Food Network® Star Chef Aaron Sanchez Re-Brands House of Blues Restaurant at Showboat With Menu Overhaul

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., March 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning March 31st, 2012, Showboat Atlantic City will offer guests and foodies alike the acclaimed cuisine of renowned chef, Food Network® star, cookbook author and James Beard award winner Aaron Sanchez, with the debut of Crossroads at House of Blues.  Crossroads will be a tribute to the sights, sounds and tastes of every corner of America and will feature a mix of delectable dishes created by the renowned culinary vision of Chef Sanchez.

Formerly the House of Blues Restaurant, Crossroads at House of Blues will boast an eclectic menu of contemporary comfort food that matches the diversity and spirit that House of Blues is known for. Options will range from classic favorites like jambalaya, slow-smoked pulled pork and signature burgers to new offerings like shrimp and grits, seared tuna tostadas and braised short rib meatball sliders.  Atlantic City's Crossroads at House of Blues is one of several Crossroads restaurant concepts that have been rolling out across the country in the past year, with locations in Chicago, San Diego and Houston among others.

"The addition of Crossroads and Chef Sanchez to House of Blues and the top House of Blues in the nation, further demonstrates our commitment to offering our patrons an unparalleled level of excellence, whether it's the music on stage or the food on the table," said Don Marrandino, Eastern Division President of Caesars Entertainment.  "We are thrilled to introduce our guests to the new menu offerings at Crossroads and are excited to welcome Chef Aaron to the Showboat Atlantic City family."

From appetizers like crispy chicken wings with smoked tomato BBQ sauce and citrus marinated steak tacos with Cotija cheese and roasted tomatillo salsa to American classics like lobster macaroni & cheese, slow cooked ribs and buttermilk fried chicken, Crossroads' extensive menu has something for everyone.  The market fish of the day can be ordered pan roasted in olive oil, blackened or marinated in citrus zest and fine herbs and grilled over an open flame.  Burger lovers can build their own creation, starting with an Angus beef or Jamaican spiced turkey patty and can then choose from a wide selection of gourmet toppings including sauteed Bourbon onions, Applewood bacon and avocado.  For those who prefer something on the lighter side, Chef Sanchez has created a number of fresh and crisp entrees like the seared Ahi tuna chopped salad with fennel, radishes and parmesan wonton chips and the citrus marinated steak salad with spicy pecans, ginger and jalapeno peppers.

"The House of Blues venues offer the best musical experience anywhere and we wanted to make sure the food intersected with that experience.  That's why we're calling the restaurants 'Crossroads at House of Blues'," said Chef Aaron Sanchez.  "They had a unique need for a chef that understood the music and food and an audience that 'gets it.'  Music and food tastes are both constantly changing and that's something that I really identify with."

Aaron Sanchez is one of the country's leading contemporary chefs and has been featured on numerous Food Network hit series including Chefs vs. City, Chopped, Next Iron Chef, Best Thing I Ever Ate and his current show, Heat Seekers. His first book, La Comida del Barrio, was published in May 2003 and his latest book, Simple Food, Big Flavor, hit shelves last fall.  Chef Sanchez was also nominated as 2005's "Rising Star Chef of the Year" by the James Beard Foundation and has since made multiple international appearances conducting cooking demos and speaking engagements, where he shares his knowledge and passion for cooking and culture with thousands of admirers throughout the year.

Crossroads at House of Blues will be open seven days a week for dinner starting March 31, 2012.  For more information, please visit http://www.showboatac.com.

About Caesars Entertainment
Caesars Entertainment Corporation is the world's largest casino entertainment company. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, more than 70 years ago, Caesars has grown through development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions, and now operates casinos on four continents. The company's resorts operate primarily under the Harrah's®, Caesars® and Horseshoe® brand names. Caesars also owns the World Series of Poker® and the London Clubs International family of casinos. Caesars Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its guests through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. Caesars is committed to environmental sustainability and energy conservation and recognizes the importance of being a responsible steward of the environment.  For more information, please visit www.caesars.com.

SOURCE Caesars Entertainment Atlantic City