NEW TOUR GIVES TASTE OF FREMONT AND BEYOND
With thousands of restaurants and so many celebrity chefs in Las Vegas, deciding where to eat can be daunting. Donald Contursi, founder of award-winning Lip Smacking Foodie Tours, came up with a solution four years ago when he started the first fine dining tour on the Strip on his days off.
"I had a good paying job, but something was missing," said Contursi, himself a foodie. "I wanted to create an experience." After 10 years as a high-end restaurant server and manager he took a leap of faith following the adage: "Find a need and fill it."
"Everything is a spectacle," said Contursi, who now works with around 25 restaurant outlets in the city. "We create a different experience at each restaurant."
Contursi has packaged a variety of tours on the Strip with addons, like a city helicopter ride or a focus on the revitalized booming downtown scene. The latter was inspired by the opening of independent, chef-driven restaurants focused on farm-to-table fare.
These private dining tours are an exciting option for checking out different vetted restaurants, while meeting new folks and visiting the less-trod Downtown.
The three to four hour tours start at a given location where participants meet their tour guide. At each of three to four restaurant stops, guests are whisked to the best table in the house, where they indulge in distinctive dishes and receive a warm welcome from the chef or proprietor. Seating is family style, allowing opportunities to mingle.
Tastings include appetizers to en trees and desserts, for a complete meal. Samplings downtown include crispy chicken skins at Carson Kitchen; chicken and red velvet waffle sliders at Therapy; and hearth oven bread with dip 4 ways at 7th & Carson. Vegan, veggie and gluten-free options are available as well. Pre-selected signature cocktail pairings are a popular add-on.
As the group walks to each location, an expert guide shares interesting facts and stories. From sculptures to murals, each tour is crafted around supporting and exposing artists and culture as well as the dining experience. "The canvas is the plate," said Contursi discussing his tours. "The medium is the food as the creative outlet."
Contursi suggests taking a tour the first day of a trip to experience different restaurants. At the end of the tour, participants are given a booklet with recommended, well-vetted dining places.
Reservations: Call 888.681.4388 or visit vegasfoodietourcom. Tour prices start at $125. Signature cocktail package, add $50. Tips included at every destination. Must be age 21 or older.
