Earlier this year, just after Memorial Day, SBE Chairman Sam Nazarian threw a soiree for the soignee of Las Vegas, at his sumptuous home.  What I refer to as a four-gater, Chez Nazarian is filled to the rim with some absolutely exquisite photography, and from its high-perch on a promontory in Summerlin, is afforded a scenic vista that includes the Strip; and as such, the new SLS Las Vegas Hotel & Casino – which allowed us guests to watch as the hotel’s marquee was lit, that evening.

The evening was a preview of the SBE fine-dining options with which Nazarian has filled the SLS Las Vegas.  I consumed some of the most savory and succulent skewers of chicken from Cleo (Chef Danny Elmaleh’s upscale Mediterranean restaurant with a décor that harkens back to Old Hollywood), and then I ravenously ate some more.  Frankly, between the camera, the man-purse, and the cocktail, balancing a plate just wasn’t happening, for me; and the skewers (grabbed one-at-a-time) were far easier for me to gobble on-the-go.

But it wasn’t until I was on my way, back downstairs, from the bedroom terrace – where I was hanging-out with my only-in-town-for-the-night pal, DJ Adam XII, who, in addition to co-founding my absolute favorite party (Giorgio’s - Saturday nights at mmhmmm, inside The Standard, Hollywood), happens to be just about the best event DJ I know (check him out at the Foxtail Pool, at the Grand Opening Celebration for SLS Las Vegas, on Thursday, August 22nd!!!) – when I found something that nearly checked me and wrecked me, and caused me to put-down all of my accoutrement, in favor first, of my camera, and then a plate.

At the risk of building this up, too much, I want to assure you that I’ve seen some pretty over-the-top in-home culinary displays.  And as much as I love wonderful food, I, like Auric Goldfinger, well – I loves me m’gold.  (Think of me like a Jewish leprechaun – Seamus O’Shulman, if you will!)  Of course, neither of these so-called “revelations” should be at all revelatory to any regular reader of mine; but I digress…

I turn a corner, and find myself in the kitchen of Casa Sam.  All of a sudden, I hear a gasp and turn to see the station that had been set-up to showcase the food of Katsuya, the famed sushi joint favored by the famous, from Brentwood to Kuwait.  No stranger to the brand, I first became familiar with their wonderful Crispy Rice Spicy Tuna rolls, while hanging at Hyde on the Sunset Strip, about ten years and two chins ago; so I was already pretty psyched.

Then, I noticed the sushi-chef using chopsticks to transfer something from a large cylindrical tin, onto the tops of some tuna rolls on a tray.  Curious, I examined further.  Then my brain clicked, and I realized that he was using the chopsticks to pick-up individual caviar roe and place them, one-by-one, into little caviar pyramids on top of each roll.  Also, it wasn’t just tuna, but Super Toro!  And he wasn’t done…  After constructing the teeny caviar pyramids, he took a brush and hand-painted gold-leaf onto each roll!

Now, as you know, I’m a huge fan of both running with a theme and cosmic karmic coincidence; so imagine the absolute glee I felt upon hearing that Iggy Azalea, the woman who, with Charli XCX, wrote and sang “I’m so fancy: Can’t you taste this gold?” is performing at SLS’ Grand Opening Celebration.  Yes, Iggy – I can taste it; and it tastes marvelous!

Katsuya by Starck
SLS Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
Opening August 23rd
Click HERE for info

Get into it!