Chef Sam Talbot at the 11th AADE

In one of those fanciful situations that make you go "Hmmmm..." Las Vegas super-chef, Alessandro Strata is high-kicking it on the high seas, aboard the ultra-luxe Crystal Serenity, cooking for a coterie of Las Vegans, including Abbie Friedman, and Allyn & Barry Shulman (but you can read all about that on my dad's travel blog, JetSetWay).

Meanwhile, one of the darlings of the New York gastronomic scene, Chef Sam Talbot (known to millions of television viewers as a semi-finalist on Season 2 of Bravo's Top Chef, where he placed third and was voted "Audience Favorite") was in Las Vegas, for work.

Sam's manager, Joel Menzin

The executive chef at Hamptons hotspot The Surf Lodge, in Montauk; and Imperial No. 9 at the hip Mondrian SoHo, Talbot was diagnosed with diabetes as a teenager (he wears an insulin pump, on his leg).  He has since been a proud supporter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

So, it was no surprise that he was happy to lend his name and talent by preparing and handing-out diabetic-friendly snack-food at One Touch's Life First booth, at the 11th Annual Exposition for the American Association of Diabetes Educators.  And while the snack (a tasty mixture of nuts) was a hit, the booth was mobbed by fans who wanted nothing more than a photo with their fave foodie.

Linda presents that evening's specials, at Piero's

And where did Jacob and I decide to take Sam, his gorgeous girlfriend, Natane Bourdreau, and his manager, Joel Menzin, for dinner?  Well, before I could broach the topic, Sam said how excited he was to try that really authentic old-school Vegas restaurant I'd taken Joel when he was last in town.  Fortunately, we'd all been reading off the same page, since that restaurant was Piero's.

The Angelotti at Piero's

Dinner was one of those idyllic experiences, where everythingjust clicked.  The food was terrific.  The conversation sparkled.  The wine flowed.  A number of friends were dining there, as well, and stopped by the table to say "Hi!"  It just worked.

Get into it!