The first-ever Revelry at The Wynn is perfectly named. It’s described as EAT. DRINK.PARTY! I can confirm that all three were done to excess. Revelry was not part of Las Vegas Restaurant Week, although the Revelry event itself did offer daily events/dinners, which did include the golf tournament + The Feast. Revelry is nothing short of an indulgent opportunity to experience the finest cuisine in the US and the best golf Las Vegas has to offer! It is right up any Golf Afficionado’s bucket list if you enjoy food, entertainment, and golf.
The Best Hotel In Las Vegas
Let’s kick things off with my favorite hotel in Las Vegas, The Wynn. There is nothing this hotel doesn’t offer, from impeccable service to food, nightlife, and golf. It is your one-stop shop based in Las Vegas. The lobby at The Wynn is remarkable, and the service from everyone we encountered reminds you why it’s the premier Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Rooms are large and have fantastic tech, allowing you to control all the features in the room from your bed. Blinds are open/closed, the TV is on, and specific lighting is all done with the push of a button. We were given a spacious corner room with views of the golf course, mountains, and strip. I can’t wait to come back and explore all the different bars and restaurants The Wynn has to offer that I have not yet tried, including Delilah (an ultra-cool dining supper club) and Casa Playa, recommended to me by the VP of Culinary Operations at The Wynn. The pool is a scene with an adult-only section separated by outside casino games from the family section. It’s a beautiful pool with bridges crossing over sections and incredible landscaping to set the scene.
The Wynn Golf Course and Celebrity Golf Tournament
The first-ever Celebrity Golf Tournament was hosted by Thomas Keller, head chef of the famed “French Laundry” in Yountville, CA. Mr. Keller was named best chef in America by the James Beard Foundation 1997. Breakfast was served in the adjacent ballroom to the pro shop. It was a gourmet-style continental breakfast of the highest quality. They served decadent pastries (I chose pistachio cinnamon and nut-filled Danish), yogurt parfaits, selections of perfectly showcased fruit, and exceptional coffee, including Nitro Brew by Cumulus. Everyone was there to assist, and when I needed to handle a work call, the Executive Director of Golf Operations, Scott Cowan, insisted I take it in his office to ensure privacy. That type of spectacular service was exemplified all weekend at The Wynn. During the tournament, an entire camera crew was on the course, taking photos and drone footage for those needed aerial shots. Food options at the turn were nothing short of incredible. It was not your typical hot dog or burger. They included a Pretzel Dog (Wagyu Beef, Singing Frog Beer Sauce, and caramelized onions), Smoked Pork Rib Slider (with BBQ Sauce, Pickles, and Onions on a Sesame Roll), or Takahashi Hot Chicken Sandwich (Wasabi Aioli, Yuzu Kosho Slaw on a Hawaiian Bun). They had incredible desserts such as key lime pie push pops (remember push pops from the ice cream truck as a kid?) Options also included homemade potato chips, ceviche, and, of course, a full bar! I doubt you have ever been served Takahashi Hot Chicken sandwiches at a golf club. Since I was writing this article, I felt compelled to try it all, only to have the authority to share with you that they were all amazing 😊.
Our threesome was paired with Christopher Lee, VP of Culinary Operations and Restaurant Development for The Wynn. We had a blast together, and our caddie had endless funny jokes and stories. The Wynn golf course is in impeccable condition with challenging but fair holes. The landscaping is so lovely that it almost doesn’t seem real, and certainly not possible in the desert. Our caddie shared that the course has its own water reservoir to ensure it stays perfectly lush all year! You can’t believe you are playing a beautiful golf course while staring at the Las Vegas skyline and the famous sphere when hitting the golf ball. It is truly an experience unlike any other. One feature of the course everyone will agree is fabulous is its location. When you stay at The Wynn, you can walk just a few steps outside to the first tee. No other golf option on the strip offers you that level of convenience.
On the front nine, our team did just ok, but I think the food and drinks at “The Turn” got things going for us. The back nine was hooting and hollering as we sank a birdie putt on nearly every hole. The sky was blue, the fairways perfect, greens running true and fast, drinks were flowing, and it was all a revelry of good times! Golf Aficionado stepped up, and our foursome claimed first place in the tournament. I will always treasure the fantastic time with my new friends and hoisting the championship crystal trophy!
The FEAST
It would be hard to match my Friday experience with the celebrity chef golf tournament, but The Feast did just that! I felt The Feast would be unique since The Wynn hosted it, but it exceeded expectations. When we checked in, I introduced myself and said hello to Ruby from “Ruby Travels,” a well-known YouTuber always at the hot spots in Vegas, so I knew we were the place to be! We arrived at the event Pavilion Outdoor Space and were greeted by themed entertainers such as a belly dancer, a person slashing swords, and a real-deal-looking cowboy/cowgirl. The media was given a behind-the-scenes tour and an introduction to each themed MARKETPLACE and its master chefs in advance. To my surprise, Christopher Lee, my fellow golf companion, was hosting the media session. The look on our faces was like, “Hey, I know you,” and he introduced me to everyone in the media as “his fellow golf champion partner.” Chris was the ringleader of the event, and he should be immensely proud of the quality of food and service. He shared the concept behind each of the four themed areas (The Casbah, Road To Tulum, Shibuya Crossing, and Four Sixes Country Cookout) and introduced us to all of the chefs. My senses were on overload between the over-the-top decorations and incredible smells!
