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Epicurean Charitable Foundation Las Vegas Sponsors Inaugural International Star Chef Challenge
Top chefs from Las Vegas and Hawaii battle in culinary competition during International Hospitality Week
February 19, 2008
LAS VEGAS – Top chefs from Las Vegas will compete in the first annual International Star Chef Challenge sponsored by the Epicurean Charitable Foundation Las Vegas on Tuesday, February 26 as part of International Hospitality Week. The event will showcase two of the finest executive chefs in Las Vegas as they square off against two premier chefs from the islands of Hawaii in a sizzling competition that is set to raise the standard of culinary competitions.
Hosted by none other than television genius and celebrity icon Robin Leach, the International Star Chef Challenge will begin at 12:30 p.m. on the Culinary Concepts and Innovations Stage at the Las Vegas Convention Center and showcase team Las Vegas versus team Hawaii. The competition will feature 45 minutes of cooking competition based on a secret “themed” ingredient, which will be revealed to the audience and chefs at the beginning of the competition. The chefs must prepare a minimum of four dishes, three entrees and one dessert, based on the secret ingredient. At the conclusion of the time, the dishes will be tasted by a panel of three distinguished judges including Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority; Brad Friedmutter, president of Friedmutter Group and John Unwin, general manager of Caesars Palace. The winning team will receive a trophy and will be invited back to the competition next year to challenge another team.
On the Las Vegas team will be Executive Chefs Anthony Amoroso and Martin Heierling from the Bellagio. Amoroso, executive chef at MICHAEL MINA Bellagio, learned his craft in some of the best kitchens in the country and works closely with celebrity chef Michael Mina to create the refined American and seafood dishes Mina is famous for. Likewise, his teammate, Martin Heierling, has amassed an impressive culinary resume on his path to becoming executive chef at Bellagio’s Sensi. Heierling is charged with bringing to life the four complementary cuisines – Italian, Asian, American and seafood specialties of Sensi.
The Hawaii team will showcase the culinary skills of Fred DeAngelo, executive chef and owner of Ola at Turtle Bay Resort and Chai Chaowasaree, owner and chef of Singha Thai Cuisine and Chai’s Island Bistro. Well-respected in Hawaii’s culinary community, Chef DeAngelo’s contemporary Hawaiian cuisine has taken several restaurants to unparalleled heights.
Ola gained national recognition from Sante Magazine by being recognized for Excellence in Culinary Hospitality-Innovative Cuisine for the West Coast of the United States. In addition to DeAngelo’s expertise, team Hawaii also includes Chaowasaree, who is recognized as one of the best chefs on the island and is one of the founders of Hawaii’s Island Chefs.
Special admission into the International Restaurant Show Las Vegas will be given to those who register at www.internationalrestaurantshow.com/vip/vegas. Exhibit Hall passes for Tuesday, February 26 and Wednesday, February 27 are $25 and the Education Program, which include all food and beverage seminars held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, keynote addresses, super sessions and exhibit halls for all four shows and nightly networking events will be $525. This price does not include pre-conference workshops, Sunday Power Lunch, off-premise track or paid networking events.
About the Epicurean Charitable Foundation Las Vegas
Founded in May 2001, the Epicurean Charitable Foundation Las Vegas was created as a forum for Las Vegas food and beverage executives to share ideas and knowledge to foster a stronger and more unified hospitality industry in Las Vegas. Comprised of more than 40 of Las Vegas’ top food & beverage executives, the Foundation’s members have dedicated their time and resources to the goal of aligning the hospitality industry with the community through support of the local education system, related organizations, charities and associations. The Epicurean Charitable Foundation Las Vegas can be reached at 702-932-5098 or via its website at www.ECFLV.org.
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