What do you do after four decades in the food and beverage industry? “You enjoy the lifestyle,” says Richard Douglas, general manager of Edge Steakhouse at Westgate Las Vegas. “I drink the best stuff, eat the best stuff, around great people—life is good!”
Douglas, a native of Vegas, started off as a busboy and worked his way up the ladder at some of the best restaurants in the city. He went from busboy and server to management and eventually added certified sommelier to his resume. “I’ve been in management for 30 years, wine for two decades—and at Edge (which he joined four years ago), I get to do both,” he says. “It equals me out.”
You can spot Douglas running the restaurant, greeting guests, busing tables, pairing wine with dishes—he’s a manager that believes in working right alongside his staff. One of his fave parts of the job is geeking out on wine (since joining Edge he’s beefed up the offerings from around 200 labels to 600). Ask him anything! “If you can tell guests the story behind the wine and why it works—you get the romance of it,” he says.
Douglas reflects on his 40-plus years in the industry, “I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. It’s perfect for me.” And all that sureness translates beautifully to the Edge Steakhouse experience, because there is nothing better than being taken care of by people who have found their passion.
Libation: Vega Sicilia Oremus Furmint Mandolás 2020
The Vega Sicilia Oremus Furmint Mandolás 2020 is a dry furmint wine. What makes it special is the Tokaji grape, which traditionally produces a sweet wine, but this vintage is made into a dry wine. Each sip refreshes the palate and prepares it for the next bite.
Benefit: Edge Steakhouse offers three- and six-course tasting and wine-pairing menus as well as caviar service.
Westgate Las Vegas, 702.732.5277. westgateresorts.com
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