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During a luncheon yesterday in New York City, Marina Bay Sands and Chef Daniel Boulud announced that the multiple award-winner will be one of six world renowned chefs featured at the much-anticipated integrated resort complex when it launches in Singapore next year.

“We are delighted and honored to have Chef Boulud join our efforts to create a truly memorable and unique experience at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore,” said Michael Leven, president of Las Vegas Sands Corp., the parent company of Marina Bay Sands. “The interest and excitement around Marina Bay Sands grows by the day as we announce exclusive offerings, such as a signature restaurant by Daniel Boulud, and as the size, scope, and stunning architecture of the property continues to become such a prominent part of the Singapore skyline and a focal point of Marina Bay.”

Earlier this week, Marina Bay Sands and Disney Theatrical Productions announced that the award-winning Broadway musical The Lion King will be featured in one of the resort’s state-of-the-art theatres. In addition, leading retailers such as Louis Vuitton, CHANEL, Gucci, Hermes, Ferragamo, and others will occupy the 800,000 square-foot Marina Bay Sands Shoppes.

Chef Boulud, whose New York restaurant DANIEL was recently awarded the prestigious three-stars designation from the Michelin Guide, said he looks forward to spending time in Singapore when he brings a new version of his New York restaurant, DB Bistro Moderne, to Marina Bay Sands.

“I’ve had the privilege of traveling to Singapore and enjoyed some incredible meals by local chefs. It’s a superb city where I discovered a culture with a love of food from every corner of the world. Singapore is a wonderful place for me to create a restaurant in partnership with Las Vegas Sands and the international community of chefs they are bringing together. The Marina Bay Sands will be a great addition to a place that is already a dining destination.”

When completed, Marina Bay Sands will feature large and flexible convention and exhibition facilities, approximately 2,500 luxury hotel rooms, the breathtaking rooftop Sands SkyPark, a museum, Las Vegas-style gaming, the Paiza Club for premium players, theatres, entertainment, an outdoor event plaza, and unparalleled shopping and dining.

Click here for Marina Bay Sands Resort.

About Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd. :

Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd is currently developing a fully integrated luxury resort in Singapore. An affiliate of Las Vegas Sands Corp., the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry leader in the United States and Asia’s leading developer of multi-use integrated resorts, Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd is backed by a dedicated executive team with a proven track record spanning the MICE, retail, construction and marketing sectors in Asia.

About Las Vegas Sands Corp. :

Las Vegas Sands Corp. is the leading international developer of multi-use integrated resorts. The Las Vegas, Nevada-based company owns and operates The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino, The Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino, and the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas and the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem in Eastern Pennsylvania. The company also owns and operates The Venetian Macao Resort-Hotel and the Sands Macao in the People’s Republic of China’s Special Administrative Region of Macau. In addition, LVS owns the Four Seasons Hotel Macao and is also developing the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort in Singapore.

LVS is also creating the Cotai Strip, a master-planned development of resort-casino properties in Macau. At completion, the Cotai Strip will feature approximately 21,000 rooms from world-renowned hotel brands such as St. Regis, Sheraton, Shangri-La, Traders, Hilton, Conrad, Fairmont, Raffles, Holiday Inn, and InterContinental.

From the ashes of The Boulevard comes The Hudson, opened by trio Beau Laughlin, Brett Cranston, and Michael Jay at. Once a train station, the long rectangular venue now boats a simply-decorated open-air patio which makes up two-thirds of the restaurant. Probably the most interesting elements of the space are the 50-foot trees which sprout up through the dining room. Ever dreamed of dining in a tree house? Here’s your chance…kinda.

Co-owner Beau Laughlin explains, “Our aim with The Hudson is to create a classically cool environment that features great food, drinks & ambiance, with an emphasis on value & service.” Owners also pans to hire live DJs to spin during the evening. As for eats, look for reasonably-priced seasonal American dishes, pizzas, sandwiches plus house-made apple pie and crepes with Nutella. Wines are mostly sourced from California and beers are a mix of craft brews and the regular stuff. For brunch, lunch, dinner or drinks, The Hudson is open continuously from 11AM to 1:30AM.

