She
was a young American attorney. He was a young French chef with a
Mobil five-star rating.
She didn't
know French and he didn't know English.
"He had me
at bonjour," recalled Kristine Lefebvre.
Ludo
Lefebvre
was the executive chef at Los Angeles hot spot L' Orangerie when
she saw him for the first time on Feb. 22, 1999.
He was at
the maitre d' stand, checking reservations for the night when
she walked in with a date.
"I fell in
love at first sight," she said.
She was so
smitten, she said, and a neophyte to fine dining, that "when we
got an amuse bouche I thought he was sending me a love note. And
when dinner ended and complimentary petit fleurs (cookies),
arrived I thought a very gentlemanly way of professing his love
back to me."
She went
home and looked him up on the Internet and a few days later
"sent a male friend of mine in to give him my phone number.
They went
out twice, but she doesn't count them as dates because they were
barely able to communicate.
On their
third meeting, Ludo arrived and in one hand was carrying a
Barnes and Noble bag, with a French-English dictionary and
French language tapes, and in the other hand, a bouquet of
flowers.
That was
the deal clincher.
Nine
months later, they were married.
At that
time she was the in-house counsel for the Staples Center. She's
since become vice president of business development and legal
affairs for the pro beach volleyball tour (AVP).
Ludo, who
grew up in the Burgundy region of France, is the executive chef
at Lavo, the new restaurant and nightclub at The Palazzo.
Kristine
has another Las Vegas connection: She was one of the last
contestants eliminated in the sixth season of Donald Trump's
"The Apprentice," which was based in Los Angeles.
"My firing
was based on putting the wrong telephone number on the sales
brochure for Trump Tower II," she said.
"Trump
fired me and Hef hired me," she said, referring to her
June 2007 Playboy cover and eight-page pictorial.
SCHWARZENEGGER SURPRISE
California
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger showed his loyalty to an old
friend on Friday. Planet Hollywood Resort boss Robert Earl
and his son Robbie, 15, stopped in Sacramento on Friday
as part on a 21-restaurant tour of Earl's new Buca di Beppo
acquisitions in California.
Schwarzenegger, one of the original investors in Planet
Hollywood over 20 years ago, invited Earl and his son to stop in
his office and go to lunch. But the Earls couldn't make it
because of a meeting with a Buca di Beppo staff. Schwarzenegger
surprised everyone by walking in the restaurant and having lunch
with the new owner before heading off to a Lincoln Day tribute.
Also showing up for lunch was Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson,
the NBA star.
Sightings
Richie
Sambora,
at Marie Osmond's doll signing Friday at the Flamingo. He
was in town for a friend's wedding. ...
At LAX
Nightclub on Thursday at Luxor, site of the Club SI Swimsuit
party celebrating the launch of the 2009 Sports Illustrated
swimsuit issue: cover girl Bar Refaeli, Brooklyn
Decker, fianceé to Andy Roddick, six-time Grammy
award-winning recording artist John Legend, DJ Sky
Nellor, Holly Madison, Criss Angel, Carrot
Top and the other swimsuit issue models. ... Los Angeles
Dodgers manager Joe Torre, in The Country Club at Wynn on
Wednesday. ...
At Tryst
(Wynn) on Thursday: NBA star Tracy McGrady of the Houston
Rockets and teammate Chuck Hayes; Golden State Warriors
standout Corey Maggette; Orlando Magic guard Tyronn
Lue; Oakland Athletics slugger Jason Giambi, UFC
fighters Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping; rapper
Too Short and Luxor headliner Criss Angel and Holly
Madison.
Sunday 02-15-09
Chef savors kudos for old
restaurant
Chef
Paul Bartolotta's former restaurant is in the news a lot
these days.
He left it
eight years ago, but Bartolotta couldn't be prouder that
Spiaggia continues to be one of the hottest restaurants in
Chicago.
Having the
presidential stamp of approval is the ultimate recommendation.
Spiaggia,
Bartolotta's baby from 1991 to 2001, has been the favorite
restaurant of President Barack Obama and first lady
Michelle Obama for some time.
They've
celebrated a number of special events there, including their
wedding anniversaries.
If the
Obamas dined there during Bartolotta's tenure, he's not aware of
it, but the chef recognized a lot of familiar faces during TV
coverage of the presidential inauguration.
