Episodes

Today we wrap up Season 7 of Cheftimony with a visit to the iconic Oscar’s Steakhouse in the Plaza Hotel & Casino in Downtown Las Vegas. Oscar’s really is a perfect fit for Cheftimony, given its blend of great food and fascinating legal stories. The restaurant’s namesake is Oscar Goodman, former mayor of Las Vegas and retired trial lawyer for alleged mobsters. I’ve recorded in the past about the wonderful Oscar Dinner Series that takes place at the Plaza, where a great dinner is served and Osc...

As I’ve said so many times, food’s real importance is the human connection it fosters, and I talk about that today along with some of the things I’ve eaten recently. We start on Haida Gwaii with Jags and Blacktail (and although Gather was closed on our recent trip, I did get a great visit in with Chef Giulio!). Returning to the mainland, I have (repeatedly) visited Raku Japanese Kitchen in West Vancouver and I go on about some delicious watermelon from Grounded Acres Farm that turned up at my ...

You are listening to Episode 083 of the Cheftimony Podcast. Friends, steakhouses, and SCOOP!

When you sit down at a steakhouse… …what really matters? Is it what’s on the plate… …or is it the experience that surrounds it? “I want a little pomp and circumstance!” These are wise words from Chef Claire Lassam of the wonderful Livia Sweets on Vancouver’s Commercial Drive. Claire, along with Michael Trager of the Vegas- and luxury-travel empire TravelZork, are my guests today as we talk through how a good steakhouse curates a feeling and all the little details that make up a great exper...

Is a secret to the steakhouse’s enduring appeal that it offers something for everyone? I think that must be at least part of the answer. In my first interview today, I re-connect with the impressive Las Vegas chef and entrepreneur Gary FX LaMorte. Gary has designed a lot of menus over a lot of years, and he talks about the importance to the menu of both familiarity (70% of menu items should sit comfortably with guests) and variety (everyone should be able to order something). Steakhouses have t...

It’s a quick snack today to bring you up to date on where we’ve been in Season 7 and where we’re going next. We’ve had two full episodes so far, both squarely focused on the theme of the season – the steakhouse. Because Las Vegas is both my favourite city to visit and a global contender for best steakhouse city, the discussions have been very Vegas-centric. On Episode 079 and Episode 080, we started to explore just why the steakhouse remains so popular by speaking with chefs, a lawyer and memb...

The steakhouse exploration continues today! My guests and I discuss why the steakhouse continues to appeal and just where to go in Las Vegas to enjoy a steakhouse experience. Three guests are friends from the Las Vegas podcasting community, and my final guest is one amazing chef who has been doing amazing things on the Las Vegas Strip for years. First up are Mark DeVol and Dr. Mike from the iconic You Can Bet on That podcast. While these two sensibly focus their time in Vegas on the important ...

It’s easy to explain why I love a good steak… but how to explain a love for the steakhouse itself? Why are so many of us, me included, drawn to a restaurant that showcases an item we can cook at home; a restaurant that doesn’t break much new ground in cooking; and a restaurant that can be very expensive? It’s a question I’ve pondered for a good long while but haven’t been able to answer. I turned to some friends. Friends who love steakhouses and who love the steakhouses in a very steakhouse-f...