Vegas Uncork'd: The Grand Tasting

The Grand Tasting 2019 was our 8th Grand Tasting. It seemed like their were less food booths. The food is still good but the crowds are out of control. Their was a few areas that you couldn't move a few feet, very crowded.We showed up at about 7:45 pm and avoided the line to get in. We walked right in and hit the booths to the right as you entered the pool area. We avoided the main crowds. We went around and came back to the main area at about 8:30 and the crowds had moved on. Overall it is still good but less entertainment then most years and not many extra gifts that we are used too.

Go hungry! There were so many different foods. Everything from oysters to lobster tacos (Guy Fieri) and all of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants (and Ramsay himself) showcasing their best.

AMAZING event. Purchased the grand tasting reserve pre-reception tickets, The grand tasting event is totally worth it but was a little disappointed with the pre reception. The light bites were not up to par and the bon appétit editor addresses the crowd for a minute bit definitely did not get to meet the editor personally. There was so much delicious food and drinks at the grand tasting so much that we missed a few booths. Met the amazing Chef Rick Moonen and caught a glimpse of Chef Gordon Ramsay. Great set up and location at Caesars Palace. Will definitely be back next year.

Always an amazing event! If you're a foodie this event is a must to check out. Great food and drinks from all the top restaurants in Vegas. So much food it can be almost overwhelming, so pace yourself and share bites with somebody if you can. Many famous/celebrity chefs to see. Will definitely be going back next!

Can't say enough of this event. We've attended it for the past 8 years and keeps getting better.

As the 10th year anniversary for Vegas Uncork'd comes up I felt I wanted to share my experience last year. Last year was my first year attending the Bon Appetit Magazine weekend. This year I bought tickets for three events including the Grand Tasting but last year I did two events and one of them was the Grand Tasting. I missed out on Thursday evening events because I bought too late and well we went to Jose Andres' Bazaar Meat instead which was a delicious choice. I loved the Grand Tasting and my interactive brunch experience with Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger last year. My only complaint that for 275 a ticket, Bon Appetit could make it a little more intimate. Even chefs serving were like they oversold tickets. My friend that I'm going with this year didn't think we should splurge on the extra 75 dollars for VIP tickets but we'll see what she thinks after her first tasting this year.

****************************** REVIEW 861 ******************************* Vegas Uncork'd by Bon Appetit Magazine is probably 1 of my favorite events for foodies (even I dislike it when others call me 'foodies'); besides Aspen Food and Wine Festival. I haven't missed it for the last 3 years. If you want to stalking celebrity chefs, this is a great event to be here; the Grand Tasting event at Vegas Uncork'd is probably 1 of the best events on schedule, $225 per person you got to enjoy a staggering variety of signature dishes prepared by the world's most celebrated chefs. The dramatic five-acre Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis Caesars Palace will feature more than 50 award-winning chefs and over 100 of the best wines and spirits from around the world. Now that's a STEAL! Everyone dressed up in style, the food and drink, all you can eat all evening long from 7-10 PM, beautiful weather, gorgeous pool, open spaces, many chefs that you've seen on TV such as: Hubert Keller, Gordon Ramsay, Fank Pellegrino, JR (Rao's NYC & Vegas), Michel Richard (DC & Vegas), Francois Payard (NYC & Vegas), Bobby Flay (Vegas & NYC), Masaharu Morimoto, Jean-Georges, Rick Moonen, Charlie Palmer, Mary Sue Miliken, Michael Mina, Todd English, Guy Savoy, Joel Robuchon, etc. My suggestion to all is to bring extra flat/comfort shoes, because after 2 hours on that 5 inches heels, you would feel it! I'm a pro, it didn't bother me :-) but for my 2 friends, they surely didn't like their shoes after the event! Oh, and there's no chairs or place for you to sit, so if you don't mind to sit on the stairs here and there, you should be fine; so no mini skirt/dress! Another tips, come early, so that you can get in earlier; don't eat at the first few booths yet; walk around to get the feel; circle the booths/chefs you want to see, then go from there. If you plan accordingly, you will have a great time. Why it's only 4 stars; some of the wines weren't serve at the right temperature, that was just all wrong! Don't expect these top chefs to stay longer than 8 PM, because they have another event to go to. However, all their executive resident chefs are still the ones cook all the food for you in Las Vegas; so don't forget to be nice and get to know these chefs too! Until 2014, Bon Appetit!

