Corsa Cucina - The Art and Heart of Mediterranean Cuisine at Wynn Las Vegas - LA's The Place

It’s no secret that Las Vegas has become one of the top destinations for great culinary experiences, but you don’t often hear about the huge range of choices the town offers. Certainly, the superstar chefs with their appropriately classical and refined restaurant are always an option in Las Vegas, but sometimes you want something a bit more casual, a bit more hip, without sacrificing the quality and fine cuisine you’ve come to expect from top Las Vegas restaurants. To fill this bill, Corsa Cucina, headed by Executive Chef Stephen Kalt, is the perfect answer.

Located at the cornerstone of Wynn’s “theatre row”, Corsa Cucina lives up to the high standards demanded of restaurants on the competitive Las Vegas Strip. Offering sophisticated contentental cuisine in a relaxed setting, Chef Kalt aims to re-create the feel of a favorite neighborhood restaurant, and succeeds with his lively and rustic Mediterranean eatery. Here, you’ll find classic comfort-food favorites such as Eggplant Parmigiano and his signature Lasagne Bolognese (handmade pasta, layered with savory veal, plum tomato sauce and fresh whole milk mozzarella). Corsa’s wood-burning oven is used to good effect in creating a variety of Chef Kalt’s signature thin-crust pizzettes, such as Wild Mushroom (mushroom puree, robiola cheese and white truffle oil, which is unforgettably delicious). “The feeling I am striving for at Corsa Cucina & Bar is that of everyone’s favorite neighborhood restaurant – a place where you can find both the exotic and the familiar,” explains Stephen Kalt.

Chef Kalt brings his vast range of experience to Corsa Cucina, and as tempting as it would be to brand the eatery as an Italian restaurant, it would be a gross under-representation of the chef’s skills and goals. Rather, Chef Kalt aims to bring the flavors of the entire Mediterranean region. Corsa Cucina’s extensive and thoughtful menu is a reflection of Chef Kalt’s brilliant creativity and mastery of Mediterranean cuisine. “The menu has a global Mediterranean focus and offer dishes by countries such as Italy, Greece, Morocco and Spain for truly universal appeal”.

I sampled a selection of choices from the menu, and each and every dish I had was simply amazing. Chef Stephen Kalt is to food what Michaelangelo is to art. His food is his art and his dishes are creative masterpieces.

With starters such as Chicken Liver Crostini – hand-chopped with carmelized onions and virgin olive oil (this will make a chicken liver lover out of you!), and succulent Pan-Seared Scampi, with flavorful roasted plum tomatoes, pearl pasta and extra virgin olive oil, or Beef Tenderloin Tartare (I never thought I’d try ‘raw beef’, but the combination of the freshest, most flavorful prime cut of beef coupled with chive, pepperoni, sweet and spicy peppers and hazelnut oil was delicously primal!), I found myself contantly amazed that one restaurant could have so many great items.

Entrees I sampled were also perfection, such as his Sirlion with Gorganzolla Dolce with roasted Cippolini onions and red Wine reduction – the epitome of the best flavors of Italian gourmet and cooked to perfection; the Red Wine Reduction double-Lamb Chops – the way lamb chops should be served: thick, juicy, tender and flavorful served with Fennel puree, Gnocci and mango; tender Basil Crust Pacific Halibut Filet and Manila Clams with assorted fall vegetables, red and yellow pear tomotoe and barlotti beans.; it was a work of art!

The menu had a nice variety of other amazing choices, such as Roasted Organic Sonoma Chicken, marinated in fennel, garlic and preserved lemon served over sticky pasta tossed with giblet gravy; Seared Tuna and Foie Gras served with sweet and spicy apple-pepper jelly and traditional mustard fruits…everything was better than each other!

The desserts are also a must-have as finale to complement your deeply satisfying meal at Corsa. Selections include the Macadamia Nut and Chocolate Dome with dark chocolate mousse and chocolate sauce. I personally tried Steve Wynn’s personal favorite dessert in all of Las Vegas (no wonder it would be here): Crepes and Bambolie: Crispy rice pudding crepes with Blueberry Sorbet…heavenly!

And while Chef Kalt is mastering the culinary end of it, general manager Fredi Putra insures that guests have the best possible experience while they are dining at Corsa. Says Fredi, “When you are able to capture guests expectations and transfer in imaginations, you’re doing well”. There was class without pretentiousness, professional service that was warm and friendly and an upscale atmosphere that was comfortable and down-to-earth at the same time. Fredi’s ‘philosophy’ is “serious food and taking care of business. “We study to have knowledge then we practice to communicate that knowledge. We strive to deliver this to the guests’.

The same philosophy applies to the wines and champagnes. Both Fredi and Chef Kalt taste every bottle of wine and champagne on the wine list. He referred to the choices as ‘intelligent wines’ – extraordinary wines at acceptable prices. They also had a wonderfully creative drink menu.

Stephen Kalt’s current success in Las Vegas should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with his background. In 1994, Kalt and partner Cindy Smith opened Spartina in New York City’s always fashionable Tribeca district. Spartina went on to become both a commercial and critical favorite, lauded by magazines such as “Food and Wine” and “New York”. Long before Chef Kalt took the helm at his own storefront, however, he had assembled a lengthy and enviable resume working with the likes of Jean Louis Palladin, Thomas Keller, Dean Fearing, Robert Delgrande, Wolfgang Puck, and Jean Georges Vongerichten. Recently, his journeys have taken him to the kitchen of Martin Berasategui in Lasarte, Spain, and La Mammounia in Marakesh, Morocco. He has also appeared on television on the Food Network and Martha Stewart Living.

At Corsa Cucina in Wynn Las Vegas, you can leave your dressy clothes back in your hotel room, but remember to bring your appetite and your sense of adventure. Whether you opt for an adventurous and exotic Mediterranean cuisine or a heartier, classic fare, Executive Chef Stephen Kalt has you covered. It is truly one of those restaurants that create memories and some of the best cuisine you’ll ever experience.