LAS VEGAS, Sept. 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- James Beard
Award-winning Chef Shawn McClain
dares guests to embrace their deepest desires and liberate their
minds with a flurry of food, drinks and friends at Libertine
Social, now open inside Mandalay Bay. The convivial gastropub
celebrates New American bar food by the beloved chef, a
duel-faceted cocktail program pioneered by Modern Mixologist Tony
Abou-Ganim, and a compelling mix of social settings that encourage
guests to play and have fun.
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"Libertine Social is all about the food, the drinks and the
party. We want this to be a playground for people to explore
familiar dishes and cocktails with edgy and unexpected flavors in
an energetic environment that invites them to share those moments
with others," said McClain. "When people come to Las Vegas, they want to have a good time, and
experience the best food and drinks out there with their friends
who know how to have fun, which is what Libertine Social is all
about."
Live to Eat
Fusing fresh ingredients with contemporary flavors and
unconventional techniques, Chef McClain's captivating cuisine at
the social dining hub obliterates preconceived notions of bar
restaurants.
- Petite Bites – Small plates made for sharing or
devouring oneself include modernized fan favorites like the
Parmesan Churros, where lightly fried dough is coated with
parmesan for a savory snack. The Modern Fried
Egg features summer corn topped with a whipped egg and American
Sturgeon caviar in an eggshell, and is served alongside a crispy
brioche for a whimsical twist on the classic breakfast dish. For
the Strawberry Gazpacho, McClain marries hearty chunks of
king crab with avocado puree and hearts of palm within a chilled
strawberry broth for a refreshing start to a meal.
- Toasts and Dips – Toast to friendship and good times
with a series of warm and creamy dips. Chef McClain puts his spin
on the traditional pastrami sandwich with the Duck Pastrami,
which is served on golden-brown toast and topped with pickled
radicchio, sauerkraut aioli and mustard seed. The Warm
Dungeness Crab Dip fuses jumbo lumps of crabmeat with preserved
lemon and spinach for a dish perfect for passing around the
table.
- Sausage Board – Chef McClain's handmade artisanal
sausages are paired with an assortment of creamy cheeses and sides
that, when combined, create an explosion of flavors. Guests can
enjoy creating their own boards from a variety of sausages
including spicy Italian, Louisiana
hot link and bratwurst; as well as cheeses such as Tipperary
cheddar, Rouge Creamery Smokey Blue Cheese and brillat savarin.
- Flatbreads – Flatbreads with robust and mouthwatering
flavors are perfect for tearing and enjoying with others. Guests
can savor the taste of a Caramelized Fennel and Spicy Italian
Sausage flatbread blending camembert, desert honey and
rosemary; or the Wilted Spinach topped with creamy burrata,
garlic oil and guanciale.
- Local Fare – Chef McClain invents a series of rustic
plates engineered with fresh ingredients sourced from local and
regional farms. Summer Corn Angolotti takes summer
corn and transforms it into a delicate dish with handmade folds of
pasta stuffed with a rich mascarpone and brown butter filling. The
Avocado Salad celebrates garden flavors with Weiser Farms
melon, ricotta salata, aged balsamic and EVOO.
- The Bigger The Better – To satisfy a hungry appetite,
guests can dig in to heartier dishes like the 10 oz. Wagyu Skirt
Steak. The Whole Petaluma Chicken presents a
deconstructed chicken with tender pieces of meat served alongside a
smooth and velvety truffle potato. For a taste of the sea,
the Whole Roasted Fish accentuates the natural flavors of
market-fresh fish by grilling it over an open flame and seasoning
it with lemon and aromatic herbs for a delightfully filling
dish.
- A Sweet Kick – To end every night on a sweet note, Chef
McClain transforms popular drinks into non-alcoholic,
cocktail-inspired desserts. The Margarita Donut embraces the
zest of a margarita with the sweetness of a donut and tops it off
with fine salt for an unforgettably well-rounded bite, while the
Hot Chocolate Martini covers a warm dark chocolate ganache
cake with a rich vanilla bean infused amaretto glaze.
- Libertine To-Go – Guests on the go can quickly grab
gourmet bites through a convenient to-go counter located just
outside the venue. The counter, designed like a food truck, offers
a daily changing menu consisting of Chef McClain's signature
artisanal sausages and canned craft beers.