At $175 per ticket, we didn't know what to expect. The Grand Tasting was held around the pool at Caesars. It was magical; great weather, well lit, and beautiful people. There was ample space for every major restaurant and liquor vendor. Each restaurant was represented by managers and chefs cooking small bites to sample. There were only a few restaurants we weren't able to get to. We were happy with the selection of liquor and wine vendors. We even discovered a new sake- sparkling blueberry. It was like grape soda, light and carbonated, but with a blueberry twist. I've been to tastings in Az and LA and this one is the only one I'd go back to. Overall best food, gorgeous backdrop and fun crowd. It was the perfect start to M&G's Vegas adventures.

This was my second year attending this event and I had a much more enjoyable experience although I was more than pleased my first go around. The difference was preparation, strategy, and implementing/executing during the Grand Tasting Main Event. I am going to share with you what made my experience more enjoyable. First off, book your tickets in advance and pick up your tickets at Will Call at least a day before to avoid the mad rush. Second, arrive AT LEAST an hour early day of. We got there at least an hour before and while we were probably in the 3-400 range in line, it gave us a head start on the 2,500+ attendees.Next when the doors open, go as far back as you can to hit all the other booths. Every novice is going to be taken back in amazement by the dazzling display and will park at all of the first booths they see. This creates a log jam and ineffectively screws up your efficiency and time. You have 2.5 hours to hit up close to 100 fine dining establishments. In other words, less than 2 minutes per station. This gave us a HUGE advantage over everyone else as we navigated with ease. Going in a group is great because you can share samples. I know this sounds insane but with a star studded lineup of world class fine dining, you gotta save room to sample it all. Don't eat every slider you come across. Take a bite - pass it to your partner and toss it. There will be at least 10 more different sliders/burgers you'll come across. Be strategic with your carb attacks. I like to do a ratio of 80% Meat, 10% carbs, and 10% liquids. And by all means.....Hydrate.....i done nearly passed out an hour into it and was having a panic attack that I wouldn't be able to make my full rotation. Luckily I rose to the occasion. Last advice - do not park at Caesars. I gotta withhold where I park but park anywhere but Caesars to avoid a serious log jam arriving and departing from the event.Definitely check out Uncork'd Grand Tasting if you are a food and/or wine snob. I highly recommend it!

I'm cheap. If you read any review I've ever written price is always a factor for me. My ticket was $175 (no freebie here) and for me, it was totally worth it. When recounting the best foodie experience I've ever had, this is the first thing I refer to. The Grand Tasting is held at Caesar's at the pool and each chef sets up a booth...though the word "booth" hardly does justice to the ornate structures each restaurant/chef designed to house the food. No detail is left unaccounted for from the presentation of the actual food, to the container used to display it. For me, variety is the spice of life and I love being able to have little tastes of all different types of food. Every type of food is represented, and while everything wasn't my favorite (how could that even be possible?), there were so many things that were absolutely divine. The drinks are out of this world. The beautiful creations coming out of the bar area were delicious and just...fancy! You get unlimited drinks, and when you think about Vegas drink costs, this makes your ticket seem much more reasonable. Some advice: 1. Get there as early as you possibly can. There is so much food you will not be able to get to it all or digest it all if you arrive late. 2. As hard as it may be, promise yourself to only eat PART of what they give you. I recommend having a partner to split everything with (try not to be wasteful). You will want to eat all of most things you try, BUT DON'T DO IT! You will be miserably full at the end of the night if you subscribe to my method, but if you try to eat the whole portions you will hate yourself for several days. 3. Get a map and take a pen. If you want to remember what you liked or didn't like after the event, this may be the only way. Your brain will be overloaded with names and foods!4. I have mixed feelings on trying to plot your route vs. going with the flow. I think a mix is good- find the areas where your favorite chefs are cooking, and make note to visit them while you're in that section, preferably earlier in the night. 5. Make sure to find the armor-clad entertainers or one of the many famous chefs walking around and take some photos with them. You can also visit the red carpet and get your photo there.6. Finally, there is a lounge area where you may choose to rest for a bit, but laying down on a recliner is a dangerous move...you may not get back up.