Wham! As quickly as Carla Pellegrino reveals she created the menu at Meatball Spot, the new restaurant coming to Town Square, and is one of 21 cheftestapants on Top Chef: Seattle debuting Nov. 7 comes news that she has parted ways with the Tropicana Las Vegas and her restaurant there, Bacio by Chef Carla Pellegrino. She tells the Las Vegas Sun:
I have other needs for my time that are really important for me right now, and spending 70 hours a week inside Tropicana doesn't make any sense for me. This was hard for me. We love each other, I love the family, (Tropicana CEO) Alex (Yemenidjian) and his family, I love them all. He has treated me like his own daughter, and he wishes me well.
Pellegrino opened Bacio 19 months ago after leaving Rao's at Caesars Palace, which she opened with her then-husband Frank Pellegrino Jr. The restaurant will remain open, sans the Pellegrino name but keeping her recipes. The fiery chef also has Bratalian in Henderson and is in the process of writing a cookbook.
· Tropicana and Carla Pellegrino Part Ways [LVS]
· Carla Pellegrino Cooks Up the Menu at Meatball Spot [~ELV~]
· All Coverage of Carla Pellegrino [~ELV~]
Bacio [Photo: Chelsea McManus]
