Having the presidential stamp of approval is the ultimate recommendation.

Spiaggia, Bartolotta's baby from 1991 to 2001, has been the favorite restaurant of President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama for some time.

They've celebrated a number of special events there, including their wedding anniversaries.

If the Obamas dined there during Bartolotta's tenure, he's not aware of it, but the chef recognized a lot of familiar faces during TV coverage of the presidential inauguration.

"A lot of people surrounding him were my old customers," said Bartolotta, who came to Las Vegas to open Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare in 2005.

He was lured to Spiaggia after training in top kitchens in New York, France and Italy.

What happened next was the accomplishment of a lifetime.

"When I took over, it was a one-star restaurant and when I left it was a four-star. That was a big deal, I thought."

So did the late R.W. "Johnny" Apple, the New York Times' legendary associate editor, news correspondent and food critic, who credited Bartolotta with making Spiaggia "the best Italian restaurant between the coasts."

Spiaggia won almost every major culinary award, including the highest honor handed out to a handful of Italian restaurants outside Italy by the Italian government. He received the award in Rome from Italian president Oscar Luigi Scalfaro. Located on the Magnificent Mile, Spiaggia -- Italian for beach -- the restaurant overlooks Lake Michigan and the beach.

Having the president and first lady of the U.S. embrace the restaurant he elevated to an iconic level is a special acknowledgment.

"It's always great to have people at the top of their profession acknowledge that you are the top of your profession," said Bartolotta, who learned last week that he is a semifinalist for a James Beard best-in-the-southwest award.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

The Oscar Night America event, which was to have been held Feb. 22 at Rain nightclub at the Palms, has been canceled, with organizers citing the economic downturn. "We feel it is better to skip this year and revisit our fundraising initiatives in 2010," said Jimmy Foster, president of Whispering Giants, the special events company in charge of organizing the event. ...

Joe Del Popolo might be the biggest Frank Sinatra fan in Las Vegas, so it makes complete sense that he would apply for a hosting job at -- drum roll, please -- Sinatra, the restaurant at Steve Wynn's newly opened Encore hotel. Del Popolo, who writes the "Remembering Sinatra" column for La Voce, the Italian-American newsmagazine, founded The Sinatra Society of Las Vegas in 1979 and has worked in some top restaurants here over the years. ...

We're in Chicago for a Greek wedding today and, of course, another round of research on the Windy City's best pizza. Dinner at Grant Achatz's Alinea on Friday lived up to all the raves for its wild marriage of flavors and presentations. See you back here on Wednesday.

SIGHTINGS

Former Danity Kane star Aubrey O'Day, celebrating her 25th birthday and her March cover girl appearance in Playboy on Friday at Jet (Mirage). Her parents and a few friends joined her, as did poker star David Williams. They were seen getting fully involved in the Valentine's Day spirit. A multitiered birthday cake created by Jean-Philippe Patisserie was presented to O'Day, who was wearing a Miss March Playboy necklace.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Windy outside today. So windy, (former) Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's hair actually moved." - David Letterman

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.