Gambling, the biggest names in the music industry, shopping and discreet misconduct are some of the many reasons we flee to the Mojave desert oasis of Vegas. Admittedly, fish and seafood markets have never been one of them – until now.
Celebrity chef and restaurant owner Bobby Flay has completely redesigned his former Mesa Grill in Caesar’s Palace and pays homage to one of his favorite oases on earth, the rugged cliffs of the Amalfi Coast in southern Italy. Its flagship Vegas restaurant, which closed after 16 years during the pandemic and via Zoom meetings, has been redesigned and transformed into a more intimate space that is elegant and casual at the same time. Most of Mesa Grill’s original waiters and kitchen staff have returned and retrained.
Flay worked with designer Olivia Jane to create four rooms, a 30-seat bar and 40-seat lounge area, framed by a limestone mosaic floor and teak beams. The main dining room is surrounded by textured limestone walls and antique brass with a view of the open kitchen.
Negronis and martinis near Amalfi (Michele Stueven)
Calabrian chilies have replaced jalapenos, and the focal point of Amalfi is a fresh fish and seafood exhibit run by a fishmonger from which you can choose your own catch, a concept inspired by Italian coastal markets. Fish is offered whole and to order either whole or filleted, grilled over charcoal or roasted al forno and served with a selection of Meyer lemon and capers, red pepper and Calabrian chilli pesto or salsa verde. Choices include golden and red snapper, smallmouth bass, branzino, carabinero shrimp, and other seasonal offerings.
The tender mussel fritto misto antipasti with Meyer lemon aioli and pistachio pesto or salmon carpaccio with pistachio breadcrumbs are a good start, followed by a Primi selection from the diverse pasta menu. Scialatielli with scampi sauce and basil and the orecchiette with eggplant Bolognese and ricotta are excellent choices.
While the seafood-centric menu is casual and approachable, Flay’s true personality comes out for dessert in Bobby’s pistachio cup with pistachio ice cream, dark chocolate sauce, peppered with amarena cherries, vanilla cream, and chopped pistachios. The blueberry panna cotta with cherries is also a treat.
Amalfi fish market (Michele Stueven)
“I’ve been pretty obsessed with Italy for 20 years and I hope to move there one day,” says Flay, who practically glides through the kitchen inspecting every dish to greet guests in the dining room like a branzino in the Mediterranean kitchen, relates LA weekly. “I love the healthy Mediterranean diet with lots of vegetables and olive oil and what I love most about Italian food is that it has courage and taste, but is also casual. “
So the obvious question is how much advice has he got from friends and colleagues? Bobby and Giada in Italy Food Network Star Giada De Laurentiis about the project?
“No, she didn’t say anything,” says Flay. “She is from Rome and is a real Italian and loves the fact that I’m so in love with Italy. She accused me of being more Italian than her. The only thing she’s always after me is my pronunciation. She always corrects my pronunciation, which is fine with me because I really want to learn to say things correctly. “
Chef Bobby Flay back in the Amalfi kitchen (Michele Stueven)
While the celebrity chef, his daughter Sophie Flay is a community journalist for ABC7 in the Silver Lake area, best at home in the kitchen, his passion for competitive shows is immortal. The new season of BBQ Brawl, hosted with Michael Symon and Eddie Jackson on Food Network & Discovery +, was filmed in Austin, Texas this March and April and premiered last week .
“It was really nice not being able to work after a year,” says Flay. “It was all shot outdoors, which was helpful. It was great to get back to competitive cooking. As for Vegas, people are flocking and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the busiest summer Las Vegas has ever seen. “
Mixed fried shellfish and salmon carpaccio (Michele Stueven)
Bobby’s Pistachio Cup (Michele Stueven)
