First and foremost, there was Andre's. Way before Las Vegas became the dining oasis that it is today, Chef Andre Rochat was there, serving fine French fare to locals and tourists alike. In 1978, Chef Rochat bought the quaint white house at 401 S. Sixth St., which had been there since the 1930s and is one of Las Vegas' oldest homes. He proceeded to spend the next year and a half remodeling and ultimately transforming it into a quaint French chateau, which opened as Andre's in June 1980. Chef Rochat did most of the remodeling himself, including the digging and the chopping by hand of beams. He arrived every morning with his tool belt at 5 a.m., worked all day, ran home, took a shower and then worked as a Sous Chef at the Sands until 11:30 every night. This was a true labor of love, and it shows. To read some interesting stories about the house, which we collected over our meal with Chef Rochat, click here and visit our "Dining With Chefs" section. Once inside the house, you'll feel as if you're inside a beautiful French home, and once you taste the food you'll never want to leave it. Today, Andre's is in its 28th year and is the only freestanding restaurant -- a restaurant that's not anchored by a hotel -- with a Michelin star in Las Vegas. Now, that's staying power. Chef Rochat is still in the kitchen, ably assisted by Chef de Cuisine Greg Engelhardt, who shares his passion and is a student of his exquisite technique. As Chef Rochat says, "He breathes, dreams and lives for food. Period." With Chef Rochat as his mentor, not to mention such an overwhelming passion, Chef Engelhardt is ready and able to wow. And because he's received the highest recommendation from the father of Las Vegas cuisine, you know you're in for the meal of your life.