La Strega is Coming to Summerlin in Early Summer 2018
Executive Chef Partner Gina Marinelli works her magic in the kitchen
La Strega, serving modern Italian cuisine, will open in Summerlin in early summer at 3555 South Town Center Drive. Executive Chef Partner Gina Marinelli is taking her talent off the Strip to oversee the kitchen and guest dining experience, while celebrating her Italian culture with dishes from all regions of Italy.
Marinelli pulls her inspiration for the menu and her guidance of her team from a lifetime of kitchen experience. With grandparents from Lake Como and Sicily, Marinelli started her Italian culinary journey in her family’s kitchen. From those early days she went on to hone her skills with some of the best chefs in the industry, including Scott Conant, Michael Mina, and Shawn McClain. She’s now bringing that love of food and a world-class dining experience to Summerlin.
“I’m excited to open my first restaurant and share my passion for Italian hospitality with our guests,” said Marinelli. “I promise that everything we do will genuinely come from the heart. Beyond the menu, this restaurant, from the decor to the uniforms, to the way guests are greeted when they walk in the door, will be a personal expression of my heritage, travels, and passion. I want everyone to feel as if they are joining me in my home for a unique dining experience.”
La Strega, meaning “witch” in Italian, is fueled by Marinelli’s desire to captivate her guests and take them on a very personal adventure across Italy. The menu showcases Marinelli’s twists on Italian favorites infused with contemporary, fresh flavors. Guests can expect menu items like steak tartare bruschetta; artichoke and fennel salad; calamarata seafood pasta; salsiccia pizza with fennel pesto; and veal chop milanese, served alongside an expertly curated wine and cocktail program. Those with a sweet tooth can enjoy a slice of homemade Italian coconut cake or other treats for dessert. Seasonal dishes will be incorporated into the menu throughout the year.
Inspired by the colors of the Italian countryside, La Strega’s decor features silvery greens, sun-bleached clays, and earthy tones. The custom-designed, locally-made lighting fixture that illuminates the dining room casts every surface in the warm glow of dozens of “moons.” The intimate dining room boasts a mix of Italian marbles, velvet seating, and eclectic accents, with the open kitchen serving as the focal point. Diners will be front row as their meal is prepared in a sparkling marble and copper masterpiece. Across from the showcase kitchen, the cocktail bar will feature a completely custom glass facade from Sicis, a Ravenna, Italy-based glass company. Just outside the doors, guests will find the Loggia, where they can enjoy al fresco dining and cocktails. Featuring traditional plaster interiors with warm lighting, the space houses a “witch’s garden” designed by Marinelli to cultivate produce and herbs for La Strega’s seasonal dishes.
“Everyone has a little witch in them, and my team will work our magic not only in the kitchen, but also in the dining room,” said Marinelli. “My goal with La Strega is to celebrate that dining out really does bring people of all ages together through food and community. When this is accomplished in a beautiful environment that feels like a friend’s home, that can be pretty magical.”
La Strega will be open daily 5-10 p.m. For reservations and additional information, please visit LaStregaLV.com, and connect on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
La Strega’s Executive Chef Partner Gina Marinelli