WOLFGANG’S 25TH

It was a three day gorge-a-thon that lasted all weekend long for superstar chef Wolfgang Puck and the kitchen kings from Vegas who joined other nationwide celebrity cooks for the 25th Food and Wine Festival.

Photo co: TVT

Photo co: TVT

Photo co: TVT

Photo co: TVT

Tom Collichio, from MGM’s Craftsteak, kicked it off Friday night, and on Saturday more than 15 Vegas culinary kings joined the 40 others on the back-lot of Universal Studios for the wine and food party that ran from 5 p.m. to midnight.

But Sunday night was the highlight dinner at Spago: Nobu Matsuhisa from the Hard Rock served glazed glassed Halibut on Tomato Jelly, Guy Savoy from Caesars Palace presented his signature Artichoke & Black Truffle Soup, Jean Georges Vongerichten from Prime at Bellagio prepared Maine Lobster, Emeril Lagasse from The Venetian kicked it up a notch with Mushroom Stuffed Duck Breast, and Charlie Trotter -about to open a unique seafood dining concept at the Venetian’s new Palazzo tower- served his 24-Hour Braised Organic Veal.

I did double-duty as MC and auctioneer and sold one rare case of Chateau Lafite Rothschild reds for $27,000, plus we asked four of the celebrity chefs to do an “at home dinner” for 24 guests which raised a whopping $100,000 when Guy threw in two dinners at his Caesars Palace and Paris five-star restaurants! Even the signed chefs’ jackets raised $12,500! Among the Vegas supporters bidding furiously were Southern Wines head honcho Larry Ruvo and our Chief, Brian Greenspun.

Wolf told me: “I think this was the best-ever event in our 25-years. The finale dinner was simply a masterpiece, and it’s so great to have so many Vegas chefs contributing to the incredible success.” Proceeds from the three-days soared way past the quarter-million-dollar mark to benefit the Meals on Wheels charity.

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