Skipping the craps table and gathering around the dinner table is becoming an ever-attractive staple for my family during our annual jaunt to Las Vegas.
Having grown up in the restaurant business and knowing my parents’ foodie tastes, I happily hop into the car when I get their Sin City invite.
Visions of prix fixe menus and the hope that a special meal could crack my top five of all time danced in my head as I drove up I-15 a few days before Christmas.
As I traveled through the desert, I was reminded that even though we’re on opposite coasts – they’re in Maryland – one thing that binds us is the various versions of Bravo’s reality cooking competition “Top Chef.”
My father and I discuss what we would have done if we had been given one of the short, intense Quickfire Challenges, during which contestants have to do something like make a gourmet meal out of vending machine ingredients in 15 minutes. My mother and I talk about the chefs’ personalities and how the judges were right or wrong in whoever was told to pack their knives and go.
And inevitably, “Top Chef” works its way into our Las Vegas plans. Many of the best restaurants in town feature chefs who have at least been guest judges on the show.
Our recent trip included visits to Rick Moonen’s RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay and Tom Colicchio’s newest Vegas spot, Heritage Steak at The Mirage.
Here is a look at some of the chefs behind “Top Chef” who have establishments in Las Vegas.
Tom Colicchio: Heritage Steak, The Mirage; and Craftsteak, MGM Grand
The most famous judge on the original “Top Chef,” Colicchio is known for his steakhouses. We tried his newest spot, Heritage Steak, which features meat – lots of meat – cooked over an open flame. The three of us split a 32-ounce, 28-day dry-aged Cote de Boeuf, which was delectable. But the ceviche appetizer that my father ordered was the star, with a bright acidity and a garnish of caviar.
Despite its sleek, dark interior, Heritage Steak still felt very open, nestled inside the tropical atrium at the resort.
Colicchio’s more established Vegas spot, Craftsteak, offers a wider array of steak options, including eight cuts of wagyu alone.
Tip: Heritage Steak is open 2-5 p.m. daily and has a limited menu at more affordable prices.
Online: craftrestaurantsinc.com
Rick Moonen: RM Seafood and Rx Boiler Room, Mandalay Bay
We spent Christmas Eve dinner at the upscale-yet-casual RM Seafood, where Moonen, who was a guest judge on the original “Top Chef” as well as a finalist on “Top Chef: Masters,” is regularly in the kitchen.
Sustainable seafood dominates the menu, from sushi to a savory bowl of cioppino. The Thai-inspired cobia special was dynamite, but the shellfish sampler, which featured Moonen’s famed escabeche – a half-dozen types of oysters, half of a lobster, shrimp, clams and mussels – tasted like it had been in the water that morning.
For dessert, order Rick’s Tasting Game – a blind taste test of 16 homemade ice creams and sorbets, which rotate. You even get a scoring sheet. We were able to name 15 of the flavors – olive oil stumped the table.
Upstairs, Rx Boiler Room ditches the cool blue hues of RM Seafood in favor of warm colors and a steampunk vibe, and Moonen unleashes his spin on comfort food.
Tip: RM Seafood has a daily happy hour 3-7 p.m. that offers deals on drinks, the raw bar and sushi.
Online: rickmoonen.com
Hubert Keller: Fleur and Burger Bar, Mandalay Bay
Keller has been a finalist on the original “Top Chef: Masters,” a judge on “Top Chef: Just Desserts” and a familiar guest judge to fans of the original “Top Chef.” When he’s not on TV, he operates two restaurants in Mandalay Bay.
Think of Burger Bar as a high-end version of The Counter, where you can start off with a wagyu beef patty and shun regular old mushrooms for black truffles (at $30 for 1/3 ounce).
Fleur has a mix of small plates and entrees inspired by Spain, France, Greece, Peru and the U.S.
Online: hubertkeller.com
Stephen Hopcraft: STK Las Vegas, The Cosmopolitan
Hopcraft, who was on the forgettable Washington, D.C., season of “Top Chef,” has routinely received praise for his executive chefdom at the Las Vegas location of STK. This spot is for people who love some music with their dinner – STK has its own DJ.
Online: cosmopolitanlasvegas.com
Carla Pellegrino: Bratalian Neapolitan Cantina, Henderson
If you want to get away from the Strip, Pellegrino, who competed on “Top Chef: Seattle” and has to be one of the loudest contestants in the show’s history, has a well-regarded Italian restaurant in the suburb of Henderson.
Online: chefcarla pellegrino.com
Contact the writer: vfranko@pressenterprise.com or 951-368-9575
