As the general manager of Zeppola Cafe, Jen Yung oversees a little slice of food and beverage heaven inside The Venetian.
Head to St. Mark’s Square and you’ll find Zeppola tucked away in a corner—a quaint little café that offers some of the best Italian food and drink you’ll have on the Strip. “All our products are made from scratch, handcrafted,” Yung says. “It’s authentic Italian; recipes from the owner’s grandmother in Italy.”
Yung has a long history in food and beverage and hotel operations. He began his career in his native Hong Kong, opening the wine programs for Wynn Macau. He then brought his talents to the U.S. and helped establish the wine program for various Encore restaurants when the property opened. “I never in my life thought I’d end up in Vegas,” he says. “I remember my boss came up to me and asked if I wanted to work in Vegas. I had two weeks’ notice. I decided to go and got my tickets and my visa.”
For Yung, it was the right decision. Since he’s been in Vegas, he’s tackled the industry with gusto. Yung has served on both the hotel operations side as well as in the food and beverage industry. He’s been a director of luxury hotel operations for Caesars Palace and director of butlers for The Cosmopolitan; he’s helped open Resorts World’s Chinese fine-dining restaurant Genting Palace, and for the past six months he’s been with Zeppola, where he oversees operations and created the wine and cocktail program. “I love being hands-on,” he says. “I really enjoy the action. I’m always out on the floor helping guests. I like to not only help with operations, but I love to walk around, talk with guests, even bus the tables.”
But what he loves the most at Zeppola, what he’s most proud of, is what it offers. “When I look at the product that we serve, I’m really proud,” he says. “You have to come taste it to know how good it is.”
Libation: Espresso Martini
This writer tries a lot of cocktails for the job. And when Yung says that the espresso martini will be the best I’ll ever try … well, he wasn’t joking. Using his own recipe, the espresso martini is a mix of Stoli Vanil vodka, Kahlúa and a double shot of fresh-brewed Illy espresso. Yung even comments that once guests have tried it, they came back the very next day and the next day—even bringing their friends along—to order the cocktail again. It pairs perfectly with one of Zeppola’s fresh pastries, pastas or dinner entrées.
Benefit: Order the golden cappuccino. This secret-menu item is a vanilla cappuccino smothered with golden flakes!
Click here for your free subscription to the weekly digital edition of Las Vegas Magazine, your guide to everything to do, hear, see and experience in Southern Nevada. In addition to the latest edition emailed to every week, you’ll find plenty of great, money-saving offers from some of the most exciting attractions, restaurants, properties and more! And Las Vegas Magazine is full of informative content such as restaurants to visit, cocktails to sip and attractions to enjoy.
