THE GAUNTLET HAS BEEN THROWN: THE VENETIAN® AND THE PALAZZO® LAS VEGAS LOOK TO CROWN A CULINARY VICTOR
It’s On! New ‘Culinary Clash’ master chef competition pits the best Las Vegas Chefs in an interactive experience, unfolding over four weeks
The Venetian and The Palazzo Las Vegas have announced CULINARY CLASH, a new competition for the resort’s famed team of chefs. This four-week competition will result in the rise of a new legend on The Las Vegas Strip – The VENETIAN VICTOR, winner of the first CULINARY CLASH master chef competition.
The late-evening competition hosted by local lifestyle celebrities Claudine Grant and Robin Leach, unfolds from 10pm until 2am on Nov. 29, Dec. 7, 14 and 21. It is open to all sous chefs and chefs de cuisine at the 30+ restaurants located inside The Venetian and The Palazzo, including Sushi Samba, Table 10, First Food, TAO, Aquaknox, Zine, Lagasse Stadium, Carnevino, Public House, Valentino, Delmonico, B&B, Rattlecan, LAVO, Otto Enoteca, and Bouchon.
Chefs will be challenged to create recipes using ingredients provided in a “mystery basket,” to be prepared in mobile “food truck” kitchens, located on the Las Vegas Strip at The Venetian’s Doge’s Palace plaza. The head-to-head clash will be broadcasted live on a giant screen on The Venetian Clock Tower for all audience members to appreciate. Each chef’s creation will then be available for sampling.
Culinary Clash will give guests the occasion to experience Italian-inspired food and drinks while joining in a festive holiday outdoor party. Each cooking battle will be highlighted with street entertainment, DJ music and an after party provided by TAO.
Expect plenty of surprises, including guest appearances by The Venetian and The Palazzo’s celebrity chefs, who will head the prestigious judging panel:
- Round 1 – Nov. 29 – Chef Emeril Lagasse
- Round 2 – Dec. 7 – Chef Mario Batali
- Round 3 – Dec. 14 (Semifinals ) Chef Sammy DeMarco
- Round 4 – Dec. 21 (Finals) Surprise Chef TBA
At the conclusion of the Culinary Clash, the surprise chef and prestigious judging panel will crown a victor chef. This Venetian Victor and a guest will receive a trip to Italy, the inspiration behind The Venetian.
“This event is going to be a lot of fun,” said Sebastian Silvestri, vice president of food and beverage at The Venetian and The Palazzo. “And what better place to host such a competition than Las Vegas, which has become one of the greatest food cities in the world.”
In fact, Much of The Venetian’s fame comes from its reputation as a culinary capital of the Las Vegas Strip. Hosting nine James Beard Award-winning chefs and their restaurants, more than any other property in Las Vegas, millions of guests have found culinary inspiration at The Venetian and The Palazzo.
The event is part of Winter in Venice™, the second-annual celebration of the winter holiday season on the Las Vegas Strip, dubbed “A Gift of The Venetian.” With 50 days of seasonal experiences throughout both resorts, Winter in Venice is the ultimate destination for Christmas in Las Vegas, running Nov. 18, 2012 through Jan. 6, 2013.
In 2012, Winter in Venice will feature a new marquee element, an exclusive six-week run of “Mannheim Steamroller Christmas in Las Vegas, by Chip Davis,” featuring beloved and iconic holiday music in The Palazzo Theatre. In addition, a schedule of memorable Italian-inspired experiences will include a nightly enchanting winter parade, whimsical tree-lighting ceremonies, a stunning new 3D light projection shows, an elaborate Winter in Venice fantasy scene in The Palazzo Waterfall Gardens, and – a fan favorite – the return of the picturesque skating rink above The Venetian’s romantic outdoor Grand Canal.
In its first year, Winter in Venice captured the attention – and the hearts – of visitors around the world, including Travel + Leisure magazine. In fact, the prestigious publication touted the Winter In Venice skating rink in its feature on the “world’s coolest skating rinks.” The article, which shared a short list of the magazine’s favorite venues, said: “Some of the coolest [rinks] can be found where you’d least expect them—say, in the desert. The Venetian [in Las Vegas] debuted a rink in 2011, complete with a holiday-theme light show. It now touts a package deal that combines a skating session with an outdoor gondola ride—only in Vegas, indeed”.
The best way to experience Winter in Venice is by staying overnight at The Venetian or The Palazzo, taking advantage of additional experiences available to resort guests. Overnight stays begin at $149 per night, plus tax and resort fee. Additional package options include:
- A special “Mannheim Steamroller Suite Package” includes two front orchestra tickets to Mannheim Steamroller Christmas – Vegas by Chip Davis (a $270+ value), starting at $229 per night, based on a two-night minimum stay.
- The “Winter in Venice Prestige Package,” includes special experience upgrades, including a picture-perfect holiday “Elf tuck in” for families. Other amenities include a private check-in desk experience with champagne, nightly complimentary holiday cocktail reception, and complimentary continental breakfast, afternoon tea and coffee, and evening hors d’oeuvres. Packages start at $279 per night, based on a two-night minimum stay.
Overnight guests also receive Passaporto di Winter in Venice, which includes specials for skating, retail, dining, entertainment and spa, with offers valued at more than $1,000. For those who book an upgraded suite (including the Winter in Venice Prestige Package), a Premiere Passaporto di Winter in Venice will feature additional exclusive offers increasing the value to more than $1,400.
A seasonal Winter in Venice cocktail menu, including holiday-inspired spiced cocktails such asGondolier Blanco, Da Vinci Remedy, and Pom Proseccowill be available throughout the resort lounges, including The Bourbon Room, Zebra Lounge, Bellini Bar, Fusion Mixology Bar and Laguna Champagne Bar.
Holiday-themed menus and specials will be offered by select world-class restaurants throughout the holiday including Aquaknox, B&B, Bouchon, Canaletto, Canyon Ranch Café, Delmonico, FIRST Food & Bar, Grand Lux Cafe, Pinot Brasserie, Postrio, Table 10, LAVO Italian Restaurant and Valentino.
For more information on Winter in Venice or these exclusive suite packages, please visit venetian.com or palazzo.com.
About The Venetian Las Vegas®
The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino, the largest property in the country to receive AAA’s Five Diamond and the coveted Forbes Travel Guide Four Star awards, is one of the world’s most luxurious resort and convention destinations. Recreating Venice’s legendary landmarks, the LEED® EB Gold (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified resort offers unmatched service and quality for leisure and corporate guests. With suites ranging from a standard 650-square-foot Luxury Suite to the luxurious 10,000-square-foot Chairman Suite, the all-suite resort boasts more than 4,000 of Las Vegas’ most lavish suite accommodations. Located in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, The Venetian features The Grand Canal Shoppes®, an indoor streetscape complete with gondolas and singing gondoliers, the Canyon Ranch SpaClub®, world-class gaming, exquisite restaurants, a wide variety of entertainment such as “Soul2Soul with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill,” the party musical “ROCK OF AGES,” showroom headliners including David Spade, Rita Rudner, Tim Allen and Joan Rivers and extensive convention and corporate services. Guests can earn points while they eat, sleep, shop and play with Grazie, the premiere loyalty program, which rewards guests with the ease and usability of just one card and one program. The Venetian and its sister resort, The Palazzo Las Vegas, are the first ever Alliance Resorts in the InterContinental Hotel Group® global portfolio. For additional information, visit venetian.com, follow on Twitter @venetianvegas and interact on Facebook at facebook.com/venetianlasvegas.