Upscale American Classics at PoshBurger
A new Summerlin restaurant is run by a star chef.
May 20, 2013
The Kobe burger at new neighborhood bistro PoshBurger is definitely a Donald Trump-type “burger of all burgers.” This decadent creation—comprised of a brioche bun, Kobe beef, seared foie gras, a fried quail egg, and truffle aioli—is attracting an overflow of diners into this new Summerlin hot spot.
But gourmet burgers aren’t the only items served here. Besides perfectly fried calamari and classic salads on the menu, there’s a “design-your-own” option. You can take your chances and indulge in a burger made of elk, venison, or wild boar and top it off with everything from Asian coleslaw and wasabi aioli to goat cheese and Béarnaise sauce.
The man behind these creations is Conrad Gallagher, PoshBurger’s founder and chef. His menu is served in a casual urban setting with a communal dining vibe, where the food is taken seriously, especially when it comes to ingredients. PoshBurger only buys humanely-raised meats that are grass-fed and free of antibiotics, and the fruits and vegetables are organic and locally sourced when possible.
Still, there are new plans to come. The restaurant plans to push a new 4 to 6 p.m. daily happy hour (with 30 percent off all food and drinks) and make it a thriving nighttime destination this summer when the patio is completed. 9921 West Charleston Blvd., 702-201-1408
DVF's New 'It' Bag
It's color-blocked, it's expertly made, and it's peachy keen for spring.
May 16, 2013
Head to Diane von Furstenberg at The Forum Shops at Caesars or The Shoppes at the Palazzo and add some new “baggage” to your spring wardrobe. DVF’s 440 small colorblock satchel ($545) puts a spring in your step with its sleek calfskin material and structured shape. The bag’s aesthetic is right in line with both the colorblocking trend and hot coral and apricot colors of the season. Construction-wise, it's got tonal topstitching, two zip pockets, silver hardware with a front clasp, and a shoulder strap that’s both removable and adjustable, for all you cross-body fans. Another fun touch? A hanging leather ID tag features the brand’s logo and signature lip pout decal.
Late-Night Eats at Ferraro’s
A new Mezzanotte menu is perfect for night owls and the post-show crowd.
May 15, 2013
Pappardelle Mimmo at Ferraro's Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar
Ferraro’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar has a new late-night Mezzanotte menu to satisfy night owls in search of more than just a nosh. Served from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the restaurant's bar and patio, the menu boasts dishes like osso bucco, gnocchi, house-made meatballs, and sausages at half the regular dinner menu price. Our favorite is chef Mimmo Ferraro's Pappardelle Mimmo, tossed with scallops, lobster, , asparagus, butter, sage, and truffle oil. There's also an extensive wine list with 18 options by the glass, as well as specialty cocktails, which during these late-night hours are offered at 25 percent off. 4480 Paradise Road, 702-364-5300
Summer's Best Beauty Buys
Four must-have products for the dog days of summer.
May 14, 2013
Fresh Rose Hydrating Face Serum ($55)
With an ingredient bouquet of hibiscus flower acids, rosewater, cucumber extract, evening primrose, and golden root extract, Fresh’s Rose Hydrating Face Serum is a miracle product that does everything from fight free radicals to boost collagen. Launched this March, the lightweight serum provides heavy hydration to promote smoother skin texture. Fresh boutiques at The Shoppes at the Palazzo and The Forum Shops at Caesars
Bliss FatGirlScrub ($38)
Cellulite is especially worrisome during bikini season, but less so for fans of Bliss’ FatGirlScrub, a new exfoliant made with Himalayan pink salt. When used, the beads and oils stimulate circulation, causing fluids to flow rather than bunch up and contribute to exterior lumps. It also slims the silhouette by eliminating dead skin cells, making skin smoother to then apply cellulite-fighting creams. available at Sephora and Ulta
Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation ($55)
Launching this June, Perricone MD’s No Foundation Foundation offers a two-in-one translucent makeup and sunscreen with anti-aging powerhouses DMAE and Alpha Lipoic Acid. Its base is a non-chemical SPF30 sunscreen with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, so the multi-purpose, tinted moisturizer-like product also offers broad spectrum UV protection while helping correct skin undertones. available at Sephora
Blowpro Faux Dry ($20)
Dry shampoo has become the secret weapon for transforming a ‘do from dull and lifeless to refreshed and voluminous. New this season, Blowpro Faux Dry Shampoo is a loose powder that works into the scalp with fine, oil-absorbing starch to revitalize locks in between washes, workouts, or days at the beach. available at Ulta
Spring Scent: Nest White Narcisse Collection
The boutique brand's new range intrigues with French mimosa, sandalwood, and muguet.
