When New York star chef Scott Conant announced that he’d be opening a spot in Las Vegas, the food world seemed to react with a shrug. After all, Vegas already had plenty of culinary kings (and he’s joining David Myers, Costas Spiliadis and José Andrés at the forthcoming Cosmopolitan resort) and no shortage of excellent Italian food—Conant’s forte.

But a little more exciting is Conant’s announcement that he’ll be opening an outpost of his widely awarded eatery Scarpetta in the Montage Beverly Hills (as if you needed one more reason to visit that stunning spot).

One thing is for sure, as good as the food scene in Los Angeles has become, Italian cuisine here could certainly use a shot in the arm. Combine a truly talented chef like Conant (who you might know from Food Network’s 24 Hour Restaurant Battle) with the array of amazing produce we have in Southern California, and you have a simple recipe for brilliance.

Of course, we can expect some of Scarpetta’s signature dishes that visitors to New York, Toronto and Miami have come back raving about, such as creamy polenta with fricassee of truffled mushrooms, spaghetti with tomato and basil, and roasted baby goat with rapini, pancetta and potatoes.

We can expect a Haute crowd, too: celebs like Matt Damon, Alex Rodriguez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson, and 50 Cent have helped make Scarpetta in Miami’s Fontainebleau a hot spot; President Clinton’s visited the original in New York.

Can’t wait until then? Go visit Conant at the Taste of Beverly Hills on Labor Day weekend! Yes, he’ll be there to whet our appetites.

Designed by Studio Gaia (Tao Las Vegas, W Mexico City) for an “Old Hollywood” feel indoors and out, Scarpetta Beverly Hills is due in October. Watch this space.

Montage Beverly Hills is located at 225 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.860.7840