Lucky Rice 2012, an Asian night market, was launched last week at the Cosmopolitan’s multi-level pool area. It was well attended, dishes were interesting, and the crowd was lively. In fact, it had everything a new event could ask for, short one thing. There was no rice.

Well, that’s a minor quibble. The event banded top Asian chefs from New York, L.A., San Francisco and Las Vegas, for a walk around event featuring an amazing array of dishes. Many celebrity chefs showcased their wares, including Toronto’s Susur Lee, L.A.’s Sang Yoon, the once, and perhaps future Vegas star Jet Tila, and our own Saipin Chutima, of Lotus of Siam.

I admit a bias toward Asian cooking, but objectively, it has to be said that the food here soared over most events I’ve been to, which always seem to be dominated by sliders. Because of that, the positioning of a kiosk from Holstein’s, by the pool entrance, seemed unfortunate, even if Anthony Meidenbauer’s Thai pork sliders w/Asian slaw were terrific.

But they were to be, happily, the last sliders I’d see all evening. Asian food has incredible range, and the chefs demonstrated it. I managed a full tour of the event between 7 p.m., VIP Admission, and 8 p.m., when the General Admission kicked in. And I did have a single dish I did not enjoy.

Obviously, I don’t have space to run all of them down, so here are the Top Ten dishes I tried, in order of how much I liked them.

1. Char Siu Pork Bao, by Eddie Huang of Bauhaus in New York City, a dish with several types of Asian pickle, cucumber,  cilantro and crushed peanut.
2. Sashimi of Fluke with Bone Marrow and Parmesan Reggiano, by Angelo Sosa of Top Chef Winner Social Eatz, New York City, with great flavor and texture.
3. Amarillo Pork Ribs w/Mole Amarillo by Shirley Chung of China Poblano, fall-apart tender pork, baby corn, corn nuts, escabeche.
4. Perilla Leaf Salad w/Tamarind Bacon, Caramel, Lime, Chile, Dried Shrimp, a pick up and eat symphony in a leaf.
5. Khao Soi Beef Curry by Saipin Chutima of Lotus of Siam, a dish on the menu at the restaurant, a Burmese influenced noodle and beef dish.
6. Chicken Dumplings w/Caramelized Sugar, Pork Fat, Confiture of Lemongrass, by Ari Kolender of Red Medicine in Beverly Hills.
7. Braised Short Rib Taco w/Brussels Sprouts and Kochillan Salsa, by Jet Tila of The Charleston in Santa Monica.
8. Ro Jia Mo, a red braised pork belly street sandwich, another dish from Shirley Chung of China Poblano.
9. Rack of Lamb Thailandaise by Susur Lee of Toronto, Canada.
10. Sichuan Hawaiian Butterfish, Watermelon, Radish, Nahm Jim, Rau Ram, by Sang Yoon of L.A.’s Lukshon.

Tony Abou-Ganim, the Modern Mixologist, was representing Bombay Sapphire Gin with a pair or drinks, one made with hibiscus syrup, and another, called 430, made with guava puree.

In addition, there were a brace of other exotic cocktails, and various desserts, including peach popsicles dipped in brown sugar crumble, and an olive oil pastry with strawberries and Maldon salt from Pichet Ong of New York’s Coppelia.

I must confess I thought it odd that there wasn’t a single rice dish, and the event did start running seriously short of food by 9 p.m. when many vendors simply ran out, and closed up their respective tents.

But this event has legs. It’s a great idea, and the price, $88 for General and $120 for VIP admission, is a good deal when considering that drink prices by a top Strip casino pool average well over $15 apiece.

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