Vegas Top Chefs Compete at Poolside Gala

The Epicurean Charitable Foundation hosts the 8th Annual Fundraising Gala poolside, tonight, at the M Resort Spa Casino .  The event features the area’s top chefs and mixologists “competing” to outshine each other in order to raise funds for the foundation.  The money goes to food-related causes, but its core mission is to keep students with an interest in the culinary field in Nevada.  In May of this year, they awarded eight local high school students with $40,000 each in scholarships ($10,000 per year) to attend any four-year accredited college or university in the country that has a major in hospitality or food and beverage. The gala event features world-class cuisine by Vegas’ top chefs with wine pairings by top sommeliers and a special performance by R&B legend Al Green.

The foundation was started in 2001 by Rino Armeni, President of Armeni Enterprises, a restaurant management company and consulting firm for hotels and restaurants and former executive marketing director of Southern Wine and Spirits of Nevada and former vice president of food and beverage at Caesars Palace.  With 40 other industry executives, the group has a depth and breadth of hospitality knowledge that offers scholarship recipients opportunities that many in the food industry would give their black truffles for. Scholarship recipients are matched with an industry mentor who meets with the student monthly to check his/her academic progress, advise on career choices and help secure internships and connections once ready to enter the field.

The mentorship may be more important than then money in the long run, insiders agree.  With Las Vegas at the top of the culinary scene worldwide, giving Nevada students a chance to break in is priceless.

The sour cherry margarita, above, was developed by mixologist Robert Parekh from Yolos in Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino and will be offered for the first time at the gala.  If you miss the event, ask for it at the bar. It’s killer.

October 9, 2009

7:30 p.m.

“M.E.N.U.S – Mentoring and Educating Nevada’s Upcoming Students,”

poolside at the M Resort Spa Casino

$500 tickets are available now. For more information please contact Elizabeth Muto at elizabeth@ecflv.org or 702-932-5098.