Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/97133
VEGAS An Inside Look PHIL PARK, SOMMELIER AT RESTAURANT GUY SAVOY LAS VEGAS by Allyson Siwajian / photo by Deacon Tyler S Guy Savoy���s Sommelier, Phil Park. ince its 2006 opening, Restaurant Guy Savoy Las Vegas has paid homage to the signature dishes of its Parisian namesake and culinary vision of its creator, Michelin three-starred Chef Guy Savoy. The Vegas restaurant, nestled in Caesars Palace���s regal Augustus Tower, exudes simple elegance. Its bold but muted design allows the food to be its focus. Staff members operate like a closeknit family, and each front-of-house staff member has been with Restaurant Guy Savoy Las Vegas since its conception, including sommelier Phil Park. Park possesses a professional edge, honed by years at award-winning restaurants like Chicago���s Tru. He has studied too, noting that he and his friends used to ���quiz each other every day��� about the iner points of wine. This past summer, Park also toured France���s famed Rh��ne Valley, where he developed a deeper understanding of the vintners��� craft, amid Hermitage vineyards and the Chave cellars with their moss-laden walls and endless Syrah casks. ���It���s very modest, but the history is so deep,��� Park says. ���That���s what I love about France.��� To complement Restaurant Guy Savoy Las Vegas���s French dishes, from the Signature Menu of Savoy classics to the vibrant 14-course Innovation-Inspiration Menu, Park assists dining guests with pairings. He selects from the best French wines and champagnes, with samplings from the United States, Spain, Italy, Australia and Austria as well. While luxurious lavors abound, Park notes the genuine nature of Vegas���s Restaurant Guy Savoy. ���It���s about cooking perfectly, presenting it with perfect seasoning and knowing that Mr. Savoy���s food is very true to the dish,��� he says. These sentiments extend to the culinary master himself, Chef Guy Savoy. ���To me, Mr. Savoy is like a grandfather,��� Park says. With such camaraderie and inspiration from one of France���s inest kitchens, Restaurant Guy Savoy Las Vegas has preserved its connection to rich history and reveled in the innovate spirit of gourmet dining. december 2012 / the tasting panel / 117