The evolution of Vegas' dining scene in the past 10 years has been nothing short of remarkable. For years food here was little more than an afterthought. It's true that most hotels had a gourmet room to keep their customers happy - and on the property - but no one thought of Las Vegas as a world-class city for dining.

How things have changed. Today Las Vegas is recognized as one of the world's great dining destinations, with a long list of renowned chefs and spectacular restaurants that are remarkable for their lavishness, architecture and creativity.

A seminal moment in Las Vegas' emergence as a dining sensation occurred in 1992, when the highly respected Austrian chef, Wolfgang Puck, opened Spago at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. Puck's colleagues thought his Vegas venture was a risky bet; the chef himself knew better. Turns out he was years ahead of his time, as his Las Vegas Spago became a triumphant success.

Puck now owns and operates three other upscale eateries in Las Vegas: Chinois, also in the Forum Shops; Café de Lupo at Mandalay Bay; and Wolfgang Puck Café and Grille at the MGM Grand.

And the man who was considered a culinary pioneer by coming to Las Vegas now finds himself in good company indeed. The list of celebrity chefs here reads like a who's who in the world of fine dining:

Emeril Lagasse opened Emeril's New Orleans Fish House at the MGM Grand, and later, Delmonico at the Venetian. Thomas Keller, owner of French Laundry in California's wine country, opened Bouchon at the Venetian. Bradley Ogden has his own self-named haute American cuisine masterpiece at Caesars Palace.