Page 17 - Experience Magazine Summer 2023

by many customers, it was officially named the DJT, Le Cirque, Michael Mina and Wing Lei. In
Buckaroo Buffet and stood out as a novel concept addition to Wolfgang Puck, celebrity chefs such as
in Las Vegas, consisting of Western-themed cold cuts Emeril Lagasse, Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa, Bobby
and a handful of hot dishes. Flay, Giada De Laurentiis, Scott Conant and Gordon
Not surprisingly, other casinos soon followed Ramsay draw diners from around the world, as well
suit, each vying to outdo the other. The Desert Inn as rave reviews. Off the Strip, Saipin Chutima’s Lotus
featured elaborate ice sculptures on their buffet of Siam has long been recognized as one of the
tables, while the Silver Slipper offered a 98-cent country’s top Thai restaurants.
spread billed as “50 Epicurean delights, served 24 Staying true to its roots, the city’s ubiquitous buffets
hours every day.” Chefs in toques reigned supreme remain – but on a decidedly grander scale. Consider
at meat carving stations, with deviled eggs, shrimp the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace, featuring 10
cocktail, mayonnaise-dressed salads and Jell-O kitchens, 9 chef-attended stations and more than 250
desserts becoming standard buffet fare. menu items from around the globe, encompassing

Fast-forward to 1989, when Ruth’s Chris steakhouse an area of over 25,000 square feet.
came to town, followed soon thereafter by places Clearly, Las Vegas has matured into one of the
like Morton’s and The Palm – marking the world’s top food destinations. Bon appetit!
beginning of the modern history of the Vegas food – Barbara Toombs
world. In 1992, celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck was
convinced to open an iteration of his Los-Angeles-
based Spago restaurant at Caesars Palace (later
moving to a spot overlooking the Fountains of
Bellagio), beginning the celebrity-chef era in the
city and helping further the idea that Vegas could be
a destination for non-gamblers.

Today, Las Vegas consistently appears on the latest
lists of top foodie destinations. Numerous food
tours of the city whisk guests to top dining spots
both on and off the Strip. A number of restaurants in
The Entertainment Capital of the World have earned
coveted Michelin stars, including Joel Robuchon
at MGM Grand, Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars
Palace, Julian Serrano’s Picasso at the Bellagio, Nobu,

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