"A lot of
people surrounding him were my old customers," said Bartolotta,
who came to Las Vegas to open Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare in
2005.
He was
lured to Spiaggia after training in top kitchens in New York,
France and Italy.
What
happened next was the accomplishment of a lifetime.
"When I
took over, it was a one-star restaurant and when I left it was a
four-star. That was a big deal, I thought."
So did the
late R.W. "Johnny" Apple, the New York Times' legendary
associate editor, news correspondent and food critic, who
credited Bartolotta with making Spiaggia "the best Italian
restaurant between the coasts."
Spiaggia
won almost every major culinary award, including the highest
honor handed out to a handful of Italian restaurants outside
Italy by the Italian government. He received the award in Rome
from Italian president Oscar Luigi Scalfaro. Located on the
Magnificent Mile, Spiaggia -- Italian for beach -- the
restaurant overlooks Lake Michigan and the beach.
Having the
president and first lady of the U.S. embrace the restaurant he
elevated to an iconic level is a special acknowledgment.
"It's
always great to have people at the top of their profession
acknowledge that you are the top of your profession," said
Bartolotta, who learned last week that he is a semifinalist for
a James Beard best-in-the-southwest award.
The Scene And Heard
The Oscar
Night America event, which was to have been held Feb. 22 at Rain
nightclub at the Palms, has been canceled, with organizers
citing the economic downturn. "We feel it is better to skip this
year and revisit our fundraising initiatives in 2010," said
Jimmy Foster, president of Whispering Giants, the special
events company in charge of organizing the event. ...
Joe Del
Popolo
might be the biggest Frank Sinatra fan in Las Vegas, so
it makes complete sense that he would apply for a hosting job at
-- drum roll, please -- Sinatra, the restaurant at Steve Wynn's
newly opened Encore hotel. Del Popolo, who writes the
"Remembering Sinatra" column for La Voce, the Italian-American
newsmagazine, founded The Sinatra Society of Las Vegas in 1979
and has worked in some top restaurants here over the years. ...
We're in
Chicago for a Greek wedding today and, of course, another round
of research on the Windy City's best pizza. Dinner at Grant
Achatz's Alinea on Friday lived up to all the raves for its
wild marriage of flavors and presentations. See you back here on
Wednesday.
Sightings
Former
Danity Kane star Aubrey O'Day, celebrating her 25th
birthday and her March cover girl appearance in Playboy on
Friday at Jet (Mirage). Her parents and a few friends joined
her, as did poker star David Williams. They were seen
getting fully involved in the Valentine's Day spirit. A
multitiered birthday cake created by Jean-Philippe Patisserie
was presented to O'Day, who was wearing a Miss March Playboy
necklace.
Monday
02-16-09
Norm took
the day off
Tuesday
02-17-09
Norm took
the day off
Wednesday
02-18-09
London tabloid sees costly split
A
British newspaper is speculating that the Steve and Elaine
Wynn split could become the most expensive divorce settlement in
entertainment history.
London's
Daily Mail noted that basketball superstar Michael Jordan
reportedly paid $168 million to his ex-wife, Juanita. They
divorced about two years ago, 17 years after getting married in Las
Vegas.
The
published report noted that, under U.S. law, Wynn's wife, who has helped
him become a billionaire, would be entitled to half.
The other woman
has been identified as British socialite Andrea Danenza Hissom, a
40-something mother of two teenage sons, according to The New York
Post's Page Six gossip column.
Hissom's father,
financier Victor Danenza, fled to France in 1976 from New York
after the FBI investigated him in connection with fraudulent stock
market deals.
British
authorities investigated him in 1992 regarding other fraudulent stock
deals, according to reports.
Hissom was married
to London-based investment broker Robert Davis Hissom.
Wynn and his
girlfriend have been rendezvousing on his yacht on the Caribbean island
of St. Bart's, according to sources. They reportedly met on the French
Riviera last summer.
PLAYING FOR
KEEPS
Local media
personalities Lorraine Blanco and Mitch Moss got engaged
on Valentine's Day. They had just finished a marathon game of Monopoly
on Playstation 3 when Mr. Romance got down on one knee and popped the
question.
