Recently in Dining Category

Pechanga Resort and Casino's 5th Annual Microbrew and Chili Cookoff is back Saturday, July 13.

The festivities begin at 1 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom.

Tickets are $45 and include a souvenir two ounce glass for unlimited beer tastings and chili tastings from Pechanga's restaurants. There is also a $25 designated driver ticket that does not include alcohol tastings.

There will be entertainment from a live band.

Tickets are available at the Pechanga box office or www.pechanga.com.

Anyone who loves good barbecue (and honestly isn't that everyone) needs to head to Pechanga Resort and Casino Saturday, June 22 for the Second Annual Pro BBQ Championships.

Beginning at 10 a.m. in the parking lot next to the Grand Ballroom top barbecuers will compete for supremacy in categories like chicken, pulled pork, ribs and brisket.

BBQ tasting tickets will be available, as well as a beer and wine garden and music from the Clay Colton Band.

Additional charge for tasting tickets and alcoholic beverages.

There's plenty of entertainment at Inland casinos this weekend. Here's a few of the best of the weekend's headliners.

Thursday, March 7:

Bellator MMA at 5 p.m. (Live on Spike TV) Tickets: $50, $85, $150 Location: Pechanga

Friday, March 8:

5th Annual Chocolate Decadence at 7 p.m. Tickets: $45 Location: Pechanga

Yes at 8 p.m. Tickets: Sold Out Location: Pechanga

Joan Rivers at 9 p.m. Tickets: Sold Out Location: Morongo

Saturday, March 9:

5th Annual Wine Festival at 1 p.m. Tickets: $33, $65 Location: Pechanga

Rhythm of the Dance at 8 p.m. Tickets: $25, $35, $50 Location: Agua Caliente

Terry Fator at 8 p.m. Tickets: $49, $69, $89 Location: Fantasy Springs

Pechanga Resort and Casino is once again delighting choco-holics with its 5th Annual Chocolate Decadence Friday, March 8.

The event, which is in the grand Ballroom from 7-10 p.m., features top chefs and chocolatiers from the resort and surrounding restaurants presenting guests with some of the most creative and sinful pastries they will ever taste.

Headlining the wine festival this year is local favorite and "American Idol" alum Casey Abrams.

Chocolate Decadence is paired with the wine festival, so it features over 30 wineries sampling sparkling wines, champagnes and dessert wines.

Once the sugar rush wears off, guests can return to the Grand Ballroom Saturday, March 9 from 1-5 p.m. for the wine festival. Wineries from around California including Thornton Winery, South Coast Winery and Falkner Winery from the Temecula Valley will partner with top chefs from Pechanga to showcase their best brands.

Tickets for Chocolate Decadence are $45, while the wine festival is $65. They are available at the Pechanga box office and www.pechanga.com.

Pechanga Resort and Casino has gone all out for the Thanksgiving holiday featuring themed menus at many of its restaurants.

The Buffet:
All of the usual brunch and dinner favorites plus prime rib, roast turkey and apricot glazed ham at the carving station.Deep fried turkey, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts with cranberry molasses and buttenut squash at the Americana station. Thanksgiving buffet is $26.99 per person.

The Great Oak Steakhouse:
Roasted turkey with apple-sage stuffing and cranberry compote, mashed potatoes, carmelized baby carrots and rustic turkey gravy. Meal is $23 per person.

Kelsey's, Pechanga Cafe and Journey's End:
For $17 roasted turkey with sweet potato, green beans, cornbread stuffing, mashed potato, giblet gravy and cranberry sauce. A choice of pumpkin or apple pie for $4.

Seafood Grotto:
Roasted turkey mashed sweet potatoes, oyster stuffing, baby vegetables and cranberry coulis for $23. Dessert is pumpkin creme brulee for $8.

in honor of Veteran's Day, and to celebrate America's veteran and active duty military service men and women, many Inland area casinos are offering special dining and gaming deals Sunday, Nov. 11 and Monday, Nov. 12.

