When Wynn Las Vegas’ Revelry culinary festival arrives September 19 to 27, the hottest ticket will be the Icons Dinner, a once-in-a-lifetime meal from some of the world’s most renowned chefs, including Alain Ducasse, Marcus Samuelsson, Emeril Lagasse, Dominique Crenn, Jacques Torres and Alfred Portale, the hotel exclusively shared with Forbes Travel Guide.
During the 7 p.m. Sept. 27 dinner at the Four-Star hotel’s new PISCES Bar & Seafare restaurant, a tasting menu will celebrate culinary excellence with each distinguished chef offering a signature dish.
“You’re gonna really get dishes that defined these chefs throughout the years,” said chef Christopher Lee, vice president of Culinary Operations and Restaurant Development at Wynn Las Vegas.
“I really wanted to honor the bold, vibrant flavors of the Caribbean and the Bahamas,” Samuelsson said about his planned plate: jerk oxtail with lobster peas and rice, island curry, squash blossoms and pikliz (a pickled slaw). “These places have given so much to global food culture.”
“The jerk oxtail brings that deep, smoky heat that I love, layered with spices that bring everything to the next level,” he said. “Then we’ve got the lobster peas and rice, which nods to the Bahamian comfort classics but elevates it with that sweet, briny lobster that feels like a celebration.” The island curry pulls from both West Indian and African traditions, and the pikliz lends crunch, acid and a Haitian punch of flavor, he added. “This dish is about connection between islands, cultures and kitchens.”
According to Lee, the Icons were carefully chosen. “They had to be, like OGs — iconic GOATs in the industry.” He then rattled off their bona fides: “Marcus Samuelsson brought Scandinavian food to the forefront in New York City — his Ethiopian influence and his recent adventures are awesome. He’s just dialed in.”
Lee said he’s looking forward to meeting Alain Ducasse: “When I was young, I was completely inspired by him.”
He added that Dominique Crenn, who returns for her second Revelry appearance, is one of the best chefs in the world. Lee also called Alfred Portale “the godfather of New York City.” “If you want to look at the chefs that really took New York American cuisine to the forefront, he’s one of them.” And “Jacques Torres is probably the most iconic chocolatier in the world,” he said.
When Samuelsson reflects on his Icon status, he wants to pay it forward. “I came to the U.S. 30 years ago, a young chef born in a hut in Ethiopia, raised in Sweden, with a dream about making it in New York City,” he said. “Every part of that journey has shaped who I am today, and I don’t take a second of it for granted. Being able now to give back and help raise up the amazing talents around me is the part of this stage of life that I value most.”
The dinner will cap off the nine-day Revelry. Lee said what makes the food festival even more special is that it drew inspiration from Cirque du Soleil’s residences to create “immersive worlds” and add a Vegas spin. Rather than going to a tent to enjoy Chinese dim sum or Thai noodles, a set will transport you to Asia. There will also be more food-and-beverage-related entertainment this year. While Lee is leaving the specifics as a surprise, he said attendees can expect activities like last year’s sacrificial cutting of a 350-pound tuna on stage with samurai swords.
Altogether, the second annual event will bring about 30 chefs to Vegas for a slate that includes culinary collaboration dinners (try the “From Farm to Knife Lunch” with Katina and Kyle Connaughton of Five-Star SingleThread Farms Restaurant in Healdsburg and Jeff Ramsey of Wynn Las Vegas’ Four-Star Mizumi) as well as “connoisseur” classes (ranging from barbecue with pitmasters Burt Bakman of L.A.’s Slab and Daniel Castillo of San Juan Capistrano, California’s Heritage Barbecue, to bourbon with Brother’s Bond founder and actor Ian Somerhalder).
Lee also will host an All-Star Dinner featuring chefs Angie Mar (Le B., New York), Gavin Kaysen (Spoon and Stable, Minneapolis), Fariyal Abdullahi (Hav & Mar, New York), JJ Johnson (Fieldtrip, New York) and pastry chefs Jennifer Yee (Wynn) and Juan Contreras (Atelier Crenn, San Francisco).
But the most coveted event will be the Icons Dinner — and not just for the guests. “There’s nothing more inspiring than coming together with culinary legends like Dominique Crenn, Alain Ducasse, Emeril Lagasse and Alfred Portale,” Samuelsson said. “Each of them brings their own incredible flavor, story and spirit to the table. I can’t wait to see the culinary power we create together and share that energy with every guest who joins us. Let’s make it unforgettable.”
The Icons Dinner will also serve craft cocktail pairings from Mariena Mercer Boarini, Wynn’s master mixologist, and wines to complement each course from Brian Weitzman, the hotel’s executive director of wine. Tickets to the dinner are available here.
