There's a good chance we really are still hungover from this past weekend's festivities. Here's the thing: You have Vegas, which is already the land of excess, go-go-go, non-stop everything, and then you have Bon Appetit's Uncork'd, a multi-day, multi-resort, multi-chef, food, drink and party extravaganza. Mix them together and *boom* excess on steroids. We blazed in the sun at the cooking competitions, we noshed at the Grand Tasting, we watched chefs win a couple thou at blackjack. Here, then, a final round up of gossip, quips and observations.
We made it back safe and sound after a whirlwind eating and drinking extravaganza at Bon Appetit's Vegas Uncork'd weekend. Now in its second year, the organizers are still tweaking things with the event---it's more of a living, breathing organism than a static template---but one of the largest parties is always the Grand Tasting at Caesars Palace. It's also one of the few that doesn't sell out, at least not yet, and with restaurants like Guy Savoy, Payard Patisserie, Joe's Stone Crab, Spago, Mesa Grill, Joel Robuchon, Batali's B&B Ristorante and Carnevino, Fleur de Lys, Bouchon, Alex, Bartolotta, RM Seafood and Michael Mina all represented, the $150-$175 ticket pretty much pays for itself. We liked last year's poolside location, but it's a windy time in Vegas, and with so much construction at Caesars and around town, the crunch of dirt and dust in your foie gras isn't so appetizing. And, oh yes, will there be foie. Some highlights from the tent, next.
Previewed today via press conference call, the new bonappetit.com goes live tomorrow. The centerpiece of the new site is a section called Top 100 Dishes, which delivers recipes and other resources for dishes like...chicken. The site will launch with a cooking-centric blog companion to this feature, with other blogs coming soon, including one from Bon App restaurant editor, Andrew Knowlton. The whole thing is 2.0-ed out the wazoo, too, with companion flickr, Facebook and YouTube pages all promised. One quesiton that, alarmingly, the conference call did not resolve: Will the site have a page dedicated to ramps? [Via Eater NY]
There are people who complain that the big-name marquee chefs barely step foot in their Vegas restaurants. True, in Vegas, chances are slim you'll see Flay running around Mesa Grill or Guy Savoy working the lines at Guy Savoy. But this weekend, they and all the others will be in the house: Bon Appetit's Uncork'd---a mega-culinary excursion where everyday folk (with a wad of cash) can hobbnob with chefs like Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Laurent Tourondel, Michael Mina, Wolfgang Puck, Paul Bartolotta and Daniel Boulud---begins Thursday, May 8. Looks like most of the events (luncheons, cooking demos) are already sold out, but tickets are still available for the grand tasting at Caesars. Us: We'll be blogging from the sidelines, eating, gossipping with the chefs, and rooting for Border Girls Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Miliken to take Todd English or David Burke in blackjack. You: Maybe a spontaneous road trip is in order.
· Bon Appetit: Vegas Uncork'd [Official site]
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Previewed today via press conference call, the new 
