Las Vegans turn out for Pigs for Kids, Sip & Savor fundraisers

Thirty pit masters and their crews smoked out North Las Vegas’ Craig Ranch regional park during the third annual Pigs for the Kids Charity Barbecue Championship on Saturday. For the second year in a row, Infinite Smoke BBQ was named Grand Champion, and the team also took home the trophy for sauce. Other winners, in individual categories, included Jessie Rae’s BBQ, Steve’s Pig Pikins BBQ, Vegas GrillBillies and Triple ROC BBQ. The event raised funds for Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, Cure 4 The Kids Foundation and the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation.

Puck talks move to Bellagio

The fifth annual Sip & Savor to benefit Keep Memory Alive was Friday at Spago at the Forum Shops at Caesars. Guests dined on cuisine prepared by chefs from Wolfgang Puck’s various restaurants and enjoyed wines provided by Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. Puck was on hand for the event, which will be the last one before Spago moves to Bellagio.

“It was an amazing 25 years here, but the Forum and Caesars Palace are not the same anymore,” Puck said when asked about the move. “All our customers who come from L.A., Orange County and everywhere, they stay at the Bellagio. So it’s good to be there.”

Giada in the afternoon

Giada at The Cromwell has introduced an apertivo hour menu. An Italian version of happy hour, the traditional post-work, pre-dinner period runs from 4:30-6:30 p.m. daily. Guests can indulge in antipasti platters as well as signature drinks such as the Frosé: a frozen blend of rosé, peach puree, limoncello and Grand Marnier.

Openings and closings

Canter’s Deli will open a Tivoli Village location on Thursday. It joins the recently opened Hamptons and the second location of Leticia’s Mexican Cocina, expected in October, in the complex’s rapidly expanding dining lineup.

Chef Natalie Young’s Fremont Street Chinese and fried chicken spot Chow is transforming from a restaurant to a catering kitchen. Young says there isn’t enough foot traffic to support the spot now. By using it for catering, however, she can still re-open when the neighborhood gets busier and host pop-ups for other chefs. Young will also continue her work with the Core Academy, teaching restaurant skills to local students.

Lake Las Vegas’ Irish pub, The Auld Dubliner, has closed, with no word on a replacement.

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