atlantic city

celebrity chefs

Emeril Hosts Atlantic City Stadium Show — Sort Of

Don't enjoy amateur cooks facing off on TV?

Don't enjoy amateur cooks facing off on TV? Maybe you'll have different sentiments if you're watching them in person. At least, that's what Emeril Lagasse is hoping as he launches his new Atlantic City game show: Taste of Emeril's Cooking Challenge. It begins Oct. 21 at Caesars Atlantic City, and will run several times a week through Nov. 12.

Each night, the casino show will choose six members from the audience to square off onstage at two cooking stations, first competing in two teams, then facing elimination until the last two standing face off to take home the prize. Emeril will appear via the big screen to offer taped commentary and critique. While he admits the casino show is risky, the veteran culinary personality said he was looking for the right show that could be marketed to audiences at a reasonable price.

Tickets are only $35 each, but for that amount, I'd still expect to see more than video footage of Emeril. What about you? Do you see the "interactive cooking competition" being a success?

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Wine

Noteworthy Nibbles — Oct. 14-20, 2008

It's only Tuesday, but I'm already looking forward to the multitude of festivals this weekend.

It's only Tuesday, but I'm already looking forward to the multitude of festivals this weekend.

There are so many in the Bay Area alone that I can't decide whether to hit up the Santana Row Pear Festival, the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, or the Monterey Wine Festival. I suppose I might just rock them all!

Have we left something out? If so, please drop us a line in the comments below!

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Cocktails

If Casinos Stop Offering Free Drinks, Would You Still Go?

I'm not much of a gambler, but I must admit, part of the lure of the casino is the ladies and gents handing out free drinks and meals.

I'm not much of a gambler, but I must admit, part of the lure of the casino is the ladies and gents handing out free drinks and meals. It's not a true casino experience if you don't have a free drink in hand. Yet, this may end for the folks — and tourists — in Atlantic City. Due to the current economic slowdown, many of AC's 11 gambling halls are considering cutting back on freebies. Last year the casinos spent $1.63 billion giving away free stuff, a 2.4 percent decline from the year before. And with fewer folks headed out to gamble, the amount they spend may decrease even more. This means no free martinis, no free buffet breakfast, and no more perks.

So tell me, when you go out to a casino, do you expect free drinks? And when you do go, what do you order? I usually keep it simple with a vodka tonic, but some folks go crazy and order complicated drinks. How about you? What do you order at a casino?

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