Andre’s reveals a culinary library for its 35th anniversary

Andre Rochat could be considered one of the first celebrity chefs in Las Vegas. After all, he opened his restaurant Andre’s in downtown Las Vegas 35 years ago. Now the restaurant, which relocated to the Monte Carlo in 1996, debuts a new culinary library in its second-floor cigar lounge.

What a treasure trove for culinary fans. The 700-plus book collection includes Rochat’s personal collection of cookbooks that he picked up over his 55 years in the food and beverage industry. The collection includes books on baking and pastries, wine and spirits, restaurant architecture, celebrity chefs and much more.

Find items such as 106 volumes of Art Culinaire, a French print edition of Georges Auguste Escoffier’s “Le Guide Culinaire,” a 1796 edition of “The First American Cookbook” by Amelia Simmons and signed books from Julia Child, Jacques Pepin, Joël Robuchon, Paul Bocuse and Jean-Louis Palladin.

The library also includes newer cookbooks from Andre’s cousin and three-star Michelin chef Philippe Rochat, Daniel Boulud, Massimo Bottura and Daniel Humm. Rochat also has menus dating back to the 1950s.

Later this spring, Andre’s plans to launch a book-of-the month program that will feature dishes from a chef or cookbook in the collection.

While books in the library can’t be check out, they can be read in the 35-seat lounge.

Interesting note about the cigar lounge: it features more than 200 single-malt Cognacs, Armagnacs and scotches, as well as premium cigars. The collection is the largest of its kind in Las Vegas and is ranked third in North America based on its size.

Info: Andre’s Restaurant & Lounge, (702) 798-7151