Latest news with #MarcusSamuelsson
Forbes
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Wynn Las Vegas Gathers Culinary Icons, Including Ducasse And Lagasse, For A Once-In-A-Lifetime Dinner
Revelry food festival returns in September. Wynn Las Vegas When Wynn Las Vegas' Revelry culinary festival arrives September 19 to 27, the hottest ticket will be the Icons Dinner, a once-in-a-lifetime meal from some of the world's most renowned chefs, including Alain Ducasse, Marcus Samuelsson, Emeril Lagasse, Dominique Crenn, Jacques Torres and Alfred Portale, the hotel exclusively shared with Forbes Travel Guide. During the 7 p.m. Sept. 27 dinner at the Four-Star hotel's new PISCES Bar & Seafare restaurant, a tasting menu will celebrate culinary excellence with each distinguished chef offering a signature dish. Alain Ducasse will be at the Icons Dinner. Wynn Las Vegas 'You're gonna really get dishes that defined these chefs throughout the years,' said chef Christopher Lee, vice president of Culinary Operations and Restaurant Development at Wynn Las Vegas. 'I really wanted to honor the bold, vibrant flavors of the Caribbean and the Bahamas,' Samuelsson said about his planned plate: jerk oxtail with lobster peas and rice, island curry, squash blossoms and pikliz (a pickled slaw). 'These places have given so much to global food culture.' 'The jerk oxtail brings that deep, smoky heat that I love, layered with spices that bring everything to the next level,' he said. 'Then we've got the lobster peas and rice, which nods to the Bahamian comfort classics but elevates it with that sweet, briny lobster that feels like a celebration.' The island curry pulls from both West Indian and African traditions, and the pikliz lends crunch, acid and a Haitian punch of flavor, he added. 'This dish is about connection between islands, cultures and kitchens.' Marcus Samuelsson will make jerk oxtail. Wynn Las Vegas According to Lee, the Icons were carefully chosen. 'They had to be, like OGs — iconic GOATs in the industry.' He then rattled off their bona fides: 'Marcus Samuelsson brought Scandinavian food to the forefront in New York City — his Ethiopian influence and his recent adventures are awesome. He's just dialed in.' Referencing Lagasse, Lee said, 'I know he's a big TV personality and some people might have opinions that he's more TV than culinary driven. But I will challenge that every day of the week because when he cooks for you, he cooks amazing food.' Lee said he's looking forward to meeting Alain Ducasse: 'When I was young, I was completely inspired by him.' Emeril Lagasse will cook up something special in Vegas. Wynn Las Vegas He added that Dominique Crenn, who returns for her second Revelry appearance, is one of the best chefs in the world. Lee also called Alfred Portale 'the godfather of New York City.' 'If you want to look at the chefs that really took New York American cuisine to the forefront, he's one of them.' And 'Jacques Torres is probably the most iconic chocolatier in the world,' he said. When Samuelsson reflects on his Icon status, he wants to pay it forward. 'I came to the U.S. 30 years ago, a young chef born in a hut in Ethiopia, raised in Sweden, with a dream about making it in New York City,' he said. 'Every part of that journey has shaped who I am today, and I don't take a second of it for granted. Being able now to give back and help raise up the amazing talents around me is the part of this stage of life that I value most.' The dinner will cap off the nine-day Revelry. Lee said what makes the food festival even more special is that it drew inspiration from Cirque du Soleil's residences to create 'immersive worlds' and add a Vegas spin. Rather than going to a tent to enjoy Chinese dim sum or Thai noodles, a set will transport you to Asia. There will also be more food-and-beverage-related entertainment this year. While Lee is leaving the specifics as a surprise, he said attendees can expect activities like last year's sacrificial cutting of a 350-pound tuna on stage with samurai swords. This will mark Dominique Crenn's second Revelry. Wynn Las Vegas Altogether, the second annual event will bring about 30 chefs to Vegas for a slate that includes culinary collaboration dinners (try the 'From Farm to Knife Lunch' with Katina and Kyle Connaughton of Five-Star SingleThread Farms Restaurant in Healdsburg and Jeff Ramsey of Wynn Las Vegas' Four-Star Mizumi) as well as 'connoisseur' classes (ranging from barbecue with pitmasters Burt Bakman of L.A.'s Slab and Daniel Castillo of San Juan Capistrano, California's Heritage Barbecue, to bourbon with Brother's Bond founder and actor Ian Somerhalder). Lee also will host an All-Star Dinner featuring chefs Angie Mar (Le B., New York), Gavin Kaysen (Spoon and Stable, Minneapolis), Fariyal Abdullahi (Hav & Mar, New York), JJ Johnson (Fieldtrip, New York) and pastry chefs Jennifer Yee (Wynn) and Juan Contreras (Atelier Crenn, San Francisco). Alfred Portale will bring New York cooking to Las Vegas. Wynn Las Vegas But the most coveted event will be the Icons Dinner — and not just for the guests. 