Food and Loathing

Las Vegas scored big on the Top 50 Pizza list, as recently announced in New York. And two of our best are here to talk about it: Metro's John Arena and Michael Vakneen of 00 Pie and Pub. Also: Gemini is back with hospital horror stories and lots of love for all who've shown her the love. Oh, and Al and Rich ate food at places.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Not that he needs to after a quarter-century of pro food writing, but Al felt the need to rant just a bit about the difference between being a professional food writer and a hobbyist. And the difference between being a food writer and a food critic (spoiler: Al is the former, not the later). Also, lots of new news from longtime friends of the pod Alicia Shevetone, Sam Marvin, Vinny Rotolo and.... (drum roll)... a few words from our co-host Samantha Gemini Stevens.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Longtime Las Vegas journalist Don Chaurensy joins Al to discuss the new magazine Don is helming: Vegas Prime. Also: Al shares his food experiences at Suzuya Café on Spring Mountain Road, Cathedrale in Aria. and Marche Bacchus under new chef Chef Nikko Broznan, and much more. With Gemini out this week, Rich shares his baseball/dining experience in the Executive Suites at Wrigley Field, and his shopping experience at Wild Fork, the Brazil-based flash-frozen food store chain that's opening across the US - but not yet in Las Vegas.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Al and Rich in this week's episode, which starts off with a review of all the festivities surrounding The World's 50 Best Restaurants' time in Las Vegas. We kick off with a post-event rundown from Elizabeth Blau, who was instrumental in convincing the event to come here. She also organized Wynn Las Vegas' companion culinary festival, Revelry. Other interviews include Chinglish's Ken Heck, Suzuya Cafe's Misuzu Ebihara and Azzurra Wine Bar owner Windom Kimsey. And we have news on Dan Krohmer, Mariana Alvarado, Roy Ellamar, Crystina Ngyuen and more.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Producer/Engineer Rich Johnson is back for a guest co-host spot, and Al chose the perfect venue: Toasted Gastropub on West Flamingo and the 215. Sharing the info, and three awesome dishes, is Alfie Szeprethy, Executive chef for both Sammy's Woodfired Pizza and Toasted. Rich shares a few experiences from Chicago, and Al goes into detail about the events he attended (and what he ate) linked to "The World's 50 Best Restaurants" festivities.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Red Rocker is behind Sammy's Island, the new pool concept at the Palms Resort & Casino. Al gets the full download from Palms executive chef Marcus O’Brien, including just how involved Sammy Hagar was in the concept and buildout. Also: Gemini talks to Chef Matthew Effendy about his new line of creme brulee called "Creme by ME."

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This special extra-jumbo episode was recorded at Vegas Unstripped, where the best chefs in the valley gathered to show off their skills by cooking up items not on their menus. Al and Gemini talk to a dozen chefs, foodies and others who ate and drank the night away around the pools at the Palms.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Al and Gemini try to give you all the information you need to enjoy the World's 50 Best Restaurants' arrival in Las Vegas next month, and the multiple culinary festivals and events surrounding it. You'll hear all about all the events that still have tickets available, and you'll hear from many of the chefs involved -- including Jeff Ramsey, Devin Hashimoto, Gina Marinelli and Nicole Brisson. Also this week: reports on visits to Desnudos Tacos at Naked City Pizza, Gaetano's, Big Dog's, Ferraro's, Virgil's and Parm; news on Table 34, Bramare, Soulbelly, Solamente Pizza, Vegas Unstripped, Big B's Barbecue and Monzu Italian Oven; interviews with Constantin Alexander and Gio Mauro.  

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gemini sits down with Yukon Pizza’s Alex White to discuss the pizza that won him a World Champion title. Al chats with Circa's Director of Player Development and Special Events, Whitney Genevieve Godard, to talk about Legacy Club’s popular special event series.

We also have interviews with Chef Gina Marinelli discussing Harlo’s monthly tasting menu, Chef Nicole Brisson of Brezza sharing details on a 00 Pie & Pub pop-up, Red Rock Executive Chef Alfio Longo talking about the menu at the Rouge Pool and Cabanas, and Gianna Leflar of Carmine’s explaining their new Mob Wife Dinner package.

And Al and Gemini share stories about the recent Chefs For Kids gala, as well as visits to Starburst Parlor, Winnie & Ethel’s, Sparrow + Wolf, Shanghai Taste and the Shrtlst launch party.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two popular local businesses – Gyu+ sandos and Suzuya Patisserie – are preparing to open new concepts in The Center At Spring Mountain, and Al sits down with restaurateur Luis De Santos to talk about them. Other interviews this week include Bazaar Meat’s Frank Medina talking about a new $99 tasting menu being offered on weekdays in their lounge and Nicole Brisson with details of Mother’s Day 2024 at Brezza. And Al shares details on the Las Vegas connections to his recent road trip to Southern California, culminating with an interview with Metro Pizza’s Chris Decker at Dana Point’s Truly Pizza (his California collaboration with Las Vegas’ Michael Vakneen and Metro’s John Arena).

Al and Gemini also discuss recent meals from 00 Pie & Pub, Makers & Finders, Mint Indian Bistro and HaSalon. And they share news on Toasted Gastrobrunch, Cinco De Mayo, Vegas Unstripped, the Revelry Culinary Festival and Chefs For Kids.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices