The James Beard Foundation recently announced its 2022 Restaurant and Chef Awards semifinalists, and three Las Vegans have been nominated in the Best Chef: Southwest award region, which includes Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Oklahoma. They are: Gina Marinelli of La Strega and Harlo; Jamie Tran of the Black Sheep; and Hongrui Xin of Big Dan Shanxi Taste. The finalists will be announced on March 16.
The Bar & Restaurant Expo, coming to the Las Vegas Convention Center March 21-23, has announced the finalists in its 2022 Industry Excellence Awards, and one chef and two venues from Las Vegas made the cut, all located at Resorts World. Nicole Brisson of Brezza and Bar Zazu is up for Chef of the Year; Carversteak is a finalist for the Restaurant of the Year award; and Dawg House Saloon is a finalist for Sports Bar of the Year. The winners will be announced at the Expo on March 23.
Mama Bird Southern Kitchen has opened its expanded full-service restaurant and bar at 10550 Southern Highlands Parkway, operating Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. The space is twice as large, 12 bar seats and eight booths have been added and there’s now seating for more than 80 guests. The bar features 10 craft beers on draft and a menu of bourbon-focused cocktail offerings, and the food menu now offers two brisket burgers, two seafood po’ boys, new desserts and a vegan smoked jackfruit sandwich.
Nusr-Et Steakhouse has opened at the Park on the Strip, the restaurant by Turkish celebrity chef and restaurateur Nusret “Salt Bae” Gökçe. The two-story, 12,000-square-foot restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner and stays open until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Following recent openings at Caesars Palace and Harrah’s, Bobby’s Burgers is now open at its third location on the Strip at Paris Las Vegas, next door to the space of the upcoming Nobu restaurant. This location also features a breakfast menu along with its assortment of burgers, fries, shakes and more, and it’s open Sunday through Thursday from 7 a.m. until midnight and Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. until 1 a.m.
The Famous Foods Street Eats food hall at Resorts World has added four new concepts: Fuhu Cha Chaan Teng, Famous Pho, Burger Barn and Harajuku Ramen. Local Italian concept Mozz Bar has apparently shuttered, but that appears to be the only original food hall vendor that has closed to make room for the new eateries.
Xperience Restaurant Group has announced it will open a 13,000-square-foot Chevys Fresh Mex flagship restaurant location on Las Vegas Boulevard this summer, across from Park MGM. It will be the company’s largest Chevys with seating for over 400 guests.
Six finalists have been chosen for the Great Las Vegas Coffee Shop Giveaway, Dapper Companies’ contest that will award a brand-new, fully built out diner space in the historic Huntridge Shopping Center to one group of restaurateurs. The finalist concepts are Dinette, Winnie & Ethels Downtown Diner, Simple Diner, Savage Fine Diner & Tavern, the Tipsy Buffalo and Random Act Diner. The restaurateurs and chefs will now take turns showcasing their cuisine for the public and the judging panel with pop-ups at Vegas Test Kitchen on Fremont Street throughout April and early May, with details on times of service at lasvegascoffeeshopcontest.com.
U.K. restaurant Duck & Waffle is in Las Vegas this week for a pop-up at sister brand Sugarcane at Venetian. Chef Daniel Barbosa is serving Duck & Waffle’s most beloved dishes and cocktails daily through March 13 from 4 p.m. until close, with the menu including crunchy corn ribs, barbecue-spiced crispy pig ears, maple glazed cornbread, foie gras creme brulée, sweet potato gnocchi and black sesame sticky toffee pudding.
Music and entertainment venue 24 Oxford at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas will transform into an authentic Irish pub for St. Patrick’s Day, sponsored by Guinness and Baileys. The pub will feature nightly Irish-themed entertainment and drink specials and will be open March 12-13 from 5 p.m. until 1 a.m.; March 14-16 from 5 p.m. until midnight; and March 17 from noon until midnight.
Downtown Container Park is bringing back its Sham-Rock the Park St’ Patrick’s Day beer bash on March 12 from 5-8 p.m. Tickets are $40 at downtowncontainerpark.com, and the price includes endless tastings of local and national brewery brands, plus live entertainment on the Lawn.
Piero’s Italian Cuisine is continuing to celebrate its 40th anniversary this month with a specialty prix fixe menu for Las Vegas residents available March 15-22. The four-course meal is priced at $90 per guests and includes a choice of appetizer, soup or salad and entrée, with dish options including spaghetti and meatballs with pomodoro, penne vodka, chicken Carciofi, Glory Bay salmon and more.
Oakville Steakhouse at the Tropicana is hosting a four-course dinner event on March 17 at 6 p.m. featuring cocktails made with a one-of-a-kind bourbon made exclusively for the resort by Maker’s Mark. The price is $155 per person with tickets available at troplv.com.
New Vista’s 13th annual Brew’s Best Craft Beer Festival is set for the Lawn at Downtown Summerlin on March 19 from 2 until 6 p.m. More than 30 local and national breweries will be pouring, and March Madness viewing options and backyard games will be part of the fun. The event will raise funds for New Vista, a nonprofit supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and general admission tickets start at $30 at newvistanv.org.
The Hard Rock Cafe on the Las Vegas Strip is serving new menu item the Messi Burger, recently launched around the world at various HRC locations in partnership with soccer legend Lionel Messi. The burger features two beef patties, provolone cheese, sliced chorizo, caramelized red onions, a spicy and smoky sauce, lettuce and tomato on a brioche bun.
Night + Market at Virgin is now open for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays from noon until 4:45 p.m., serving up dishes including Thai boxing chicken with papaya salad, tiger shrimp green curry, pad see ew gai rice noodles and Thai steak salad.
The Front Yard at Ellis Island Casino has launched a new lunch menu, available at the beer garden Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. New dishes include shrimp scampi with linguini and lemon butter cream sauce, ahi tuna salad, fried pickles with Cajun remoulade and the Rise and Grind flatbread with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, pico de gallo and cheddar and mozzarella cheeses.
Wing Lei at Wynn Las Vegas has launched a new cocktail menu created by resort mixologist Mariena Mercer Boarini—seven libations using specialty flavors of lychee, persimmons, plum and jasmine pearl tea. The award-winning Chinese restaurant is open Sunday, Monday and Thursday from 5:30 until 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5:30 until 10:30 p.m.
Veranda at Four Seasons Las Vegas has launched a new afternoon tea service available every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. Traditional scones, a variety of sandwiches and different desserts and tea varieties are available, priced at $45 or $65 with Champagne.