World’s Most Iconic Chefs Head To Vegas Uncork’d Culinary Festival In May

This year’s Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appétit culinary festival will take place May 9-12, and it will be bigger and better than ever, with renowned celebrity chefs, restaurateurs, master sommeliers and cutting-edge mixologists from Caesars Entertainment, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, MGM Resorts International, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas and Wynn Las Vegas.

The star-studded roster of headliners includes Christina Tosi, Roy Choi, Gordon Ramsay, Lisa Vanderpump, Guy Fieri, Masaharu Morimoto, Guy Savoy, Julian Serrano, Michael Mina, Mark LoRusso, Nobu Matsuhisa and Will Guidara and many more. They will participate in events ranging from returning favorites like The Grand Tasting at Caesars Palace and Picnic at The Park to a variety of new events including Under the Stars at The NoMad Pool and the May the Best Chef Win: Celebrity Poker Tournament.

Here’s a closer look at three of the participating chefs from The Venetian Resort Las Vegas:

Chef Timon Balloo

Photo Credit: The Venetian Las Vegas

Chef Timon Balloo has participated in Vegas Uncork’d since opening his restaurant Sugarcane at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas in October 2016. He calls the culinary festival a fantastic event that brings together the “best of the best” and considers it an honor to be a part of it.

“I love our friends at Bon Appetit,” says Balloo. “Anytime they throw a shindig, it’s sure to be the most flavorful in town!”

This year, Balloo is hosting an event inspired by his travels around Southeast Asia, Tour the Night Market at Sugarcane on Saturday, May 11. The event will transform the raw bar grill’s lounge into an immersive pop-up with hawker-style “stalls.”

“I found the night markets to be so inspirational – the flavors, the energy, and the community of these food destinations are unlike anything else,” recalls Balloo. “So for the event hosted at Sugarcane raw bar grill, we are going to do our own version of a night market, featuring cuisine and libations from all over Southeast Asia.”

Chef Lorena Garcia

Photo Credit: Ethan Miller

Vegas Uncork’d has special meaning for Chef Lorena Garcia, executive chef of Chica at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. During last year’s culinary festival on Mother’s Day, Chica celebrated its one-year anniversary and introduced the Chica Mom-Mosa Brunch.

“It was a big celebration with different flavors of mom-mosas flowing and so much food,” she says. “Everyone had such a great time so of course we have to do it again this year.”

For the restaurant’s second anniversary on Sunday, May 12, Chef Garcia will once again celebrate with a lively brunch event featuring a variety of her favorite dishes and festive brunch cocktails.

“Brunch is my favorite meal and for me to create a special menu to celebrate mom or the favorite women in your life is such a thrill,” says Garcia. “Guests will taste the flavors of Latin American cooking and festive cocktails and mom-mosas. It is a lot of fun!

Chef Alan Ji

Photo Credit: Venetian Las Vegas

As executive chef at one of the newest restaurants in Las Vegas, Chef Alan Ji is thrilled that Mott 32 will be a part of this year’s Vegas Uncork’d.

“It is the most exciting, dynamic food and wine event on Las Vegas’ calendar, so of course we wanted to be a part of it,” says the chef. “Vegas Uncork’d is definitely the best platform possible to showcase our unique Mott 32 offering.”

The Mott 32 Dim Sum Brunch on Friday, May 10 will offer guests a chance to sample what Mott 32 has to offer such as steamed pork Siu Mai with quail egg, prawn har gao and custard buns, and other traditional dishes.

“Our food is very authentic, but what is somewhat unexpected for a Chinese restaurant is that our dim sum menu has also been paired with some fantastic wines and our amazing signature cocktails,” says the chef. “We like to do things differently at Mott 32.”

Located inside the Palazzo Las Vegas, Mott 32 features a playful atmosphere and spectacular design combining traditional Chinese, New York industrialism and Las Vegas elements for a striking East-meets-West dining experience.

Visit vegasuncorked.com for more information or to purchase tickets.