May 08, 2013
Nest Fragrances White Narcisse Collection
Launched in April, Nest Fragrances' limited-edition White Narcisse Collection oozes spring with the intoxicating white narcisse flower, boasting notes of French mimosa, sandalwood, and muguet. Available as a candle ($48), body cream ($34), and eau de toilette ($54), items in the collection feature stunning floral art designed by Russian artist Alexander Solodukho.
Founded by Laura Slatkin in 2008, Nest started out as a home fragrance brand but has unfurled to include reed diffusers, hand soap, bar soaps, perfumes and votives, all exquisitely packaged with a sophisticated aesthetic. One of our other recent favorites from the brand is its Fine Fragrances Collection ($30-$115), which encompasses three distinct scents: Amazon Lily, Midnight Fleur and Passiflora. With its notes of jasmine, exotic woods, patchouli, and black amber, the Midnight Fleur scent is a cult favorite, and comes in a rich body cream, rollerball, and eau de parfum spray.
To boot, the Nest Fine Fragrances Collection has been honored with several recent FiFi Award nominations, the fragrance industry’s version of the Oscars. Ready to shop? In Vegas, Nest can be found at Neiman Marcus in the Fashion Show Mall. 3200 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Road Trip: BottleRock Napa Valley Festival
Motor over to wine country for this inaugural music and wine festival.
May 08, 2013
Zac Brown Band highlights the BottleRock Napa Valley musical lineup
Sunny spring weekends call for road trips to wine country, and as if we need an additional tease to jaunt to Napa vineyards, this weekend oenophiles will be toasting incredible live music. The inaugural BottleRock Napa Valley festival held May 9-12. A four-day affair with stellar music, vintners, culinary cache, and comedy.
"This is a festival for music-lovers with a palate," says BottleRock co-founder Bob Vogt. "BottleRock offers festival-goers the best in Napa Valley food, wine, and beer. Where else can you see this many musicians and comedians and have access to shaded areas, seating, and restrooms? [It] has something for everybody.”
First, the musical lineup: Leading bands include The Black Keys, Kings of Leon, The Black Crowes, Jane’s Addiction, Zac Brown Band, The Shins, The Avett Brothers, The Flaming Lips, Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite, Alabama Shakes, and Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, among others. With more than 80 bands performing over four days, the musical gamut crosses nearly all genres and will certainly pack a loud punch. Held on three stages over 26 acres of the Napa Valley Expo grounds, the music alone is worth tapping those frequent flier points.
Next, the epicurean extravaganza. On tap at Bottle Rock are more than 50 wineries and artisan brewers, with featured vintners including Silver Oak, Miner Family, Rombauer, St. Supery, Grgich Hills, Beaulieu Vineyard, and Hahn Family Wines, to name a few. Acclaimed chef and restaurateur Cindy Pawlcyn will helm the festival’s culinary execution, sharing the spotlight with celebrity chefs Masaharu Morimoto, Ken Frank, and Todd Humphries. The list of participating Napa eateries and food purveyors is equally of note, including Mustards Grill, Oenotri, ZuZu, Grace’s Table, The Girl & the Fig, Azzurro Pizzeria and Enoteca, Tra Vigne, Fish Story, Farmstead, The Model Bakery, C Casa, Barbers Q, and Gott’s Roadside.
