Trump downsizes restaurant menu
A reeling economy has taken another bite out of Donald Trump's first Las Vegas venture.
Less than five months after opening his golden 645-foot tower, Trump has downsized his fine dining restaurant, DJT, which easily ranked among the priciest menus in town.
In a city awash with $50 to $60 steaks, the $39 king-sized filet mignon appears to be the most expensive item on DJT's revamped menu.
Also gone are most of his top chefs, including his personal chef-turned-executive chef, Joe Isidori, who supervised Trump's ultra-luxury wedding dinner when the billionaire married supermodel Melania Knauss.
"Based on guest feedback, we have decided to modify the DJT experience to become more approachable and casual," DJT spokeswoman Erin McCleskey said. She confirmed that Isidori is "pursuing other opportunities."
It was the second economy-related adjustment for Trump, who confirmed at the April ribbon-cutting ceremony for his first tower that he was not going to proceed on the second tower until the economy improved.
CHANNEL 5 ADDS 11 P.M.
The 11 p.m. newscast at KVVU-TV, Channel 5, which debuted last Monday, is off to a strong start, according to news director Adam P. Bradshaw.
KVVU tied KLAS-TV, Channel 8, with an overall rating of 4.0 and an 8 share tied KLAS for the entire half hour. KVVU won the first quarter hour of the 11 p.m. newscast with a 4.4 rating and a 9 share versus a 4.0 rating and 8 share for KLAS and KVBC, said Bradshaw, who called it an "amazing performance for a second day of a new newscast."
The three-day average, he said, was a 2.5 rating, nearly double the performance of the sitcoms that previously occupied the time slot.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
N9NE Group has signed star DJ/remixer Paul Oakenfold to a 26-show date deal at Rain nightclub at the Palms, starting this fall. In making the announcement, Las Vegas-based N9NE Group said it was the two-time Grammy nominee's first resident DJ deal in the U.S. His engagement will begin Aug. 31, with Saturday shows through next summer. ...
Vegas Rocks! magazine is celebrating its four-year anniversary Aug.16 at The Canyon Club inside the Four Queens, with publisher Sally Steele hosting nine bands. ...
MUSICAL 'TREK'
The Las Vegas Philharmonic will be performing theme songs from "Star Trek" movies and the TV series during the annual convention this weekend at the Las Vegas Hilton. Going where no conductor has gone before will be Richard McGee, the Philharmonic's associate conductor. ...
The El Rancho headliner who boosted Eydie Gorme's career while she opened for him was misidentified in Friday's column. It was Joe E. Lewis.
SIGHTINGS
At Tao Las Vegas (Venetian) on Thursday: actor Ryan Phillippe, with his girlfriend, Australian actress Abbie Cornish, after hanging out earlier in a Tao Beach cabana. Also at Tao nightclub: comedian D.L. Hughley and "Last Comic Standing" host Bill Bellamy, in a skybox. ... Actor Anthony Anderson, who starred in the hit TV show "Law & Order" and the film "Transformers," celebrated an early birthday with friends Thursday at Tryst nightclub (Wynn Las Vegas). Anderson turns 38 on Aug. 15. ... Jon Lovitz, Steve Schirripa, Richard Belzer and Bobby Slayton, dining at Rao's (Caesars Palace) on Friday, after Lovitz took in Slayton's show at Hooters Hotel. ... Chris Hansen, known for his work on NBC's "To Catch a Predator," carving up the 18-oz. bone-in rib eye at the Orleans' Canal Street restaurant Wednesday night.
THE PUNCH LINE
"There has been a lot of talk about the air quality in China. Here's how bad it is: They say that if Snoop Dogg were to roll down the windows of his limo in Beijing, smoke would actually pour into the limousine." - Jimmy Kimmel
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
