The Valley Forge Casino‌ Chef Tony Clark
October/November 2013
The Valley Forge Casino…
They laughed when I sat at the piano, until I started to play… And who would have thought this project would work so well? The short answer is Michael Bowman – President and CEO!
About Us… Michael Bowman has spent some 22 years in the casino business. What most folks don’t know is that he was a chef in Philadelphia, and a chef at Harrah’s in Atlantic City. Michael knows the importance of great food, and his mantra has always been “It’s all about the Food!”
With all due respect, most of the casino industry is about celebrity chefs that attach their names to casino restaurants. Michael hired a celebrity chef who is actually in the kitchen. The Valley Forge Casino has a world-class chef in Tony Clark, and that makes this property unique in terms of its outstanding restaurants.
The Restaurant Report…
Chef Tony Clark “It’s All About the Food”
Chef Tony Clark
And it is All About the Food! There are too many people that find casino dining intimidating. In too many cases, they have a right to be intimidated because the casino restaurants are all-too-often busy with their hard-core casino players. Dining at the Valley Forge Casino is no different than visiting an outstanding restaurant that’s located anywhere. One does not have to gamble to experience a first-class meal at any of the Valley Forge Casino restaurants.
They created their concept around food, and not necessarily around slot machines and roulette wheels. The go-to guy is Chef Tony Clark, and in terms of great food, Tony happens to be one of the top chefs in America. He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America, and he spent ten years working with the great Jean-Marie Lacroix at the Four Seasons in Philadelphia. He opened his own restaurant in Philadelphia and received a prestigious award from Food & Wine Magazine (1997, “Best New Chef in America�). He spent years traveling across the world as a private chef to Norman and Suzanne Cohn. Tony is clearly the perfect guy to bring the highest quality possible to this property, and the two upscale restaurants are in the hands of a seasoned professional who will undoubtedly keep the folks coming back. Pacific Prime (a Steak House) and Viviano Cucina (Rustic Italian cuisine) joins a presentation of great bars, nightclubs, and an array of outstanding
casual spots in the American Grill, Asianoodle, the Valley Tavern, Italian Market, and the Nosh Deli.
Valley Forge Casino Resort 1160 First Avenue King of Prussia, PA 19406 610-354-8118 www.VFcasino.com
Since the dawn of the 20th Century I have witnessed the great moments of humanity. I have bound men together in oaths of allegiance and honored their triumphs. I have toasted old friends and celebrated new love. I have crossed the world and journeyed to the stars.
A conversation with Sid‌by Bob Bickell Sid Bernstein recently passed away at the age of 95. I had the opportunity of interviewing the man that brought the Beatles to America. He represented many top stars, and Judy Garland was just one of them. It was most interesting to allow Sid to talk about this amazing woman‌
Sid: Judy was a very different story. All she had to do was open her show with “Somewhere over the Rainbow� and there was never a dry eye in the house. She had so much talent but everyone knew about her problems and no one understood them better than me. Our first concert with Judy was the Ice Palace outside of Philadelphia. She insisted on having a red carpet in her dressing room along with special lighting and of course, a special bottle of liquor. When it was time to go on, I watched Freddy Fields attempting to get her to the stage. I jumped from my seat and together we literally carried her to the microphone and both of us looked at each other wondering how in the world she would be able to perform. The lights went on and she did the Rainbow song and folks went wild. She found a way to make it to the very end while I lost several years of my life.
After the concert we returned to the hotel to unwind and get something to eat. Judy appeared and asked me to dance which is something I am incapable of doing, but I tried it anyway. It didn’t matter because that talented lady who danced with Fred Astaire had no idea of what was happening. It’s so tragic to watch someone so blessed with so much talent literally ruin her life in this manner.
“I've always taken 'The Wizard of Oz' very seriously, you know. I believe in the idea of the rainbow. And I've spent my entire life trying to get over it” …Judy Garland
The Barnes Foundation
With such an amazing collection of art in one place, the new Barnes Foundation is located in Downtown Philadelphia only steps away from the equally amazing Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Rodin Museum. It has to be the most significant tourist attraction for this City in many years.
The wealthy Dr. Albert Barnes established the Foundation in 1922, and the collection includes masterpieces from names such as Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul CĂŠzanne, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Chaim Soutine, Henri Rousseau, Amedeo Modigliani, Edgar Degas,Vincent van Gogh, Georges Seurat, Edouard Manet, and Claude Monet (to name a few).
www.BarnesFoundation.org
The Arts & Taste St. Pete’s Festival… November 15-17 – 2013 Star chefs such as Todd English, Ming Tsai, and Curtis Stone Will be in St. Pete’s celebrating Food, Wine, and the Arts.
Arts & Travel – St. Petersburg, Florida The New Salvador Dali Museum
Salvador Dali has to be one of the most interesting artists of all time, and it is no surprise that the new Salvador Dali Museum in beautiful, downtown St. Petersburg is one of the most popular destinations in all of Florida. This 20th Century Spanish artist represented the epitome of surrealism, and his incredible works also included fashion, sculpture, photography and film (just to name a few). The man was colorful (to say the least) and in terms of his art, his fans can’t get enough.
www.thedali.org
The new museum building is a 66,450-square-foot structure from a noted architect in YannWeymouth who successfully captured the perfect environment that pays tribute to Mr. Dali’s blend of classical and fantastical styles.
Travel…Aruba The Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino
We already know what you’re thinking … Aruba might be dangerous. Trust me when I tell you that it is anything but that.
I have been there and done it, and it just so happens that Aruba is one of the safest (and friendliest) destinations on the planet, and don’t make the mistake of thinking otherwise. This is a very special vacation spot with great weather and fabulous hotels and restaurants. I would go back to Aruba in a New York second, and it is what it is – one incredible spot! Aruba is situated in the southern Caribbean, only 15 miles from Venezuela. The island is known for its dry climate, glistening emerald waters, striking topography and unusual vegetation such as their famed divi-divi trees. The average temperature is 82 degrees with constant sunshine and low humidity.
If you want to go First Class, The Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino offers a unique blend of adult-exclusive and family-friendly options in one resort, and contains the only private beaches in Aruba. The resort is centered in the heart of Oranjestad, Aruba’s capital, and features a 40-acre private island, marina, two casinos, upscale shopping and marketplace, 15 cuisine options, A six-theatre cinema and the largest convention center in Aruba. The resort is nestled within walking distance of Oranjestad’s night life options. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and in this case it’s absolutely true. We are talking heaven on earth. What more does one have to know? You have our permission to visit their site at www.renaissancearuba.com.
Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino L.G. Smith Blvd. 82 Oranjestad, Aruba (800) 421-8188 (297) 583-6000 ARUBA CUSTOMS: Passport required U.S. dollar accepted
Punography: When
chemists die, they barium.
Jokes
about German sausage are the wurst.
I
know a guy who's addicted to brake fluid. He says he can stop any time. How does Moses make his tea? Hebrews it. This girl
said she recognized me from the vegetarian club, but I'd never met herbivore. I'm
reading a book about anti-gravity. I can't put it down. I
did a theatrical performance about puns. It was a play on words.
The Energizer bunny was arrested and
charged with battery. The
old man didn't like his beard at first. Then it grew on him. Did you
hear about the cross eyed teacher who lost her job because she couldn't control her pupils? England
has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool. I
used to be a banker, but then I lost interest.
All
the toilets in New York’s police stations have been stolen. Police have nothing to go on. Cartoonist found
sketchy.
dead in home. Details are