Food and Loathing | Covering the Las Vegas Food Scene

Latest Episodes:

Jose Andres' Bazaar Mar Aug 16, 2024

Show notes

In this week's episode, Al shares the full interview with Jose Andres Group CEO Sam Bakhshandehpour that he previewed last week, and the pair discuss the new Bazaar Mar in The Shops At Crystals. There's an extended interview with longtime Las Vegas barman David Cooper, discussing his new vodka brand, Spur. Also: the founder of Angie's Lobster, explains how they can sell a lobster roll for $9.99, and Brian Howard talks about Sparrow + Wolf's new pop-up series, Bar Snacks, which will host Casa Playa's Sarah Thompson for its inaugural event.

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Hussong's Comes to Mandalay Bay Aug 09, 2024

Show notes

Importing a bar concept to the Vegas Strip is always hard. But doing it from a hospital bed after a paralyzing motorcycle accident would be impossible for most of us. Titan Brands co-founder Scott Frost was still in his hospital bed following his accident when he finalized the deal to bring the Ensenada dive bar Hussong's to Mandalay Place. Frost talks about his life, his accident, and his career in the Las Vegas hospitality industry in the center of today's episode.

Other interviews this week include Jose Andres Group CEO Sam Bakshandehpour, Monzu's Gio Mauro, Richard Femenella of Mae Daly's, cookbook author Alicia Shevetone and cookbook librarian Nichole Beer. And you'll hear about recent meals Gemini and Al had at Case De Juliette, Vesta Coffee, Shanghai Taste, Basilico, Taps & Barrels Beerhouse and Lemontree Café, and a report on the opening of Bazaar Mar.

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Vegas Concierge 101 Aug 02, 2024

Show notes

While a concierge can be a foodie's (or any traveler's) best friend, many don't really understand how to utilize them. So Al, who has been both disappointed by and impressed with various hotels' concierge desks, sat down with Mildred Schneidman, a veteran hotel concierge and president of the Southern Nevada Hotel Concierge Association, for some advice on making the most of the service (as well as a tipping etiquette, and warnings on what they cannot do for you in Las Vegas).

Also on this episode, Al sits down with Bruce Kalman to discuss his appearance on Season 5 of BBQ Brawl, his desire to do more food TV, his new Allegiant Stadium burger outlet, and Monday's pop-up preview of those burgers. Other interviews include Chef Gene Villiatora of Ai Pono Café, Clique Hospitality's Mustafa Abdi, and three generations of Oak & Ivy barkeeps (Chris Guiterrez, Eric Kleuver and Russell Dow). And we'll hear from Al and Gemini about the things they've been eating and drinking at Bramare, Bel Aire Backyard, Yukon Pizza and Winnie & Ethel's.

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Bobby Flay goes French Jul 26, 2024

Show notes

Gemini's out this week, but Al and Rich are together with reports from Vegas and Chicago, some opinions on The Bear, a bit of news, a Chef Joe Valdez interview we forgot to run last week, and a few longer-form interviews. Rich bumped into a food TV star filming in Chicago. Al dined at Bobby Flay's newest spot, Brasserie B by Bobby Flay – where he was reunited with a true old-school FOH pro, back in Vegas to work there. And that reunion led to the first of the two longer-form interviews.

At the center of the show, Al gets the lowdown on a pair of restaurants mingling French and Spanish influences. First, he sits down with Ed Tracy and Chef Candace Ochoa in the private dining room of Brasserie B by Bobby Flay. From there, he heads to the PDR of Anima by EDO, where partners Robert Liendo and Joseph Mikulich about their forthcoming THIRD venture with Chef Oscar Amador: Braseria.

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Scotch 80's Social Hour Menu Jul 19, 2024

Show notes

Al and Gemini get a personal tour of Scotch 80's new Social Hour menu at Palms Casino. And that includes a deep dive into the steakhouse's beef sourcing. Also this week: Gemini checks out Carson Kitchen, which is celebrating ten years of serving up cutting edge cuisine downtown. Meanwhile Al shares what he can about an "off the record" meal at Anima. He also scoped out the brunch at Middle Child, and gets some advance intel about National Tequila Day coming up on Wednesday.

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Help Tomorrow's Chefs Today Jul 12, 2024

Show notes

This week's episode was recorded live at the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas, and centers around a conversation with chef/instructors, Nick Preston and Culinary Apprenticeship Coordinator Chiara Astriab. They share all sorts of info on how they can help advance your culinary career, whether it's a new idea or a continuation of your journey.

Other interviews this episode include Evan Glussman talking about the opening of Bramare, and Richard Femenella discussing the brand new Mae Daly's. We also have news on Bastille Day celebrations at March Bacchus, Sparrow + Wolf and Mon Amu Gabi (plus a short interview about wine pairing with the latter's sommelier). And you'll hear about Al's recent visits to Eat Your Heart Out Food Hall, Boom Bang and Hard Hat Lounge, as well as some of Gemini's recent takeout adventures.

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Too Much Pizza? Never!! Jul 05, 2024

Show notes

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.

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Al Explains Himself (And Trolls the Trolls) Jun 28, 2024

Show notes

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.

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Vegas Prime Magazine is Here! Jun 21, 2024

Show notes

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.

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Culinary Hangover Jun 14, 2024

Show notes

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.

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