Unstripped is a food Festival and for the 3rd year in a row took place at the Palms Casino Hotel. Only most of the best chefs in Las Vegas get invited to participate in this festival. Tickets started at $158. a person. To get into this food festival you must arrive EARLY. The festival starts at 6pm and you get in and wait your turn in line. If you want to get in early you wait in line starting at 5pm. We came at 5 and got in at 6. But many got in much latter and waited much longer in line.
I thought three dishes I tried were amazing, most were good, a few I didn’t care for, and one had steak on it that I couldn’t chew.
Fork in the Desert is an International Food Festival and Craft Show that took place at Aliante Casino/Hotel April 25 & 26 2026. There were just under twenty food trucks. There also were a few craft tables. They also had a bar set up for purchase of alcoholic beverages. Admission was free to attend. Parking was close and easy and also free.
Of course we weren’t able to try everything but managed to try a few things
Fried Calzone and Meatball from Di Sabs Mangia Mobile
Beef Empanada and
Chicken Sandwich with Fries from The Argentinian Trailer.
We finished with deep chocolate gelato from Di Sabs Mangia Mobile
The downsides were that all the tables were dirty and you couldn’t try everything.
Featherblade Craft Butcher recently opened in Centennial Hills. I’ve heard good things about their Summerlin location so when this butcher shop opened closer to me I thought I had to give it a try. It looks like your typical Butcher Shop inside. Different cuts and types of meat to pick from. They also sell various seasoning blends, snacks, soaps, frozen meats, and a bit more.
Decided on two filet mignons for dinner.
We’ll see how it goes. My husband cooked the filet.
It lookalike it was cooked nice. To be honest it doesn’t have much beef flavor. My husband said, “That’s because it is a Filet Mignon and they never have much flavor” – so ? Guess we will have to try something different next time.
I read in the Las Vegas Review Journal that the Cheese Store of Beverly Hills was doing a POP UP at Red Rock Resort 12-5pm February 28th. I latter found out by my husband who read on Red Rock’s website that the hours were 11-4 and not 12-5. I did plan to arrive about a 1/2 hour early because the pop up at Red Rock are big events. I saw a short menu of a few sandwiches, a salad, and a few desserts. We arrived around 10:30 and waited about an hour in line.
When we finally got closer there was a lot of complimentary cheese to try and also some lunch meats and crackers.
Then we looked at the condiments that were for sale.
Then guess what?
Another cheese tray to sample.
When we got to order we found out that everything was premade so no special orders or request could be made.
Also no seating but you could stand up at a high table. We choose to find the food court so we could sit down. When I opened the bag I saw that they skipped out on giving us napkins and they didn’t even give a FORK to give me a fork! My husband had to steal napkins and a fork from the food court.
I tried a Jidori Chicken Caesar Salad. It’s not bad at all but kinda average.
My husband tried the La Macellaia Sandwich (prosciutto cotto, finocchiona,coppa, spicy ventricina salami, red onions, provolone, iceberg, oregano vinaigrette).
He said that the bread was good. He thought it seemed like the sandwich might have been made the day before because the inside was just squished together and didn’t have that fresh made sandwich texture. He also thought that the provolone seemed like not the best.
So GLAD I didn’t come at 12 because the line was so longs I’m certain that over a thousand people were there and it was relatively a short line when I waited an hour. I’m sure that these people would have to wait several hours to get what we had that is if they got in at all.
That was my trip to The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills POP UP at Red Rock Resort.
The International Marketplace is an enormous sort of Supermarket and Houseware Store that sells groceries and things from all over the world. They also sells lots of fresh and frozen seafood, kitchen items, some restaurant ware, live bamboo, Oriental urns, plant pots and more.
Below is just a small amount of what I came across.
The 2025 Viva Taco Fest Happened in North Las Vegas Nevada at Craig Ranch Park on Craig Road (Oct.31, Nov.1, Nov.2). This was billed as the largest taco fest in the country. A fifteen dollar ticket got you a general admission ticket to get you in and the rest was up to you. You enter and see an endless amount of venders selling all kinds of goods. It was sort of like a swap mart was brought to you. Then you pass by various Day of The Dead displays. (below are just a few)
Then you finally get to the food venders. This was the first food truck I saw.
Not all but the majority of food was offered here.
