Irvine hosts military families
Robert Irvine hosted a group of surviving military family members for a fourday visit to Las Vegas over the weekend. Organized by the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, the weekend included 30 people who have lost family members who served in the military. In addition to arranging tickets to see Legendsin Concert and a visit to the set of “Pawn Stars,” Irvine organized a cooking competition and meal with Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Florent Groberg.
reviewjournal.com/irvine Bar snags high honors
Congrats to Nectaly Mendoza and the entire team at Herbs & Rye on a big showing over the weekend in New Orleans. The West Sahara Avenue bar, which has long been a focal point of local cocktail culture, scored a pair of wins at the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Spirited Awards ceremony at the Orpheum Theater:
Best American Bar Team and Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar.
Once has a new chef
There’s a new chef running the day-to-day operations at Once at Palazzo. Alex Carassco has left the restaurant to open a taqueria en cevicheria in Los Angeles. Losa Yi is now helming the kitchen, overseeing chef/ partner Ricardo Zarate’s signature brand of Nikkei cuisine.
Taco night at pizza place
Naked City Pizza founder Chris Palmeri will return to his Mexican culinary roots Thursday, when he hosts Al Pastor Taco Night from 6 to 9 p.m. at Naked City at 4608 Paradise Road. Years ago, Palmeri worked with celebrity chef Rick Bayless to open Diego ATMGM Grand. Later, he opened the short-lived but critically acclaimed Desnudo Tacos with chef Christian Dolias, adjacent to the original Naked City. Thursday’s Mexican menu will offer tacos at $2.50 and tortas for $6.
He’s up for ballpark food
James Trees will be the next chef to take part in the Aviators’ Eat Up Guest Chef series on the Las Vegas Ballpark’s club level. Trees will offer features from his