Atlantic City's Revel Resort Will Offer Diverse Collection of Culinary Choices
By Veronica Dudo
Atlantic City's highly anticipated mega resort, Revel, will begin welcoming guests April 2 for an eight-week preview. The 6.3-million-square-foot beachfront resort includes two nightclubs, a beach club, retail shops, a spa, two theaters, 1,800 guest rooms and more than a dozen restaurants.
During a chef preview party in New York City, Revel's C.E.O. Kevin DeSantics introduced the resorts acclaimed chefs. The $2.4 billion entertainment destination will feature chefs Michel Richard, Jose Garces, Robert Wiedmaier, Alain Allegretti and Marc Forgione.
In addition to restaurants in Philadelphia, Chicago, Palm Springs and Scottsdale Garces will soon be opening Amada: Authentic Spanish Tapas at Revel. Garces says he is extremely excited to open a restaurant in Atlantic City and spend more time at the Jersey Shore.
"I've always thought I'd have a nice beachfront restaurant at some point—I never imagined it being a 9,000 square-foot beautiful Amada so I'm really excited and our Amada has beautiful views of the ocean so it's going to be amazing," Garces said.
The Iron Chef will also introduce Village Whiskey, an American tavern with more than a dozen wine and spirits along with Distrito Cantina: Fresh Food Fast, a Mexican take-out window inspired by the popular Guapos Taco Truck in Philadelphia.
Raised in Germany and Belgium, Wiedmaier will open Mussel Bar at Revel drawing on his Belgium roots with Flemish fare and Belgian specialty beers.
Azue by Allegretti is a signature restaurant that will offer the flavors of the French and Italian Rivieras. With an emphasis on seafood, Allegretti will utilize ingredients sourced from local waters and farms.
"I'm just going try to cook it my style and show the people my passion about cooking my roots and it makes everybody happy," he said.
A lot of preparation has gone into Allegretti's research at the Jersey Shore. "I'm discovering a lot of positive things and it's very important for me to spend time down there going around different restaurants to understand what the market is looking for to make sure I am not coming with a wrong approach and the wrong products to the table," he explained.
In 2010, Forgione won the Food Network's "Next Iron Chef" competition. He will open the steakhouse, American Cut at Revel with his own unique twist.
"I'm going to try to introduce what I think is the ultimate Surf-N-Turf it's a three-pound steak with a pound and a half lobster in the style that we do in my restaurant already it's called Chili Lobster," he said.
After graduating from college, Forgione says he often visited the Jersey Shore. "I love Atlantic City, I think it's great but when you want to go for a vacation, you never really think Atlantic City–at least I don't—I'm sure people do and I think that from what I've seen on paper with Revel that this could be something where you don't need to get on a plane and go all the way to Vegas you can just get in a car and drive to Atlantic City," he said.
World renowned restaurateur Richard will have The Breakfast Room, O Bistro and Wine Bar featuring small plates with a French flair as well as Central Michel Richard which will offer American cuisine with a French accent.
Revel is currently taking reservations during their preview leading up to their grand opening. The entire resort will premiere on May 25 just in time for the Memorial Day weekend.
BUZZ @ THE BEACH
For the March 16 weekend, The Saw Doctors will perform at Borgata while ECAC Hockey returns to Boardwalk Hall for the two-day NCAA Division I Men's Championship. Also, Eric Church brings his Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour with Brantley Gilbert and Drake White to the Trump Taj Mahal.
Veronica Dudo is an award-winning journalist covering everything from breaking news to red carpet celebrity interviews. Follow her on Twitter @VeronicaDudo and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Veronica-Dudo/193258274047563
