Eataly’s Top Chef Departs for an Off-Strip Italian Restaurant

A new Italian restaurant opening in the southwest this summer just landed a big-name chef. Eataly’s executive chef Nicole Brisson departs the massive food emporium at the Park MGM in June to take over the kitchen at Locale Italian Kitchen, the new venture from Andy Hooper of The Black Sheep fame.

The restaurant near Mountain’s Edge plans to serve lunch and dinner daily with a weekend brunch. Italian cuisine in both la cucina povera, peasant cooking, and updated American-Italian styles rule the menu. The 3,000-square-foot restaurant will seat 72, along with more space on the patio.

The former executive chef at Carnevino at the Palazzo and chef di cucina at Otto Enoteca e Pizzeria at Grand Canal Shoppes helped open Wynn Las Vegas with chefs Steven Kalt and Paul Bartolotta.

Locale plans to use a wood-fired pizza oven, while Brisson anticipates using products from Heritage Meats as well as dried pastas, olive oils, vinegars, and charcuterie from Italy, according to Food & Wine. Eventually, she may even make her own pastas and charcuterie, and dry-age meats.

Locale plans to open in June.

• The Black Sheep Partner Plans a New Restaurant Near Mountain’s Edge in 2019 [ELV]