Wolfgang Puck Celebrates 20 Years at Spago in December

Twenty years ago in December, Wolfgang Puck came to Las Vegas, daring to open his first Sin City restaurant in the Forum Shops at Caesars. A huge fan of boxing, Puck made regular treks to Vegas with his celebrity pals Jack Nicholson, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone to watch the fights. When his friend Sheldon Gordon approached him to be a part of the Forum Shops that he was building, Puck agreed, opening Spago, his restaurant adored by celebrities in Beverly Hills.

December 1992 proved to be a long month with most shows closed and only the rodeo in town. Within three weeks, the Consumer Electronics Show came to town, seats filled up and Puck never looked back. As casino presidents found their way into Spago, they realized that a real chef could put together a better restaurant, and thus the era of celebrity chefs in Vegas followed with Emeril Lagasse and Mark Miller joining Puck to change the dining landscape here.

Now the restaurant is getting set to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Puck plans to be in town Dec. 11 working tables, cooking and greeting guests. During the entire week, Spago is running a 20th anniversary menu that includes favorites from the past two decades.

From Dec. 10-14, the restaurant will offer a limited-time-only throwback menu with retro pricing that will feature many of Wolfgang and Spago's famous dishes such as house-smoked sturgeon with crisp potato galette and horseradish cream; Cantonese-style roasted duck with wild huckleberries, ginger and stir-fried baby bok choy; and Wolfgang's Kaiserschmarrn with strawberry sauce. Below, the full menu complete with retro pricing.

SPAGO LAS VEGAS 20TH ANNIVERSARY MENU – TO RUN DECEMBER 10-14, 2012

Appetizer
House Smoked Sturgeon, Crisp Potato Galette, Horseradish Cream $12
Smoked Salmon Pizza, Dill Crème Fraîche, Chives, Caviar $14
Crisp Tempura Shrimp, Thai Basil Aioli $11
Sautéed Maryland Crab Cakes, Red Pepper Coulis $11
Tuna Sashimi, Soy Lime Vinaigrette $12
Chopped Vegetable Salad, Balsamic Vinaigrette, Parmesan $9
Crispy Petaluma Quail, Mandarin Glaze $11
Classic Steak Tartare, Capers, Dijon Aioli and Grilled Bread $19
Stir Fried Lamb, Garlic & Ginger, in Lettuce Cups $9

Pasta
Wild Mushroom Risotto, Caramelized Shallots, Italian Parsley $12
Angel Hair Pasta, Tomatoes, Basil, Garlic $11
Butternut Squash Ravioli Sage Brown Butter, Hazelnuts, Parmesan-Reggiano $12
Add Quail $16
Maine Lobster, Spinach Linguini and Chinese Black Bean Sauce $18
Farmers Market White Corn Agnolotti, (Black Truffle Option) $10/$33

Entrée
Yellowfin Tuna ''Steak Frites'', Horseradish Mash Potatoes and Armagnac Peppercorn Sauce $19
Oven Roasted Salmon, Ratatouille Vegetables, Potato Purée, Saffron Yellow Pepper Nage $17
Roasted Organic Half Chicken, Farmers Market Vegetables Double Blanched Garlic, Parsley $16
Cantonese Style Roasted Duck with Wild Huckleberries, Ginger and Stir-Fried Baby Bok Choy $20
Weiner Schnitzel, Warm Fingerling Potato Salad, Mâche, Marinated Cucumbers $17
Wolfgang's Beef Goulash, Sautéed Spätzle, Parsley, Marjoram, Paprika and Crème Fraîche $16
"Chinois Style" Colorado Lamb Chops, Cilantro Mint Vinaigrette, Sweet & Sour Eggplant $33
Venison "Filet Mignon", Red Cabbage, Cipollini Onions, Brussel Sprouts, Chestnut Purée $24
Grilled Prime Black Angus New York Steak, Roasted Potatoes, Watercress, Onions, Sauce Diane $31

Dessert $9
Marjolaine, Caramel Ice Cream
Chocolate Soufflé, Vanilla Ice Cream
Wolfgang's Kaiserschmarrn with Strawberry Sauce
Apple Crisp
Chocolate Melting Cake, Vanilla Crème Anglaise, Espresso Ice Cream and Whipped Cream
· All Coverage of Wolfgang Puck [~ELV~]