Trips to Las Vegas Market are also great excuses to discover restaurants on, off and near the strip. The culinary scene has exploded over the years, so there is never an excuse to go hungry or uninspired. This trip has us trying both Mexican and Italian fare at the recommendation of our catering bestie out of Lincoln, California, Simple Pleasures. See what we found while in Sin City.
CHICA
The Venetian‘s hottest new restaurant inspired by Celebrity Chef, Lorena Garcia, has been recommended to us multiple times. Boasting the first Latina chef on the Las Vegas Strip, Chica promises to delight with an astounding array of amazing dishes. There is no shortage of deliciousness to be found among Chef Garcia’s offerings, which create a delightful trail of flavors whose influences stretch from the tip of South America all the way to Las Vegas. Each and every bit of culturally unique food finds its pedigree equally in the homes of Peru or El Salvador as it does in the top restaurants of Mexico or Argentina. Latin Fusion cuisine is Chef Garcia’s forte, and it shows: appetizers, main courses, desserts, and even the drinks are specially crafted for their heritage and made to fit the modern, dynamic venue of Chica.
John Kunkel, owner and founder of 50 Eggs Inc.’s newest concept Chica Las Vegas delivers the robust and vibrant flavors of Latin cuisine combined with a dynamic wine and mixology program. Crafted by celebrity Latina chef Lorena Garcia, the diverse menu draws inspiration from classic renditions and will give guests the opportunity to explore the flavors of Latin American cuisine as one culture, with influences from Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina, among many more. Eater Las Vegas calls Chica “the most-anticipated Las Vegas restaurant set to debut in spring of 2017,” and it is open daily for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Multiple private dining areas will offer group space to enjoy a variety of events, from cocktail parties to large seated dinners.
CARBONE
Las Vegas’s Carbone restaurant touts timeless Italian cuisine on its website. After visiting it for dinner, we found it to be a glam Italian eatery with a retro feel. This celebrated concept from Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi and Jeff Zalaznick pays homage to the Italian-American restaurants of the mid-20th century. Partnered with my New York born hubby, we were ready to dig in!
The high-end New York City import on the second level of Aria serves up traditional Italian-American fare while incorporating techniques of today showcasing elevated classics such as Lobster Fra Diavolo, Chicken Scarpariello, Veal Parmesan and Octopus Pizzaiolo, along with desserts presented tableside on a cart. The classy, throwback space is full of Rat Pack glamour, with a dramatic, vintage chandelier and private, red-curtained booths. To dine there is to take a trip in time and across the country.