Her response: Game
on. Their wedding is a go this fall, probably in Las Vegas, said Blanco,
a reporter and weekend anchor at KVVU-TV, Channel 5.
After hitting it
off during Blanco's first appearance last April, Moss kept having her
return as a guest on "Afternoon Gridlock" (KWWN, 1100 AM), which he
still co-hosts. He also is program director for the station, an ESPN
affiliate.
The Scene And Heard
Chicago
Bears All-Pro linebacker Brian Urlacher with George
Clooney's ex, Sarah Larson, at The Bank (Bellagio).
"They were holding hands, definitely on a Valentine's Day date,"
a spy said. A year ago on Valentine's Day, Larson and Clooney
painted the town red. Urlacher has had his hands full in the
past year with a custody battle involving Tyna Robertson,
mother of his 3-year-old son. The former exotic dancer has had
an $11 million judgment filed against her, saying she made false
sexual assault claims against "Riverdance" star Michael
Flatley. She says it occurred in Las Vegas. ...
Stephen
Steelman,
a 2002 graduate of Bishop Gorman High, has landed his first big-screen
role. He's in the "The Lodger," a remake of suspense master Alfred
Hitchcock's first thriller, "The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog."
Steelman, 25, appears in several scenes with co-star Alfred Molina,
who played Dr. Octopus in "Spider-Man 2." Steelman's father, Paul,
is a local hotel-casino architect. ...
Encore headliner
Danny Gans taped a show with CNN's Larry King on Monday in
Los Angeles. It will air in the next two weeks. Flamingo headliner
Donny Osmond, a correspondent for "Entertainment Tonight," has a
Gans interview airing tonight.
Sightings
Former President
Bill Clinton having a midnight dinner Monday at Bobby Flay's
Mesa Grill at Caesars Palace with a group that included Clark County
Commissioner Rory Reid and Steve Bing, the film and music
producer who has been a major Democratic donor and FOB, Friend of Bill,
over the years. Clinton was in town to attend a fundraiser at the
Springs Preserve for Reid, who is laying the groundwork for a run for
governor. ... Mayor Oscar Goodman and his wife, Carolyn,
dining Tuesday night at Lotus of Siam. "We're celebrating the Cleveland
Clinic's decision to come here," the mayor said. "This is bigger than
getting 10 NBA franchises."
Thursday 02-19-09
Questions remain a year after
raid
Who knew?
With the
one-year anniversary approaching of the Internal Revenue Service
raid directed at Pure Management Group venues, the question is
still out there: was there a whistle-blower?
The U.S.
government, through whistle-blower provisions under the IRS
code, allows a whistle-blower -- it can be a complete stranger
or a former employee with the company -- to collect a share of
between 15 percent and 30 percent of what the government
collects.
The
megaclubs are huge cash machines, some reportedly hauling in $40
million to $50 million a year. A whistle-blower might consider
the payoff worth all the sleep deprivation.
If
skimming was involved, a whistle-blower would likely have
intimate knowledge of the process, including rumored
under-the-table payouts to celebrities who might have
underreported their appearance fees.
Sixteen
boxes of material were removed from the raid at PMG's
headquarters behind Circus Circus on Feb. 20, 2008.
In other
club industry news:
The
nightclub giant Light Group has taken over management of the
5,000-square-foot Revolution Lounge, which opened two years ago
at The Mirage. Cirque du Soleil and MGM Mirage had operated
Revolution through a joint partnership.
Light
Group had pursued an ownership piece of Rok Vegas at New
York-New York, but that met some resistance.
Rockhouse,
affectionately dubbed an "ultra dive bar" by owner Jonathan
Fine, is going against the grain in these
recession-challenged times.
Fine says
business is more than fine -- January and February revenues were
up 80 percent over last year. He's convinced people are looking
for more of a no-frills night out.
Instead of
Cirque du Soleil touches, go-go dancers swing from old tires
amid two-for-one beer specials.
The space
was occupied by the karaoke club, Tequila Joe's, before Jeff
Beacher briefly attempted a bar version of his "Madhouse."
The Scene And Heard
"The
Adam Carolla Show," which fills the 5-10 a.m. slot at KXTE-FM,
107.5 Extreme, is going off the air.
CBS has
pulled the plug on the show, which replaced Howard Stern
when he went to Sirius satellite radio three years ago.
