Las Vegas: Giada De Laurentiis Opens Namesake Restaurant
The Food Network's sweetheart, Giada De Laurentiis, has been looking for just the right place to open her first restaurant for quite some time. After searching, she has added her star to the long list of celebrity chef all-stars on the famed Las Vegas strip. Last month, De Laurentiis opened her namesake, "GIADA," in the brand new $185 million boutique hotel The Cromwell operated by Caesars Entertainment. Located on the second floor, her comfortable venue overlooks one of the busiest intersections right on the strip.
"When I saw the building, I immediately said, I want this space" she stated. "The space is high up and light is very important to me." The chef knew it needed to be a venue fit for her family name, as her maternal grandfather is renowned film producer Dino De Laurentiis. "My name is a big one. I want make my family proud and stay true to who we are," she said with determination.
Her restaurant features three dining experiences for guests to enjoy. Patrons can choose the main dining room, lounge, or the terrace where you can dine al fresco with a bird's eye view of the strip. This is De Laurentiis' "baby," and she was very hands on in the development, going so far as to test every chair in the restaurant personally. "I needed to know how narrow, how wide, how sturdy they are. "If I don't sit in each chair, how am I going to know?"
The kitchen also adds to the overall experience. Upon walking into the space, the enticing aromas from the custom antipasti bar, as well as the pizza and bread ovens makes one feel right at home. The highlight of the antipasti bar is the hammered brass bar face and a Carrara gold marble counter stop with floating glass display shelves.
The menu has something for everyone. Keeping true to her Italian heritage, the menu offers Italian fare with California influences. Her dishes utilize fresh ingredients and show off her take on new Italian cuisine. Looking over the menu, signature dishes like lemon spaghetti, lobster arancini, pea pesto crostini, Marsala herb chicken meatballs, and the standout dessert of lemon ricotta cookies jump off the page.
GIADA is a gastronomic party for its guests. Chefs prepare fresh pastas by hand, slice Italian meats, and make bread and desserts, all as guests watch with anticipation. Be sure to take a look at their wine list, which features a nice selection of Italian and California wines. For something a little stronger, try a signature cocktail or a tasty martini with blue cheese hand-stuffed olives.
This opening is one of the most highly anticipated restaurant in the country, and so De Laurentiis's GIADA is certain to be a big hit with locals and visitors alike. Open for lunch and dinner, a visit to GIADA is highly recommended, as the food, décor, and atmosphere lends a feeling of being at home with Giada herself.