Books
story by Amy schmidt
Photography by Christopher Smith
The Queen of Cookbooks
Pamela Grogan’s hobby has grown into an obsession—she’s even writing a book about it. It can’t simply be a coincidence that a popular Las Vegas chef (Joe Pignatello) and one of the true trailblazers in Las Vegas dining (Steve Wynn) both lived in the same Scotch 80s house now inhabited by Pamela Grogan and her husband, Stephen, can it? It’s serendipity at the very least, perhaps even fate. That’s what I concluded during a tour of the culinarily blessed residence, which now houses her more than 3,000 cookbooks. Pignatello, who built the house in 1961, was known for cooking Italian cuisine enjoyed by celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and the McGuire Sisters at the old Villa D’Este restaurant. In 1973, budding gaming magnate and gastronome Steve Wynn bought the house and lived there during his early days as boss of the Golden Nugget. When Stephen and Pamela moved in, their main culinary connection was her managing the Williams-Sonoma and Sur la Table stores. Then came the cookbooks. Over the past 10 years they have grown into a collection worthy of being featured in the Vegas Valley Book Festival. For two days in November (see sidebar), Pamela will share her hobby in an exhibit called “A Passion for Cookbooks: A Culinary and Cultural 80 D e s e r t C o m p a n i o n N O V E M B E R - D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 9
Tour from the Private Collection of Pamela Grogan, 1930s-1960s.” My personal preview begins well before we reach the mother lode, thanks to Stephen, who is not only a gaming executive but a published mystery writer. In his office are rows of first-edition mystery novels by legendary authors such as Elmore Leonard, Michael Connelly and Sue Grafton. There are also copies of his own book, Vegas Die (2008), and a manuscript for his next tome, Captain Cooked & The Poison Poi, a culinary mystery that combines the passions of husband and wife. In the nearby bar are such gems as a first edition of The Savoy Cocktail Book by legendary barman Harry Craddock (1930) and Bartender’s Guide by Trader Vic (1947). “There are mixologists in town that would kill to get their hands on these,” Pamela gushes. Past shelves of general-interest books in the living room and an overflow library of cookbooks in the exercise room, Pamela points out a smallish collection of culinary mysteries on the way upstairs (Sticks & Scones, Peach Cobbler Murder), which no doubt inspired Stephen’s current undertaking. There is also overflow from his collection on the second floor, including signed first editions of The Da Vinci Code and In Cold Blood.