Rainbow Connection | Vegas Seven, Seven Nights | Jan. 26-Feb. 2, 2017

Rainbow Connection

Taste all the flavors of a new culinary

FREE January 26 - February 2, 2017

hot zone

DJ Ruckus

WHAT TO DO

AFTER DARK

By Mark Adams

THURSDAY 26 DANCE: Kick the weekend off a little early atop The Cromwell at Drai’s Nightclub, with the Thirsty Thursday soundtrack provided by veteran local DJ Shift.

10:30 p.m., $20-$30, draisnightlife.com EXPERIENCE: Feel the intensity of a

historically black college or university’s football game during Drumline Live at The Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall.

Created by the musical team behind the 2002 film Drumline and its subsequent TV show, Drumline: A New Beat, the performance features impressive step routines, electrifying drum cadences and more. Through Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m., $24–$69, thesmithcenter.com

FRIDAY 27 DANCE: Kaskade won’t be “Fakin It”

when he brings the noise to Omnia.

Check out his 2016 “Beneath With Me” single—a collaboration with Deadmau5 and Skylar Grey—before you put a “Fire in Your New Shoes” on the Caesars Palace nightclub’s dance floor. 10:30 p.m., $20–$30, omnianightclub.com

HEAR: Juicy J brings to Brooklyn Bowl

his Rubba Band Business tour, promoting his impending 2017 album of the same name. Catch the former Three 6 Mafia man at The Linq Promenade venue with on-the-rise-rapper Belly. 7:30 p.m., $30–$55, brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas T AS T E: A wine tasting at a frat party?

That’s exactly what’s going down at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino tonight when Rock ’n Roll Wine puts on its American Pie Frat Party at Vinyl. Sip on 30 varieties while enjoying tunes provided by Thomas Nicholas (a.k.a. Kevin from the frat-tastic film franchise) and his band.

8 p.m., $40–$50, hardrockhotel.com

EXPERIENCE: If you’ve been missing Jay

Leno from the late-night TV landscape, catch the comedian at The Mirage when he returns for another installment of the hotel’s Aces of Comedy series. 10 p.m., $65–$87, mirage.com

SATURDAY 28 DANCE: DJ/production duo Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike may have fallen one spot in DJ Mag’s annual Top 100 DJs poll, but we’re thinking second place feels just as good for the 2015 champs. See what’s behind the hype at XS inside Encore. 10 p.m., $20–$30, xslasvegas.com

HEAR: L.A.-based Chicana punk rockers Go

Betty Go play Beauty Bar with some local support from The Roxy Gunn Project, Kat Kalling and Pet Tigers. 8 p.m., beautybarlv.com T AS T E: Raise a glass to Banger Brewing

during the Downtown brewery’s Third Anniversary Party, featuring $3 beers and the release of its Golden Sours anniversary brew. noon–1 a.m., bangerbrewing.com

SUNDAY 29 DANCE: What do reggae-fusion act Sean Kingston, rapper Gucci Mane and electronic artist Dillon Francis have in common?

All are featured on Party Favor’s Party and Destroy—not bad for a debut EP. Catch the EDM beatmeister at Hakkasan. 10:30 p.m., $20–$30, hakkasanlv.com HEAR: Experimental rock outfit Deerhunter

brings gritty garage punk to The Bunkhouse Saloon tonight. Give its latest release, 2015’s critically acclaimed Fading Frontier, a spin before experiencing the band live at the Downtown joint. 9:30 p.m., $20, bunkhousedowntown.com

MONDAY 30 DANCE: Fusing everything from hip-hop to house, reggae to rock and soul to funk, it’s obvious that DJ Ruckus truly embraces the open format. Feed your ears with his musical buffet at Marquee during the nightclub and dayclub’s six-year-anniversary bash.

10:30 p.m., $23–$32, marqueelasvegas.com

TUESDAY 31 HEAR: If you dig the melodic rock from groups such as KISS and Pearl Jam, you’d probably also head-bang to post-grunge hard rockers Pop Evil. See them at House of Blues with openers Red Sun Rising and Badflower. 8 p.m., $20, houseofblues.com/lasvegas EXPERIENCE: Catch a buzz for under a buck

at Beauty Bar’s recurring Nickel F***ing Beer Night promo. The featured beer might be the same, but the soundtrack is definitely diverse, with acts such as dance music producer Chris Lorenzo and hip-hop act Boogie Snacks. 9 p.m., $10, beautybarlv.com

WEDNESDAY 01 Go Betty Go (top) and Juicy J (bottom)

HEAR: Punk rock Rat Pack tribute act Franks

& Deans return to Double Down Saloon for another Weenie Roast. We’d like to request a scrappy rendition of Ol’ Blue Eyes’ “My Way.” 10 p.m., doubledownsaloon.com

