Wednesday, March 05, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

TASTE OF THE TOWN: Heidi Knapp Rinella

Chef makes move to Alize at the Palms

Jacques Van Staden, the chef who opened Neiman Marcus' Mariposa at Fashion Show mall in early December and former chef at the London Club at the Aladdin, has been named executive chef at Alize atop the Palms.

Van Staden replaces Michael Demers, who before moving to Alize had been chef de cuisine at Napa at the Rio.

What's the scoop?

"It's a scoop of vanilla," Van Staden said with a hearty laugh. He'd been with Neiman Marcus for a year, and "let's just say I got an opportunity I could not turn down. It's being chef at Alize and a future venture that is going to be really big."

At Alize, he said, chef-owner Andre Rochat "wants me to fix what's broken, work on presentation and taste and everything. But still keep a lot of Andre's favorites on the menu."

Like Demers, Van Staden once worked for the late legend Jean-Louis Palladin. ...

Here's a match made in heaven: Spago executive chef David Robins, Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group corporate pastry chef Christophe Ithurritze and chefs from Puck restaurants Chinois, Trattoria del Lupo and Postrio will team up with chefs Peter Woo and Joseph Elevado of Nobu for a wine dinner scheduled for March 12 at Spago at the Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

Five Patz & Hall wines will be paired with the six courses. The price is $125, including tax and tip.

For reservations or more information, call Madeline Benito at 369-0360. ...

Sakura Sushi Japanese Restaurant has opened at 7290 W. Lake Mead Blvd. Lunch specials include such traditional favorites as chicken katsu and beef short ribs; soups and combos also are available.

At dinner, appetizers include green mussels, fried gyoza and calamari tempura; entrées include katsu, sukiyaki, teriyaki, tempura, hibachi and noodle dishes; and soups, combos, sushi and sashimi also are available. Among the desserts is Sakura Fried Cheese Cake, deep-fried New York cheesecake with blueberries and cherries.

For more information, call 304-1725. ...

Viaggio, 11261 S. Eastern Ave. in Henderson, has scheduled an Italian wine dinner for Thursday. The cost of the four-course dinner is $85; for reservations or more information, call 492-6900. ...

Readers helping readers: For Jerry Albrecht, who is looking for Chiquita bananas, Larry Fafalak and Sandy Sherlock suggested Wild Oats Natural Marketplace, 517 N. Stephanie St. in Henderson or 7250 W. Lake Mead Blvd. ...

And for readers searching for restaurants that cater to diabetics, Sherlock e-mailed, "There ain't no such thing!"

"However, the choices when you go out are yours, not up to the restaurant," she added. Sherlock said she simply asks restaurants to substitute vegetables for potatoes, rice or pasta, and avoids breaded foods.

"I think we, as patrons of the restaurant, have to take responsibility for what we eat," Sherlock e-mailed. "Most restaurants I have gone to are very nice about substituting vegetables for potatoes or pasta." ...

More on the matjes herring front: Martie Pearlman e-mailed to say it's available in jars in the meat department at Vons, 4610 W. Sahara Ave., and Marcia Struver recommended the matjes herring available at Kosher Mart, 4794 S. Eastern Ave. ...

And for all of those readers -- mostly former Ohioans and Michiganders -- who've written in search of the Midwestern favorite war shu gai, or almond boneless chicken, Max Weinberg e-mailed to say, "after checking all over Las Vegas unsuccessfully, as of today (it's) now available as a dinner special every night at Amlee Gourmet, 3827 E. Sunset Road. ... It's priced at $12.95 for a very substantial portion." And, Weinstein said, "for those who also enjoyed war shu opp (pressed duck), we are happy to inform you that the crispy duck on Amlee's menu is as close as you will find in Las Vegas." ...

Reader requests: This one's particularly urgent, because it's for a traditional Mardi Gras treat and Mardi Gras was Tuesday. Still, some local bakeries may be carrying them: "My husband is from Chicago and has fond memories of growing up and eating cheese ponczskis from a neighborhood Polish bakery," e-mailed Shelley Krush. "Is there a bakery in Las Vegas that makes cheese ponczkis?" ...

Donna Musgrave is looking for chocolate-coated Poppycock; she can find it only in other flavors. ...

Grace Connolly is looking for tomato preserves. "Knotts Berry Farm has it in their catalog, but I have to buy a case of 24 jars of assorted jellies," she said. "Also, I would like to find Canfield's chocolate soda drink. Vons no longer carries it."

Readers?

Submit information to Heidi Knapp Rinella, Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125-0070. You also can send faxes to 383-4676 or e-mail her at Heidi_Rinella@reviewjournal.com.