular; now, people are starting to pay more attention to what they eat and their health," says Andrew Knowlton, editor at "Bon Appétit" magazine.
The "Hexx Kitchen + Bar," Vegas's only "bean-to-bar" establishment, also had a booth.
One of Las Vegas's charms is the beauty of its nightscape.
The famous fountain show at the "Bellagio."
The "High Roller," the world's tallest Ferris wheel (as of June 2015), was also part of the Uncork'd festivities.
Inside a cabin, Tony Abou-Ganim, a bartender renowned for his modern cocktails, shared insights into the latest cocktail trends in Las Vegas. Following the gourmet scene, cocktails made with fresh ingredients are gaining popularity in the beverage world as well.
Abou-Ganim also demonstrated how to make his recommended cocktail, the "Monkey Shine."
The "Monkey Shine" is made with freshly squeezed lemon juice, ginger ale, Cointreau, and vodka, with a touch of Campari for a fresh flavor. It's the perfect drink for the upcoming season.
Outside the cabin, the Las Vegas skyline, with its towering buildings, stretches out.
A cocktail event for the press was held in one of the cabins.
A view of Las Vegas from above. Brilliant lights suddenly appear in the darkness. It's clear that this is an artificial city built in the desert. The second part of this feature will venture beyond the Strip to delve deeper into the sophisticated gourmet scene of Las Vegas.
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Feature: The World's Best Cuisine Gathers in Las Vegas (Part 1) Gallery

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