IS Photography/ImagesofVegas.com
Karina Smirnoff and Mario Batali at Carnival du Vin in the Palazzo.
Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 | 2:47 p.m.
The Carnivale du Vin brought together many of the top chefs in the country: Emeril Lagasse, Wolfgang Puck, Mario Batali, Bradley Ogden… most of the big names were at the Venetian this weekend.
The Sun caught up with some of the culinary heavyweights to get their personal take on their signature dishes, restaurant trends, favorite kitchen gadgets, and what they would have for dinner if they had just one last supper to enjoy.
Chef #3: Mario Batali
How many restaurants do you currently have?
I have 14.
What would you say your signature dish is? What defines you as a chef?
Beef cheek ravioli with fresh squab livers and black truffles.
What did you have for breakfast this morning?
Trout with cauliflower and capers at Bouchon.
What would you have at your last supper?
It would be a very long one: 753 courses consumed over 15 years, each with a different wine. It would start in the Amalfi Coast with all kinds of marinated raw and fresh seafood. Then we'd have to move to Parma, to eat all the magnificent pork, then we'd probably go to Vietnam, then to Thailand, then to the Tokyo fish market, then to Australia, then to Singapore, and it just goes on and on and on.
Who would cook it?
Emeril Lagasse.
What is your favorite Vegas-based restaurant (other than your own)?
My favorite Vegas restaurant, I don't even know the name of it. It's the noodle place. There's a noodle place, equal distance from Carnevino and B&B. Asian noodles … almost on the casino floor. Maybe it's called China Noodle? (He was talking about Asia Noodle, which is inside the Palazzo.)
What's your favorite kitchen gadget?
I'm a big fan of those rasps, those parmesan cheese graters that work out so well.
Next Chef: Bradley Ogden
Jump to: Emeril Lagasse, Wolfgang Puck, Mario Batali, Bradley Ogden, Kerry Simon, Sammy Hagar, Nancy Silverton, Mark Tarbell.
In the spirit of Venice, The Venetian is a little piece of romantic Italy right here in Las Vegas. The Venetian is an "all-suite" hotel, with rooms accented with plush linens and Italian marble. The 4,027 suites are divided into two towers: The 36-story Venetian Tower that offers guests a taste of luxurious Las Vegas and the Venezia suites, which guarantee 12 floors of high-end elegance. The top five floors are the hotel's highest level of luxury with its private access, concierge lounge, upgraded features and even a dedicated staff.
Entertainment at the Venetian includes shows such as Tim and Faith - Soul2Soul, featuring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, and Rock of Ages.
The flagship of Venetian nightlife is TAO, an ultra-hip nightclub located inside of TAO Asian Bistro. V Bar is The Venetian's super smooth ultra lounge, made by the owners of New York City's club Lotus and Los Angeles' super swank Sunset Room.
The Venetian features 19 restaurants including Thomas Keller's award-winning French restaurant Bouchon, Mario Batali's B&B Ristorante, Aquaknox for fresh seafood and the 42,000 square foot TAO Asian Bistro. There's also the food court inside the Canal Shoppes for those looking for a quick bite.
Guests can float along The Grand Canal Shops in an authentic Italian gondola ride and pass stores like Burberry and Kenneth Cole along the way. And if you haven't caught a real celeb, on the street in Vegas, you can head over to Madame Tussauds to check out a wax version.
