Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
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GUIDE devour Terra Verde's tortiglioni salsiccia. that's italian! DIG INTO THE BEST FROM THE BOOT: PLATES OF PASTA AND TOMATOES GALORE AT VEGAS'S HOTTEST NEW TRATTORIAS AND FAVORITE OLD-SCHOOL EATERIES. BY KATRINA CONCEPCION Chef Maria Perry has been serving the Valley since 1949 (and is still going at 96!), so this family-operated bistro is dripping with that old Vegas feel. It's open 24 hours, so stop in for breakfast (starting at 6) for specialties like Eggplant Benny (breaded and topped with tomatoes, poached eggs, basil, and marinara sauce) or Breakfast Pizza (with pancetta, potatoes, mozzarella, and marinara sauce, and topped with a fried egg). 7700 S. Las Vegas Blvd., 702-736-4939; bootleggerlasvegas.com Ferraro's Las Vegas Led by father-son team Gino and Mimmo, this Southern Italian gem offers an award-winning wine list and two daily happy hours (4 to 7 PM and 11 PM to 2 AM). The restaurant also boasts all-natural steaks from grass-fed cattle, as well as fish that is Safe Harbor – certified, served in dishes such as Livornese Bianca salmon, with black olives, onions, capers, tomatoes, fresh basil, and white wine. 4480 Paradise Road, 702-3645300; ferraroslasvegas.com Fiamma Trattoria & Bar Enjoy cocktails in the fireside lounge before diving into chef Pierpaolo Pittia's signature dishes, including short-rib ravioli with black truffle cream and red wine reduction. Boasting more than 400 wines from around the world, Fiamma takes Italian wine-anddine to another level. MGM Grand, 702-891-7600; mgmgrand.com Lavo The night can begin and end at Lavo. Start in the ambient bar area downstairs for libations—like the Lavolini, made with prosecco, passion fruit, and St-Germain— that are as skillfully crafted as the restaurant's Italian fare. Next, try to snag a table on the terrace for one of the best Strip views in the city—and roasted Chilean sea bass so tender it melts in your mouth. Then follow the bridge to the boutique nightclub and dance away those calories. Palazzo, 702-791-1800; lavolv.com Rao's Rao's New York opened its doors in 1896 and has become as iconic as the people it serves, including Woody Allen, Billy Crystal, and Nicholas Pileggi. Now, 117 years later, its traditional Neapolitan recipes live on in Vegas, where the welcoming red doors, dark wood finishes, and simple white linen tablecloths make the restaurant feel like home. Tradition can be tasted in dishes like the justifiably famous penne vodka, made with San Marzano tomatoes, prosciutto cotto, vodka, and cream. Caesars Palace, 702-7317267; caesarspalace.com Scarpetta One of New York's most respected chefs, Scott Conant, has found a home in Las Vegas. The Food Network regular's chops are evident in his complex dishes— such as the Sicilian spiced duck breast with preserved orange and caramelized endive, or the spectacular Kobe ribcap—and his simple ones, like a spaghetti with tomato and basil that's been called the best in the city. On more-casual nights, hit up his DOCG next door. Cosmopolitan, 702-698-7960; cosmopolitanlasvegas.com CHOW DOWN Italian stallion chef Mimmo Ferraro gives us the skinny on Ferraro's. Sinatra Frankly, chef Theo Schoenegger's tribute to Ol' Blue Eyes does not disappoint, starting with the décor: rich, bold colors, classic design, and a spacious patio. Then there's the menu packed with Sinatra's favorite dishes, like spaghetti and Manila clams served with a tomato garlic broth, plus life-changing cream sauces. Don't skip the creamy vanilla and pistachio panna cotta for dessert. Encore, 702-248-3463; wynnlasvegas.com Terra Verde Tucked away in what feels like a regal mansion, Terra Verde is a gem inside Green Valley Ranch. The classic black and white décor is a great backdrop for Milano native Massimo Pisati's colorful plates, like the best seafood platter this side of the Atlantic, littleneck clams with spicy whitewine garlic sauce, and veal Milanese. Green Valley Ranch, 702-617-7075; greenvalleyranch.sclv.com V What are some of summer's most popular dishes? Mascarponestuffed zucchini flowers, fresh peas, fresh fava beans, and tuna carpaccio. What are the latest food trends in Italian cuisine? Crudo—serving raw fish with Italian flare. Small bites and tapas are on the rise, and truffles are a forever trend that will never go away. What do you make inhouse at Ferraro's? Every dish, from bread to pasta to dessert, is made to order from scratch every time. PHOTOGRAPHY BY STUDIO WEST PHOTOGRAPHY (CARPACCIO) Bootlegger Bistro Carpaccio di tonno 114 VEGASMAGAZINE.COM 114_V_Guide_Devour_Sum13.indd 114 6/17/13 11:05 AM