Friday, Oct. 11, 2002 | 9:19 a.m.
Muriel Stevens' dining column appears Fridays. Her shopping and travel columns appear Wednesday. Reach her at (702) 259-4080 or [email protected].
Palazzo Ristorante in the Tuscany hotel at 255 E. Flamingo is lovely place for dinner or lunch. This charming restaurant features well-priced Tuscan and regional Italian specialties in a beautiful setting.
It's easy to miss this property. Construction on the hotel's casino, expected to be completed in December, made me miss the entrance the first time around, so stay alert.
The hotel and restaurant have a wonderful country Tuscan appearance. I rarely choose a booth for dining because so often table and seat heights don't match -- one or the other is too high or too low. Not at Palazzo. The seat and table height are perfect.
Music wafting in from the adjacent piano bar was perfect, too. No high decibels, just a fine accompaniment to a delicious meal.
Menu choices at lunch time include appetizers ($4.99 to $5.99), salads ($5.99 to $8.99), panini (Italian sandwiches, $6.99 to $8.99), hamburgers ($5.99 to $6.99), pasta ($5.99 to $8.99), pizza ($6.99 to $7.99) and a small selection of entrees ($6.99 to $8.99).
At dinner the restaurant really shines. My dining companion and I always order different foods and share. Portions are generous, so we were able to order additional dishes and split them.
Bagna cauda Palazzo-style ($8.95), was a new spin on the Piedmontese favorite and we loved it. Instead of dipping vegetables into a warm butter and olive oil sauce, we received a sizeable plate of roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, grilled eggplant, olives and Montrachet and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeses that had been bathed with warm olive oil and butter.
We ordered a Caprese salad -- mozarella, tomatoes, basil and thinly sliced Maui onion (not traditional, but good) before realizing Palazzo includes a generous green salad with all entrees. We ate both.
The house signature osso buco ($29.95) is not listed on the menu. Why? Because Palazzo orders only the meatiest veal shanks and they are not always available. It's worth asking for. The succulent meat falls away from the bone with a touch of the fork. Cooked a la Milanese, the sauce was a golden brown and the citrus flavor of the gremolata (lemon and orange zest, garlic and parsley) shone through.
Palazzo has a decent wine list. Prices are more than fair. For reservations call 947-5908.
New menu at Piero's Trattoria: Piero's Trattoria has a new menu and a new chef. Chef Michael Colby has brought his own style to Trattoria's menu, adding Sicilian tuna carpaccio, prawns scampi style and Bruschetta Lucca -- the fruity Lucca olive oil does make a difference.
Chicken paillard salad, chopped Italian salad and a tender heirloom tomato salad, pineapple-infused chicken salad and a Tuscan bread salad have enhanced the salad selection. I've always enjoyed Trattoria's food selection; the new additions at lunch and dinner are super.
The number of dishes available in half orders is smaller, but this is an accommodating restaurant, so ask. The food selection is great. Don't miss the pizzas. Reservations not required, but accepted. Call 892-9955.
Also new: Jazz Night at 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursdays.
Cooking classes: Suddenly, cooking classes are springing up everywhere. Geared to amateur chefs and home cooks, the selection of available classes offers something for every level.
Wolfgang Puck Wine and Cooking classes feature a team of executive chefs from Spago, Lupo, Chinois and Postrio, who will host cooking demonstrations complete with tastings. Master Sommelier Luis DeSantos is offering Wonder of Wines seminars ($45 per class) Wednesday and Oct. 23 and 29. Be a Chef at Home classes are $45 per demonstration. Wine classes are held in the banquet room at Spago at the Forum Shops at Caesars; cooking class locale is the upstairs dining room at Chinois in the Forum Shops. All classes are from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For a complete list of the classes call Madeline Benito -- 369-0360 or via email -- [email protected]. Stay for dinner after class and receive a 25 percent discount off the bill.
The just-opened Creative Cooking School of Las Vegas at 7385 W. Sahara includes a gourmet shop. For a list of upcoming classes call owner Catherine Margles at 562-3900 or via the Web at creativecookingschool.com.
The Art Institute of Las Vegas offers a Culinary Arts program under the direction of Certified Master Chef Raymond Hofmeister. Hofmeister is an internationally acclaimed chef who now makes his home in Las Vegas. AILV is dedicated to Creative Education, including culinary. For information about culinary arts classes call 992-8453.
Still to come: Bellagio's new tower will include a cooking school and more new restaurants.
Short orders
Oktoberfest: The Palms buffet will feature an Oktoberfest German feast Tuesday nights through October for $11.99. One free draft beer and entertainment are included.
Chicago Brewing Company at 2201 S. Fort Apache is having an Oktoberfest celebration from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday. Brats, dogs, burgers, the release of CBC's Oktoberfest beer and, of course, entertainment -- Tommy Rocker, Destination Unknown and Bonifide. It all happens under the 300-seat beer tent.
Flamingo Las Vegas is going all out with Bavarian fare daily throughout October. A Bavarian outdoor barbecue is located on the southwest corner of the Flamingo at Las Vegas Boulevard. Among the foods being featured are char-broiled German sausages, grilled-chicken sandwiches with red cabbage and salty pretzels, all-beef franks with sauerkraut and pretzels and half-pound Bavarian hamburgers. Schmidt's Snack Bar offers soft beer pretzels, pickles-on-a-stick, German cheese soup and more. Two-for-one Lowenbrau beers and all sorts of specials. Entertainment? Ya. Times vary. Schmidt's opens at 10 a.m.; the grill at noon.
Wine dinners: Stirling Club at Turnberry Place will feature the wines of Pio Cesare Winery at a dinner at 7 p.m. Oct. 20. Pio Cesare produces a variety of Piedmontese wines. Price for this wine and food dinner is $95. For more info call 784-4603.
Sazio at The Orleans will feature the wines of Mezza Corona Winery and a four-course dinner on Wednesday. The price is $33.95 per person. For reservations call 948-9500.
Transitions: Reggie Burton, former PR Director for Circus Circus, has been promoted to Director of Community Affairs and Corporate Public Relations Director for Mandalay Resort Group.
Bryan O'Shields, former vice president of Food and Beverage at Bellagio, resigned his position to "pursue new career options."
Mark Hefter has been named wine specialist for Simon at the Hard Rock. Simon is scheduled to open Thursday.
Mayor contributes: Tonight at the Saloon on Fremont Street, Mayor Oscar Goodman will receive the first $50,000 check for endorsing Bombay Sapphire gin. Our colorful mayor supports many good causes. He'll give half the endorsement fee to Las Vegas 501-C-3, a charitable fund to help the homeless, and the other half to the Meadows School to support academically talented, but economically disadvantaged students. Cheers, Mayor.
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