Media Contacts Langdon Flynn Communications Ken Langdon [email protected] (773) 439-1096 Rosalind Terlitzky [email protected] (702) 889-2705 AWARD-WINNING CHEF AND RESTAURATEUR ALEX STRATTA OVERSEES CHANGES AT MARCHE BACCHUS FRENCH BISTRO AND WINE SHOP Stratta Protégé Chef Joe Swan Hired as Marche Bacchus’ Chef de Cuisine Las Vegas, Nev. (May 13, 2011) – Marche Bacchus French Bistro and Wine Shop owners, Jeff and Rhonda Wyatt, are pleased to announce the addition of award-winning chef and restaurateur, Alex Stratta, to their food and wine program. Stratta has been brought in as a consultant and will make recommendations as to the kitchen and front-of-house changes at Marche Bacchus. Stratta is a close personal friend of the Wyatt’s and was eager to become involved when the opportunity presented itself. “I have known Jeff and Rhonda for many years and consider them two of my dearest friends,” Stratta said. “We share a passion for food and wine and have enjoyed many culinary experiences together, both here and throughout parts of Europe.” Stratta’s first move was to recommend Joe Swan as the restaurant’s Chef de Cuisine. Swan, 26, has honed his chops by working in some of the best kitchens in the country including James Beard Award winner Michael Symon’s Lola and Lolita restaurants (Cleveland, OH), Maisonette (Cincinnati, OH) and most recently in Alex Stratta’s Michelin two-star, AAA five-diamond and Forbes five-star restaurant, ALEX (Las Vegas, NV). Swan will take over the restaurant’s day-to- day kitchen duties, working closely with Stratta and the Wyatts to update the restaurant’s menu to include new dishes while tweaking others. “We will absolutely be making changes to the menu as both Alex and Joe get more involved in our daily operations,” Jeff Wyatt said. “The menu won’t change overnight, but we certainly want it to reflect their culinary vision as we truly admire what each of them brings to the table.” In addition to the appointment of Swan, a few of the other changes guests can expect to see include the restaurant’s cheese program and the addition of seasonal, rotating sides to the menu, something the restaurant has never before offered. There will also be a focus on Marche Bacchus’ amazing wine program that involves the creation of dishes to pair perfectly with a particular wine carried in the retail wine shop. Stratta will also take his years of experience as not only a chef but also a restaurateur, and apply this knowledge to the Marche Bacchus’ front-of-house operations and wine service. “I have been eating and drinking at Marche Bacchus for years and feel it’s one of the great local restaurants in Las Vegas,” Stratta added. “I’m thrilled to be able to work alongside my good friends and help them raise the bar as it relates to what guests expect from both the food and wine program.” About Marché Bacchus French Bistro & Wine Shop Marché Bacchus French Bistro & Wine Shop is owned by Jeff and Rhonda Wyatt and is located at 2620 Regatta Drive in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the Lakeside Center in the Desert Shores community on the edge of Summerlin. Only 10 miles from the Las Vegas Strip, Desert Shores is built around several lakes and Marché Bacchus is located directly on one of them, the picturesque Lake Jacqueline. Award-winning Chef and Restaurateur, Alex Stratta, along with Chef de Cuisine Joe Swan, oversee the menu that offers traditional and contemporary French cuisine for both lunch and dinner; while the adjoining retail wine shop features more than 950 references of mostly French, American, Italian and Australian wines – with bottles for the collector and novice alike. Guests dining at Marché Bacchus have the option to select a bottle from the shop’s selection and enjoy it while dining for only $10 over retail price. The restaurant is open Monday-Saturday for lunch and dinner and Sunday for brunch and dinner; and features live music on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. For more information or to make a reservation call (702) 804-8008 or visit MarcheBacchus.com. Keep up with news, specials, wine maker dinners and other events by becoming a fan on Facebook at Facebook.com/MarcheBacchus. About Chef and Restaurateur Alex Stratta Alex Stratta is the award-winning chef of Stratta at Wynn Las Vegas, where he demonstrates his mastery of classic Italian American cuisine in a casual, yet vibrant setting. Stratta’s traditional menu features an approachable array of familiar and ingredient-focused Italian comfort food, with a selection of homemade pastas, wood-oven pizzas and rustic meat dishes that allow for an enjoyable meal in a welcoming and stylish atmosphere. In April 2011, Stratta will introduce his cooking to a national audience as a contestant on the third season of the popular Bravo TV program, Top Chef Masters. Previously, Stratta was also executive chef of ALEX, the renowned French fine dining restaurant at Wynn Las Vegas that closed in early 2011. Stratta came to Wynn Las Vegas from Renoir at the Mirage Hotel and Casino, where he received national acclaim for his world-class menu and innovative approach to cuisine distinguished by his marriage of regional French and Italian ingredients. In just four months, Renoir received Mobil's highest five-star rating. During his six-year tenure at Renoir, the restaurant maintained its Mobil five-star stature, as well as garnering AAA's five-diamond award and Las Vegas’ top culinary rating in the Zagat Guide. He comes from a long line of restaurateurs and hoteliers, and Stratta has continued the family tradition, by becoming the fifth generation to be involved in the culinary industry. # # # .