ANDRE’S NEW CIGAR LOUNGE AND CULINARY LIBRARY TO DEBUT TUESDAY, MARCH 31
Located inside Andre’s Restaurant and Lounge at Monte Carlo, Lounge and Culinary Library Will Be the First of its Kind in Las Vegas
For chefs and foodies who revel in spending down time sifting through real cookbooks and recipes rather than flipping through apps, an inspiring new destination debuts Tuesday, March 31: Andre’s Cigar Lounge and Culinary Library. Located on the second floor of Andre’s Restaurant & Lounge at Monte Carlo Resort & Casino, this library represents the first of its kind in Las Vegas and will showcase Chef André Rochat’s personal collection of cookbooks, amassed over the course of his more than 55 years in the culinary industry. Nearly 700 books will be on display at any given time and available for guests to read. New books will be regularly rotated in from his collection, which include more than 1,000 titles. Subjects include baking and pastry, wine and spirits, restaurant architecture, celebrity chefs and much more.
Highlights of the culinary library will include:
– French print edition of Georges Auguste Escoffier’s “Le Guide Culinaire”;
– 106 volumes of the culinary magazine, Art Culinaire;
– An 1892 print of “The Everyday Cookbook, The Encyclopedia of Practical Recipes” by Jean-Pierre Gauthier;
-“The First American Cookbook” by Amelia Simmons, copyright 1796;
-Signed books from fellow legendary chefs such as Julia Child, Jacques Pepin,
Joël Robuchon, Paul Bocuse, Jean-Louis Palladin (with an accompanying original menu from Jean Louis at the Watergate);
-Michelin Guides for France for every year from 1976 to 2008.
Current-day titles in the library will be comprised of cookbooks from world-renowned chefs and friends of Rochat, including Andre’s cousin and 3-star Michelin Chef Philippe Rochat’s French edition of “Flaveur”; Daniel Boulud’s, “Daniel: My French Cuisine”; Massimo Bottura’s “Never Trust a Skinny Italian Chef” and Daniel Humm’s “Eleven Madison Park: The Cookbook.” Menus from restaurants from around the globe dating back to the 1950s will also be on display for guests’ perusal.
The library debut is a part of the milestone celebration for Rochat, who in 2015 celebrates 35 years since opening his first restaurant, Andre’s Downtown, in Las Vegas.
“I began collecting these books because, for me, reading them is relaxing and I enjoy being inspired by other great chefs’ recipes. The more I began to read, the more I wanted to know. Decades later, I’ve amassed this amazing library of books from around the world that I want to share not only with fellow chefs and restaurateurs but also our guests,” said Rochat.
Beginning later this spring, Andre’s will also create a “Book of the Month” program, featuring a selected chef and/or cookbook. Executive Chef Christopher Bulen and his team will create small savory and sweet bites to experience while reading the books. Cocktails and cigars also will be paired with the special menu.
In addition to the cookbooks, Andre’s Cigar Lounge and Culinary Library features a collection of more than 200 single-malt Cognacs, Armagnacs and scotches, as well as premium cigar varieties. The collection is the largest of its kind in Las Vegas and is ranked third in North America based on its size. Already considered a “hidden gem” by those in the hospitality industry, the lounge originally opened in 1996 along with the award-winning, AAA Four Diamond restaurant. The intimate lounge comfortably seats 36 guests and also houses a state-of-the-art ventilation and air filtration system enabling cigar aficionados to enjoy their evening without smoke disrupting nearby dinner or library guests.
Andre’s Cigar Lounge and Culinary Library will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 5:30 to close.
ABOUT ANDRE’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE AT MONTE CARLO RESORT AND CASINO
Celebrating his 35th anniversary in Las Vegas, André Rochat has enhanced his AAA Four Diamond restaurant by combining `its original old-world charm with a modern twist to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere. An eclectic approach on a classic, Andre’s meshes the finest style of dining with a comfortable, elegant setting. In addition to dining in casual elegance, Andre’s is home to an impressive cigar lounge, one of the only spaces on the Las Vegas Strip available to enjoy a fine cigar and rare Cognac from his internationally famous collection. Honored with a prestigious Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator, Andre’s Restaurant & Lounge at Monte Carlo has an encyclopedic wine list boasting nearly 1,000 selections and an inventory of more than 3,000 bottles. Find on Facebook and Instagram or follow on Twitter (@AndresLasVegas).