The Hudson
1114 Crescent Heights Blvd. at Santa Monica Blvd.
(323 654-6686

Click here for The Hudson website.

Koi is one of those trendy L.A. eateries where the cuisine and the scene coexist in a surprisingly healthy balance. Being the favored Japanese restaurant of many in Hollywood, Koi offers great people-watching opportunities in a stylish setting.

Koi is dividend into several distinct areas including both an indoor and an open air patio dining. The main dining area is accented with feng shui elements of bamboo reeds, sheer burnt orange curtains, trickling water, soft lighting from votive candle light and fireplaces.

The chef’s brilliant fusions of Japanese and Californian cuisine account for the repeat clientele.
Koi also delivers some high quality sushi and contemporary Japanese cooking. The food is wonderful (overpriced, but wonderful). Reflecting the restaurant’s modern sensibilities are dishes such as tuna tartare with avocado on crispy won tons, and seared toro sashimi with garlic soy. Hot dishes include Chilean sea bass with ginger and shiitake mushrooms, miso-glazed black cod, and Kobe beef (paired with seared foie gras as a starter or grilled toban-yaki-style as an entrée).

Koi has a calming ambience that is a welcome relief from the hectic Melrose scene just outside the ornately carved gates.

You will be impressed with one of the horseshoe booths on the back patio amid Buddha statues and candlelight.

Koi
730 N. La Cienega Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA
310-659-9449

www.koirestaurant.com

By David Haines

Tonight’s dinner at Ze Café was interesting. What could have been a somewhat low-key experience was anything but that. I went with my friend Rosa. She’s never boring. She’s the life of the party, and when nothing’s going on, she creates the fun. She’s captivating and beautiful, witty and charming, elegant and sweet; but she’s also a trouble maker – all at the same time.

As we walked in, we were taken aback by the simple beauty of the restaurant. So delicately appointed – a skylight in the center of the room, rustic walls, tables, and floors with flowers and plants all around. It’s a very small and intimate space, and it’s very inviting. It was a little empty upon our arrival, so this was Rosa’s signal to have a little fun with the wait staff.

She started by asking the waiter his wine recommendations. When she saw the prices, she asked for a discount. He smiled with shy curiosity. He didn’t know what to think. Was she serious? After Rosa asked if there was anything he could do, he smiled with a resigned affirmation of the fact that he couldn’t give a discount. But he could let her try the two wines she was considering. Sauvignon blanc was Rosa’s choice over the Sancerre.

After hearing the specials of the evening, we made our choices. As her appetizer, Rosa ordered the jumbo lump crab brandade on toasted garlic baguette slices and roasted sea bass with mild mushrooms, baby carrots, and tatsoi as her entree. I chose the poached Mayan shrimp with avocado, horseradish, garlic chips, and lemon as an appetizer, and for my entrée I chose the gnocchi special of the evening.

While waiting for our appetizers to arrive, Rosa asked our waiter why he spent so much time at another table while we went wanting for bread. She was teasing, but she meant it. He laughed and smiled, and then returned quickly with the bread and olive oil. I didn’t care for the olive bread, and my appetizer was bland. The avocado “dip” was unimpressive, and the poached prawns were almost tasteless. Rosa’s jumbo lump crab brandade was somewhat good, however. It wasn’t that tasty, but it was good.

By the time our entrees had arrived, the restaurant was filling up and becoming more fun. The music had faded, but the vibe had begun to build. Rosa’s sea bass was very good. It was well cooked and beautifully plated. My gnocchi was so so. It looked good, but there wasn’t a lot of taste.

For dessert, we each had pie. Rosa had the apple caramel with vanilla ice cream, and I had the mixed berry a la mode. I mainly tasted blueberries and black berries, but there could have been some raspberries in there. Both pies were very good, but Rosa’s was better.

Overall, we had a good time. I would go back, but maybe not to eat much. Or maybe, I’d just get everything Rosa ordered. She made all the better choices. And for the record — Rosa didn’t get a discount, but our waiter poured us each a glass of wine on the house, and someone else on staff brought us each some limoncello as an aperitif, which proves yet again — Rosa’s charms are irresistible.

Ze Cafe
398 E 52 Street
New York, NY 10022
212-758-1944