Janua r y 26 -Februa r y 1, 2017 vegasseven.com

[ EAT THIS ]

Take a

Di p

PHOTO CREDIT GOES HERE

JinJu Chocolate, Espresso, Dessert 7345 S. Rainbow Blvd. jinjuchocolates.com Instagram: @jinjuchocolates

Award-winning pastry chef Jin Caldwell dazzled the Strip with decadent chocolates during her time at Bellagio and Wynn. She then brought her talents to the masses at Mars and Ethel M, and she became the darling of Downtown with the 2013 opening of JinJu Chocolates at Container Park. So her decision to open JinJu Chocolate, Espresso, Dessert on South Rainbow Boulevard in 2016 was welcome news to anyone on the west side with a sweet tooth. But the chef has done the neighborhood one better by offering a selection of confections created exclusively for the new location. Most are baked goods, including assorted croissants, cookies, brownies and cakes. For something more social, grab a seat in the charming dining area and order the chocolate fondue. Âś This simple shareable treat comes in two sizes. The small ($18) is perfect for a cozy date, while the large ($28) makes for a nice family experience. Heated with a candle, the bowl of warm liquid chocolate is surrounded with a variety of salty and sweet items perfect for dipping. They include an assortment of fresh-cut fruit, marshmallows, house-made brownies and macarons, potato chips and pretzels. In a dessert world where tacky fountains have become boring and passĂŠ, this humble presentation offers some delicious old-school charm.

By Al Mancini

Photography Anthony Mair Janua r y 26 -Februa r y 1, 2017 vegasseven.com

[ DISH & TELL ]

The Year of the Rooster: Feeling Gastronomically Lucky

By Marisa Finetti

Wok-fried tiger prawn with lemongrass and chili at Hakkasan Restaurant in MGM Grand.

Photography By Aaron Garcia

The spring festival widely known as Chinese New Year is the grandest, most traditional celebration in China. People attach great importance to Spring Festival Eve, during which family members gather to enjoy dinner together. This meal is more luxurious than usual: Dishes such as chicken, fish and bean curd cannot be excluded, for in Chinese, their pronunciations (“ji”, “yú” and “dòufu”) mean “auspiciousness,” “abundance” and “richness,” respectively. Since food is the cornerstone of this celebration, shall we join in the festivities?

Hakkasan Restaurant (in MGM Grand, hakkasan.com) welcomes the Year of the Rooster with a luxurious menu, available January 13–February 11. The celebration feast is a tale symbolized by dishes that represent fortune and prosperity. A traditional Chinese prosperity salad features roasted chicken, jellyfish and mooli (daikon). Small dishes include braised Chilean abalone with wind-dried oyster and gold leaf; and the Hakka steamed dim sum platter featuring har gau (shrimp dumpling), scallop shumai, Chinese chive dumpling and black pepper dumpling. Delight in main dishes of steamed Dover sole with pumpkin, shiitake mushroom and ham; braised abalone with fat choy (black moss, a Chinese delicacy) and dried oyster; braised Chinese vegetables in bean curd skin; and golden fried rice with salted egg. Conclude the feast with crunchy and chewy deep-fried sesame balls and an innovative dessert featuring ginger panna cotta, mandarin oranges and caramelized white chocolate.

At the bar, the Waltzing Collins cocktail is decorated with a striking golden rooster and features Asian spirits such as baijiu and sake. The menu is priced at $128.

The Chinese New Year menu at China Poblano (in The Cosmopolitan, chinapoblano.com) includes some really interesting and inspirational dishes. Good Fortune and Potato, for example, combines sautéed dried oysters (representing “good things to come”) with mixed vegetables over creamy potato. Happy New Year is fat choy softened in Iberico stock, rolled inside cucumber slices and garnished with an Iberico chip and soy vinaigrette. And Bountiful Treasure stews sea cucumber with scallion, ginger and oyster chicken stock. According to Chinese folklore, sea cucumber (feng) is an edible monster that resembles a lump of meat which magically grows back as quickly as it’s consumed. It is considered a very lucky food. China Poblano’s menu will run the traditional 16-day celebration, from January 27 (Chinese New Year’s Eve) till February 11.

Normally only open for dinner, award-winning Chinese restaurant Wing Lei (in Wynn, wynnlasvegas.com) fetes the New Year with a dim sum brunch. Guests can indulge in and explore traditional Asian delicacies, as well as choose from a selection of dishes served tableside, while other offerings are presented on extravagant buffets and carving stations throughout the restaurant. Holiday brunch runs 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

January 27 through February 5.