'There's nothing more inspiring than coming together with culinary legends like Dominique Crenn, Alain Ducasse, Emeril Lagasse and Alfred Portale,' Samuelsson said. 'Each of them brings their own incredible flavor, story and spirit to the table. I can't wait to see the culinary power we create together and share that energy with every guest who joins us. Let's make it unforgettable.' The Icons Dinner will also serve craft cocktail pairings from Mariena Mercer Boarini, Wynn's master mixologist, and wines to complement each course from Brian Weitzman, the hotel's executive director of wine. Tickets to the dinner are available here. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes Forbes Travel Guide's Best Hotel Bars For 2025 By Jennifer Kester Forbes 18 Undiscovered Beach Getaways By Forbes Travel Guide Forbes From Anguilla To Australia, Forbes Travel Guide's 2025 Star Award Winners By Jennifer Kester Forbes Inside The New Ritz-Carlton Superyacht That Took Kendall Jenner And Tom Brady For A Ride By Spencer Whaley
Forbes
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Celebrity Chef Scott Conant To Open Swanky New Italian Restaurant At Baha Mar
Leola is set to open at Baha Mar this fall Scott Conant, the two-time James Beard Award-winning chef, celebrated cookbook author, and television personality is making his way to Baha Mar, one of the Caribbean's leading luxury resorts in The Bahamas, with an original culinary concept: Leola. Leola is the newest restaurant at the expansive Baha Mar resort, where it joins a slew of other celebrity chef hot spots including Marcus Samuelsson's Marcus at Baha Mar Fish + Chop House, Daniel Boulud's Cafe Boulud, and Dario Cecchini's Carna. Plus the recently opened casino floor concept — Jon Batiste's Jazz Club. 'Bringing Leola to life at Baha Mar is something I've dreamed about for a long time,' says Conant. 'I'm tremendously honored to have the opportunity to open a restaurant in such a special place. I really love the culture of the team at Baha Mar and it's inspiring to see everything they've accomplished over the last five or six years since its opening.' Scott Conant The name Leola is Conant's playful twist on leone, the Italian word for lion. 'I like the way it sounds coming off the tongue,' explains Conant. 'There's an elegance and an inherently Italian feel to it.' It also serves as a heartfelt nod to his grandfather who often used the word affectionately throughout Conant's childhood. 'When they asked what I envisioned for this concept, I told them I wanted a very swanky Italian joint,' says Conant. And swanky is exactly what he got as one step in and you're transported to a bygone era through rich velvet furnishings, gilded detailing, ornate chandeliers, and warm, ambient lighting, creating an atmosphere that combines timelessness and modern sophistication. Set within an expansive 8,800 square foot space, the restaurant will offer a refined culinary experience featuring a 106 seat main dining room, an intimate cocktail lounge, a private dining room, and a very spacious 130 seat outdoor terrace that will feature its own bar. Leola's outdoor bar The new outdoor bar will serve as a gathering place for those who want to grab a quick bite and a drink or two, and will be the perfect spot to hangout while waiting for a table. 'We want to make sure the experience is engaging as soon as guests walk through the door,' says Conant who explains he likes to consider thoughtfulness as a key factor in the concepts he creates. Conant has partnered with Lowder-Tascarella Hospitality to oversee the operations for all of his restaurants, including Leola. 'I'm over the moon to be working with these guys,' says Conant. 'I feel like I've leveled up in all aspects since working with them and it's very exciting to see what they are bringing to Leola.' Aiming to create a restaurant that will fulfill that expectation of the resort's clientele, Conant explains it makes sense for him to lean into the Italian style of food he's been known for over the span of his career. 