Strip Scribbles: Mary Sue Milliken wins again on ‘Top Chef Masters’

By Robin Leach

Thursday, May 5, 2011 | 5:36 p.m.

Congratulations to Las Vegas star Chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Alex Stratta on last night’s budget-conscious Top Chef Masters. Mary Sue from Border Grill at Mandalay Bay earned $10,000 in her second win for food bank charity Share Our Strength. Alex, from Stratta at the Wynn, and Mary Sue were thrown two unusual challenges on Episode 5 of Season 3 of the Bravo series.

The Quickfire Challenge had the chefs creating an appetizer that cost less than $1. NPR’s Dinner Party Download hosts Brendan Newman and Rico Gagliano praised Alex’s spicy squid but sent Mary Sue to the bottom for her salty BLT salad. The standings were switched in the Elimination Challenge when the chef teams had to cook 100 finger-food lunches without utensils at a fast food drive-in.

Mary Sue won with quinoa fritters, while Alex with his salmon tacos wound up in the losing team, from which Chef George Mendes was sent packing with his kitchen knives. Next week, the seven remaining chefs cook a feast fit for a rock star in a surprise location for Maroon 5 led by frontman Adam Levine.

*Just in time for Mother’s Day, Jackson family matriarch Katherine Jackson has teamed with SendHerFlowers.com to introduce a collection of bouquets. The company is affiliated with more than 16,000 florists in America. She will change the six vase arrangements four times annually. Who gets the credit for putting it all together? None other than Jerry Olivarez, who is the PR director for Johnny Brenden and his movie theaters at the Palms. Jerry, a longtime friend of Michael’s family, is the Web site’s marketing and business development VP.

*The world’s magic community gathers in New York on June 24 for Magic on Manhattan to salute the 100th birthday of illusionist John Calvert, who was the first magician to perform on the Strip. It’s also John’s 50th anniversary with wife Tammy. Las Vegas magicians Jeff McBride, Stan Allen and Britney Spears favorite Ed Alonzo are part of the tribute. Meantime, big animal magic headliner Rick Thomas ends his run at the Sahara when the casino closes May 16 and reopens at the neighboring Riviera as of July.

*Yet another sexy dance show, The Viper Vixens hits the Strip tonight with its debut erotic revue opening at O’Sheas. These sexy temptresses have something no other show can claim. They use dangerous weapons in the act --crossbow, martial arts and other death-defying acts created by Ottavio Gesmundo, who was the stunt director for Spiderman Live. The talented Deena Cary, who was the lead singer of Purrfect Angelz, headlines the topless dance lineup.

*To tie in with Saturday’s Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley fight, the Boxing Writers Association of America has its 86th annual gala and awards dinner tomorrow at MGM Grand. Freddie Roach is set to pick up Trainer of the Year, and longtime pal Pete Hamill gets the nod for outstanding boxing writing. The Ali-Frazier Award for Fight of the Year will go to Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana, with Sergio Martinez being honored with the Sugar Ray Robinson Award as Fighter of the Year.

*With the 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Finals here this weekend, the DC Skate Team and its elite motorcross athletes arrive early for an autograph signing at DC Vegas at Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile tonight. Aaron Bittner, Ikka Backstrom, Devun Walsh and Lauri Helskari from the DC Snow team will be on hand.

*Confetti cannons and chocolate cake constructed in the images of the Venetian and Palazzo were on the menu for yesterday’s block party when Las Vegas Sands President Michael Leven announced the new property partnership with InterContinental Hotels Group. Ellen DeGeneres was on a video showing off the VIP benefits of the alliance.

Star Surveillance

Flamingo headliner Donny Osmond took his musical director to Viva Elvis at Aria last night. They met the cast before the show, and Donny told them that he’d previously met Elvis and received an invitation to a barbecue at his house but declined. He promised to send newlywed sister Marie to see the show. Rob Base hosted last night’s Old School party at Lavo at the Palazzo and performed his hits “It Takes Two” and “Joy and Pain” with longtime friend Kyle Rifkin. Nephew Michael Walker backed him on the turntables.

Tonight’s tips

Mentalist Lior Suchard performs uncanny mind tricks at The Lounge at the Palms and is followed by Playboy Comedy headliner Sebastian Maniscalco. Chelsea Lately comedy star Jo Koy starts a three-night run at MGM’s Hollywood Theater. Chef Rick Moonen teams with Chef Ralph Pagano for a Cinco de Mayo tequila-themed sequel Surf and Turf gourmet dining night at RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay for a Three Square fundraiser. And please don’t forget The Shade Tree fundraiser at Marquee at the Cosmopolitan with performances by Fantasy headliner Lorena Peril and Zowie Bowie, plus pal auctioneer Christian Kolberg, who’ll raise the bids on Dancing With the Stars tickets and a meet-and-greet with the cast at the finale.

Tomorrow’s teases

Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner arrives to reveal the 2011 Playmate of the Year, and Manny and Shane weigh in for the big fight. We’ll have the weekend rundown of the Vegas Uncork’d events and the celebrity preview of all the highlight entertainment attractions for the upcoming 72 hours of pleasure-packed fun.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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