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Mar. 23, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: Upscale comfort food goes down

NORM CLARKE
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Kevin Federline celebrated his 30th birthday Friday at Pure nightclub. Partying with him was former girlfriend (pre-Britney) Shar Jackson, below.






Dolly Parton gave Bugsy's crowd a thrill singing "Nine to Five."

A shake-up at Pure Management Group's newest restaurant is taking Company American Bistro at Luxor in a different direction.

Several top chefs, including executive chef Adam Sobel, have resigned, according to Pure spokeswoman Kate Turner.

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    • The restaurant opened Nov. 30 with PMG touting a celebrity investor lineup that included Nick Lachey, Nicky Hilton, Wilmer Valderrama and DJ AM.

    The concept of upscale comfort food never caught on, nor did the hope the restaurant would feed business into PMG's LAX nightclub, located next door.

    The focus, when it reopens Thursday, will be on more bistro and less big-ticket.

    The restaurant will be open seven days a week and offer a bar menu, Turner said.

    Sobel had left Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace to put together a menu of upscale comfort food in an Aspen-esque setting that featured antler chandeliers, stacked stone and walls lined with skis.

    It was the latest setback for Pure Management Group, which is gearing up for a legal battle after an IRS raid Feb. 21 at the company headquarters, along with Pure nightclub at Caesars Palace. Agents also entered LAX nightclub.

    THE SCENE AND HEARD

    Meaghan Jette Martin, a 16-year-old Las Vegas native, is about to become a Disney film star and the envy of the teen world. Martin has a lead role in "Camp Rock," an upcoming Disney Channel film that co-stars the Jonas Brothers, the pop rock sensations.

    SIGHTINGS

    Marco Andretti, the 2006 Indy 500 runner-up, celebrating his 21st birthday at N9NE Steakhouse (Palms) with his father, Michael Andretti, and a large group before heading to Rain nightclub (Palms) with actors Frankie Muniz and Alfonso Ribeiro. ... Singer Vanessa Carlton, having lunch with her friends and her dog at Brio Italian restaurant at Town Square. ... At Privé nightclub (Planet Hollywood Resort) on Friday: actor Jonathan Silverman, comedian Jeffrey Ross, former tennis star Jennifer Capriati, Miami Dolphins fullback Boomer Grigsby, adult entertainment star Briana Banks and actor Scott Michael Foster, who was celebrating his 23rd birthday with fellow cast members of the ABC show "Greek."... Kevin Federline, getting booed and having the mic taken away from him during a profanity-laden rap song while celebrating his 30th birthday Friday at Pure nightclub. Partying with him was actress Shar Jackson, who had two children with Federline before he married Britney Spears. Earlier, Federline's group dined at Social House (Treasure Island). Also at Pure: boxer Zab Judah. ... ABC and ESPN broadcaster Brent Musburger, watching several March Madness games from the sports book at Red Rock Resort on Friday and Saturday. ... A local girl, brought on stage by the Chippendales (Rio) on Friday, received a surprise when her father arranged for an 18th birthday gift: a box containing the keys to a new car. ... Miss Washington Elyse Umemoto, who was the Miss America second runner-up in Las Vegas in January, and former Miss Nevada USA Helen Salas, checking out Hawaiian Tropic Zone on Friday inside the Miracle Mile Shops at the Planet Hollywood Resort. Salas was also spotted at Privé nightclub. ... Rapper MIMS, performing at his 27th birthday bash Friday at Jet nightclub (Mirage). ... New York Giants standout Zak DeOssie, checking out LAX nightclub (Luxor) on Friday. ... They're still buzzing at Bugsy's, at Sahara and Jones, over a drop-in appearance Friday by Dolly Parton, who belted out her hit "Nine to Five."

    THE PUNCH LINE

    "School's mascot is a giant asthma inhaler." -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Signs Your College Basketball Team Is Not Going To Make The NCAA Basketball Tournament

    Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.



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    ndftr@hotmail.com wrote on March 24, 2008 11:40 AM: Hope the new PMG restaurant tanks. Serves the farrogant ucks at PMG right.


    Neal Barry wrote on March 23, 2008 05:29 PM: The top young chef's in Las Vegas were handed a crock from PMG as far as this resturant is concerned. Even if you were staying in the Luxor you couldn't find it. Thet had no signage in or anywhere in The Luxor or the rest of Vegas.Celebrities investors what a joke the first and only time Nick Lachey stepped in was at the opening what a draw the three of them were.The talent of Chef Sobel was wasted on fried chicken and waffles. Norm your such a lackey for Pure it's a joke.Chef Sobel and Chef Varley will again be given the backing of industry people who understand the food business not the fools who have run their niteclub's like the crooks they are.


    Sam Neil wrote on March 23, 2008 11:14 AM: Dolly Parton at Bugsy's on Friday? Physically impossible since Parton has been in D.C. since Wednesday.
    I guess by lying about a star visiting your place is one free way to get advertising.


    Moving to AZ! wrote on March 23, 2008 10:59 AM: I have some knowledge of the company bistro and there is a lot of stuff not being said to. Adam used to scream at us in the kitchen and had to be held back sometimes from getting so mad at us if we even talked while he was in the kitchen. he spent time making fun of the guests that would not understand his food and that they did not belong here now. His friends who ate for free when they came to visit I guess liked the food but they only came back when he made it for them. calling him leaving a setback is not true because i bet it will still be good without him. When I come back at the end of summer I will difinitely try it.


    Vegas Vic wrote on March 23, 2008 07:03 AM: "...taken away from him during a profanity-laden rap song..."
    First, Norm needs to stop insulting all musicians by calling rap a song. If you handed any rapper a score sheet, they'd look at you like you handed them a cold turd.