Details on Jose Andres' new Chinese-Mexican restaurant in Las Vegas

As reported earlier, Jose Andres will be opening two new restaurants at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The first will be a Sin City outpost of Jaleo (Andres' Spanish tapas restaurant in Washington) and the second a Chinese-Mexican concept.

Until now, Andres' Chexican restaurant remained unnamed, but the new addition to his Think Food Group family will be called China Poblano. The space will be designed by SEED, which also has designed restaurants for the likes of Emeril Lagasse and Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

Asian-meets-Latin-American fusion has taken the mobile food world by storm, and it'll be interesting to see Andres' updated take on the trend when the restaurant -- and the Cosmopolitan -- open on Dec. 15.

-- Krista Simmons
Twitter.com/@kristasimmons

Photo: Jose Andres. Credit: Pablo de Loy

Jose Andres heads to Vegas to open Jaleo ... and a Chexican restaurant

Jose Andres joins the list of chefs set to open restaurants at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The Deutsche Bank-owned hotel on the Strip is expected to finish construction in December (likely the last major casino-resort to open there for a few years).

Andres' ThinkFoodGroup plans to open the fourth outpost of his Spanish tapas bar Jaleo, as well as a restaurant that will feature his take on Chinese and Mexican cuisine. No details on the Chexican restaurant yet.

In March Cosmopolitan announced a lineup of planned restaurants that include modern brasserie Comme Ca by Los Angeles chef David Myers; New York City restaurateurs Bruce and Eric Bromberg's Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill; Scarpetta and a new casual wine bar by Scott Conant; Estiatorio Milos from Costas Spiliadis; and steakhouse STK from the One Group. Cosmopolitan Chief Executive John Unwin recently told the Associated Press that there would be 13 restaurants in the hotel-casino.

Myers of L.A. says that the Vegas Comme Ca will, fittingly, look onto the Paris hotel and will be designed by Adam D. Tihany (who has designed restaurants such as Per Se and Daniel in New York).

Andres, besides being chef-partner in several Washington, D.C.-area restaurants including Jaleo and Minibar, opened the Bazaar at the SLS Hotel in Los Angeles in 2008.

-- Betty Hallock

Photo: Jose Andres. Credit: Joshua Reynolds / For the Los Angeles Times

Sampler Platter: Meat grown in a lab for first time; we're wasting more food than ever; road food flowchart

Would you eat meat grown in a lab? Or drink wine made by a stockbroker? This and more in today's food news roundup.

-- Scientists reportedly grow meat in a lab for the first time! Telegraph
-- Eating the Road debuts its Where Should I Eat? Chain Restaurant Flowchart.
-- After East, David Judaken's next venture will be Hollywood nightclub MY Spot. Eater LA
-- Music to inspire chef José Andrés: Elton John, Ennio Morricone, Counting Crows. KCRW
-- Every Thanksgiving turns into a pie fight at Mommie Helen's in Colton. Wall Street Journal
-- The 99 Cent Chef makes holiday stuffing cupcakes with cranberry frosting.
-- A wave of MBAs and bankers turn winemaking into the second career du jour. New York Times
-- Americans waste more food than ever before -- nearly 40% of the food supply. Discover
-- Philadelphia restaurant firebombed. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
-- Full Yield dietary program thinks health savings start in the company cafeteria. New York Times
-- Where Washington D.C.'s elite go to eat: Komi, Charlie Palmer, the Palm, the Oval Room, Bombay Club, Ben's Chili Bowl and more. CNN

-- Elina Shatkin

Photo: Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times

The Scoop: Joshua Whigham takes over at the Bazaar

According to the SLS Hotel's Twitter feed, a replacement has been found for Top Chef's Michael Voltaggio, who helped open the four-star restaurant the Bazaar last winter. Voltaggio ducked out in April, making way for another studly young chef to take a turn in this bazaar corner of the city. 

Joshua Whigham, the newly appointed chef de cuisine, has worked at a few of Jose Andres' other restaurants, including Cafe Atlantico and Zaytinya. The D.C. chef most recently cooked at Hook.

Jose Andres will be heading into town next week, perhaps to give a round of training. No doubt it's a good time to snatch a ressie -- the man puts on one heck of a show.

-- Krista Simmons

Photo: Jose Andres' molecular olives and cherries. Credit: Shane Redsar

Small Bites: Kitchen Pantry opens at the Bazaar, Amici Trattoria opens in Glendale, Gordon Ramsay class

Kitchen Pantry: The newest addition to the Bazaar by José Andrés is the Kitchen Pantry, a collection of cooking products and specialty foods available for sale, including  Ventresca tuna belly fillets, Mancho-Oro saffron, Grand Reserva sherry vinegar, Nuñez de Prado olive oil, preserved El Navarrico piquillo peppers, blanched Marcona almonds and, of course, Andres' cookbook "Tapas: A Taste of Spain in America." The Bazaar by José Andrés, SLS Hotel, 465 S. LaCienega Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 246-5555, www.thebazaar.com.

New Amici: Brentwood Italian restaurant Amici Trattoria has opened another outpost in Glendale that's noticeably larger (seating for 187) with a patio garden, a full bar and a few new menu items. The Americana at Brand, 889 Americana Way, Glendale. (818) 502-1220, www.amicila.com.

Cooking like Ramsay: On Saturday, executive chef Andy Cook and his team at Gordon Ramsay at The London West Hollywood will host a two-hour master class. For $150, they'll teach guests how to create several of Ramsay's signature dishes. If you miss it, there are seven more of these master classes scheduled through the end of the year. 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. 1020 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood. (310) 358-7788, www.thelondonwesthollywood.com/gordon_ramsay/.

Eating Out: DineLA Restaurant Week will return for its first-ever autumn event Oct. 4 to 9 and Oct. 11 to 16. Here are just a few participating restaurants: Cache, On Sunset, the Lobster, the Bistro Garden at Coldwater, Bella Cucina, Geisha House, Ketchup.

-- Elina Shatkin

Photo: The Bazaar by José Andrés in the SLS Hotel. Credit: Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times

Sampler Platter: Luxury cupcakes, school lunches and sake facts

Teen chefs, Louis Vuitton cupcakes, school lunches from around the world and the results of Zagat's annual fast-food survey lead Monday's lineup of food news.

• Luxury cupcakes inspired by Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Christian Louboutin and Betsey Johnson. Luxuo
• School lunches from around the world. What's for School Lunch
• Results of Zagat 2009 fast-food survey: Starbucks has No. 1 coffee (but is No. 8 in overall experience); In-N-Out has No. 1 burger; McDonald's has No. 1 fries; Panera has No. 1 salad. Subway, In-N-Out and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf are No. 1 in service.
• Even Jose Andres messes up in the kitchen. James Beard Foundation
• Chef Greg Grossman, 14, signs deal to star in his own reality show. The Hollywood Reporter
• A look at Virginia-based burger chain Five Guys Burger and Fries, which recently expanded into Carson and Cerritos. USA Today
• Twelve things a beginner should know about sake. LA Examiner

-- Elina Shatkin

Photo: Elina Shatkin / Los Angeles Times.