Bon Appetit
12th Annual Wine and Spirts Focus
Las Vegas
May 18-20,2001 at Bellagio

What It Is:

Bon Appetit 12th Annual Wine and Spirts Focus is set for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 18-20,2001 at Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mirage, and Treasure Island.

Friday, May 18th will feature a magnificant "Grand Tasting"
($125 before May 2, 2001) and will feature over 40 renowned Las Vegas retaurants, more than 100 wineries, Champagne, microbrew and spirits makers to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Saturday, May 19th will feature 10 fascinating and educational workshops, (prices range from $45 to $125  and many include food and wine).  Workshops are lead by well-known authorites and have cutting-edge information. Titles include "Sushi & Sake Workshop," "Imported Cheese and Port Selections" and  "A Chocolate Odyssey." (For a detailed listing, please see below.)

Also included on Saturday, May 19th is a sensational "Gala Black Tie Dinner" ($350) which includes a luxurious, multi-course menu paired with world-class wines  , one that is prepared by a team of outstanding luminary U.S. chefs. This is truely "a meal to be remembered." ( See below for details.)

Sunday, May 20 will feature a Sunday Champagne Jazz Brunch at the legendary MGM Grand. ($65)

Contact Information:

To reserve your tickets by phone:

Call toll-free 1-888-34-FOCUS
 

Schedule:
 
 

7:30 TO 10:30 PM, Friday, May 18 - GRAND TASTING -BELLAGIO

Join us for this walk-around Grand Tasting featuring the signature dishes of 40 renowned Las Vegas restaurants, and meet the celebrated chefs in person.

Andre Rochat ANDRE'S FRENCH RESTAURANT       Gabino Sotelino MON AMI GABI
Michael Mina and Mark LoRusso AQUA                        Michael Demers NAPA
Charlie Palmer AUREOLE                                                 Joseph Elevado NOBU
Grant MacPherson BELLAGIO                                        John Cahill OLIO
Jean Philippe Maury BELLAGIO                                     Todd English & Clay Conley OLIVES
Susan Feniger & Mary Sue Milliken                                 Dennis Di Dio ONDA
   BORDER GRILL
Mark Flemmig BUCCANEER BAY CLUB                      Julian Serrano PICASSO
Joe & Megan Romano CHARLIE PALMER STEAK    Joachim Splichal & Alan McLennan
                                                                                                    PINOT BRASSERIE
Rick Griffin CHINA GRILL                                              John Lagrone POSTRIO
Thomas Birdwell COYOTE CAFÉ                                     Jonathan Snyder PRIME STEAKHOUSE
Christian Czerwonka DELMONICO STEAKHOUSE     Alessandro Stratta RENOIR
Jean Joho&Joung Sohn EIFFEL TOWER                       Joe McSherry ROCK LOBSTER
    RESTAURANT
Sean Roe EMERI?S NEW ORLEANS FISH HOUSE    Michael & Wendy Jordan
   RESTAURANT                                                               ROSEMARY'S RESTAURANT
Marco Porceddu FRANCESCO'S                                     Patrick Glennon SAMBA GRILL
Paul Schlosser&Russell Grabe HOUSE OF BLUES       Sean O'Connell SHINTARO
Michael Ginor HUDSON VALLEY FOIE GRAS            David Robins SPAGO
Marc B. Poidevin LE CIRQUE                                         Stephan Pyles & David Woodward
                                                                                                  STAR CANYON
Saipin Chutima LOTUS OF SlAM                                    Bill Jacobs THE STEAK HOUSE
Robert Kirchoff LUTECE                                                 Adam Odegard TREASURE ISLAND
Kim Canteenwalla MGM GRAND                                  Luciano Pellegrini VALENTINO
Bernard Ibarra THE MIRAGE                                        Wolfgqng von Wieser VERANDAH
 

Saturday, May 19, 2001 - WORKSHOPS & PRIVATE TASTINGS

SUSHI & SAKE WORKSHOP
11:00 am to 2:00 p.m.
Shintaro, Bellagio

The art of sushi-making presented in a hands-on workshop hosted
by Shintaro executive chef Sean O'Connell and Mike Shigemoto,
followed by a four-course lunch and sake tasting. $95

THE TASTE OF THINGS TO COME: WINE & FOOD PAIRING
FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
11:00 am to 2:00 p.m.
The Ballroom, Bellagio

John Ash, celebrated chef, award-winning cookbook author of
From the Earth to the Table, and director of food and wine
education for Fetzer Vineyards and Bonterra Vineyards will
present a philosophical exploration of the direction of food
and wine in the new century, followed by a multi-course lunch
that will symbolize John's views on the future. Limited-release
Fetzer Reserve wines and organically-grown Bonterra wines
will be featured. $95

WINE & FOOD PAIRING LUNCH
11:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Renoir, The Mirage

A workshop on the do's and don'ts of wine and food pairing,
featuring a four-course tasting menu prepared by Alessandro
Stratta of Renoir paired with the wines of Far Niente. $100

IMPORTED CHEESE AND PORT SELECTIONS
2:30 -3:30 p.m.
Prime Steakhouse, Bellagio

A comprehensive tasting of dishes featuring cheeses from
France, Scotland and Australia paired with Port samplings
including Vintage, Late Bottled Vintage, Vintage Character and
Tawny Ports. A rustic country basket with samplings of the
day's fare and information is yours to take home. Hosted by
Grant MacPherson, executive chef, Martin Heierling, garde
manger and Jay James, master sommelier, all of Bellagio. $75

