Wynn Las Vegas Partners with Tal Ronnen, 'The Conscious Cook'

Celebrated vegan chef and cookbook author collaborates with Wynn and Encore chefs to create innovative new vegan menus

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Mar 03, 2011, 04:59 ET

LAS VEGAS, March 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Wynn Las Vegas announces a collaboration with vegan visionary Tal Ronnen, who is working closely with the award-winning Wynn and Encore chefs to develop all-new vegan menus for the restaurants on property. In 2010 Wynn Las Vegas and Encore became the first resort on the Las Vegas Strip to offer an extensive vegan culinary program, and through this collaboration with Ronnen, Wynn further accommodates guests' ever-changing tastes and dietary preferences.

"I am excited to work with the esteemed Wynn and Encore chefs to introduce my vegan cuisine to Las Vegas," Ronnen says. "I hope diners will find that eating meat and dairy-free cuisine does not have to feel like a sacrifice, but a step up."

Ronnen is the author of The New York Times best-selling cookbook The Conscious Cook: Delicious Meatless Recipes That Will Change the Way You Eat (William Morow, 2009). He has received national recognition for cooking vegan cuisine for celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey, for whom he created a 21-day vegan cleanse. A graduate of The National Gourmet Institute who has worked in top vegan restaurants (Candle 79 in Manhattan and VegiTerranean restaurant in Akron, Ohio, a collaboration with Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders), Ronnen applies classical French techniques to meatless ingredients. By using an array of exotic ingredients and creative preparations, Ronnen reinterprets traditional meat-focused dishes into vegan cuisine that tempts and satisfies diners of various tastes.

At the property's award-winning restaurants, Ronnen and the Wynn and Encore chefs partner to offer well-rounded vegan menus comprised of salad, appetizer, soup, entree and dessert options. Known for his crave-worthy steakhouse menu, Executive Chef David Walzog of Lakeside Grill and SW Steakhouse has teamed with Ronnen to create hearty dishes such as Vegan "Clam Chowder" with cashew cream base and smoked oyster mushrooms; Old Bay Cakes with toasted pasta, blistered tomatoes and ancho-garlic aioli at Lakeside Grill; and Vegan Gardein Beef Skewers with asparagus, sweet peppers and warm red-chili vinaigrette at SW. At Sinatra, Chef Theo Schoenegger and Ronnen offer decadent dishes such as Agnolotti, small pockets filled with vegan ricotta, herbs and asparagus sauce. Ronnen and Chef Jet Tila demonstrate their skill and inventiveness with dishes such as Faux-Nagi Oyster Mushroom "Eel" Sushi and a Spicy "Tuna" Roll at Wazuzu. Throughout the year, Ronnen will work with all of the chefs at Wynn Las Vegas and Encore to create vegan dishes for each restaurant.

Through this collaboration with Ronnen, Wynn Las Vegas remains a pioneer in the hospitality industry, offering guests delicious and healthy options that satisfy every palate.

About Wynn Resorts

Wynn Resorts, Limited (Nasdaq: WYNN) is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol WYNN and is part of the S&P 500 and NASDAQ-100 Indexes. Wynn Resorts owns and operates Wynn Las Vegas and Encore (www.wynnlasvegas.com), and Wynn Macau (www.wynnmacau.com). Wynn Las Vegas, a luxury hotel and destination casino resort located on the Las Vegas Strip features 2,716 luxurious guest rooms and suites, an approximately 110,000 square foot casino, 22 food and beverage outlets, an on-site 18-hole golf course, meeting space, an Ferrari and Maserati dealership, approximately 74,000 square feet of retail space as well as a theater, two nightclubs and lounges.

Encore, an expansion of Wynn Las Vegas opened on December 22, 2008. Encore is located immediately adjacent to Wynn Las Vegas and features a 2,034 all-suite hotel, approximately 76,000 square foot casino, 13 food and beverage outlets, a spa and salon, meeting space, approximately 27,000 square feet of upscale retail outlets as well as a beach club, a theater, two nightclubs and lounges.

Wynn Macau is a destination casino resort in the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and currently features 595 deluxe hotel rooms and suites, approximately 222,000 square foot casino, casual and fine dining in six restaurants, approximately 48,000 square feet of retail space, a health club, pool and spa, along with lounges and meeting facilities.

Encore at Wynn Macau opened on April 21, 2010. Encore is an expansion of Wynn Macau which adds a fully-integrated luxury hotel with 414 spacious suites and villas along with restaurants, additional retail space and gaming space.

SOURCE Wynn Las Vegas