we arrived at the restaurant early and had a glass of wine at the bar. i was so excited while i watched the staff setup and pleasantly surprised that there were only a few tables designated for the special event. not knowing what to expect, i was worried that it would be really big with hundreds of guests and we'd feel disconnected. it turned out being a rather intimate setting, there were about 5 or 6 tables with 10 or 12 place settings at each. we were seated next to 2 couples that were very fun and friendly and who shared our love of food and cooking. surrounded by other foodies, we were in heaven.ok so, let's get to the good stuff. the meal was truly unbelievable. 6 courses that included 14 different dishes. no i'm serious, 14 different dishes. it was served family style and there was plenty to go around. the food was complimented by wine pairings from Lorraine Bracco's winery. we weren't sure if the ticket price ($150 each) included wine and even if it hadn't, i still feel like it would have been well worth every dollar. so, the wine was another unexpected detail that added to the experience. i took pictures throughout, none i'm afraid that will do the dishes any justice. i'll post the ones that aren't completely awful.
my favorite dish was the Vongole Oreganate - baked, stuffed, little neck clams. it was my first experience with clams and now i fear i'll forever be seeking a dish that will compare. they were perfectly cooked, tender not chewy (i had reservations about the consistency) and exploding with flavor, seasoned with parmesan and oregano. i could have eaten the entire plate.
i also enjoyed the Penne alla Vodka - San Marzano tomato, diced prosciutto di Parma, vodka and a touch of cream. the pasta was the definition of al dente, the sauce was a rich, creamy, comforting blanket that i wanted to wrap myself in. do you ever have that thought when you experience good food? that desire to be a part of it? maybe that's just me and i'm just weird. probably so.the dessert included 3 dishes, one of which was a Molten lava cake, served with creme anglaise and shaved chocolate. f@*#@! unFREAKINGbelievable. i mean, c'mon, give me a break. it was the most decadent dessert ever. it was warm, chocolaty guilt in a souffle cup. the perfect ending to a rich italian dinner.
so, aside from the delicious food and wine we savored at the event, one of the coolest things about the experience was being surrounded by other people who were just as excited, appreciative and curious about food as we are. on more than one occasion the chef, Carla Pellegrino, approached our table. her warm, bubbly personality, perfectly straight teeth and sparkly eyes were enchanting. our whole table was smitten. she asked what we thought about the meal and thanked us for coming. thanked us!!?!?! she even shared one of her techniques - explaining that she never leaves any garlic in her dishes but simply uses it to infuse flavor into the food while cooking. she said that garlic is what leaves us feeling bloated after most italian meals which is why she likes to remove from dishes before serving them. now, i guess if i had studied nutrition or gone to culinary school i may have known that, but, since i didn't and i haven't, i found that terribly enlightening.
the highlight of the evening for me was meeting Andrew Knowlton. i'm a big fan and i really wanted to have my picture taken with him. i know, i'm silly. but really, he's gorgeous and so talented, i couldn't resist. i finally approached his table when things were winding down and everyone was finished eating. when he saw me coming, he stood up, very graciously shook my hand and introduced himself. i made every effort to avoid coming across as a fumbling, glaze-eyed stalker during the interaction. i'm sure i failed. :) he was so polite and every bit as interesting and articulate as his articles. he was genuine, relatable, and yes, even better looking in person than on TV.so, i'm afraid i've written way too much for a blog post. oh well. my goal was selfish really. i just wanted to document as much about the experience that i could so that jared and i can relive it over and over. it was truly magical. we've decided that we'll definitely attend Vegas Uncorked again next year. and this time we'll attend more than one event. if Bon Appetit brings Uncorked anywhere near your area, i urge you to attend. whether you're a foodie or not, i think it's something that anyone could enjoy.
read more about Rao's Las Vegas and the Pellegrino's here
