This week’s episode was recorded at Ciao Vino in Boca Park, and centers around an interview with three representatives of HUKL Hospitality: Corporate Chef Lupe Avila; Cia Vino Chef Joel Myers; and Marche Bacchus Chef Avian Tun. They’ll share news on all of their restaurants and talk about their new partnership with Count’s Vamp’d Rock Bar and Grill. Also in the show, interviews with Bryce Krausman of D.W. Bistro, the Hard Hat Lounge’s Frank Sidoris, and plenty of news and restaurant reports....

The gang is back together this week, with Gemini, Al and Rich recording the episode together at Dom DeMarco’s Pizzeria and Wine Bar. At the center of the show, Al has an extended interview with Other Mama Chef/Owner Dan Krohmer, recorded at his new breakfast and lunch restaurant Chamana’s Café; Gemini explores the new cocktail menus at Chandelier Bar with The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas’ lead mixologist, Gideon Tsegaye. Other interviews this week include celebrity chef Susan Feniger and El...

Gemini is back from Greece and Turkey, and dives right back into the Vegas food scene with meals at Moko Ramen, Dom DeMarco's, Bramare and more. Al lived to tell the tale of his Main St. brewery crawl, along with a meal at Giada and a preview Gina Marinelli’s 5th Anniversary Witches Gala at La Strega. In the show's centerpiece, Al talks about the start of stone crab season with Dave Quillen of Joe’s Seafood Prime Steak and Stone Crab. The aforementioned Gina Marinelli drops by, and Mimmo...

As Gemini continues her world tour, longtime friend of the pod Rick Moonen steps in to share his many comings and goings -- including escaping Hurricane Milton. In the centerpiece interview, Al sits down with Christina Dylag of Velveteen Rabbit. Also: news from Chef Michael Mina, Chef Steve Kestler of Aroma Latin American Cocina and Vincent Rotolo talks about the new branch of Good Pie in Henderson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Al and Rich hold down the fort while Gemini is traveling. But they’ve called in some friends to fill out the show. The episode centers around two extended interviews: Michael Symon discussing the changes that have come to Mabel’s Bar & Q in The Palms, and Keris Kuwana explains the Teatime In Wonderland experience she’s offering at The Electric Playhouse in The Forum Shops. Also this week: HUKL Hospitality’s Chef Jose “Lupe” Avila, Ellis Island’s Christopher Gosse, Brezza’s Chef Nicole...

Al and Gemini get the download on the Proof Awards from Michele Tell and Michael Politz, creators of the event to honor Vegas-based spirits. You will also hear about Al going large at the Four Sixes Ranch Steakhouse popup at Wynn, and doing breakfast with developer J Dapper. Meanwhile, Gemini parties down at Esther's upstairs room and does the deed at Munch Box Breakfast Burrito (eating being the 'deed'). Also: News of Lavo's reopening and the 5th anniversary of Toasted Gastrobrunch. Learn...

Al and Gemini are at Ada's Food + Wine in Tivoli Village to hang with James Trees and Chef Jackson Stamper, and especially Wine Goddess Kat Thomas. All three are back from London, where Ada's won the award for "Most Original Wine Line" in THE WORLD!! Also: new items on the menu at Spago and Carversteak, and a look back at the 2nd Picnic in the Alley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gemini and Al recorded this week’s episode at Social Station, on Eastern Avenue in Henderson. It features an interview with one of the owners Kelley Jones, who talks about the restaurant, the menu and its charity initiatives. Also on tap: Roy Ellamar at his farewell dinner at Amari, and Bruno Marini at the 25th anniversary party for Canonita in the Grand Canal Shoppes. You'll hear from Michael Clark about Raiders Game Day festivities, and from Vincent Rotolo on the Henderson Good Pie. And of...

Gemini takes over while Al is on vacation and invites her friends and food authors Kim Foster (The Meth Lunches) and Sarah Lohman (Endangered Eating, Eight Flavors) to talk about why food is important in communities, where food and food ideas come from, and what it means to use food to uplift people. In all the seriousness, there are plenty of laughs, revelry and talking over one another as they turn this week's podcast into one long conversation over the ladies' lunch. Learn more about your...

It's a jam packed show this week, centering around Al's conversation with Chef Sterling Buckley of Palate in the Arts District. Also joining the fun: Chuck Fromer of John Mulls Meats and The Roadkill Grill, Soulbelly BBQ’s Chef Bruce Kalman, Chef Leticia Mitchell of Leticia’s, Letty’s and the brand new Carmelita's, 1228 Main’s head baker Chef Noel Rosello, Eiffel tower Restaurant partner Sharon Boudreau, and The Mob Museum’s Food and Beverage Director Clint Thoman. Learn more about your ad...

Al and Rich anchor the show this week. But have no fear. Gemini is on board for the big centerpiece interview with Evan Glusman and Chef Joe Valdez. We also have an extended interview with former 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea Chef Taylor Persh, discussing a very intense pop-up she’s bringing to the Palms. Other highlights include conversations with both Elizabeth Blau and Circa’s O’Ceana Clemens, talking about a pair of events, past and future. And you’ll hear about Al’s recent meals at...

