Wynn Magazine - Las Vegas
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/98961
DISCOVERIES IN GOOD TASTE La Cave's Michael Morton highlights three Wynn experiences meant to be savored. A s its name implies, La Cave is an intimate space where a diverse array of luscious wines tempt the palate alongside delectable, tapas-style dishes. At the center of this warm, inviting vibe you'll find Michael Morton, a bona fide scion of the restaurant industry (his father, Arnie, founded the Morton's steakhouse chain); Morton partnered with Steve Wynn to create the casually elegant establishment—indeed, Wynn says a table on La Cave's starlit patio is often his top choice on balmy Las Vegas nights. As La Cave celebrates its second anniversary, you'll find Morton eager to always inject new ideas, such as a recently debuted butler-served Sunday brunch. Innovative ideas with a celebratory feel are the key reason we knew Morton would be perfect to select a trio of favorite Wynn moments this issue. 2. CHARLIE MEYERSON'S PORTRAIT AT ZOOZACRACKERS "Getting great deli food in Las Vegas is not easy, which is one of the reasons I love Zoozacrackers— it's fresh, really good, and delivered in fairly short order. The first time I walked into Zoozacrackers, of course I wondered about the name, and also about the portrait hanging on the wall behind the counter, of a lovely guy named Charlie Meyerson. Ultimately it's become one of my favorite things about Wynn and about Steve: Charlie was a very well-known casino host who worked with Steve for 40 years—he was wonderfully old-school and had a great way with the English language; if he liked someone, he called them a Zoozacracker. Charlie passed away just a few months before Steve opened Wynn, so the restaurant's name and his portrait are in honor of Charlie Meyerson; I did a similar thing for my father a while ago in a previous venue of mine, so I can appreciate that this was Steve's tribute. I never had the great fortune to meet Charlie, but knowing Steve and knowing the caliber of man that he is, that tells me everything I need to know, that Charlie Meyerson must have been a really special guy." 46 3. THE DOMED CEILING AT RED 8 "Red 8 is one of my favorite lunch spots in town, and I think one of the best Asian restaurants in Las Vegas. I often do lunch meetings here because it's the perfect combination of great food in a comfortable environment; and without question, the steamed pork buns from the dim sum menu are my favorite. When you walk up the steps into Red 8, take a moment to look up: There you'll find another one of those clever design components that has come to define Wynn—in this case it's a domed ceiling that's been embedded with classic Asian porcelain and gold utensils, fanned out to create a wonderful, textural design element. It's a great example of what you often see at Wynn: utilizing something that we might take for granted every day, and yet it can be repositioned to become art." PHOTOGRAPHY BY BARBARA KRAFT (XS); JEFF GREEN (RED "XS Nightclub makes such a powerful statement in so many ways, not the least of which is its design. I know from my own experience that Steve Wynn explores and can explain the reason behind every minute detail in a restaurant's design, and looking at XS, I know this to be true of his nightclubs as well. From the moment you arrive at the top of the staircase, this incredible vista greets you: You can see the whole room, which is just pounding with energy, and then beyond that, this beautiful gazebo with the pool and cabanas. It's glamorous, it's sexy, and in terms of design, it's pretty masterful. My wife, Jenna, and I were already fans of Tryst long before we opened La Cave, but XS takes everything to a whole other level. I know I'm not alone in this thinking, because at least once a week, someone asks if I can get them on the guest list at XS. As far as nightclub experiences go, I think it's arguably the best on the planet." 8, ZOOZACRACKERS); DANA HALVORSON (MORTON) 1. THE HIGH-WATTAGE VIEWS AT XS WYNN 046_W_FOB_Discoveries_Winter13.indd 46 12/12/12 5:32 PM