I was very surprised that a lot of the food offered wasn’t tacos.
There were several different French Fry Vendors.
Funnel cake vender. I also saw pizza here, a few doughnuts, and few Ice creams.
Further down was a large stage with blaring Mexican Music.
They also had covered patio seating.
We tried a variety of tacos from a variety of places here.
Fish and Shrimp Tacos
Bulgogi Beef, Carne Asada, Chicken with red salsa, Chicken with Green salsa
Chicken and Carne Asada Tacos – These were the best by a long shot. They were so darn flavorful that the other tacos SUCKED after tasting these tacos.
They came from here.
I don’t think there is a name anywhere. I see a logo for Mr Papas Potato chips but nothing else. (a couple people on Facebook told me the correct name for this place is Mr Papas Y Raspados)
Also our newspaper and local TV news do very little in the way of food mews and this taco festival wasn’t featured. Also no list of venders on the Viva Taco Fest Website. BAH!
This was the Top Chef Winners Special Event Dinner at Resorts Hotel/Casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada. This dinner was held in Jeremy Ford’s Stubborn Seed Restaurant. Both Chef’s are Previous Bravo Top Chef Winners.
Anyways – Both chefs worked this event. (There they are below)
Entering we pasted by the bar.
The front of the main dining area
And we got seated in the area that resembles a greenhouse.
The Welcome Bites were –
Wagyu Beef Tarter Cannelloni with Papaya Ferment and Cured Egg
Foie Gras Tarts with Mango and Pinenut Crust
and
Warm Celery Root with Crispy Maittake Mushroom, Mustard Cream, and Caviar
First Course –
Citrus Cured Kampachi – with Green Tomato, Green Chili Mustard Condiment and Coriander
Second Curse was –
Kimchi Udon – It was suppose to be made of House Kimchi, Shaved Brussels Sprouts, Poached Egg, Garlic Sesame, Australian Winter Truffle. (Mine was missing the shaved Brussels Sprouts, My husband’s also contained mushrooms that didn’t make it to mine. I don’t taste the truffles but it is possible that some are in there)
Third Course Steamed Black Cod –
Above there is no mention of Shrimp Mousse in the center of the Cod so I mentioned it to our server and they were kind enough to serve me a Plain Seared Barramundi in Sichuan Broth.
Fourth Course –
Black Garlic Glazed Wagyu Short Rib – Beef Fat Aioli, Pickles, Lettuces, Herbs
Dessert
Wild Strawberry Tart – Chiffon Cake and Vanilla Bean Cremieux
Micro Macarons with Check
Peanut Butter and Jelly
That was The Special Event Dinner of the Collaboration of Bravo Wining Top Chefs Jeremy Ford and Mei Lin
The Newest Superior Grocers opened on the west side of town. It’s about a block away from Arizona Charlie’s Hotel/Casino. Superior Grocers are an independently owned California Grocery Chain and as of summer 2025 have two location in Las Vegas Nevada. They offer all your typical supermarket items plus many hard to find Hispanic items like FRESH Chile Chiltepe peppers!
They also have Cacahuate Espanol seasoning and lots of dried Chile Peppers.
Where else have you ever seen miniature fresh corn?
They also have lots of Chicharrons here!
And great prices on potatoes (10 pounds $1.79) I noticed that many things were just .99cents a pound like all the different kinds of apples today.
They also offer the hard to find Pink Pineapples.
Superior Grocers has a Superior Produce Department!
I was lucky to get invited to the Grand Opening Party of Chef Fabio Viviani’s newest restaurant called ai Pazzi in the Rampart Casino/Hotel in the Summerlin part of Las Vegas Nevada. It took place Saturday July 12th 2025.
Chef Fabio was by the door greeting the guests.
Over a dozen different appetizers were served to guests as well as various sips.
Toast with ricotta charred grapes, and pistachios
non-stop famous wagyu meatballs
tuna, avocado, on rice cracker
arancini with pecorino and black pepper cream
watermelon with feta, avocado, and pistachio
Pasta with duck sausage
Pasta bolognaise
pasta with vodka sauce
Chef Fabio walking around.
tiramisu
flourless chocolate cake
That was a taste of the Grand Opening Party at ai Pazzi Italian Restaurant by Fabio Viviani at Rampart Casino/Hotel in Summerlin Las Vegas Nevada
