THE BEST OF LAS VEGAS MAY 24, 2010 • SECTION 2 OF 2 • VOL 69 • NO 21 SWITCHDining STEAKHOUSE with a Twist Located inside Encore Las Vegas, Switch Steakhouse is in word one – unique. What makes this restaurant a Las Vegas attraction, other than the mouthwatering menu, is the revolutionary, theatrical décor that accompanies it. Guests can enjoy not one, but several settings all within the 2 Viva Las Vegas course of their meal. As the name suggests, this steakhouse literally switches interiors approximately every 20 minutes. What this means is the 6 ARIA Resort & Casino walls retract and rotate, revealing three different ambiances, ceiling tiles turn over, providing two ceiling changes, and music and lighting transform 10 Bellagio according to theme. 12 Harrah’s Entertainment 14 Cirque du Soleil Diners awaiting these transformations will not be let down by the French-inspired cuisine. As expected, seafood and steaks, containing nothing but 16 Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority fresh ingredients, are this restaurant’s specialty. Favorites among customers include the Switch Seafood Tower and the Grilled Octopus. You get what 18 Golden Nugget Viva you pay for when it comes to the cost of this theatrical meal, but for a timeless experience to be anticipated, it is so worth it. 19 Tropicana Las Vegas 20 Vdara Hotel & Spa 22 Monte Carlo Las Vegas Resort and Casino GRILLED OCTOPUS 24 Wynn Las Vegas and Encore VEGETABLE TARTAR, CURED LEMON, CAYENNE PEPPER 26 Palms Place Hotel and Spa at The Palms Las Vegas 28 Las Vegas Hilton INGREDIENTS FOR VEGETABLE TARTAR 31 The Mirage 1/2 Eggplant 1 Medium Zucchini 1 Medium Yellow Squash 1/2 Red Onion 1 Fennel Bulb 1 Red Pepper 1 Yellow Pepper Extra Virgin Olive Oil LAS Salt & Pepper 4 Tbsp Chopped Parsley 2 Tbsp Thyme 2 Limes, zested EDITOR Lauren Flowers • Slice all vegetables and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Over medium heat, and grill all vegetables until al dente. Then, set aside and cool. CUSTOM PUBLISHING MANAGER • Fine dice all vegetables except eggplant and place into a bowl. Blend the eggplant until Michaela Haberer smooth. Add eggplant, parsley and thyme into the bowl and mix well. Add olive oil and DESIGNER Alissa R. Williams lime zest. Season the mixture. VICE PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Bob Sullivan PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Robert Brai VEGAS INGREDIENTS FOR OCTOPUS BRAISING LIQUID When it comes to Las Vegas, no 1/2 Gallon Shrimp Stock 1 Cup White Wine PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Michele Garth 2 Tbsp Paprika 1 Tbsp Coriander Seeds PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Lisa Gonzales top-ranked resort, restaurant, show 1 Tbsp Fennel Seeds 1 Bunch Parsley 1 Tbsp Peppercorns 1/2 Cup Tomato Paste For comments, suggestions or questions, write ON THE Cover or nightclub is left unheard of. The to [email protected]. Viva ELVIS city of sin has popularized just about • Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Make sure to cook all the alcohol out before The cover image features clips from Cirque using the liquid. NORTHSTAR Travel Media, LLC du Soleil ’s Viva ELVIS, a tribute to the life every inch of its extravagant scene. • Place cleaned octopus into a braising pan and add the liquid. Cover the octopus and 100 Lighting Way, 2nd Floor and music of Elvis Presley. As powerful, With innovative forms of entertain- braise slowly in oven until fork tender. Secaucus, NJ 07094 201.902.2000 sexy and unique as the king of rock ‘n’ roll • Chill octopus in liquid. himself, the show embodies significant ment, new “it” spots to party and travelweekly.com moments of his life blended with his uncountable cuisines to test the most RENÉ LENGER TO ASSEMBLE THE DISH To inquire about advertising in Travel Weekly’s Best popular hits. The newest installment to hit Executive Chef Vegetable Tartar Braised Octopus of Las Vegas guide, contact Bruce Shulman, Associate Las Vegas from Cirque du Soleil showcases discerning palates around, Las Vegas Cured Lemon Oil Cayenne Pepper Publisher: 561-799 -1788, or [email protected]. its wonder at ARIA Resort & Casino. Switch Steakhouse continues to uphold its reputation for Sea Salt Chives Material in this publication may not be Micro Celery reproduced in any form without permission. ©2010 by fun. Whether new or just unique, here NORTHSTAR Travel Media, LLC • Place vegetable tartar lengthwise on a long rectangular plate. All rights reserved. Trademark TRAVEL WEEKLY used are some of the best Las Vegas has • Drizzle the octopus with extra virgin olive oil and season with kosher salt. under license from NORTHSTAR Travel Media, LLC • Grill octopus and cut into 1/2 inch pieces. Printed in USA to offer. • Place octopus onto the vegetable tartar and drizzle with cured lemon oil, cayenne pepper, extra virgin olive oil and sea salt. • Garnish the dish with chive sticks and micro celery. ThrillSKYJUMP Seekers LAS VEGAS