Wolfgang Puck's menu mixes in a touch more compassion for animals. Mario Lopez on tap at Polly Esther's. Helen Salas will bid for title tonight.

Taking a strong position against cruelty to animals, star chef Wolfgang Puck on Thursday announced a company-wide ban of foie gras and a shift toward more socially responsible menus.

"We want a better standard for living creatures. It's as simple as that," he said in a news release.

Foie gras, long a symbol of the high life and a Las Vegas staple, no longer will be served at Puck's 14 fine-dining restaurants, including five in Las Vegas: Spago and Chinois at the Forum Shops at Caesars, Postrio at The Venetian, Lupo at Mandalay Bay and the Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at MGM Grand.

The initiative has the support of Puck's Las Vegas managing partners, Tom Kaplan and David Robins.

"Wolf feels he needs to step up now to make a difference, and he has the star power to do it,'' Kaplan said. "We're behind it 110 percent."

The anti-foie gras movement has been gaining strength across the country in the past year.

"It's a hot-button issue in our industry," Kaplan said. "Much like global warming, there will be companies that will take a stand."

Foie gras is the fattened liver of duck and geese that are force-fed a rich mixture so that their livers grow to several times their normal size.

Puck's food empire, which also includes 80 fast-casual eateries and 43 catering venues, will use eggs only from hens that have lived cage-free, veal from free-ranging calves and lobsters that have been removed from their ocean traps quickly to avoid crowded holding tanks.

"We're moving in the direction of all-organic," Kaplan said. "We're about 70 percent there.

"We're not talking about becoming vegetarians," he added. "We're saying when animals are alive, they should be treated humanely." ANGEL WINGS IT

Criss Angel's inappropriate language no doubt had his corporate partners rolling their eyeballs at Thursday's news conference announcing his new magic show at the Luxor. In a too-long speech, Angel elevated the discomfort level by dropping an F-bomb during an I-told-you-so rant against critics and doubters.

After thanking his mom, brothers, late father and God, he closed by saying, "I want to thank all those who never believed in me, who shut the door in my face, who said I would never make it. That gave me the strength to say, know what -- and excuse the French -- but you're (expletive) wrong."

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Mario Lopez and his "Dancing With the Stars" galpal Karina Smirnoff will appear tonight at Polly Esther's (Stratosphere). Lopez will emcee a performance by the 1980s group Flock of Seagulls. ...

Helen Salas, the Miss Nevada USA first runner-up who replaced dethroned Katie Rees, competes in Donald Trump's Miss USA pageant tonight on ABC. ...

"La Cage'' star Frank Marino will appear tonight on "Identity," the NBC game show featuring Rio headliner Penn Jillette.

MAY I RECOMMEND ...

The Miracle Mile Shops, formerly Desert Passage, at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood, will broadcast UNLV's NCAA Tournament game live on what is billed as the world's largest LED video screen. The 150- by 40-foot outdoor screen faces Las Vegas Boulevard and Bellagio.

Also: SpyOnVegas.com will host a Sweet 16 party at the Hard Rock Pool from 6-9 p.m. today. ... Hugh Hefner's 81st birthday weekend starts tonight at the Palms, with the public invited to the Playboy Club and Moon nightclub.

SIGHTINGS

At "Love" (Mirage) on Thursday: Paul Shaffer of "Late Night with David Letterman," with his wife and two kids; Dick Clark with his wife and friends; and musician Jason Mraz with his dad and friends. ... U.S. ski star Bode Miller, on Wednesday at Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab (Forum Shops at Caesars). ... Former pro football coach Mike Ditka, dining Thursday at Hooters restaurant (Hooters Casino). ... Actor Greg Kinnear, on Thursday at the Hard Rock Hotel.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Jury selection began this week in the Phil Spector murder trial. Spector said the jury he would like to select is either the O.J. jury or the Robert Blake jury." -- Jay Leno

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.