'There will be a version of my Pomodoro that I'm excited to put on the menu,' says Conant. And fans of his famed polenta will be happy to know it will make its way to Leola in a new and delicious format as part of an 'Ossobucco' roasted pork shank served with saffron polenta. Additionally, Conant plans on using as much local product as possible and will feature some dishes that are inspired by the Caribbean. Leola The beverage program will offer an extensive selection of Old World wines with an emphasis on Italian Barolo vintages in addition to an exciting cocktail menu. "Baha Mar continues to define culinary excellence throughout the Caribbean, thanks to our outstanding restaurants and world-class chef partners," said Graeme Davis, President of Baha Mar. "For many years, Scott Conant has been a passionate champion and valued friend of Baha Mar and we're honored to officially welcome him and his talented culinary team into our dining portfolio.' The restaurant aims to open early this fall, which is perfect timing for the fourth annual Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival that will take place from October 22nd to 26th. Conant will be present and hosting three different events — with a few of them taking place inside Leola — including Tasting Tuscany with Scott Conant, Signature Chef Hosted Dinner with Scott Conant & Amanda Freitag, and Coconuts & Cocktails with Marcus Samuelsson, Scott Conant & Marv '
Time Out
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Marcus Samuelsson's monthly series is celebrating up-and-coming BIPOC chefs
Summer is officially here, so you have little excuse not to get outside and experience New York's best in food and drink. But, as we all know, not all of the city's best cuisines can be confined to just four walls. Rather, some of the finest can be found right outside, popping up in wine bars, cooking under the Brooklyn Bridge and steadily parked on street corners. Heck, the buzz generated from these outdoor cook-offs has led to real-deal operations, from Anthony Ha and Sadie Mae Burns's roving Vietnamese snack operation turned LES wine bar Ha's Snack Bar, to Jorge Aguilar's breakfast taco operation Border Town, which is heading to Greenpoint later this year. With all that said, we think it's best to become a loyal follower now so you can say 'you knew them when.' And while we don't mind crisscrossing the city to see what's up-and-coming, for those of you who'd like to save a little coin on the train, a FiDi steakhouse will be hosting several foodie pop-ups under its roof all summer. Even better? Superstar chef Marcus Samuelsson is hosting. This summer, Samuelsson and executive chef Sherry Cardoso of Metropolis by Marcus Samuelsson are celebrating the season with their first-ever "Subway Series." Kicking off this month until July 23, the summertime pop-up series is giving BIPOC chefs without a physical restaurant space a chance to showcase their fare on a larger stage. Six chefs from around the way will be taking over the restaurant's outdoor terrace, introducing the likes of Sudanese sambuxas to octopus poke tacos inspired by the Philippines. View this post on Instagram A post shared by CmartysJerk (@cmartysjerk) Starting the series last week was Christopher Martin of Cmarty's Jerk. Remixing Caribbean flavors, he introduced house-smoked Jerk Chicken with a yam-plantain mash purée and Pan Seared Escovitch Snapper cooked in a red pepper purée with drops of scallion cilantro-oil. For dessert, chef Martin finished with a Ginger Snap Cereal S'more with a fire-toasted marshmallow. Next in the series, chef Shelly Flash of 2 Girls & A Cookshop will be taking over this Wednesday, June 25. A MasterChef, The Great Food Truck Race and Chopped alum, Chef Flash cooks alongside her daughter Jatuan, telling the story of the vibrant cookshops of Jamaica and street food across the diaspora. Using tacos as a vehicle, past iterations have included hot honey and fried chicken tacos and chopped cheese tacos. Meanwhile, on July 9th, a familiar face will be hosting the series: Christian Marcano, chef de cuisine of Metropolis. Selling empanadas during the pandemic, chef Marcano hopes to turn his bulk empanada operation, Empanada Eleven, into a food truck. With Filipino, Sudanese and Chino-Latino in the line-up, the only question is: which one are you going to visit first? Check out the full schedule of events below:
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Cult of Dinner Parties—And Why You Should Join the "Hostingcore" Trend
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Pictured above: Mr. Giorgio Armani's dining room table awaits lunch guests. About a month ago, Le Creuset, the beloved kitchenware brand, hosted a dinner party. Guests received an email with practically nothing except a date and time and the promise of a 'secret address' to be revealed 24 hours before the event. Without knowing who was going, what would be on the menu, where it would be held, 100 people spent their Thursday night with strangers at an undisclosed location in Long Island City (this writer, included). The Le Creuset x Secret Supper dinner took place at The Foundry, a space that felt far away from Manhattan's chaos, thanks to its ivy-covered brick walls and green, candle-filled courtyard. Flower arrangements sat in mini Le Creuset cocottes, caviar was served on fluted stoneware platters, and Chef Fariyal Abdullahi—a