Las Vegas got a little taste of New York City. Chris Santos, a celebrity chef judge on The Food Network hit series “Chopped,” opened the second location of Beauty & Essex at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, bringing out the glitterati. The opening marks the second location of the New York City pawn shop, restaurant and lounge that originated in 2010 from the chef who pioneered the small, share plate dining trend that has swept the nation.
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 14: Rich Wolf, Chef Chris Santos, Noah Tepperberg and Jason Strauss arrive at the opening of Beauty & Essex at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on May 14, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Denise Truscello/WireImage) *** Local Caption *** Rich Wolf; Chris Santos; Noah Tepperberg; Jason Strauss
Real Housewives of New York star Bethenny Frankel, who is a longtime fan of the Beauty & Essex New York location arrived looking stunning in a black floor length dress after hopping off of a JetSmarter private jet. After stopping in the pawn-inspired shop to browse the jewelry, Frankel took home one of the custom “Beauty” necklaces. Austin Stowell also made a trip through the pawn-inspired shop, and was thrilled with the drum set cufflinks that he picked up, as an ode to celebrate his role in the hit, Whiplash.
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 14: Bethenny Frankel arrives at the opening of Beauty & Essex at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on May 14, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Denise Truscello/WireImage) *** Local Caption *** Bethenny Frankel
Frankel and Stowell both mingled with other guests including Jonathan Cheban, Ellen Pompeo, Chris Ivery, and Jaime King who enjoyed a date night with husband Kyle Newman. King wore a beautiful orange dress and enjoyed Beauty & Essex favorites such as the Tomato Tartare and the Avocado, Lemon & Espelette Jewels on Toast. Derek Hough was also at the restaurant celebrating his birthday with a surprise cake. Afterwards, Derek tapped into his musical side by grabbing a guitar off the wall in the pawn-inspired shop to play an impromptu medley for friends and guests.
As guests entered the restaurant, Andrew Watt treated guests to live music, playing a mix of covers and original music with the vintage guitars offered at the pawn inspired shop.
Jermaine Dupri DJ’ed the opening, getting the crowd going. DJ 88 opened and closed the party while guests enjoyed the small share plates, a dining trend pioneered by Chef Chris Santos. Guests enjoyed Beauty & Essex favorites such as Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Dumplings, Tuna Poke Wonton Tacos, and Thai Style Crispy Shrimp.
Other notables who attended included Kygo, Busta Rhymes, Anthony Anderson, Dan Bilzerian, Victoria’s Secret Model Shanina Shaik, Angie Everhart, Celebrity Chef Scott Conant and Professional Poker Player Antonio Esfandiari.
The party continued at Marquee where Vice performed showing off his newly purchased Rolex from the pawn-inspired shop at Beauty & Essex. Anthony Mackie, Jonathan Cheban, Derek Hough, and Jermaine Dupri also enjoyed the after party at Marquee.
We hear Beauty & Essex continues to expand with a Los Angeles location set to open in the fall, so looks like Chris is going to be a busy guy for a while!
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 14: Chris Ivery and Ellen Pompeo attend the opening of Beauty & Essex at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on May 14, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Denise Truscello/WireImage) *** Local Caption *** Chris Ivery; Ellen Pompeo
Beauty & Essex Las Vegas at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
3708 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Reservations: 702.737.0707
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
For more information visit: www.beautyandessexlv.com
Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/beautyandessexlv
Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/beautyandessexlv
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/beauty_essexlv
