The Neon Mohawk

I’m excited to share a few new projects. As you may already know, I left the Las Vegas-Review Journal last year to start the  Food & Loathing Podcast  (alongside producer Rich Johnson) and create Neon Feast , a dining guide app that is transforming the way people choose restaurants in Las Vegas. I’m happy to report that I can now also be seen, and heard, on the following local news outlets: Highway Radio April 29 will be the launch of new radio report, The Neon Feast Foodie Update, which will air exclusively on Highway Radio, sister stations VIBE 99.7 (KHYZ-FM) in Las Vegas, and VIBE 98.1 (KRXV-FM) in Barstow/Victor Valley, California, and stream at  https://highwayradio.com .  This will be voiced by me and produced by Rich Johnson of Utter Clarity, providing highlights from our weekly Food & Loathing Podcast. Each two-minute report will be packed with news, celebrity interviews and on-the-scene reporting covering the most important restaurant happenings on and off The

Chef James Trees has big plans for the next year and a half. Esther’s Kitchen is moving. Its current location will be converted to an upscale French bistro. And its current prep room and storage area could become an Italian grocery. For those who missed the livestream, those are just few of the things Trees told the Food and Loathing podcast at Tony Gemignani’s International Pizza Expo pre-party Sunday night at the Downtown Pizza Rock location. (For those who want to catch up, you can hear all of the details on Ep 43 of the podcast, “PizzaLeftovers (Again)”   -- or just keep reading for the bullet points.) Trees began by confirming that he’s purchasing the building on the corner of Main and California Streets that has was home to the Retro Vegas antique/furniture store. “We have the great neighbors Bill and Bob who have been part of the downtown scene since the early 90s, since they bought the property at Retro Vegas,” James said of that deal. “They are now ready to retire,

Chef and baker Buddy Valastro, who already operates three Las Vegas businesses and multiple cake vending machines on The Strip, has two more concepts coming to The LINQ Hotel and Linq Promenade. And he’ll be channeling his home state of New Jersey at both. Speaking to the Food and Loathing podcast at his Grand Canal Shoppes Italian eatery Buddy V’s , Valastro shared some details on the previously announced Boss Café, and spilled the beans on another upcoming outpost that will be called Buddy’s Jersey Eats. Valastro says The Boss Café will be focused on a pair of items: pizza, and fresh mozzarella (which will be made on site and incorporated into signature sandwiches). “I have a new pizza that I’m going to be launching,” he explains. “I’m coining (the name for) it, bakery pizza.” “It’s kind of like a pan pizza. It’s a cross between, let’s call it a Sicilian and a focaccia. And I’m doing it kinda upside down. So I’m going to top it with mozzarella and provolone, so you get that nice sh

 What would you do to have a truly great coffee shop in the neighborhood where you work – or maybe an amazing diner, or a classic old-school deli?  Developer J Dapper, who’s in the process of renovating the Huntridge Shopping Center on Charleston Boulevard, is apparently craving a good sandwich and a great cup of Joe so badly that he’s willing to spend close to a million bucks building one – for the right chef or restaurateur. Dapper has launched The Great Las Vegas Coffee Shop Giveaway: an effort to secure a coffee shop, diner, deli or similar restaurant for the development. And he’s brought in some heavy hitters to help him choose the winner. “I miss having a gathering place in the Huntridge neighborhood where everyone can sit and relax and have great food,” Dapper explained in a press releasee announcing the concept. “We want to bring that back to the neighborhood, and hope to find someone who has a great concept, who just needs the help in putting it all together.” He’s asking anyo