Street food and ethnic cuisines among top sources for enjoyment for local chefs

Chefs, it seems, are much like the rest of us. On their nights off they may occasionally enjoy dining at the hautest of the haute, but most of the time they're more likely to indulge in a good burger or bowl of noodles.

"One would think that we're a bunch of snobby people going around to all the expensive restaurants, but that for me is not the case," said J.R. Degan, executive chef at Texas Station. "It's difficult for me to go in and pay a lot of money for stuff I can make myself."

"It's funny," echoed John LaGrone, director of culinary development for the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, "because I think a lot of people in the industry don't like to fuss as much and sit

as long."

Degan said he and his wife, who is Asian, spend a lot of time on Spring Mountain Road, frequenting noodle houses, dim sum places and banh mi sandwich shops.

But they're not above seeking out the occasional taco truck.

"We tend to eat a lot of street food," he said. "We like to experiment with other cultures' foods -- Filipino, Indian, all sorts of things."

"Lotus of Siam is probably No. 1 for me," LaGrone said of the restaurant at 953 E. Sahara Ave. "I just rarely get anything there I don't like, and I try to get adventurous. It's very pure and simple and straightforward, so I love it."

Another LaGrone favorite: Monta Ramen, 5030 Spring Mountain Road.

"Sometimes we'll hit that after work," he said. "It's simple, it's cheap, it's very fast. We're there for 30 minutes and move on to the next thing."

When dining out with his wife, LaGrone said, he likes Blossom at Aria.

"We just opened in Singapore and I had some of the best Chinese dishes I've ever had there," he said. Blossom is "comparable -- clean flavors, not MSG-laden, not heavily starched."

Kurtess Mortenson, executive chef of the Hard Rock Hotel, also likes to go to Lotus of Siam, where the nam kao tod -- crispy rice with sour sausage, scallions, chili and ginger -- "is one of my favorite dishes of all time. I absolutely love that."

Another favorite: Orchid's Garden at 5485 W. Sahara Ave., because of the "good solid dim sum." Mortenson added that he likes "social eating," "It's right there and ready. You don't have to get lost when you're eating there with friends."

"I'm on kind of a Japanese kick right now," said Steve Short, executive chef of Hank's Fine Steaks at Green Valley Ranch. He said he favors the Teriyaki Co. at 719 N. Nellis Blvd.

"It's a little janky place, but it's really good," Short said.

Debra Miller, executive pastry chef at Treasure Island, likes Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana at 140 S. Green Valley Parkway in Henderson, not only for its pizza, "which is a big treat for me," but also for the salads, because they're "simple and not overdressed."

Craig Taylor, executive chef at Treasure Island, is another Settebello salad fan; he likes the arugula salad, simply finished with lemon, sea salt and vinegar.

"It's just amazing," Taylor said.

He also favors Vintner Grille at 10100 W. Charleston Blvd. -- so much so that he even had his wedding reception there.

"I can go in there and just eat my cheese and wine and maybe some charcuterie and that can be my dinner," Taylor said. "His menu's kind of casual but elegant -- as fancy as you want, or a pizza and some cheese."

Taylor said he also likes the ambience and French-influenced food at Garfield's, 2620 Regatta Drive, and Miller said she was quite taken with the chocolate pizza at Due Forni, 3555 S. Town Center Drive, and the Jamaican-influenced food and friendly staff at DW Bistro, 6115 S. Fort Apache Road.

Some said they like to stay in their own neighborhoods. James Boyer, executive chef at the Canyon Ranch Grill at Palazzo, likes Mark Rich's Pizza & Pasta, which has locations at 11710 W. Charleston Blvd. and 7930 W. Tropical Parkway.

"It's really a neighborhood joint, which is pretty rare in Las Vegas," he said.

He also likes Yard House, which is in Town Square and at Red Rock Resort, and the Egg Works, which is at 9355 W. Flamingo Road and 2490 E. Sunset Road.

"We like to get a good value, good food and good atmosphere," he said. "We build a rapport with them and it feels nice to go where they know you."

Richard Cino, executive chef at Sam's Town, said his wife is disabled, so they like free-standing restaurants that are close to home. They favor the Original Sunrise Cafe at 8975 S. Eastern Ave. as well as these Henderson restaurants: Tuscany Grill at 11105 S. Eastern Ave. for "great Italian food and a variety of other specials, plus great fish," Todd's Unique Dining at 4350 E. Sunset Road, The Cracked Egg, 1000 N. Green Valley Parkway (with three other locations in the valley) and Ventano at 191 S. Arroyo Grande Blvd.

Two chefs who don't live here full time like to explore when they're in town.

"There are so many restaurants in Vegas," said Francois Payard, whose Payard Patisserie & Bistro is at Caesars Palace. "I make an effort every time to go to see the new place." The Cosmopolitan is next on his list.

Meanwhile, Payard has high praise for SW Steakhouse at Wynn Las Vegas; "pretty much all the restaurants at Bellagio," but especially Picasso; L'Atelier Joel Robuchon, Joel Robuchon and Shibuya at MGM Grand; and Fleur and Mix at Mandalay Bay.

"In New York, Vegas helps to keep us fresh," Payard said.

Jeff Moogk, executive chef of Sammy's Woodfired Pizza and based in La Jolla, Calif., likes Jaleo and Estiatorio Milos at The Cosmopolitan, the latter "because I have a spot in my heart for real fresh Dover sole."

Kerry Simon, executive chef of Simon Restaurant & Bar at Palms Place, likes a grilled Italian sub from Capriotti's if he's in a hurry. He also favors the noodles at Beijing Noodle No. 9 at Caesars Palace and delivery pizza from New York Pizza and Pasta at 2400 S. Jones Blvd. -- either the white pizza or one with mushrooms, fresh tomatoes, olives, fresh herbs, half sausage.

As for Chris Fearnow, executive chef at Green Valley Ranch, he likes to go to brunch at Simon's place, or at the Verandah at the Four Seasons, where, he said, "it almost makes you feel like you're not here. It's almost a Shangri-La."

But those weren't his first replies. His first pick?

"I go on a fast once in a while," Fearnow said. "When I came off the fast, Fatburger was the only thing I could think of. I go there for the vegetarian burger."

Contact reporter Heidi Knapp Rinella at hrinella@review journal.com or 702-383-0474.