People seem to like chocolate," Catherine Margles said.
That's one of life's truisms, but in this case it applies to classes at Margles' new Creative Cooking School at 7385 W. Sahara Ave.
The school offers a broad variety of classes; among the most popular (besides chocolate), Margles said, are "ABC's Cooking Basics" and "Friday Night Out! The Single Gourmet."
And "anything regarding vegetarian cooking seems to be really popular," she said.
Classes, some of which are presented in conjunction with the Community College of Southern Nevada and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, are taught by staff chefs, guest chefs and Margles herself. Celebrity chefs make appearances periodically, and classes for kids also are available.
Margles said interest has been high.
"The biggest response we're getting is from the casinos and the destination managers," she said.
Class fees range from $75 to $495, and a bring-a-friend discount is available. For more information, call the Creative Cooking School at 562-3900 or visit the school's web site at www.creativecookingschool.com. ...
Smitty's Famous has opened at 4760 W. Sahara Ave., in the Sahara Pavilion.
In the spot previously occupied by Simply Southern, Smitty's serves a variety of fried fish and chicken dinners, plus fried chicken; side orders such as hush puppies, red beans and rice and greens; and desserts such as peach cobbler and sweet-potato pie.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays. Lunch specials and combo specials also are available. For details, call 822-6900. ...
The Harley-Davidson Cafe will play host to its first "Sopranos Sunday" from 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday, with guest of honor Steve Schirripa, the series' Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri.
The $75 ticket will include an Italian buffet plus all you can drink, in the finest Bada Bing tradition. Schirripa will sign autographs and customers will be able to have their pictures taken on a Harley Hog. There also will be a contest for the best "Sopranos" cast member look-alike.
For tickets and more information, call 740-4555, ext. 26. The Harley-Davidson cafe is at 3725 Las Vegas Blvd. South. ...
Bonjour Casual French Restaurant has scheduled a Nov. 21 dinner to celebrate the release of this year's more than 1 million cases of Beaujolais Nouveau (released at one minute after midnight on the third Thursday of each November) .
The three-course dinner will feature an entrée choice of chicken breast stuffed with Brie and roasted garlic or pork chops charcuterie. It's $39.95 per person, including wine. For reservations or more information, call 270-2102. Bonjour Casual French Restaurant is at 8878 S. Eastern Ave. ...
Spiedini will present a Raymond Estates Winery wine dinner at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20. The five-course dinner will include slow-roasted honey duck, monkfish morsel and baby clams and roasted and braised beef.
It's $65 per person. Spiedini is at the JW Marriott, 221 N. Rampart Blvd. For reservations or more information, call 869-8500. ...
Because of the popularity of its sushi menu, Little Buddha has opened a 10-seat sushi bar, serving everything from tame California rolls to the more exotic tako (octopus) and unagi (freshwater eel).
The sushi bar opens at 5:30 p.m. daily. Little Buddha is at the Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Road. ...
Modesto Dacsil, chef garde-manger at The Venetian, was awarded the first-place gold award at the recent American Culinary Association ice-carving competition for his rendition of an angel playing the violin. Dacsil has carved as many as 20 ice sculptures for a single event at The Venetian. ...
The cooler weather has brought winter specials to Joey's Only Seafood Restaurant, 3455 S. Durango Drive.
Specials include crusted herb bread bowls filled with clam chowder or seafood gumbo, lobster ravioli with sun-dried tomato cream sauce, and, on Fridays and Saturdays, live Maine lobster dinners. ...
Readers helping readers: "Tell Rita Wilson, who is looking for Caffe D'Vita instant mocha-flavored cappuccino, that she will find it at Raley's" at 4790 E. Flamingo Road, e-mailed Marge Winegardner. "She might also try Smart & Final, as they carry that brand." Van and Karen Bohrer, Marlene Cau and Teri L. Fadem seconded the Smart & Final suggestion.
Bill Roberts said he orders his Caffe D'Vita from Brad Barry Co. Ltd., 1745 E. Watson Center Road Building A, Carson, CA 90745-4207, phone number (310) 522-8848. "They will only ship in multiples of six 1-pound cans," he e-mailed. We usually get 12 at a time."
The company has a web site, www.caffe-dvita.com, but does not accept online orders. ...
For Ruben Urias, who was looking for good dim sum, Vicki Yuen e-mailed, "After seven years in Hong Kong (where the food is the best in the world), we find our favorite dim sum place in Las Vegas is Chang's Hong Kong Cuisine" at 4670 S. Decatur Blvd. "They have the carts that allow you to just point if you don't know the name. Decor is nothing fancy, prices are reasonable, clientele is mostly Chinese, and it's crowded every day at lunchtime -- a good sign!"
Teri L. Fadem suggested Cathay House, 5300 Spring Mountain Road. ...
Reader requests: Michael A. Esposito is looking for fresh (not packaged) hamantashen cookies in the Henderson area. ...
Gary Olszewski is looking for an old favorite, Bosco chocolate syrup. ...
Beverly Clark is in search of Reese's peanut butter. ...
And Karen Chalupsky is looking for Czech sausage. ...
Readers?