Pechanga:

Complimentary buffet on Monday, Nov. 12 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with proper military I.D.

Spotlight 29:

Complimentary breakfast at Cafe Capitata on Monday, Nov. 12 from 6-11 a.m. with proper military I.D. and Club 29 card.
Veterans Day buffet for $9.95 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Soboba:

$25 in free slot play Monday, Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

San Manuel:

Veteran's Day celebration and special bingo Sunday, Nov. 11 and Monday, Nov. 12. Buy-in is $25 Sunday and $15 Monday.

Pala:

One free buffet on Sunday, Nov. 11 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with proper military I.D.

In celebration of Veterans Day, Pechanga Resort and Casino is saluting active duty and veteran military personnel with free admission to its buffet Monday, Nov. 12.

Military service men and women may enter the buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4-10 p.m.

Active duty and veteran personnel must show one of the following identification:

Military I.D. card
Veterans I.D. card
Veterans organization card such as VFW or American Legion
Discharge papers, dd214 or other veterans ID

Price for non-military is $16.99 for lunch and $21.99 for dinner. There are various discounts for members of The Club at Pechanga who present their card to the cashier.

Pechanga is located at 45000 Pechanga Pkwy. in Temecula.

The symbol of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians is the great oak.

So Pechanga Resort & Casino was making a statement about the importance of its Asian customers when it named its new restaurant, Bamboo, after another evergreen plant.

The 134-seat restaurant is casino's fourth dining facility to cater to the Asian market. That includes the buffet, which reopened in June after a major expansion.

The others are a food court outlet and a sit-down restaurant, Blazing Noodles.

What sets Bamboo apart is authentic Asian cooking, but it's a break from expectations people have for Chinese restaurants, resort officials said.

Bamboo specializes in noodles, rice dishes and roast meats from Korea and Vietnam as well as China, served a la carte.

"There's no entrée per se," said Dennis Khanh, vice president of food and beverage. "It's meant to be fast-paced."

Chef Vincent Cheng described Bamboo as an authentic Asian noodle house, serving noodles in a variety of styles across the Pacific.

Bamboo's décor also breaks with tradition, with little ethnic decoration aside from a few ornaments in niches and a goldfish mural on one wall.

"We didn't want to make it very Asian, with the old days of the golden dragon, with the gold and the red. We like to keep it light, kind of neutral, casual and elegant, but with a little accent," Khanh said.

Cheng is planning on moving a lot of roast duck, a signature dish.

He expects Bamboo to serve as many as 700 people a day. Increasing the odds of that happening are late-night hours. Beginning in October, food service will be offered in a new gaming table pit at the entrance of the restaurant.

The pit, like the restaurant, is intended to reach out to an Asian clientele. Its card tables feature a bamboo design and red velvet unique to the section.

Bamboo opened last week. It occupies 5,500 feet on the east side of the casino, space repurposed from non-smoking gaming and a cash cage.

Joaquin Fletcher, first vice president of the Pechanga Development Corp., said planning began 1 ½ years ago and construction took seven months. The cost was about $2 million.

"We have a large Asian population that enjoys gaming here," said Fletcher. "We wanted to give them some fast food, also give the public the chance to sample some of their foods as well. ...

"We thought an Asian restaurant would be just beautiful here."

All meals for restaurant profiles are paid for by The Press-Enterprise.

Bamboo

Where: Pechanga Resort & Casino, 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula

Hours: 11 a.m.-3 a.m. daily

Prices: $7-$15

Beverages: Coffee, tea, soft drinks, beer

Reservations: Not necessary

Information: www.pechanga.com

Pan-Asian cuisine is often linked to the phrase "fusion." At Blazing Noodles, the Asian eatery at the Pechanga Resort and Casino, diners are immersed in fusion with fury.

