Vegas Uncork'd Returns May 10 To 13

The annual Vegas Uncork'd foodie extravaganza has come to be one of Sin City's standout culinary events, with 60 chefs from 50 restaurants, representing Las Vegas' best resorts including Caesars Palace, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, and The Cosmopolitan.

This year brings exciting new toques to the lineup, but also celebrates the front-runners who brought fine cuisine to Las Vegas many years ago. Presented by Bon Appétit, the event takes place May 10 to 13, kicking off Las Vegas' long-lasting desert summer.

Chef Michel Richard (above right) is the most buzzed-about addition to the celeb chef lineup at Uncork'd. His May 12 Master Series dinner will be a five-course affair for $135 per person, set within his restaurant Central in Caesars Palace. Foodies who haven't yet met him will find him an ebullient and larger-than-life host who delivers plenty of star power and comedy, plus more than a touch of French naughtiness.

If Richard is the newcomer, Wolfgang Puck is the patron of the contemporary Las Vegas gourmet scene. He starts off Uncork'd with a 20th anniversary luncheon at Spago in Caesars Palace — tickets are $150 per person for a four-course meal with wine pairings.

Because Las Vegas wouldn't be itself without gaming, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas hosts a Celebrity Chef Poker Tournament at the Boulevard Pool on Friday, May 12. Starting at 10:30 p.m., this is as much a party as a poker game. The buy-in is $150, but people who just want to watch and enjoy the ambience can buy a spectator ticket for $85.

This isn't going to be a hyper-competitive affair; it's all for charity, with the grand prize of $2,500 and all other prizes going to charity. On the entertainment tip, guests will enjoy tunes by DJ Who and Paulo, sushi handrolls from Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar, and cocktails by David Myers 18A.

Mobile gourmet drives into the spotlight at Follow That Food Truck, when fukuburger, Rusty Pickle, Lola D's, and a dozen other food trucks descend upon the Bellagio for a gourmet-on-the-go gathering. With live music, hot wings, wines, shave ice, and celebrity chefs like Todd English and Michael Mina, this promises to be a fun and tasty evening. It takes place at Bellagio Hidden Drive on Thursday, May 10; doors open at 8 p.m.

A score of other events take place throughout this star-studded spectacular. Master Series dinners with Bobby Flay and Guy Savoy are scheduled for Thursday May 10 while Friday brings a variety of beverage specialty events including Mix-Off at the Bellagio and Unusual Pairings at Mandalay Bay. For people who enjoy big dine-around events, the Garden of the Gods Grand Tasting also takes place on May 11, starting at 7:30 p.m. in Caesars Palace.

After a busy Saturday lineup that includes a cabernet tasting at the Bellagio and a visit from Alain Ducasse (above), guests will clambake at the Mandalay's man-made beach, then party into the night. Sunday wraps up the weekend with a trio of brunches: at Italian Brunch with the Pelligrinos at Rao's, Steak and Eggs with Charlie Palmer, and the Sparkling Brunch with Guy Savoy. Visit VegasUncorked.com to learn more.

— Lena Katz, JustLuxe

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