No word
yet on the replacement.
Sightings
Brad
Pitt,
with sons Maddox and Pax, at the Hard Rock Hotel
on Wednesday. ... Tara Reid, and her father, Tom,
with Palms owner George Maloof at Joe's Seafood, Prime
Steak & Stone Crab (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Wednesday. Maloof
was on the telephone throughout dinner, conferring with his
brothers Gavin and Joe on a trade between the Maloof-owned
Sacramento Kings and the Chicago Bulls. Reid and her father
dined at Lavo (Palazzo) on Tuesday. Reid, fresh out of rehab,
was drinking Pepsi. ... Upstairs, at Lavo's nightclub, San Diego
Charger Shawne Merriman and Stephon Marbury of the
New York Knicks attended the Nylon magazine party. Marbury
compared astrological notes with his cocktail waitress regarding
their shared sign of Pisces. ... Charlie Sheen, at the
MAGIC convention and show on Tuesday, to debut his new clothing
line, the bowling shirt he wears on his hit CBS show "Two and
Half Men." He later flew home to join his wife, Brooke, who is
expecting twin boys any time. ... Audrina Patridge, from
the hit TV series "The Hills," is in Vegas for the MAGIC show
and convention. She's attending the POOL tradeshow for her denim
brand, Divine Rights of Denim. She was to host a cocktail event
Wednesday night for Fila at The Bank (Bellagio) and has
appearances at Cristophe Salon. ... "Candy Girls," the new E!
reality show, filming at the Palms the last couple of days. They
were shooting in the Hot Pink suite and Rain nightclub and will
be filming at Simon at Palms Place tonight with chef Kerry
Simon. ... "American Idol" contestant Katrina "Bikini
Girl" Darrell, filming a segment for "Extra" on Hawaiian
Tropic Zone's strip-side patio. ... At N9NE Steakhouse (Palms)
on Tuesday: Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker, with wife
Shanna Moakler, Dwight Freeney of the Indianapolis
Colts and reality show star Rob Dyrdek. Barker was seen
later partying at Rain with Benji Madden of Good
Charlotte and Javon Walker of the Oakland Raiders. Also
at Rain: rappers E-40 and Common.
Friday
02-20-09
Ensemble offers one killer encore
The
Killers
were part of an epic moment in music this week in London.
Coldplay's
Chris Martin dubbed it "the best encore you've ever
seen."
Coldplay and
The Killers had finished their co-headline gig when Martin made
the announcement to the crowd of 2,000 at the War Child charity
at Shepherd's Bush Empire music venue.
Gary Barlow
of the British group Take That came on stage to sing Take That's
"Back for Good" with Martin backing him on vocals.
Then they
were joined by U2 frontman Bono and The Killers
for a supergroup rendition of "All These Things That I've Done,"
written by The Killers' Brandon Flowers.
In the crowd
was Martin's wife, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, and actress
Sienna Miller.
The Killers
are in the early stages of a six-week European tour.
"Every show
has been sold out," manager Robert Reynolds said from
Dublin, where the Las Vegas-based group performed Thursday.
The Killers
return to London today to perform Monday and Tuesday nights at
The 02. The 20,000-seat venue will serve as the site of
gymnastic and basketball finals of the 2012 Olympics.
ELAINE:
'DOING JUST GREAT'
Elaine Wynn,
on a rare vacation after getting another hotel opened, said she
is "excited and anxious for the next chapter in the company."
Asked whether
she was "doing OK," Wynn responded, "Yeah, I'm doing great. I'm
doing just great."
In a
telephone interview with Las Vegas freelance writer Steve
Friess from the family home in Sun Valley, Idaho, she was
asked whether she felt any post-opening blues after Encore
debuted in December.
"I feel like
I've done my final exams, I turned in my term paper, I got an A,
and now I'm on vacation. It feels fabulous.
"I went to
the grocery store today. I went to the stationery store and
bought envelopes. I'm back in the real world again. I'm with my
grandchildren. ... I know it sounds ridiculous being a
billionaire, but I love the simple things in life."
The interview
didn't include questions about the reported split with her
husband, Steve, who has told friends and co-workers that he's in
love with a British divorcee.
