Las Vegas is practically synonymous with celebrity chef restaurants, and Caesars Entertainment’s resorts host a long menu of top chefs. From Gordon Ramsay and Guy Savoy to Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay, guests in Sin City have an abundance of tastes to enjoy.
The latest celebrity chef dining experience at Caesars Entertainment comes from Bobby Flay, Food Network icon and famous restaurant owner. Flay gained notoriety through the award-winning Mesa Grill and countless television appearances from “Great Chefs” to “Beat Bobby Flay” and most recently “BBQ Brawl” which airs Mondays on the Food Network.
The latest creation from the chef, Amalfi by Bobby Flay, is eagerly awaited after its official opening on June 18 with Flay at Caesars Palace.
“This film was all about passion, an obsession I have with Italy and the Amalfi Coast in particular,” Flay said before the grand opening.
Amalfi is inspired by the chef’s extensive trips to the Amalfi Coast and focuses on coastal, regional flavors. The menu includes antipasti such as charred octopus with roasted orange and pancetta, alongside tuna tartare with crispy rice and Calabrian chilli sauce. Fresh pasta includes a squid fettucine with lobster, prawns and Fra Diavolo sauce and, the chef’s favorite, scialatielli with scampi sauce and basil.
Whole fried fish with Calabrian pepper pesto and roasted lemon in Amalfi by Bobby Flay
courtesy Caesars Entertainment
However, the focus of Amalfi by Bobby Flay is the presentation of fresh fish and seafood, reminiscent of the chef’s visits to the coastal markets. This is exactly where Flay suggests that guests start designing their menu for an evening.
“The heart of the restaurant is the fish market that we have in the back,” said Flay when the restaurant opened. “There’s a fishmonger there and he knows everything about these fish. What they are called, what their properties are, where they come from and how they should be prepared. “
Once the guests have chosen their fish, the kitchen prepares it as they please, whether grilled on charcoal or roasted al forno and served with Meyer lemon and capers, red pepper and Calabrian chilli pesto or salsa verde.
Chef Bobby Flay in the kitchen at Amalfi by Bobby Flay, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas
courtesy Caesars Entertainment
“I think the table should be filled with lovely fish, handmade pasta and a bunch of Italian cocktails,” Flay said, leading the guests on their first experience in Amalfi. “It’s light, airy cuisine, but it has loads of flavor from the way I cook it.”
Those familiar with Flay’s culinary background will find that his taste preferences have not gone astray. “I find chilies no matter what, and I use tons of Calabrian chillies that are great in Naples and part of the Amalfi Coast … so I was still happy to be able to transfer the chillies from Mexico and the southwest to the chillies from Italy to come from the same kitchen, “said Flay.
The Italian cocktails that Flay mentions are an important part of the Amalfi menu, with the signature Amalfi spritz being a must. This refreshing drink combines Selim Spumante, Cappelletti Aperitivo and Soda for a lively and fresh coastal mix. Flay’s popular Limonata cocktail mixes Bacardi rum, Limonata soda, lemon and mint for a crunchy but simple aperitif drink. For dinner, the Amalfi wine list focuses on the Campania region and beyond.
Guests visiting Amalfi by Bobby Flay will be transported to the Mediterranean thanks to the venue’s timeless design aesthetics. The natural palette combines stone and wood materials, accented by green throughout, with organic fabrics and warm lighting that add depth to the cozy coastal atmosphere.
Amalfi Spritz, consisting of Selim Spumante, Cappelletti Aperitivo and Soda
courtesy Caesars Entertainment
The main dining room is an airy rustic space with towering wine displays and a full view of the kitchen. From here, guests can see the fish selection going into the kitchen for their bespoke preparation, and during my culinary experience, Flay was personally at the pass and plated it. His passion for Amalfi was evident far beyond the solemn curtain.
“I’ve been part of Caesars Palace for a long time,” Flay said during his interview with the Seattle PI. In fact, the space Amalfi occupies used to be the chef’s acclaimed Mesa Grill, which ran for 16 years. When Caesars approached the cook to ask if he would like to continue Mesa Grill or try something else, Flay had an immediate answer. He says he told the Caesars team, “Well, I’m pretty much into Italy right now and have never opened an Italian restaurant and I think a seafood restaurant would be great so why not? do something based on the Amalfi Coast. “
Flay says the decision was made before the pandemic and that Amalfi was drafted while everything was closed. When asked about the usefulness of his downtime, Flay said, “I wouldn’t hope it ever happens again, that’s for sure.”
“But I go to work in any setting, and I went to work in a completely different way during the pandemic,” the chef said, citing the inability to be present in a restaurant. “So I basically sat down and thought about what is important to me and what I want to do, what my real passions are.”
As Amalfi took shape, a number of other projects also took shape that the chef is proud of. “My daughter is of course the most important thing to me, and she and I started a podcast together. It was really great, ”said Flay. “Even my very well-known cat has set up its own food company. And Italy is a very passionate thing to me, so all of these three things are really my passions and I’ve found a way to bring them to life by sitting around and cooking full meals like everyone else at home. “
Award-winning chef Bobby Flay brings Bobby’s Burgers to the Forum Food Hall at Caesars Palace Las Vegas
courtesy Caesars Entertainment, Jason Lasswell
Another shift that happened during the pandemic was Flay’s quick-serve burger restaurants. Vegas regulars may find Bobby’s Burgers Palace a familiar name, but Flay took time during the pandemic to rethink his burger restaurants and offer something new to diners, Bobby’s Burgers, which is now open in the Forum Food Hall at Caesars Palace are.
Of the transformation, Flay said, “We renamed it, changed the name, we changed the menu, we changed the scope, and it worked really well.”
Visitors to Bobby’s Burgers will find affordable dining options for the whole family, including the famous crunchburger made with American cheese, potato chips and Bobby’s sauce. Side dishes are cheese fries, sweet potato fries, and buttermilk onion rings. Handcrafted shakes range from classic vanilla pod and dark chocolate to a flay favorite, pistachio.
Pistachio can also be found on the Amalfi dessert menu, with Bobby’s pistachio cup made from pistachio ice cream, dark chocolate sauce, Amarena cherries, vanilla crema and chopped pistachios. Another must-have dessert is the lemon, lemon, lemon tidbit consisting of lemon cake, lemon pudding and lemon chips.
Chef Bobby Flay in the Amalfi kitchen
courtesy Caesars Entertainment
For Bobby Flay fans wondering if the chef has abandoned his roots in the flavors of the Southwest, the answer isn’t quite. “Mesa Grill had a fantastic run,” said Flay.
“At some point I’m looking forward to the next version of it. Maybe the 2023 version of what that would be. It’s very different from 1991 or even 2020, ”said Flay. “This kitchen is definitely a part of me forever and I’ll be making the next version of it at some point.”
Amalfi by Bobby Flay at Caesars Palace is open Sunday to Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Reservations are welcome.