And let’s not forget there’s comedy, to boot. In the midst of all this wining, dining, and dancing, the country’s top comics promise plenty of laughter, too. Jim Gaffigan, Demetri Martin, Aasif Mandvi, Anthony Jeselnik, Tig Notaro, Jim Breuer, Greg Behrendt, Wyatt Cenac, Rob Delaney, and Kristen Schaal, among others, ensure no dull moments.
Given the staggering lineup of musical acts, we asked Nicholas Allen, founder of Carte Blanche Wine and Soulshine Music LLC, for some festival and wine cliff notes. Following are his Top 5 “pairings” of rock and wine, focused on micro-cult wines crafted by acclaimed vintners that have mastered the art of bottling terroir. If you can’t make it to Napa with us, at least you can create a playlist, sample some vino, and pretend you’re there.
1. The Black Keys & Carte Blanche 2010 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. “The Black Keys are one of the best, if not, top, acts on the national touring circuit,” says Allen. “I’d pair this complex rock ‘n roll with a big red—the CB Cabernet is layered, surprising, with big notes, and a real powerful driving force behind it, just like the band.”
2. Jane’s Addiction & 2010 Keplinger Sumo. “If you’ve seen front man Perry Farrell perform, then you know that a bottle of red is most likely in his hand. I’d suggest he drink the Keplinger Sumo--a spicy, bold red that gets you fired up, and can perfectly handle the band’s hard-hitting rock.”
3. Zac Brown Band & Morlet Family Vineyards Couer de Vallée. “It's such a nice blend of cabernet culled from the top to the bottom of Napa Valley, and Zac Brown's music is such a nice collaboration of musical instruments and different musical genres, from country, to bluegrass, to reggae, to rock ‘n roll!”
4. The Black Crowes & 2010 Macauley Cabernet Franc, To Kalon Vineyard. “The Crowes consistently stay in the realm of blues-driven rock ‘n roll, but both the band and this wine offer so much more than one varietal or style could have ever been thought possible. Wines and acts like these are extremely rare, intricate, and passionate, and need to be embraced for the long haul.”
5. Alabama Shakes & Bure Family Wines 2010 Duration. “A perfect pairing for Alabama Shakes; it's got that power and elegance from the cabernet, and that depth and extra ‘umph’ (fruit) and nuance from the Cabernet Franc. These two—the band and the wine—will be around for a long time. Bure is becoming a staple Napa wine for cult-boutique collectors, and The Shakes are becoming a sought after staple on the music scene. I dread another ill-fated and ill-timed loss of talent such as Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Amy Winehouse. Like the finish on the Duration wine, I hope to see longevity in their musical careers.”
For BottleRock Napa Valley festival passes, pricing, and additional information visit bottlerocknapavalley.com
photography by rick diamond/gettyimages.com
King Baby to Host Grand Opening Party
The edgy new boutique will celebrate its Caesars Palace flagship on May 30.
May 06, 2013
Caesars Palace has a new rock ‘n’ roll resident in King Baby Studio, a high-end men’s and women’s lifestyle brand known for its metal cuffs, dog tags, rings, pendant necklaces, earrings, and leather accessories. Created by go-to rock star jeweler Mitchell Binder, King Baby jewelry is handcrafted with sterling silver, solid 18-karat gold, leather, precious stones, and onyx beads. Designs have a Sons of Anarchy meets Bruce Springsteen (who’s a real life fan of the brand) appeal, with pieces sporting everything from crosses to skulls to brass knuckles. King Baby’s signature style also extends to your wardrobe via T-shirts, leather jackets, and most recently, sunglasses. True Blood’s Joe Manganiello is a big fan of the T-shirts.
Though the boutique has been open since February, King Baby will celebrate the official grand opening of its Caesars Palace flagship (just next door to Nobu in the Appian Way Shops) on Thursday, May 30, from 7-10 p.m. The RSVP-only event will feature a performance by Smitty on Steel and plenty of Champagne.
Nobu Hotel’s Only in Vegas Allure
Get acquainted with the chic, food-forward hotel and its exclusive amenities.
