Favorites: Joe Elevado
by: Tal Pinch
Favorites: Joe Elevado Having already made a major name for himself working for eight years at Nobu in Las Vegas and New York, Joe Elevado has reached new dining strata as Executive Chef at Social House in Vegas. Since opening the popular eatery and nightspot at Treasure Island, Elevado has become a rising star but still has enough time to share his favorites with How To Roll. -Travel: I am originally from New York and love to go there to visit family and friends. Every time I do go home though, I always plan my trip around which restaurants I want to visit. The vibe in New York City is very unique and I love how you can walk to most of your destinations, and if it?s not that close it's just a cab ride away. If I can't make it all the way to NYC, San Francisco is for me. It's a city that reminds me of home and best of all it's just a hop away from wine country ... but I could go on all day about that! -Nightlife: My favorite nightspot is at Noir Bar[at the Luxor in Las Vegas]. It has a relaxed atmosphere that isn't too loud and you can really have a night out with friends and have a conversation. The atmosphere is loungey and the bartenders concoct some great libations. -Gadgets: My favorite kitchen gadget is my Cryovac machine. I think it?s the best thing a home cook can buy to help keep all their products fresh, especially when freezing things. I also use it when I make food for my son; it helps keep his eats fresh and organized. My iPhone is my favorite electronic gadget right now. I was just in San Francisco and the GPS in the phone was really helpful, plus all the great applications you can download keep me going. I love Macs! -Dining: I don't really have a favorite restaurant but I do eat a lot of pho, rice, and pasta. I really enjoy quality and you can get that anywhere, from your hole in the wall family-owned restaurant to your big celebrity chef-driven restaurants. There are too many good places to eat to just mention one. -Hobbies: I wouldn't call him a hobby but I am enjoying my one-year-old son very much. He is starting to develop his own personality and I just really love to see him grow. He and my wife are a big part of my life; family is key. -Vegas: The thing that I love about Vegas is its community of chefs and how we all know each other in a roundabout way. It's tight-knit, and we all try to take care of each other. Another thing I love about Vegas are the roads; it's a motorcyclist's dream. -Social House: When you walk in, you don't realize that you walked into a 280-seat restaurant. It's a cozy space with many layers that engulf you as you walk through the entire restaurant. The cuisine lends itself to the space because everyone is encouraged to share and to get cozy with each other. It's very Asian in that everything is done family style.