Border Grill’s Yancy Perez gives Gemini and Al a crash course in Mexican wine, while Al shares some stories about some super-cool Italian champagne glasses he discovered in San Francisco. Also, you’ll learn about Gemini’s recent meal at Boom Bang, her exploration of Allegiant Stadium’s dining options, and Al’s California pizza adventures. And we have interviews with Cheri Rooftop’s Chef Anthony Carron, Brezza and Bar Zazu’s Chef Nicole Brisson and Solamente Pizza’s Ethan Spiezer. Learn more...

In this week's episode, Al shares the full interview with Jose Andres Group CEO Sam Bakhshandehpour that he previewed last week, and the pair discuss the new Bazaar Mar in The Shops At Crystals. There's an extended interview with longtime Las Vegas barman David Cooper, discussing his new vodka brand, Spur. Also: the founder of Angie's Lobster, explains how they can sell a lobster roll for $9.99, and Brian Howard talks about Sparrow + Wolf's new pop-up series, Bar Snacks, which will host Casa...

Importing a bar concept to the Vegas Strip is always hard. But doing it from a hospital bed after a paralyzing motorcycle accident would be impossible for most of us. Titan Brands co-founder Scott Frost was still in his hospital bed following his accident when he finalized the deal to bring the Ensenada dive bar Hussong’s to Mandalay Place. Frost talks about his life, his accident, and his career in the Las Vegas hospitality industry in the center of today’s episode. Other interviews this...

While a concierge can be a foodie’s (or any traveler’s) best friend, many don’t really understand how to utilize them. So Al, who has been both disappointed by and impressed with various hotels’ concierge desks, sat down with Mildred Schneidman, a veteran hotel concierge and president of the Southern Nevada Hotel Concierge Association, for some advice on making the most of the service (as well as a tipping etiquette, and warnings on what they cannot do for you in Las Vegas). Also on this...

Gemini’s out this week, but Al and Rich are together with reports from Vegas and Chicago, some opinions on The Bear, a bit of news, a Chef Joe Valdez interview we forgot to run last week, and a few longer-form interviews. Rich bumped into a food TV star filming in Chicago. Al dined at Bobby Flay’s newest spot, Brasserie B by Bobby Flay – where he was reunited with a true old-school FOH pro, back in Vegas to work there. And that reunion led to the first of the two longer-form interviews. At...

Al and Gemini get a personal tour of Scotch 80's new Social Hour menu at Palms Casino. And that includes a deep dive into the steakhouse's beef sourcing. Also this week: Gemini checks out Carson Kitchen, which is celebrating ten years of serving up cutting edge cuisine downtown. Meanwhile Al shares what he can about an "off the record" meal at Anima. He also scoped out the brunch at Middle Child, and gets some advance intel about National Tequila Day coming up on Wednesday. Learn more...

This week’s episode was recorded live at the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas, and centers around a conversation with chef/instructors, Nick Preston and Culinary Apprenticeship Coordinator Chiara Astriab. They share all sorts of info on how they can help advance your culinary career, whether it’s a new idea or a continuation of your journey. Other interviews this episode include Evan Glussman talking about the opening of Bramare, and Richard Femenella discussing the brand new Mae Daly’s. We...

Las Vegas scored big on the Top 50 Pizza list, as recently announced in New York. And two of our best are here to talk about it: Metro's John Arena and Michael Vakneen of 00 Pie and Pub. Also: Gemini is back with hospital horror stories and lots of love for all who've shown her the love. Oh, and Al and Rich ate food at places. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Not that he needs to after a quarter-century of pro food writing, but Al felt the need to rant just a bit about the difference between being a professional food writer and a hobbyist. And the difference between being a food writer and a food critic (spoiler: Al is the former, not the later). Also, lots of new news from longtime friends of the pod Alicia Shevetone, Sam Marvin, Vinny Rotolo and.... (drum roll)... a few words from our co-host Samantha Gemini Stevens. Learn more about your ad...

Longtime Las Vegas journalist Don Chaurensy joins Al to discuss the new magazine Don is helming: Vegas Prime. Also: Al shares his food experiences at Suzuya Café on Spring Mountain Road, Cathedrale in Aria. and Marche Bacchus under new chef Chef Nikko Broznan, and much more. With Gemini out this week, Rich shares his baseball/dining experience in the Executive Suites at Wrigley Field, and his shopping experience at Wild Fork, the Brazil-based flash-frozen food store chain that's opening...

It's Al and Rich in this week's episode, which starts off with a review of all the festivities surrounding The World's 50 Best Restaurants' time in Las Vegas. We kick off with a post-event rundown from Elizabeth Blau, who was instrumental in convincing the event to come here. She also organized Wynn Las Vegas' companion culinary festival, Revelry. Other interviews include Chinglish's Ken Heck, Suzuya Cafe's Misuzu Ebihara and Azzurra Wine Bar owner Windom Kimsey. And we have news on Dan...

Producer/Engineer Rich Johnson is back for a guest co-host spot, and Al chose the perfect venue: Toasted Gastropub on West Flamingo and the 215. Sharing the info, and three awesome dishes, is Alfie Szeprethy, Executive chef for both Sammy's Woodfired Pizza and Toasted. Rich shares a few experiences from Chicago, and Al goes into detail about the events he attended (and what he ate) linked to "The World's 50 Best Restaurants" festivities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...