May 03, 2013
Leave it to hospitality hub Las Vegas to introduce the world’s first Nobu Hotel by acclaimed celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa. With a bevy of successful restaurants (Robert De Niro is a partner) across the globe, this marks Matsuhisa’s first foray into the hotel industry.
Opened in early February, Nobu Hotel and its accompanying Nobu restaurant (the largest in the world at 12,775 feet) were designed by David Rockwell. The 181-room, 18-suite boutique hotel is attached to Caesars Palace—but it has a style all its own. Guest rooms evoke a modern, luxurious Japan-meets-Vegas vibe, with calligraphy art adorning the walls, natural material accents, décor, and furniture, and neutral beige and dark wood colors with pops of purple.
Another highlight is the room service: guests of Nobu Hotel are part of an elite group with access to Nobu’s exclusive in-room dining menu, featuring dishes by the iconic chef 24 hours a day. Think green tea waffles, blueberry and yuzu soba pancakes, and mouthwatering bento boxes. (The High Roller bento box packs Wagyu steak, lobster wasabi, spicy garlic shrimp, and premium rolls.)
But as cuisine goes, Nobu restaurant and lounge, located on the hotel’s first level, is the crown jewel. In addition to a swanky bar centerpiece and Matsuhisa’s signature dishes, such as rock shrimp tempura and black cod with miso, diners can gather at Teppanyaki Tables not currently found at any other Nobu in the U.S. Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace, 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd., 702-785-6677
Twenties Roar Again at Tiffany & Co.
The new film adaptation of The Great Gatsby inspires two glittering collections.
May 01, 2013
Tiffany & Co.’s two new collections are not only inspired by the glamour and allure of the 1920s, but also The Great Gatsby, whose big screen adaptation is set for release May 10, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, and Tobey Maguire in the three lead roles. After all, the iconic jewelry brand designed all of the jewelry made in the film.
The Ziegfeld Collection was inspired by the grand, one-of-a-kind jewels featured in the upcoming film, as well as pieces from the Tiffany archives. From tassel necklaces to drop earrings to men’s cufflinks, each item is crafted with the utmost sophistication, evoking a romantic, old school glamour. With a baby blue ribbon chain, the heart-shaped Daisy locket is especially feminine. Other Art Deco touches seen throughout the collection include onyz, sterling silver, and plenty of ropes and pearls intertwined with diamonds and precious gems.
Even more exclusive is The Great Gatsby Collection, a small, rare grouping of jewels used in the film. This collection will be sold mostly at Tiffany & Co.’s New York City flagship. The Zeigfeld Collection, however, is available at Tiffany & Co. stores throughout the country, including the four in Las Vegas. Many of these jewels are featured in the 2013 Tiffany Blue Book (such as the pearl tassel necklace), with some of the extraordinary gems fetching seven-figure prices.
Eve Lom Arrives at Nordstrom
Get glowing with London-based skincare import Eve Lom.
April 29, 2013
Attention, skincare fanatics: Eve Lom has touched down in Las Vegas—at Nordstrom in Fashion Show Mall, to be exact. One of the most celebrated facialists and skincare experts in Europe, Lom’s eponymous, London-based line is highly regarded for its breakthrough skincare products and seven-step technique.
The brand’s balm Cleanser ($135, 200ml) is by far the cult favorite among beauty editors, as it has won multiple beauty awards since hitting the market 25 years ago. It’s unique for its application process, which involves using the provided muslin cloth in tandem with the balm—continually soaking the cloth it in hot water, steam compressing the face, cleansing, and repeating. Between the heat, the cloth, and a formula that includes four aromatic oils (think eucalyptus and Egyptian chamomile) and gentle exfoliation beads, skin is left clean, fresh, and soft.
Another winner? Lom’s Bulgarian rose-scented TLC Radiance Cream ($72, 50 ml). The triple threat formula combines antioxidant-rich arctic raspberry seed and rosehip seed oils to fight free radicals; oat kernel extract and dipalmitoyl hydroxyproline to lift sagging skin; and silica mica to smoothen. And for the all-important eye area, pick up the new-this-May Eye Left ($75, 15ml). Nordstrom, 3200 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
