The Neon Mohawk

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