Famed Chef Brings Third Restaurant to Lehigh Valley – First Ever Italian Eatery

Bethlehem, PA (June 2, 2011) – Chef Emeril Lagasse today announced that Emeril’s Italian Table at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem will open the doors to serve its first guests on Saturday, June 4 at 11:00 a.m. This marks the first-ever Italian restaurant and the third at the Sands Bethlehem by the world-renowned chef and restaurateur. The restaurant will serve lunch and dinner daily from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Reservations may be made online at pasands.com or by calling 1-877-Sands77.

The menu at Emeril’s Italian Table features Emeril’s creative take on rustic Italian-inspired fare including antipasti, cured meats and artisanal cheeses, fresh made pastas, wood-burning oven pizzas, seafood, meat and vegetarian plates. An adjoining cocktail and wine bar offers a list with over 200 selections from Italy and abroad by the bottle and glass. Desserts include gelato, ice creams, cakes and other house made confections created from scratch by Emeril’s dedicated pastry chef.

“I’ve dreamed of opening Emeril’s Italian Table for a long time and am beyond excited to finally welcome our first guests this weekend,” said Chef Emeril Lagasse. “Italian is one of the world’s cuisines that I’ve always loved, and I look forward to serving fresh, creative and delicious dishes to guests who visit the Sands Bethlehem.”

Lagasse will also oversee “In-Room Dining from Emeril’s Kitchen,” an exclusive private dining service for the guests of the new Sands Hotel. This service offers a creative menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with select dishes from the menus of Lagasse’s three Sands Bethlehem restaurants – Emeril’s Chop House, Burgers And More by Emeril and Emeril’s Italian Table.

“Sands Bethlehem is honored to be home to Chef Lagasse’s third restaurant at the property and his first Italian cuisine establishment,” said Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem President Robert DeSalvio. “Emeril’s Italian Table offers another exceptional dining option to our visitors, and with our new in-room dining service, guests can now enjoy Emeril’s cooking at his three great restaurants here or from the comfort of their hotel rooms.”
Designed by Floss Barber, Inc. of Philadelphia and seating 150 guests, Emeril’s Italian Table’s offers a comfortable spot for everyone, from a snack at the bar with salumi and wine, or a corner table for a fun family-style meal with pizza, pasta, Italian plates and dessert. Guests seated at the bar have a front row seat with a large window offering views in to kitchen and the chefs busy at work. Weathered beams from a local barn in the Lehigh Valley, a canted wood ceiling and hand crafted local stone clad columns throughout the restaurant lend a rustic warmth to the space.

Emeril’s antipasto bar anchors the restaurant, turning out creative Italian appetizers, salumi and regional cheeses. A wood-burning oven is used to craft exceptional pizzas, made and fired to order. Cafe-style seating enclosed by framed glass doors overlooks the busy promenade leading from the Sands Hotel to the nearby casino floor.

Emeril’s Chop House, Lagasse’s first restaurant at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, opened in May 2009, offering Emeril’s unique twist on traditional steakhouse standards. Burgers And More by Emeril, the chef’s first-ever casual burger restaurant, and a play on his signature expression, “BAM!,” opened in November 2009. Other premier dining options at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem include the Carnegie Deli, St. James Gate Irish Pub and Carvery, The Market – Gourmet Express and Cobalt Café.

Emeril’s Italian Table is open for lunch and dinner from Monday-Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., accepting reservations and walk-ins. Reservations can be made online at pasands.com or by calling 877-Sands77.

Filed Under: Press Releases