Vegas Unstripped with Eve Bushman: Tasting Las Vegas best local food, wine and spirits
We’ve been to a few whisky, wine, and spirit tasting events since we moved to Las Vegas. But truth be told I had been eyeing the Vegas Unstripped event with some interest for some time. Come this year, the stars aligned, and I was lucky to attend. It’s the only event that I know of where the focus is on the chef and not a restaurant, and this is even more remarkable, “Virtually all expenses of the independent chef/restaurateurs are covered by event revenue. Most principal staff are volunteers. Chefs and their staff donate their time.”
Checking in on their social media for teasers before the event and found this, “We’re serving up something special at this year’s Vegas Unstripped; a signature espresso martini crafted with Ketel One Vodka and Mr.Black Spirits.
Big thanks to both brands for fueling this celebration of local flavor, creative spirit, and community connection. Don’t miss your chance to sip the night’s most memorable cocktail!” and, “Big thanks to MGP Specialty Food for supporting this year’s Vegas Unstripped!
Your commitment to our local culinary scene helps make this chef-driven, community-powered event possible. We’re grateful to have you on the team!”
How about one more, from Diane’s Bloody Mary, “This year our menu will host the classic bloody mary made with vodka, a bloody maria which is made with tequila and a spicy micheladas for our adventures guests and a booze-free mary all of which will be served with savory garnishes.”
When we got to the Palms we were struck first by the friendly and helpful staff, which really put us in a good mood.
Then, entering the event, we were struck again by the number of booths all manned by chefs and their staffs. Samples were plated and replaced quickly, same for the drinks which you know is my focus. All of the restaurants are listed below in an excerpt from the news release. I will begin with my social media:
Social Media
What was the last really great food and drink event you attended? One that features local chefs, mixologists and held around the pools of a Las Vegas resort? That’s just part of the picture of last night’s Vegas Unstripped! The photos and videos I have here tell only part of the story. You had to BE THERE to experience all of the outstanding flavors we enjoyed. Read EveWine101.com on May 9 to see who gets all of the credit and who donated their time to be there! For now, thank collaborators Eric Gladstone and Jim Trees for knocking it out of the park, all of the amazing innovative chefs, and a few shout outs to Nick Palmeri from Gaetano’s, Adam Rains from The Golden Tiki, and The Modern Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganimfor keeping my cocktail glass full!
#EveBushmanWhatsOnYourPlate #EveBushmanWhatsInYourGlass #VegasUnstripped #FoodEvent #CocktailEvent #LasVegas #ThePalms #Gaetanos #TheGoldenTiki #TheModernMixologist @GoldenTiki @Palms @GaetanosRistorante @VegasUnstripped
Yes, I was truly wowed by the talent at Vegas Unstripped. Only thing to add besides the above are my notes on the food. Amazing. Chefs that I was able to photograph include Johnny Church and oysters, Steve Kestler with Latin dishes, Joel Ott made a Pastrami pizza BBQ, Luke Palladino and his Frittelle, Gary FX Lamorte made an amazing grilled oyster, sweets from the Summer House, and Kari Garcia baked spicy cookies.
From the News Release
Vegas Unstripped Announces Full List Of Participating Chefs & Bartenders For 2025
Culinary Fest at Palms Casino Resort Pool Deck Promises Biggest Line Up Yet
LAS VEGAS, NV – Vegas Unstripped producers Eric Gladstone & James Trees have announced the full list of chefs and bartenders participating in this year’s Vegas Unstripped food festival. This year, the festival will gather more of Las Vegas’ most acclaimed and creative culinary leaders than ever before, who will each create a new dish or drink for one night only. The event (tookplace on) Sunday, April 27 at the Palms Casino Resort.
