Illinois native Kerry Simon made a name for

himself as the executive chef at the landmark Plaza Hotel in New York.  Two years into the job, Rolling Stone namedhim the “Rock n Roll Chef” as well as one of the top personalities in 1991.

Continuing to grow his fame, he’s made

appears both as a challenger and a judge on Iron Chef as well as Hell’sKitchen.  In 2002, Kerry entered the LasVegas market when he opened Simon Kitchen & Bar at the Hard Rock.  That establishment was listed as one ofAmerica’s best new restaurants by Esquire magazine.   His footprint in the market has grown sincethen

Considering that the one time he won as a

challenger on Iron Chef was the hamburger challenge, it only made sense thatthis first restaurant on the Vegas strip would be a burger joint.  In 2010, Kerry opened Kerry’s Gourmet Burger,or KGB, at Harrah’s. As one would expect with the name, the theme of the placeis Russian. The space and décor is set to look like you would imagine Russialooks like, at least the American idea of what Russia looks like.