At Dragon Noodle Co. & Sushi Bar (in Monte Carlo, dragonnoodlelv.com), a meal to ring in the Year of the Rooster takes place only on January 28. Dragon Noodle Co. will offer a traditional three-course dining experience using authentic Chinese ingredients to wish guests luck and prosperity for the New Year. Dishes include Gong Hei Fat Choy (braised dried oyster and black moss with oyster sauce), Haha Smile (Manila clams with black bean sauce) and Buddha Delight (Napa cabbage, bean thread, black fungus, black moss, snow peas and Chinese mushrooms).

Are you feeling happy, lucky and prosperous yet?

Kung hei fat choi! 7 Marisa Finetti savors with all five senses. Read more at vegasseven.com/dishandtell or visit her blog, loveandrelish.com.

Janua r y 26 -Februa r y 1, 2017 vegasseven.com

Tasting on

Rainbow

Described by those in the know as “the new Chinatown,� the eclectic expanse of restaurants that stretches along South Rainbow Boulevard touches a variety of flavors, cultures and cuisines. Here are five we love right now.

By Melinda Sheckells Photography Anthony Mair

This page: Rib-eye pot.

Opposite page, top: Taiwanese popcorn chicken. Opposite page, bottom: Tea latte, jasmine green tea and rose jasmine green tea.

Janua r y 26 -Februa r y 1, 2017 vegasseven.com

Cuisine: Taiwanese

When Wendy Hsu and Kara Chu, co-owners of Pot Tea Social House, opened their simple and approachable eatery in 2014, they were able to make the lauded claim of being “first to market.” As the city’s lone Taiwanese hot pot restaurant specializing in individual and customized portions, guests are able to explore a new region of Asian cooking.

Chu’s low-sodium pork-bone marrow broth simmers daily for eight hours and serves as the perfect base for the meat, seafood and a bounty of vegetables thrown into each pot. Accompanying teas are imported from Taiwan and are brewed daily, handcrafted for each guest, with myriad options. To boba or not to boba? That is the question!

Pot Tea gives new meaning to have-it-yourway dining. 7815 S. Rainbow Blvd., Suite 102, 702-749-9499

Cuisine: L.A. street food

Dirt Dog Pot Tea Social House

Looking for the perfect excuse to open in Las Vegas, L.A. staple Dirt Dog, jumped at the chance to take a space on burgeoning Rainbow Boulevard. “We saw a great opportunity to get into a newer community that is growing,” says Dirt Dog CEO Timothy Cam. “We saw low risk but high reward as the community continues to develop.” The specialty here is the House Dog, paying homage to its L.A. roots, wrapped in bacon. Toppings such as onions, bell peppers and red peppers are cooked in bacon Thousand Island sauce and the bun is lathered in green chile spread.

This gourmet street meat is then finished with ketchup, mayo, mustard and bacon bits. Fries also get glorious treatment in various incarnations such as garlic and chili. Be on the lookout for menu extensions such as tacos, agua frescas, raspados, ceviche, street fruit and tamales in the coming months, as well as a second location at Grand Bazaar Shops on the Strip. 8390 S. Rainbow Blvd. Suite 100, 702550-4682; dirtdogla.com

Above: A delicious assortment of fries from L.A. original Dirt Dog. Right: Dirty corn; deep-fried Twinkies and Oreo cookies.

Goong Korean BBQ Cuisine: Korean

Much like Seoul, Goong Korean BBQ is modern and fun. Grills built into every table cook up delicate cuts of wagyu as the beer flows. Ordering is made easy thanks to preset suggestions based on group size—or brave the more adventurous waters and select à la carte. Meat, meat and meat is what you will find here. 7729 S. Rainbow Blvd, 702-979-9118

The Sparklings Cuisine: Eclectic

Sometimes American, sometimes Italian, always interesting, The Sparklings is the jewel box of the Rainbow dining scene, characterized that way due to its sparkly interior with chandeliers, plush seating and exposed industrial finishes.

While it may not fall under Asian cuisine—as many on the boulevard are trending—The Sparklings, opened in 2013, is here to remind us that when it comes to dining in Las Vegas, there’s no shame in ordering zucchini sticks alongside shrimp tempura and mushroom pasta and bacon and date wrapped meatballs. 8310 S. Rainbow Blvd., Suite 100, 702-293-5003; sparklingslv.com

The Noodle Man Cuisine: Chinese

Oodles of handcrafted noodles is what you will find at The Noodle Man, where it’s impossible to not end every meal in a carb coma. Skilled pullers work throughout the day, aggressively rolling, stretching, twisting and, sometimes, cutting dough. Boiled in vats and then piled with toppings and spices such as braised pork, shredded chicken and beef brisket, this is many steps beyond the Americanized version of Chinese food we have all come to know and love. 6870 S. Rainbow Blvd., Suite 101, 702-823-3333