James Beard Award finalist who helms the kitchen at Marcus Samuelsson's Hav & Mar—created a five-course menu that remained completely secret until we sat down. The Instagram-worthy tablescape was striking, certainly, but even more compelling: how a room full of strangers naturally fell into conversation, lingering long after the last of the wine had been poured. We may be in the midst of a full-scale entertaining renaissance. Whether it's a dinner party with strangers matched by an algorithm or underground 'supper clubs' in people's homes or the revival of murder mystery dinners, a desire for connection makes us more willing to embrace the unknown and trust in the magic of shared meals and candlelit conversations. TikTok users have dubbed this hunger for authentic gathering 'hostingcore,' with hashtags like #hostingtips and #dinnerpartyideas featured on over 90 million posts. Hostingcore can be putting together an intimate at-home dinner party for friends, a lavish garden soiree with a dress code, or gathering strangers for a book club and wine. It's anything that gets people together and fosters genuine connection—and looking pretty while doing it. Tablescaping with intention, creating warmth through thoughtful details, and prioritizing authentic gathering are all examples. Hostingcore also embraces mismatched vintage glassware, handwritten place cards, taper candles, crafts for guests, and personal touches. This resurgence represents a reimagining of how we create and inhabit social spaces in a time where loneliness has reached epidemic proportions. According to recent research, 30% of American adults feel lonely every single week, which is a health risk reportedly comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes daily. In this context, hostingcore can offer something radical. Cameron Forbes, founder of Forbes Functions, a boutique event planning service, and creator of the Hosting Hot Takes series on TikTok, has witnessed this transformation firsthand among her Gen Z and millennial clients. 'To me, hostingcore is the intersection of beautiful aesthetics, putting effort into an event, and the intention behind it,' she tells ELLE Decor. It's also about 'curating an environment that feels beautiful, personal, but also a little bit playful, fun.' Forbes notes that after years of pandemic isolation, followed by what she describes as 'hyper-scheduled socializing' and 'algorithm-fed content,' people are craving 'moments of slowness and substance.' Gen Z, in particular, is increasingly shunning traditional after-hours social events in favor of more purposeful and inclusive ways to engage that don't feel like extensions of work or social obligations. For instance, they're choosing tiny alcohol-free apartment gatherings over crowded bars, or creative workshops like jewelry-making and crochet classes over nightclubs. Hostingcore provides the framework for what sociologist Robert Putnam calls 'social capital'—the networks of relationships that make communities function. As traditional institutions like churches, unions, and civic organizations weaken, informal gathering spaces become crucial for maintaining social cohesion. Every dinner party can become a small act of community building. It feels revolutionary perhaps because it's so simple—and accessible. Hostingcore is encouraging us to see our homes as spaces for connection rather than just personal retreats, and is democratizing entertaining for a generation that might have never learned traditional hosting skills. Just do a quick search for #hostingcore on TikTok and your feed will immediately populate with videos instructing you on etiquette. But in the end, hostingcore isn't necessarily about hosting at all. It's something much simpler and infinitely more precious: spending time with people. Real time. The kind where you look up from your plate and realize three hours have passed without anyone checking their phone, where strangers become friends over shared stories and a bit too much wine, and where you remember completely why we need people in the first place. Be prepared at least 30 minutes before arrival time so you can feel relaxed and present Light candles and cue your playlist to set the tone before guests arrive Create seating charts, even for small groups of people—it shows thought went into the evening and encourages conversation (use placecards, even handwritten ones) Have drinks ready when guests walk in (including non-alcoholic options) Remember: 'Being a good host isn't about perfection, it's just about being present.' Never show up empty-handed—even if it's just flowers from the bodega, a candle from Target, or a handwritten card Text if you're running late, not as you're walking in Say thank you twice: once when leaving and again the next day Don't overstay your welcome—'If the host starts blowing out candles and slipping off their shoes, you need to take the hint.' Respect the guest list—don't bring uninvited plus-ones without asking Stay off the phone—be present with your host$274.00 at at at at at at at at Williams Sonoma69.95 at at at at at at You Might Also Like From the Archive: Tour Sarah Jessica Parker's Relaxed Hamptons Retreat 75 Small (But Mighty) Kitchens to Steal Inspiration from Right This Instant