Not far from the whir-bong-ch-ching of the casino, chef Simon Nakhapreecha's airy, understated restaurant hits more Pacific Rim destinations than a heavy-metal act touring a greatest hits collection. With just a superficial scan of the menu, you can book your trek to:

China, with an array of noodle soups, spicy entrees such as Kung Pao Chicken and Mongolian Beef and stateside Chinese staples such as chow mein, fried rice and Orange Chicken.

Japan, highlighted by entrees such as Salmon Teriyaki and Chicken Kat Su and soups such as Shrimp Tempura Udon. Richer still is the beverage menu, which includes plum wines and sake served both warm and chilled.

The Philippines, topped by Pancit, the vermicelli-style dish that's wok-tossed with shrimp, chicken and vegetables.

Simon Nakhapreecha, head chef at Blazing Noodles at Pechanga Resort and Casino, displays one of his specialties, Bo Luc Lac (above), the traditional "shaking beef" dish from Vietnam.

Vietnam, highlighted by the traditional "shaking beef" dish called Bo Luc Lac.

Nakhapreecha's whirlwind Asian tour continues -- with stops in Laos, Cambodia and other destinations -- but this column's itinerary is already packed. Nakhapreecha, who grew up in Chaing Mai, Thailand, says his joy is putting his own spin on traditional Asian specialties that are steeped in his favorite ingredients -- garlic, pepper, basil and red curry.

That's evident in such dishes as Bo Luc Lac, cubed beef tossed in a pungent sauce that lands somewhere between the Korean Bul Go Gee barbecue and traditional Mongolian Beef.

More fusion fires up the dessert menu, topped by a couple of decadent mash-ups:

Coconut cheesecake, a rich, dense disc served with a chocolate sauce. The cheesecake is fairly traditional, until the coconut hits your tongue, lending the endeavor an island tone.

Lemon Grass Custard. If you like your Creme Brulee the old-fashioned way, steer clear. But if you're up for an earthy, complex dessert steeped in Southeast Asian flavors, it's worth the taste trek.

Brag about your favorite Inland restaurant. Reach entertainment reporter/editor Fielding Buck at 951-368-9551 or fbuck@pe.com.

All meals for restaurant profiles are paid or by The Press-Enterprise.

BLAZING NOODLES

WHERE: Pechanga Resort and Casino, 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula

HOURS: Daily, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

ENTREES: $12-$22

RESERVATIONS: Not required, but large groups should call ahead

INFORMATION: 1-877-711-2946 or www.pechanga.com

Pechanga Casino

What: The Great Oak

Where: 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula

Type of food: Steakhouse, features seafood, steaks and salads. Daily dinners specials are also available.

Hours: Sunday-Thursday: 5-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday: 5-11 p.m.

Prices: $8-$90.

Beverages: Full wine list

Information: 800-770-8507, http://www.pechanga.com/Dining/TheGreatOak.aspx

Journey's End offers something a little different for casino dining.

The restaurant is in Pechanga Resort Casino's clubhouse, on the southwest side of the property and detached from the casino.

The dining room, lounge and large deck offer views of the golf course, designed by Arthur Hills and Steve Forrest, a wooden footbridge and the hillsides beyond.

The atmosphere is soothing and elegant, and the prices won't upset that calm.

Journey's End does nice things with fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly on its breakfast menu. A citrus bowl costs $4.25 and a fruit plate reappears on the dessert menu.

Like other restaurants at Pechanga, Journey's End showcases Angus beef, such as in the tacos on its starter menu.

On a recent visit, I had the special, shrimp and pasta, with a refreshing salad of field greens and marinated tomatoes.

I finished with the lemon tower (above) on the dessert menu. It was tart yet refreshing.

Tell Press-Enterprise readers about your favorite Inland restaurants. Reach Fielding Buck at 951-368-9551 or fbuck@PE.com

All meals for restaurant profiles are paid for by The Press-Enterprise.

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JOURNEY'S END

Where: Pechanga Resort Casino, 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula

Hours: 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Saturday; Sunday 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Entrees: $8-$15

Beverages: Full bar

Reservations: Accepted

Information: www.pechanga.com