RESTAURANT-STYlE ENTERTAINING AT HOME
2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Caribbean Room, Treasure Island

Learn how the professionals prepare parties at home with
restaurant pizzazz. Samples of appetizers and pastries will be
presented and taught by Adam Odegard, executive chef, and
Debra Mitchell, executive pastry chef, and paired with the
wines of Kendall-Jackson. $45
 

VODKA & CAVIAR TASTING
2:30 -3:30 p.m.
Aqua, Bellagio

A dramatically staged premium vodka and caviar tasting
hosted by Mark Lo Russo, executive chef of Aqua and Tony
Abou-Gamin, beverage specialist at The Bellagio. $125

BRAZILIAN HOME BARBECUING TECHNIQUES AND
SOUTH AMERICAN COCKTAIL MIXOLOGY
3:00 -4:30 p.m.
Samba Grill, The Mirage

Join Patrick Glennon, chef of Samba Grill, for a demonstration
and discussion of flavorful South American barbecuing and its
history and folklore, paired with festive South American
libations. Guests will leave with a gift basket with housemade
condiments and exotic South American ingredients, as well
as a book containing recipes, descriptions and the history of
Brazilian barbecuing. $75

FOIE GRAS TASTING
3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
MGM Grand

Foie gras has been described as the "ultimate guilty
pleasure." In this exclusive seminar, chef Michael Mina of
Aqua and Michael Ginor of Hudson Valley Foie Gras will
discuss the lore and history of this culinary delight and
demonstrate several methods of preparation. $65

2001: A CHOCOLATE ODYSSEY
3:00 -4:00 p.m.
The Ballroom, Bellagio

Join Jean-Philippe Maury, executive pastry chef of Bellagio,
named best pastry chef in France, as he shows you how to
recreate some of his most succulent chocolate secrets such
as Raspberry Sacher Cake and a few of his Bellagio line of
Chocolate Bon Bons. You will leave with step-by-step recipes
and some chocolates to share with a friend. $50

ANTIPASTO WORKSHOP
3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Olio Restaurant, MGM Grand

John Cahill, executive chef of Olio Restaurant, has updated
many traditional antipasto dishes with a modern twist and
now features them on the largest antipasto bar in the world.
He will share the recipes for some of his signature dishes
which feature the finest authentic ingredients imported
from Italy, and lead a tasting paired with a selection of
Italian wines. $45
 
 
 

SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2001-7:00 PM - GALA BLACK TIE DINNER - BELLAGIO

Saturday evening, MGM MIRAGE will present a culinary tour de force, bringing together acclaimed chefs from around the world and teaming them with their celebrated Las Vegas colleagues for a once-in-a-lifetime black tie dinner.

Featured chefs include:

Kim Canteenwalla, MGM Grand
Todd English, Olives
Grant MacPherson, Bellagio
Michael Mina, Aqua
Julian Serrano, Picasso
Alessandro Stratta, Renoir
Jean Georges Vongerichten, Prime Steakhouse

Each chef will contribute a dish to the luxurious, multi-course menu paired with world-class wines selected by master sommeliers. A dazzling dessert extravaganza followed by live music and dancing will complete the evening.
 

Sunday, May 20, 2001 - CHAMPAGNE & JAZZ BRUNCH- 10:00 a.m.to 2:00 p.m ? MGM Grand

Finish the weekend on a sparkling note! Join us for Sunday
Champagne Jazz Brunch at the legendary MGM Grand.
Savor the sumptuous buffet, sip Champagne and delight
in the sounds of live jazz music. It's truly a feast for all
the senses. $65
 
 

Details:

Listing of Event Pricing is as follows.
 
 

GRAND TASTING EVENT of Friday, May 18, 2001
101 (For orders received on or before May 4, 2001) $125
102 (For orders received after May 4, 2001,
                                            or puchased at the door) $135

A LA CARTE EVENTS

Saturday, May 19, 2001
201 Sushi & Sake Workshop $ 95
202 Taste of Things to Come $ 95
203 Wine & Food Pairing Lunch $100
204 Imported Cheese & Port Selections $ 75
205 Restaurant-Style Entertaining $ 45
206 Vodka and Caviar Tasting $125
207 Brazilian Home Barbecuing $ 75
208 Foie Gras Tasting $ 65
209 2001: A Chocolate Odyssey $ 50
210 Antipasto Workshop $ 45

Saturday, May 19, 2001
211 Gala Black Tie Dinner $350
     Bellagio

Sunday, May 20, 2001
301 Champagne & Jazz Brunch $ 65
MGM GRAND
 

WEEKEND OFFER

Purchase the Friday Grand Tasting, any Saturday event and
the Sunday Champagne Brunch and receive a special gift from
BON APPETIT -a collection of four spectacular wines chosen by our
wine & spirits editor, Anthony Dias Blue.

When you call the toll-free number to register, ask for the special
"Weekend Offer." (A gift voucher will be provided for you to collect
your special gift at Sunday's Brunch.)

401 "Weekend Offer."