CULINARY ART

CULINARY ART Female chefs behind the culinary art scene in Vegas

By Iona Brannon

Cinnamon Biscuits with strawberry compote and powdered sugar at eat.

Las Vegas sets a high standard for the culinary world, as celebrity chefs and new culinary talent alike vie for the spotlight.

With more than 4,600 restaurants recognized by TripAdvisor, there are plenty of places to explore. Female representation within the United States culinary community is meager, at only 7 percent, but there are many femaleowned or female-run businesses that offer an incredible food experience in Vegas. If you’re looking to support the female culinary art scene in Vegas, or if you’re just looking for an incredible meal, there are a few top restaurants you should visit.

The Black Sheep This French-influenced Vietnamese American restaurant was inspired by co-owner and chef Jamie Tran’s background, as she brings French techniques to classic Vietnamese flavors. After opening her restaurant, Tran was invited onto “Top Chef” and made it to the final four. Tran was also named a finalist in the 2022 James Beard category of Best Chef: Southwest. At The Black Sheep, you can find seasonal menus with dishes such as Thai Basil Shrimp Ceviche, Salmon Skin Tacos and Fried Whole Rainbow Trout. blacksheepvegas.com

Truffles N Bacon Cafe The brainchild of Magnolia Magat and chef Jackie Lim, Truffles N Bacon Cafe offers American comfort food with a creative brunch twist. The cafe was meant to be a casual place

of community, and the two women often take the ideas of their guests to create new menu items. Here, you can taste items such as a Pork Belly Omelet or Ube French Toast, or go for the heat with the Hot Beast, a burger with serrano peppers, pork belly, tater tots, hot Cheetos and Korean mayo. trufflesnbacon.com

Chica Celebrity chef Lorena Garcia brought Chica to The Venetian in 2017. The high-end restaurant offers a diverse mix of dishes inspired from all across Latin America, drawing influence from Garcia’s Venezuelan background. It also serves as a trailblazer, being the first restaurant opened by a Latin American woman on the Strip. Guests can enjoy dishes such as the Crispy Peruvian Octopus or Dulce de Leche French Toast. venetianlasvegas.com/restaurants/ chica.html

Wing Lei Visit Wing Lei restaurant at Wynn, where you can try one of the one hundred types of dumplings made by Sandy Shi. The dim sum master at Wing Lei, Shi learned how to wrap dumplings in Hong Kong. For the past 11 years, Shi has meticulously created perfect dumplings for the first Chinese restaurant to earn a Michelin star in North America. wynnlasvegas. com/dining/fine-dining/wing-lei

eat. Self-taught chef Natalie Young opened eat. in 2012. The breakfast and brunch spot was an important addition to the sparse downtown area at the time. eat. has gone through a recent renovation thanks to the show Restaurant Recovery. At eat., try the Cinnamon Biscuits with strawberry compote or the Killer Grilled Cheese. Young also has a restaurant called Old Soul and a food apprentice program for at-risk youth called chow to the core. eatdtlv. chefnatalieyoung.com

Eggs Benedict is one of the many breakfast items served at eat.

The Garden Dim Sum, one of the hundred dim sum options at Wing Lei Jackie Lim is the chef behind the menu at Truffles N Bacon Cafe