Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 | 3:12 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 eight of the culinary heavyweights and asked them eight questions, including their 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 #8: Mark Tarbell
How many restaurants do you currently have?
Five (Mark & Isabella and the soon-to-be-opened Home in Denver; The Oven in Lakewood, Col.; and Tarbell's and Barmouche in Phoenix.)
What would you say your signature dish is? What defines you as a chef?
Scotch Beef.
What did you have for breakfast this morning?
I had boiled eggs on toast with butter.
What is your favorite food-related trend right now?
Anything Kerry Simon's making. (He laughs, as does Simon, who is standing next to him.) I like wholesome home food home cooking so that's my favorite food trend.
What would you have at your last supper?
Ooh, that's a good one. I'd have a roasted chicken with some sort of very crispy, duck fat-roasted potatoes, some haricot vert – some green beans – and some rich burgundy.
Who would cook it?
Kerry Simon, of course (laughs again). No, I'm kidding. I don't know who would cook it. I don't know, I'd probably get my wife to cook it; that sounds much better.
What is your favorite Vegas-based restaurant ?
Bartolotta and … Society (Café).
What's your favorite kitchen gadget?
A 12-inch chef's knife is really my favorite gadget, I'm pretty basic.
Back to the beginning: Emeril Lagasse
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.