CUltimateAESARS Palace Gaming Race & Sports bOOK What is sure to be the top attraction for adrenalin junkies visiting the Caesars Palace Race & Sports Book, located on The Strip, has yet to be rivaled as the “it” place to immerse in the opulence of sporting grandeur. This par city of sin, the newest thrill, SkyJump Las Vegas, has opened with a new excellence book is an unbeatable destination for major sporting events. Open 24 hours, the cool, yet fast-paced, environment exudes the luxury that is Caesars and exciting way to view The Strip. The Stratosphere Las Vegas Hotel & Palace. Highly admired, this sports fanatic’s dream offers those with big pockets the chance to place their bets and the less daring a chance to watch some of Casino, the tallest building in Las Vegas, is now offering the ultimate free the most famous events in sports’ history amid atmospheric settings. Located on the main casino floor, the Sports Book boasts 140 seats, six 12-foot by 15-foot fall of 829 feet. Described as a controlled free fall similar to skydiving, screens, a 20-foot by 50-foot LED board, twelve 50-inch plasma screens and 12-inch flat screens at every table, broadcasting only the most exciting games and the jump is certified by the Guinness World Records as the world’s events. While drinks are served within the book, don’t expect them to be free without placing bets. highest commercial decelerator jump. For clients looking to place their wages or enjoy top-notch entertainment, suggest this highly reputable Las Vegas gaming attraction, rated number one sporting SkyJump Hours: Jump 12 pm–7 pm; Store 10 am–10 pm book by the Las Vegas Review-Journal four years in a row. WORKS Of ART For more information, visit skyjumplasvegas.com. DRINKS Of A DIffERENT Flavor While no traveler is stranger to the multitude of nightclubs that grace Las Vegas resorts with its energy, differentiating these hot spots from the masses can ARIA RESORT & CASINO become a heated task. Whether poolside at Mandalay Bay, VIP bound at XS, or celebrity-spotting at Tao, the Las Vegas party scene is an exhilarating experience A walk through CityCenter’s 67 acres nothing short of excess. But, for guests that know their flavor, suggest one of the many bars infamous for their liquor of choice. is a cultural experience in itself, showcasing not only the finest art, but also sculptures and installations RED SqUARE zelda’S bOURbON bAR TEquila bAR worth admiration, such as the Red Square at Mandalay For the southerners, or those The Tequila Bar at Bally’s much-talked-about 84-foot, silver Bay is the premier Vegas just seeking good bourbon, offers visitors a choice serpentine sculpture that hangs vodka bar with its Zelda’s Bourbon Bar, welcomes of 50 types of tequila, above the front desk of the ARIA impressive caviar all with its walls lined in lobster along with aged tequilas Resort & Casino. Each resort offers a selection, Russian- cages leading to lockers filled for the connoisseurs. different style of art on exhibit and inspired décor and with approximately 50 different Paired with Latin music a new journey for the curious. dinner favorites, and, bourbons. Located within and a wide-ranging not to mention, a Louis’s Fish Camp, this bar’s margarita menu, this bar selection of over 200 specialty is mint juleps, which is the perfect choice for vodkas within its wouldn’t be right without a a shot of fun. exclusive, private serving of hush puppies and vodka vault. sweet potato fries. CITYCENTER fINE ART COLLECTION As the first permanent art collection in Las Vegas to be included in a public space, as well as one of the world’s larg- est corporate collections, CityCenter’s Fine Art Collection broke ground in late 2009 and continues to impress visitors alike. Featuring the works of internationally renowned artists, CityCenter has transformed into a livable museum. As if this epicenter’s grandiose architecture wasn’t enough for art-lovers, this destination’s $40 million Fine Art Program features highly acclaimed artists, including Jenny Holzer, Maya Lin, Richard Long, Henry Moore, Nancy Rubins, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, and Frank Stella — to name a few. 4 | ARIA Resort & Casino ARIA Resort & CasinoTM, located in the heart of CityCenter, Masayoshi Takayama, Shawn McClain and Jean-Philippe Crystals’ multifaceted canopy of unprece- is a dramatic, yet graceful, combination of striking Maury. ARIA also introduces a dynamic selection of bars, dented brilliance. Visitors can also enjoy new architecture, impeccable hospitality and sustainable lounges and the seductive new nightclub, Haze, from the dynamic dining concepts, including Brasserie design. Designed by the world-renowned firm Pelli Clarke Light Group. As the entertainment centerpiece of ARIA, Puck from internationally renowned master Pelli, ARIA’s architectural expression reveals itself at every Cirque du Soleil®’s visionary creative team presents chef Wolfgang Puck, as well as Beso, the turn.