Live to Drink
When McClain was randomly paired with Modern Mixologist Tony
Abou-Ganim on Season 10 of Food Network's Iron Chef, neither
realized that this episode would one day lead to the creation of
Libertine Social's innovative cocktail program. Libertine Social
features two distinct cocktail experiences, each with a playful
collection of libations, at the Main Bar and Arcade Bar.
- Sharable Swizzles – Swizzles, an icy Caribbean cocktail made with an authentic
swizzle stick fashioned from a Quararibea turbinata tree, are
served in pitchers to allow guests to share with others. Abou-Ganim
created five versions of the Swizzle including the Queens
Park Swizzle, made with El
Dorado 15-year-old rum; and the tropical Barbados Red Rum
Swizzle, which blends lime juice, pineapple and Angostura
bitters.
- Barrel-Aged Cocktails – The barrel-aging process allows
Abou-Ganim's signature cocktails to develop layers of flavor and
silky textures. Guests can indulge in the Boulevardier, a
house favorite blended with Baker's 107-proof bourbon, Campari and
Martini & Rossi sweet vermouth; or classics like the
Manhattan.
- Cocktails on Tap – Abou-Ganim's iconic cocktails and
cold-pressed juices are locked and loaded in an efficient and
innovative draft system. Specials like the SunSplash and
House Margarita are served within seconds without losing the
freshness and flavor of each cocktail.
- Arcade Bar – Tucked away in a secluded area adjacent to
the Main Bar, Arcade Bar celebrates legendary cocktails from the
19th and 20th centuries that have been lost
throughout the years. Designed with dark-paneled walls and deep
leather chairs, the bar-within-a-bar pays homage to classic
cocktails such as the Daisy, the Smash and the
Flip while enlightening guests with the origins and history
behind each drink.
Live to Be Free
In collaboration with Studio Munge's Principal Interior Designer
Alessandro Munge, Libertine Social's open layout design evokes a
free-spirited and adventurous tone. Reminiscent of Venice Beach's eclectic Abbot Kinney
neighborhood, the restaurant features a variety of spaces filled
with bold artwork, including two original murals from renowned
street artist Alexis Diaz.
- Mix and Mingle – The Voyeur Lounge, equipped with a
retro jukebox, eye-popping colors and eccentric furnishings, takes
center stage as guests enter the restaurant. The quirky lounge
features Libertine Social's interactive social game Dare from
the Hare, a mischievous card game on each table filled with fun
dares that encourage guests to go outside their comfort zones and
engage with the staff and other guests.
- Take in the Action – Guests wanting to catch a glimpse
of the culinary action can sit front and center at the chef's
table, where they can interact with the chefs and watch as each
delectable dish is prepared. The area's exposed grills and prep
stations provide an exciting behind-the-scenes look at the entire
creative process from start to finish.
- A Breath of Fresh Air – Offering a nice getaway from the
bustling indoor scene, the outdoor patio creates the feeling of
being on a rooftop terrace with soft lighting and views of Mandalay
Bay's Beach.
- Feel-Good Vibes – In the main dining room, each wall is
adorned with personalized elements as a nod to the roots of
Libertine Social's muse, a fictitious character named Kyle who's an
entrepreneur by day, extravagant partier by night, with an
impeccable sense of what's cool and cultured. Visually stimulating
pieces found throughout the area draw out nostalgic feelings of
wanderlust in guests and inspires them to express their inner
hedonistic nature.
Libertine Social is open 5 p.m. –
11 p.m. Monday through Sunday and is
located near the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Libertine
To-Go is available from 11 a.m. –
11 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
MANDALAY BAY
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino is set on 120 lush acres
featuring Mandalay Bay Beach, a tropical pool paradise with real
sand and the only climate-controlled, poolside gaming in the city.
The Mandalay Bay Events Center, award-winning restaurants,
exhilarating entertainment, unique shopping, Shark Reef Aquarium
and the recently expanded 2-million-square-foot Mandalay Bay
Convention Center combine to make Mandalay Bay a distinctive
Las Vegas resort destination. In
September 2014, Delano Las Vegas, a
luxury all-suite hotel, opened adjacent to Mandalay Bay. Mandalay
Bay is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of MGM Resorts
International (NYSE: MGM). For more information and
reservations, visit mandalaybay.com, call toll free at (877)
632-7800 or find us on Facebook and Twitter.
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SOURCE MGM Resorts International