The Casbah
(The Casbah): The space resembled a Moroccan outdoor festival. White cloths cascaded across the ceiling, and excellent Mediterranean music was piped in. Our first station in Casbah was by chef Alon Shaya, who was honored by the James Beard Foundation as best chef in 2015. I went to college in New Orleans and for years wanted to dine at his restaurant, Shaya, the hottest restaurant in town. I never had the chance to go, but here I was, asking Chef Shaya questions and hearing his culinary take on this incredible mezze experience offered this evening (Note: this ended up being the best culinary experience we had at THE FEAST!). The brick oven pita served with the creamiest hummus you ever had still has me dreaming today. Jennifer Yee, the executive pastry chef at the Wynn, shared with us the thought process behind her table of Turkish delights. There must have been more than 20 different varieties of deserts on this table stacked 10 feet high! They offered sensational specialty cocktails to pair with the food, such as Blueberry Sage Gazoz (Código 1530 Tequilla, blueberry, sage, lime, and Fever-Tree Soda). The cocktail looked as good as it sounds. Another cocktail hit was the Pom Blossom Gazoz (Titos Vodka, pomegranate, orange blossom, and Fever-Tree Soda), adorned with flower petals. THE FEAST “ROCKED THE CASBAH,” and I couldn’t wait to see what was next!
Shibuya Crossing
(Shibuya Crossing): The other themed section under the draped Pavilion had a Japanese theme after the famed busy district in Tokyo. We met Chef Jeff Ramsy of Mizumi at The Wynn and Liwei Liao, known as the dry fish king in Los Angeles. Later that evening, we saw them expertly carve a live massive bluefin tuna to be shared with those who enjoy fresh sashimi sushi! We also enjoyed meeting “Yakitoriguy,” working over a hot coal range, cooking his famous Yakitori meat skewers. One of the trademark desserts was the Green Strawberry Soft Serve Ice Cream, almond mochi or sake foam. The cocktails were also sensational as I enjoyed the Wakame Forever (Toki Japanese Whisky, amaro, wakame infusion, and bitters).
Four Sixes Country Cookout
(Four Sixes Country Cookout): Christopher Lee walked us from Shibuya, crossing outside to the lawn, where I immediately felt we stepped into a Texas ranch. Whisky barrel tables and red and white checkered tablecloths surrounded the area, with meat hanging and being cooked over a vast Argentine open-flamed pit grill. Chefs wore cowboy hats to showcase their tomahawk steak, brisket, Mexican street corn, and jalapeno cornbread. I could have just stayed here and had the time of my life. This includes specialty cocktails such as “First Time Caller” (Binghams Bourbon, honeydew liqueur, lemon ginger, and rockmelon foam). If THE FEAST only had this section, I would have been thrilled and complete, but this was only one of four themed sections. The Brisket takes home my second-place prize as best foot at THE FEAST. My wife thought their dessert of Pavlova Strawberries and Cream served at the Four Sixes Country Cookout was the best of the evening.
Road to Tulum
(Road to Tulum): We left the Texas Ranch and stepped inside a Mayan city as up-and-coming star chef Sarah Thompson of The Wynn’s Casa Playa showcased her outdoor food stall of Mayan shrimp as well as Spiny Lobster ceviche along with lobster tails. The seafood was so fresh! We walked past an airstream bus bar serving terrific Mayan cocktails such as Cumulus Lucid Blaze (Cumulus Cold Brew, Dos Hombres Mezcal, Aperol, yuzu limoncello syrup, and lemon juice). WOW!!!! This is a far cry from Titos and Seven 😊. The homemade blue corn tacos pastor or Kurobuta Pork were the other food options. Dessert was a treat as they made homemade churros right in front of you with a choice of Mexican chocolate or caramel served in a clay bowl.
After we were well past the point of full and the daytime turned to night, the entertainment kicked in. About a dozen male and female dancers showcased their dance to music and costumes in the theme of each MARKETPLACE. I loved the belly dancers and exotic theme of the Casbah, as well as the cowboys and cowgirls in the Country Cookout.
Final Score
I saved the best news for last: the weeklong event, including a celebrity chef golf tournament and THE FEAST, will come back again next year, as Revelry’s inaugural year was such a hit. I can’t recommend enough that you secure your tickets, stay and play at The Wynn, and promise yourself, friends, and family a week nobody will ever forget!