Confirmed Chefs include:
- John Arena (Metro Pizza, Truly Pizza) World Pizza Champions member
- Myrhissa Bautista (Soulbelly)
- Geno Bernardo (The Summit Club)
- Sterling Buckley (Palate)
- Anthony Carron (Alexxa’s)
- Johnny Church (Johnny C’s Catering) “Chopped” winner
- Steve Cook, Erica Joyce & Daniel Schneider (Wild Fig BBQ)
- Kari Garcia (TSP Bakery)
- Brian Howard (Sparrow & Wolf, Spaghetti On The Wall Hospitality) James Beard Semi-Finalist
- Jason Janson (Vetri Cucina)
- Bruce Kalman (SoulBelly BBQ) James Beard Award nominee and “Chopped” winner
- Steve Kestler (Aroma Latin American Cocina), James Beard Award finalist
- Keris Kuwana (Electric Playhouse)
- Gary LaMorte (Honest Hospitality, Fortune Events)
- Marty Lopez (Scotch 80 Prime)
- Gina Marinelli (La Strega, Harlø Steakhouse), James Beard Award semi-finalist
- Sean O’Hara (Esther’s Kitchen)
- Joel Ott (Joel’s Chophouse, Ahern Hotel)
- Luke Palladino (Meta-Hospitality, Laguna Pool House & Kitchen)
- Ellie Parker (Main Street Provisions)
- Taylor Persh (Goose Hospitality)
- Vincent Pouessel (Summer House)
- Rachel Rang (Rang’s Coccina)
- Adam Rios (Al Solito Posto)
- Eduardo ‘Lalo’ Saavedra (Casa de Juliette)
- Josh Smith (Bourbon Steak)
- Stephen Smith (Mabel’s Bar & Q)
- Jackson Stamper (Ada’s Food + Wine)
- Yuri Szarzewski (Partage, Le Club)
- Jamie Tran (The Black Sheep) James Beard Award finalist
- James Trees (Bar Boheme), James Beard Award finalist
Confirmed Bartenders include:
- Tony Abou-Ganim (The Modern Mixologist)
- Jonah Gibbs (Petite Boheme)
- Francesco Lafranconi (Carver Road Hospitality)
- Adam O’Donnell (Jive Turkey)
- Nick Palmeri (Gaetano’s)
- Adam Rains (The Golden Tiki)
This year’s Vegas Unstripped event will donate proceeds to two local charities:
- John Arena Foundation – empowering individuals through the power of hands-on creation
- Help of Southern Nevada – Assisting families and individuals throughout Southern Nevada to overcome barriers and attain self-sufficiency through direct services, training, and referral to community resources.
“Every year we are honestly blown away by the excitement from local chefs and bartenders about participating in this event,” said Gladstone. “It really helps inspire us to go the extra mile to make this an unforgettable only-in-Vegas night.”
“As the host resort of the Vegas Unstripped culinary event, Palms is proud to shine a spotlight on the incredible talent of our local chefs,” said Greg Van Stone, Vice President of Food & Beverage at Palms Casino Resort. “Supporting and celebrating our local culinary community is at the heart of what we do, and we’re thrilled to have Chef Michael Symon of Mabel’s Bar & Q and Chef Marc Vetri of Vetri Cucina joining us to champion their restaurants’ executive chefs.”
A few other unique elements of Vegas Unstripped:
- Vegas Unstripped is an independent event focused on promoting local chef talent (vs. particular restaurants or brands).
- Participating chefs are chosen to represent the cutting edge of talent in Las Vegas and challenged to create unique dishes for the night reflecting their culinary passions.
- Named chefs are requested to attend and serve guests personally.
- Tickets are priced affordably to encourage participation from all food fans.
- Virtually all expenses of the independent chef/restaurateurs are covered by event revenue. Most principal staff are volunteers. Chefs and their staff donate their time.
- Net proceeds donated to underserved local charities. To date, Vegas Unstripped has donated nearly $30,000 locally (details on the vegasunstripped.com website)
- The event has grown in size every single year.
- Ticket price has remained the same and fees have actually been reduced from last year.
About Vegas Unstripped and The Feast of Friends
Vegas Unstripped is Las Vegas’ only festival by chefs, about chefs, and for the Vegas community. Participating chefs represent the cutting edge of independent talent in Las Vegas, and are challenged to create unique dishes for the night reflecting their culinary passions. The evening is augmented by beverages from Las Vegas’ best local bars, local musicians, local art and more. Created in 2018 as a reaction to the Strip-focused Vegas Uncork’d event (now defunct), Vegas Unstripped initially only invited chefs working off-Strip but now welcomes Vegas chefs regardless of where they cook, offering open submissions. All necessary expenses of the independent chef/restaurateur are covered by event revenue to the extent possible, with net proceeds going to underserved local charities. To date, VU has donated nearly $30,000.
The Feast of Friends is a multi-faceted branding agency, incorporating brand development, traditional and digital marketing, media & influencer relations, social media, websites, and events based in Las Vegas and focused on independent food & beverage.
https://www.vegasunstripped.com/
https://www.thefeastoffriends.com/
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Proof Awards, Cellarmasters, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email [email protected] to ask a question about wine or spirits.
