Jose Garces Opening Three Restaurants in Atlantic City

As rumored, Iron Chef America star Jose Garces is set to open three restaurants at the Revel resort in Atlantic City: Amada (an Andalusian tapas bar), Village Whiskey (cocktails and fancy American bar food), and Distrito Cantina (a margarita bar with Mexican street food). All three are set to open in the Spring of 2012. Here's the press release:

Revel is Spicing up the Shore with Chef Jose Garces

Amada, Village Whiskey and Distrito Cantina Announced as First Restaurants at Atlantic City’s Beachfront Destination To Open this Spring

REVEL BEACH, Atlantic City, NJ (December 8, 2011) – Foodies will flock to Revel this spring. Iron Chef Jose Garces, acclaimed chef and owner of twelve restaurants in Philadelphia, Chicago and Scottsdale, is set to open the doors to three highly anticipated restaurants at the beachfront destination. Drawing from his wildly popular and successful Philadelphia concepts, Chef Garces will open Amada, an authentic Andalusian tapas bar; Village Whiskey, serving spirits and artfully crafted cocktails alongside American dishes; and Distrito Cantina a festive margarita bar with a selection of 100 tequilas and modern Mexican street food from the Guapos take-out window.

Representative of Revel’s philosophy to bring together partners with a strong entrepreneurial spirit and tremendous talent, Chef Garces was selected as the cornerstone of the destination’s gastronomic offerings. Each culinary partner at Revel has a vested interest in the resort and brings signature flair from their regional restaurants in Philadelphia, New York and Washington, D.C.

Chef Garces’ restaurants will be joined by nearly a dozen other restaurants, three clubs, more than 1,000 guest rooms, retail shops, a 28,000-square-foot spa, two theatres that seat 5,500 and 500 guests respectively and a 150,000-square-foot casino. The 6.3-million-square feet beachfront destination reflects the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, figuratively and literally.

“Atlantic City has always been one my favorite places to enjoy a great night out. Revel will be a great addition to the city's offerings and we are so excited to be a part of it” says Chef Garces.

At Amada, Chef Garces will embrace the rich traditions of Spanish gastronomy while incorporating avant-garde cooking techniques in a chic setting. Amada’s impressive menu of inspired creations will give guests the opportunity to mix and share multiple dishes, whether enjoying drinks or indulging in a full meal. To accompany Amada’s signature small plates, guests can enjoy beverage offerings such as red and white sangrias, specialty cocktails and an extensive wine list showcasing an exciting array on Spanish varietals. Amada will also host live flamenco performances to entertain guests.

For Village Whiskey, Chef Garces will serve a wealth of whiskies and inventive cocktails alongside American bar food, prepared with his signature flair. As one of the most comprehensive collections of its namesake spirit available in Atlantic City, Village Whiskey will feature a veritable library of whiskey, bourbon, rye and scotch from Scotland, Canada, Ireland, United States and even a few Japanese options. For those who desire something other than whiskey, a carefully chosen list of wines and American craft beers will be available. A menu of Chef Garces’ bar snacks, house made pickles, renowned burgers and tempting raw bar selections will complement the cocktails.

At Distrito Cantina, guests will be able to grab a fresh margarita, creative cocktail, beer or wine and enjoy tasty dishes from the Guapos “take-out” window, inspired by Chef Garces’ popular taco truck. Delectable dishes will include Huaracha Los Hongos, flatbread with forest mushrooms, huitlacoche sauce, questo mixto black truffle and corn shoots; Mahi Mahi Tacos with chipotle remoulade, avocado, red cabbage and lime; Ceviche de Atun, yellowfin tuna with Serrano-coconut sauce, lime sorbet, tomatillo and tostadita; and Equites, sweet corn with queso fresco, chipotle and lime. The Margarita Bar will offer an exciting array of drinks including: Distrito, El Jimador Blanco tequila with orange, lime and fresh fruit; Jefe, or “Chef,” Garces signature margarita made with Don Julio reposado tequila, combier and lime; seasonal frozen margarita; and a variety of Mexican-inspired cocktails from pina coladas to mojitos to gimlets.

Since opening his first restaurant, Amada, in 2005, Chef Jose Garces has emerged as an enormous talent and one of the nation’s most gifted young chefs. He has opened eight additional restaurants, in both Philadelphia and Chicago; authored Latin Evolution (Lake Isle Press, September 2008); and won the James Beard Foundation’s prestigious “Best Chef Mid-Atlantic” award in 2009. In 2010, Chef Garces won Food Network’s The Next Iron Chef, making him one of just seven chefs in the country to hold the prestigious title of Iron Chef America, a show on which he appears regularly. He is also the owner and operator of a 40-acre farm in Bucks County, PA, and grows much of the produce for his Philadelphia restaurants there. For more information on Chef Garces, visit www.garcesgroup.com.

To experience Revel and to see a glimpse of the future, visit www.revelresorts.com.

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