Las Vegas | August 9th 2024 Exactly in 1 week, Thursday the 16th of August, the famous fine dining restaurant Picasso is closing its doors. For good. MGM Resorts International has not mentioned the reasons behind it, but one of them surely is that Chef Julian Serrano is taking a step back. And that's precisely why TheLasVegasBook, two months ago, seized the opportunity to interview the chef, in his beloved restaurant. 

Chef Julian Serrano looks back on his career

In the interview, we looked back together on the hectic opening days, 25 years ago when Picasso - just like The Bellagio itself - opened its gates to guests. Steve Wynn had mustered all his qualities and went above and beyond to get the best of the best to his bright new $1.6 Billion Megaresort. Shopping, art, show, fountains, and fine dining - this would be the new tone of voice on The Strip. 

Julian Serrano, back then a successful chef in California, took the leap of faith, although he was immediately convinced after speaking with Wynn. The difficulty for Serrano was to leave behind his house and family in California, in the beginning. But he knew it was right the step. "I knew that Steve Wynn would bring something new to Bellagio". "We did not know if Vegas was open to it, but we knew that it was going to elevate the level on the Strip."

Watch the full Interview below.