WYNN REVEALS RESTAURANTS, CHEFS LINEUP FOR ENCORE
Steve Wynn’s next generation of restaurants and chefs was announced Tuesday for Encore, the sister hotel to Wynn Las Vegas.
Wynn brought two Los Angeles chefs on board and reached into his own ranks for three others.
The Encore lineup will include:
—Theo Schoenegger of four-star Patina in Los Angeles will helm Theo’s, which will feature Italian cuisine by "deconstructing traditional dishes and recreating them with a refined, modern approach that emphasizes seasonality," according to the announcement.
—Jet Tila, whose family owns L.A.’s Bangkok Market, will operate Wazuzu, a modern Asian bistro. Wazuzu is Chinese for “Nine Dragons" and references a well-known painting of nine young dragons from the end of the 16th century. In homage to the original work, a large crystal dragon comprised of 90,000 Swarovski crystals and 2,400 flickering lights graces Wazuzu’s wall. It will be open for lunch and dinner and will feature the various cuisines of Southeast Asia, along with sushi, sashimi and creative rolls. Tila has been teaching cooking classes at the New School of Cooking in Culver City and Sur La Table, among other venues and consulting for Bon Appetit Management Co. He also has contributed to the Los Angeles Times and has appeared regularly on KCRW’s "Good Food."
—Marc Poidevin, formerly executive chef of Le Cirque at the Bellagio and most recently Wynn’s executive chef of catering and special events, will head Switch, a French-inspired steakhouse and seafood restaurant with an emphasis on the finest seasonal ingredients. Switch will undergo a physical transformation each night as seats, chandeliers and walls move to create a dramatic and theatrical dining experience.
— Mark LoRusso, previously the executive chef of Tableau at the Tower Suites at Wynn Las Vegas, will be in charge of Botero Steak, a modern steakhouse which is named after Colombian artist Fernando Botero. The restaurant will be located next to Encore’s megaclub, XS, and will overlook Encore’s pool. Taking over LoRusso’s space at the Tower Suite will be Larry Forgione’s An American Place, which was previously announced.
—Kim Canteenwalla will be executive chef of Society Café Encore. Canteenwalla worked with Wynn at Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Miss., and has consulted on such projects at Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach and One&Only Palmilla.