Sharing is part of the fun, and with tapas try the Queso Fundido with manchego cheese, chistorra sausage, and piquillo peppers. Verdura features grilled vegetables, artichoke, and pisto la mancha (tomatoes, onions, eggplant, green and red peppers, and olive oil). In fact, the chef is very proud of the many vegan and gluten-free options on the menu. A bold choice to select for an entrée for two is Negra, a savory dish of clams, mussel, shrimp, calamari, and scallops served on black rice mixed with aioli. The dark color (prepared with the black ink of squid) might stop some from trying this delectable dish filled with savory flavors but it is amazing and captures the uniqueness of the menu. While Chef LeBlanc emphasizes he is very American, he embraces Europe and the Mediterranean attitudes when it comes to how he eats. His family is a blend of multicultural influences, and Chef LeBlanc personifies this. “I almost killed myself trying to cook when I was 7 years old. I was making buttercream, dropped the sugar, slipped, and fell on my face,” he laughs. From that moment on, he knew cooking was his destiny, and part of his family DNA is to share that skill with others. When another chef expressed his philosophy with Chef LeBlanc, he took it to heart. “The first bite is great. The second bite is good, and the third bite is boring. I want to take people in transition in their palate. I wanted to cook as many types of food as possible.” First, he became very passionate about Italian, then he mastered dishes from the Iberia peninsula of Spain and numerous regions of Portugal, ready to explode on the Vegas dining scene. As for spirits, gin and tonic is the go-to drink with sangria a popular second choice followed by brandy and sherry. While the Spanish culture im-
One of the most popular cocktails offered at Pamplona is Purple Rain, a light but bold drink with a violet hue.
PURPLE RAIN
bibes on straightforward cocktails, great wine and specialty cocktails enhance
INGREDIENTS
the meal.
• 1 ounce Empress 1980
The bar and restaurant culminate a childhood dream of owner and founder
• 1 ounce of lime juice
Marisol Crespo. Since the age of six, she has embraced the exquisite taste and
• ½ ounce Fiorente Italian
flavors of the Canary Islands, home of her grandparents. Assistant Chef Ariel
Elderflower Liqueur
Zuniga blends his unique touches, adding to the family-style feel in the dining
Tonic water
environment. Pamplona is named after the capital of Navarre, the province in northern
Combine the first three
Spain known for the Running of the Bulls (Feast of San Fermín). The feast
ingredients and pour into a
demonstrates daredevil attitude and celebration, which is also the spirit of
highball glass. Top off with tonic
Pamplona Cocktails & Tapas.
water and garnish with a sprig
Pamplona Cocktails and Tapas / 5781 W. Sahara Ave. / Las Vegas / (702) 659-5781
of rosemary and lime slice.
16 DECEMBER 2018 Las Vegas