Show 14, January 26, 2013: Al Mancini, restaurant critic for CityLife (Las Vegas)

Eating Las Vegas the 50 Essential RestaurantsAl is part of an unlikely group of three local restaurant critics who dominate the Las Vegas restaurant review scene. The other two members of this exclusive trio are the scholarly Max Jacobson who reviews for Vegas Seven and John Curtas, esq., a practicing attorney.

Over three years ago Al Mancini came up with the idea of penning the definitive guidebook to the 50 essential restaurants in Las Vegas. The thought was that it would be updated annually. Al brought in fellow critics Max and John to add diversity to the selection process and sold the idea to Huntington Press in Las Vegas.

For a restaurant to make it into the “50 essential” all three critics must agree. This is where the fun starts because the three seldom agree on anything! One of the highlights of the book is the list in the back of restaurants that didn’t make it because of a veto. You have the explanation from the nominator about why it was included and then the thumbs down from the critic who disagreed.

Also in the book is a useful section on where to get specific food items. For instance there are helpful listings for beer, buffets, burgers, pizza, steakhouses, Sunday Brunch, and sushi.

Eating Las Vegas : The 50 Essential Restaurants is now in its 3rd Edition.  It’s a value @ $12.95.

January 26: Pop-Ups, Eating Las Vegas, Barbara Fairchild, Bricia Lopez

Podcasts

Segment One: Helena Brown and Helen Springut, “this is not a pop-up.” Part One
Segment Two: Helena Brown and Helen Springut, “this is not a pop-up.” Part Two
Segment Three: Al Mancini, restaurant critic for CityLife (Las Vegas)
Segment Four: Barbara Fairchild, food and travel journalist, educator, former Editor-in-Chief of Bon Appetit Magazine
Segment Five: Bricia Lopez of the Guelaguetza restaurants in Koreatown and Plaza Mexico in Lynwood Part One
Segment Six: Bricia Lopez of the Guelaguetza restaurants in Koreatown and Plaza Mexico in Lynwood Part Two

There is a new twist in pop-ups (restaurants) locally and you’ll hear all about it.

The definitive dining guidebook to the best eating in Las Vegas is Eating Las Vegas 2013.The mastermind behind the ambitious project, Al Mancini, will be with us to explain it all.

What’s it like dining in Washington, D.C. during the recent inaugural festivities? We’ll have a report.

Our tequila and mescal expert is back with us to guide us through a tasting!

This is not a pop upWhat’s new in pop-up restaurants? Helena Brown and Helen Springut joined forces to create “this is not as pop-up.” Thursday through Sunday evenings at Square One in Los Angeles a guest chef presents a 5-course tasting menu under this umbrella for one week.

Currently cooking is Food Network’s Adam Gertler with a deli menu.

Bruce Kalman of The Churchill starts his guest chefing run next week on January 31st.

With dining prices on the rise in Las Vegas you don’t want to make a bad dining choice, and there is no reason to with the vast resources available to savvy visitors.

The best dining guide to the City is Eating Las Vegas: The 50 Essential Restaurants from Huntington Press.

It is written by the three top restaurant critics in Las Vegas who agree on very little and couldn’t be more different! Co-author Al Mancini, who developed the idea, is our guest.

Barbara FairchildBarbara Fairchild, the long-time, former editor-in-chief of Bon Appetit Magazine checks in with a report on dining in the Nation’s Capital during the just-concluded inauguration festivities.

Time to learn the finer points of Tequila and Mezcal appreciation. The delightful Bricia Lopez of the Guelaguetza restaurants in Koreatown and Plaza Mexico in Lynwood is in-studio to be our guide and instructor. Ole.

Podcasts

Segment One: Helena Brown and Helen Springut, “this is not a pop-up.” Part One
Segment Two: Helena Brown and Helen Springut, “this is not a pop-up.” Part Two
Segment Three: Al Mancini, restaurant critic for CityLife (Las Vegas)
Segment Four: Barbara Fairchild, food and travel journalist, educator, former Editor-in-Chief of Bon Appetit Magazine
Segment Five: Bricia Lopez of the Guelaguetza restaurants in Koreatown and Plaza Mexico in Lynwood Part One
Segment Six: Bricia Lopez of the Guelaguetza restaurants in Koreatown and Plaza Mexico in Lynwood Part Two