Washington Post
04-06-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
2 D.C. restaurant openings we're excited about this June
While some folks are contemplating this season's beach reads or whether to wolf down an entire key lime pie while vacationing with in-laws, two seasoned hospitality vets are counting on fresh and dry-aged fish to snag local diners this summer. Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, who operates restaurants across North America, the Caribbean and East Africa, is giving D.C. another go with a globally inspired spot in NoMa. Though raised in Sweden, Samuelsson says he has a soft spot for the District because it's where he first tapped into his African roots. 'I really learned about Ethiopian culture in D.C.,' he tells The Washington Post, recalling visits in the 1990s to catch global soccer tournaments or eat his way around Adams Morgan. And he's determined to make this homecoming better than his uneven stint at MGM National Harbor. 'This is our team, our staff, our journey,' Samuelsson says of Marcus DC, stressing how excited he is about working with executive chef Anthony Jones (a Maryland native who helped open Red Rooster in Miami and has cooked locally at Alta Strada and Dirty Habit) and pastry chef Rachel Sherriffe (a New Jersey native who cut her teeth at Jean-Georges in New York and has honed her craft locally at Rooster & Owl and Ellie Bird). While they've stocked rooftop bar Sly with more casual fare (shrimp cocktail, gourmet burger), the ground-floor restaurant will feature dry-aged proteins, a custom raw bar and seasonal offerings from the open kitchen. Debut dishes include roasted rockfish with seafood chili; spiced cauliflower with aji amarillo; whole roasted chicken with mumbo sauce; and blue crab rice studded with seasonal mushrooms and pickled okra that Samuelsson calls 'delicious, crave-able, relatable.' Sherriffe sweetens the deal with a flourless chocolate cake and plantain ice cream pairing, plum-almond teff cake with berbere-pistachio brittle, and praline-coconut rum cake with strawberry shrub sorbet. Samuelsson says he is psyched to reintroduce himself to D.C. diners after folding at the casino. 'Maybe it was good for me that it didn't work out. So I had to come back in a much more focused way.' 222 M St. NE. Entrées, $26 to $68. Having soothed our souls for over a decade with his distinctive spirits, Don Ciccio & Figli founder Francesco Amodeo aims to fill local bellies with Amalfi Coast staples at Union Market newcomer Tari Trattoria. An alum of long-gone Georgetown seafood showcase Hook and downtown pasta den Bibiana, Amodeo says he plans to mimic the foodways he grew up with in Italy. That means processing seasonally available fish in-house and dry-aging choice selections — top contenders include John Dory, sailfish, gurnard, barracuda, assorted mullet fish (red, silver) and other lesser-known options — for four to six weeks to intensify their flavors. 'We want to give people a chance to try a new type of fish, which is as delicious as any other,' Amodeo says. The dry-aging will play into dishes like his oro rosso, which Amodeo describes as a feast of the seven fishes in every forkful. 'It kind of brings you Christmas in a plate,' he says of ring-shaped calamarata noodles bathed in a tomato sauce containing four types of fish, which staff then douse in a seafood stew featuring octopus, cuttlefish and langoustines. He notes that his grandmother has been raising rabbits for as long as he can remember, and that folks on the nearby island of Ischia are renowned for their rabbit confit, which he hopes to honor his own way. 'That will definitely be one of the stars,' Amodeo says of two rabbit-backed dishes on the opening menu. He's also excited about sharing a rustic Genovese sauce — 'It's four pounds of onions and one pound of meat. And you basically slow-cook it for eight hours,' he says — seeded with 'bay leaves from my grandmother's garden, oregano and all the other herbs.' Amodeo is also introducing a treasured sweet from neighboring Minori, an eggplant-based dessert bolstered by chocolate ganache, coffee-flavored liqueur, cinnamon, nutmeg, shaved almonds and candied fruits. 'I would beg my mom to make me that near the summertime because it's the most refreshing digestif ever.' Chase it all with housemade spritzes, Negronis and Don Ciccio-spiked cocktails when Tari debuts in mid-June. 300 Morse St. NE. Entrées, $22 to $45.