Friess, who
writes at vegashappenshere.com, asked Elaine Wynn whether she
thought of running for office.
"It's too
rigorous and, in this day and age, it's too unkind. I wouldn't
want to subject myself to the unpleasant part of it. And then
most of the time you're working in committees, and you're
compromising. I'm a leader. I'd run for governor before I ran
for the Senate. ... But I wouldn't do that. So don't get any
ideas."
A longtime
Republican, she supported Barack Obama in his
presidential bid. When Friess noted that Nevada Republicans
"don't seem to have anybody to run against Harry Reid,"
she replied, "I would never run against Harry Reid. I think it
would be stupid for our state to run anyone against Harry Reid.
"I think we
have the most powerful person in the Senate and despite what
one's political persuasions might be, the state of Nevada
benefits greatly from him being where he is. Anybody who's
thinking otherwise is not sophisticated."
Meanwhile,
"I'm living in Las Vegas, and I intend to remain active in the
company, and that won't change."
Sightings
Toby Keith,
performing onstage with local band Lefty Lucy at Keith's
I Love This Bar and Grill at the launch Wednesday of his new
clothing line, TK Steelman. ... Entertainment legend Charo,
signing the VIP wall at Univision on Thursday and adding a
cartoon sketch of a Chihuahua. She and Tony Sacca were
there to promote the PBS special they teamed up on in the fall.
A premier screening was held later Thursday at Josette's Bistro.
PBS airs the special in April... Howard Stern sidekick
Artie Lange, with friends at the Playboy Club (Palms). ...
The cast from "Jersey Boys," in the audience at the Barry
Manilow show (Hilton) on Wednesday. ... Music producer
Jermaine Dupri, at the Creative Recreation/Hudson Jeans
party at XS nightclub about 3 a.m. Thursday at Encore. Also at
XS: MTV reality star Audrina Patridge, actor Orlando
Jones, actress Tichina Arnold, rapper Too Short,
UFC fighter Dan Henderson and NFL players Shawne
Merriman (San Diego Chargers), Jamaal Charles,
Brandon Flowers and Jarrad Page (Kansas City Chiefs),
Alan Branch (Arizona Cardinals), Dashon Goldson
(San Francisco 49ers). ...
Grammy-winning rapper and actor Ludacris at LAX (Luxor)
after dining at CatHouse. Also at Cathouse: boxing champion
Sugar Shane Mosley.
May I recommend
Lucio
Ristorante, 8615 W. Sahara Ave. has started the weekly Friday
Night Jam. Tonight's lineup of jazz artists includes Dennis
Mellen, Sean West, Kent Foote and the rest of the Las
Vegas Goodfellas: Paul Stevenson and Richard Boucher.
The entertainment runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Reservations:
233-2859.
Norm Clarke's newest book, Vegas Confidential: Sinsational Celebrity
Tales ($12.95, Stephens Press, February 2008), dishes up a feast
from Sin City's Ace Insider on celeb's club hopping, spending sprees,
outrageous behavior, feuds and meltdowns, and the best (and worst)
tippers. Discounted pre-orders are $9.95 and include free shipping.
Pre-order your copy now!
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Spiaggia,
Bartolotta's baby from 1991 to 2001, has been the favorite
restaurant of President Barack Obama and first lady
Michelle Obama for some time.
A
British newspaper is speculating that the Steve and Elaine
Wynn split could become the most expensive divorce settlement in
entertainment history.
The
published report noted that, under U.S. law, Wynn's wife, who has helped
him become a billionaire, would be entitled to half.
Chicago
Bears All-Pro linebacker Brian Urlacher with George
Clooney's ex, Sarah Larson, at The Bank (Bellagio).
"They were holding hands, definitely on a Valentine's Day date,"
a spy said. A year ago on Valentine's Day, Larson and Clooney
painted the town red. Urlacher has had his hands full in the
past year with a custody battle involving Tyna Robertson,
mother of his 3-year-old son. The former exotic dancer has had
an $11 million judgment filed against her, saying she made false
sexual assault claims against "Riverdance" star Michael
Flatley. She says it occurred in Las Vegas. ...
Brad
Pitt
Toby Keith
