Bellagio To Host Diaoyutai State Guesthouse February 14-16

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Bellagio will welcome the prestigious Diaoyutai State Guesthouse to the United States for only the second time, February 14-16. Typically reserved for royalty, heads of state and other world leaders, the cuisine of Diaoyutai State Guesthouse of Beijing will be showcased in celebration of Chinese New Year.

Tickets for this very special event are priced at $500 per person, all-inclusive, and available for purchase online at Bellagio's Epicurean Epicenter webpage or by calling Bellagio Concierge at 866-406-7117.

"Food is an integral symbol of togetherness during the Chinese New Year," said President and COO of Bellagio, Randy Morton. "Joining two of the highest standards in hospitality – Diaoyutai State Guesthouse and Bellagio – during this most important holiday is an honor and will make for a very special occasion."

Bellagio's Tuscany Kitchen will play host to the three-day culinary event, offering exclusive prix fixe dinner menus to the public Thursday, February 14 through Saturday, February 16 at 7:30 p.m. nightly. The eight course meal, featuring a collection of historic dishes modernized from ancient menus, will be prepared and served by the Diaoyutai culinary team, dressed in traditional Chinese attire and led by Executive Chef Hao Baoli, who has hosted more than 1,000 world leaders in his decades at the Guesthouse. From decor and tradition to dishes showcasing rare and exotic ingredients, the Guesthouse experience will be transported to the luxurious Bellagio.

With more than 30 years leading the Diaoyutai culinary team, Chinese celebrity chef Baoli's cuisine is both healthy and delicious. Chef Baoli's celebratory menu will feature a diverse selection of dishes showcasing rare ingredients and skillful techniques.  In addition, strict nutritional requirements ensure all dishes are low in both sugar and sodium and high in protein.  The result is cuisine that is visually stunning, legendary and nutritionally holistic.

Beyond exceptional cuisine, guests will enjoy traditional presentations, including Diaoyutai's Dragon Bearded Noodle ritual and extraordinary fruit carvings. To ensure the finest level of dining, the Diaoyutai team scrupulously executes what it calls the "Four Beauties" in every meal: food, service, tableware and environment.

Celebratory decor will complement the elegance of Bellagio with Chinese tradition to create an ideal setting to enjoy this special cuisine. Tableware will be shipped from Beijing to Bellagio specifically for the event, with the end result capturing the essence and spirit of the Diaoyutai in breathtaking effect.

About Diaoyutai State Guesthouse
Located in Beijing, Diaoyutai State Guesthouse is a culture showcase of impeccable service standards. It was founded on the royal Fishing Terrace used during the Jin Dynasty (1115 – 1234) and the imperial residence in the Qing Dynasty. All main buildings carry plaques autographed by Emperor Qianlong. The estate was built in 1959 to accommodate the state leaders invited to the 10th anniversary of P. R. China. Since then, it has hosted 1220 heads of state and government leaders. Focusing on taste and regimen, Diaoyutai creates a unique Chinese State Cuisine style boasting low salt, low sugar, low fat, high protein, high nutrition, and stressing boneless, fresh light, simple elegant, tasty and long lingering. It represents a perfect combination of gourmet, tableware, service and environment.

About Bellagio
Inspired by the beautiful villages of Europe, the AAA Five Diamond Bellagio overlooks a Mediterranean-blue, 8 ½-acre lake in which fountains perform a magnificent aquatic ballet.  Award-winning dining, a world-class art gallery, the exquisite Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, the stunning performance of "O," by Cirque du Soleil, a sumptuous spa and salon and exclusive luxury shopping all work together to compose the symphony that is Bellagio. Bellagio is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM).

SOURCE Bellagio