Food and Loathing Al Mancini

It's been about three years since Chef Todd Harrington challenged himself to make a knife - with no knowledge of how to do it. Now, his one-of-a-kind works of art are the prized tools of chefs and cooks all over. Al went to Chef Todd's home to get the full story - and, it turns out, a knife! Also: news of two sudden closings, some holiday wine paring events, and of course, lots of sharing by Al, Gemini and Rich about meals of the past week.
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The holiday week is a good time to share a couple of interviews about new items on Zouk's patio and the first expansion of The Golden Steer in decades. Al, Gemini and Rich share several restaurant experiences in the past week, including yet another great breakfast place and a 'Spukie,' a Chicago-inspirated Polish dog and Italian Beef. And Al shares the Facebook post that inspired hundreds of shares and likes: his 'post-game' comments on Formula One's visit to Las Vegas, and what F1 needs to do to make it a more inclusive experience.
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F & L has been talking about it since before it was barely an idea. And now the winners of J Dapper's "win a diner" contest are open for business. Winnie & Ethel's co-owner Aaron Lee sits down with Al, Gemini and Rich to explain the journey: learning about Dapper's contest, preparing their entry, making the finals, cooking some of their creations and winning the prize: a spot in Dapper's Huntridge development for a classic Vegas diner. And, after sampling a few items, it's clear to all that Lee and co-owner (and his wife) Mallory Gott have achieved the goal. Also: a couple of Thanksgiving dinner ideas, Al gets a tour of the Peter Lugar aging room, Gemini's not happy with a dumbed-down Korean fast-food place and Rich is looking for healthy places - for an important reason.
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Al, Gemini and Rich share their dining adventures for another week, including a deep dive into Pizzafest. Al's guest is chef-turned-photographer and taste-tester Louiie Victa, who talks about her new book for Eater.com: "Eater: 100 Essential Restaurant Recipes." And... after a two-week unsuccessful hunt for McDonald's Mambo Sauce, Rich decides to make his own - and inflict it on Al! And Rich promises that will be the last-ever reference to Mambo Sauce.
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The patio at Mon Ami Gabi, the excellent French restaurant right along Las Vegas Boulevard at the Paris Hotel/Casino, could be one of the best places to watch this month's Formula One race. Al spends time with Chef Vincent Pouessel to get the lowdown on what he's offering that night, how much it costs, and how the property dealt with the demands of F1. Also: Al shares his big-deal dining of the past week, which includes Ferraro's, Ocean Prime and Lemon Tree Market and Café. Rich actually went to a couple of nice places, including Esther's Kitchen and Taste of Asia. But he once again was frustrated in his hunt for Mambo Sauce at McDonald's!
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There’s no Dean Martin singing about the moon to hitting your eye like a big pizza pie, but there is some great pizza at Brent Stanford’s new place, Amari, in UnCommons on Durango Drive. From the glass-enclosed wine room, Chef Stanford shares his story of coming to Las Vegas, working in some big-deal kitchens, and making the move from The Strip to the new office/residential/commercial/food center at the 215 and Durango. And he pops out a couple of great dishes, including lobster pasta and his take on Caesar salad. Also: Al shares several interviews from the Bellagio’s 25th anniversary event and hangs with the beautiful people at the Wynn Field Club during a Raiders game. Meanwhile, Rich laments the lack of Mambo Sauce at McDonald’s. 
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