World's Most Celebrated Chefs Gather For First Time at Iconic Las Vegas Landmark

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Las Vegas is an extraordinary culinary destination, one that features some of the best and most celebrated chefs in the world. Today, more than 20 of those chefs gathered for a historic moment, at the equally historic "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign. Paul Bartolotta, Tom Colicchio, Todd English, Susan Feniger, Mary Sue Milliken, Michael Mina, Bradley Ogden, Carla Pellegrino, Agostino Sciandri, Kerry Simon, Julian Serrano, Alex Stratta, Jean-Georges Vongerichten and David Walzog were just a few of the top names on hand to kick-off the destination's popular culinary entertainment event, Vegas Uncork'd, a Bon Appetit Epicurean Experience.

Vegas Uncork'd (May 8-11) brings together Bon Appetit Magazine, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and an exclusive group of Las Vegas resorts, including Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Lake Las Vegas, and Wynn Las Vegas, for four days of more than 25 events. Announced today, Wolfgang Puck will co-chair and oversee the weekend's festivities, alongside Bon Appetit Editor-in-Chief, Barbara Fairchild. Wolfgang Puck was the first celebrity chef to make Las Vegas home, opening Spago at the Forum Shops in 1992. He now has six restaurants in the destination, including Chinois (Forum Shops), Postrio (The Venetian), Trattoria del Lupo (Mandalay Bay), Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill (MGM Grand), and CUT (The Palazzo)

Confirmed highlights of Vegas Uncork'd 2008 include: a Tale of Five Chefs Gala at Bellagio; a delicious weekend wrap-up brunch and a cocktail smack down at Wynn Las Vegas; and, the Grand Tasting and a Masters vs. Rookies Pro-Am cooking competition, both at Caesars Palace. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino will host an after-hours poker tournament, while an extraordinary evening of music at Lake Las Vegas Resort will kick off the resort's Summer Concert Series. Bon Appetit Executive Chef and Iron Chef Cat Cora will also be participating.

For b-roll of interviews with participating chefs, please call Jim Rose at (702) 892-7665 or email jrose@lvcva.com.

For information on all the events during Vegas Uncork'd, visit www.bavegasuncorked.com. Tickets for individual events range from $75 to $350, with comprehensive weekend packages available.

Pictured: Bottom row from left: Martin Heierling (Sensi), Tom Colicchio (Craftsteak), Kerry Simon (CatHouse), Bradley Ogden (Bradley Ogden), Susan Feniger (Border Grill), Carla Pellegrino (Rao's), Richard Chen (Wing Lei), Julian Serrano (Picasso), Damien Dulas (Restaurant Guy Savoy). Middle row from left: Wolfgang Von Wieser (Bellagio), Paul Bartolotta (Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare), David Werly (Le Cirque), Agostino Sciandri (AGO), Alex Stratta (Alex), Mike Minor (Border Grill), Mary Sue Milliken (Border Grill), Michael Mina, David Walzog (SW Steakhouse), Anthony Amoroso (MICHAEL MINA Bellagio). Back row from left: Wes Holton (Daniel Boulud Brasserie), Tom Moloney (Aquanox), Joseph Keller (Como Steakhouse), Robert Moore (Prime Steakhouse), Gregory Gorreau (Payard Patisserie & Bistro), Mark LoRusso (Tableau).

In the fall of 2007, Las Vegas became only the fourth U.S. city to be profiled by the authors of the Michelin Guide, the prestigious restaurant and lodging guidebook. Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand received top honors with the coveted three-star rating. Earlier in 2007, AAA awarded four restaurants their prestigious Five Diamond Award: Alex at Wynn Las Vegas, Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand, Le Cirque and Picasso at Bellagio. Both Alex at Wynn Las Vegas and Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand have recently been honored with Five-Star ratings by Mobil Travel Guide. In 2004, Bradley Ogden received the James Beard Foundation Award for Best New Restaurant in the nation, the first Las Vegas restaurant to win the title. Vegas Uncork'd marks another momentous milestone along Las Vegas' journey toward becoming one of the world's most esteemed culinary capitals.

About Bon Appetit Magazine

Bon Appetit magazine, a Conde Nast Publication, celebrates the world of great food and the pleasure of sharing it with others. Every issue engages nearly six million readers in a hands-on experience regarding all aspects of the epicurean lifestyle-cooking, restaurants, wine & spirits, travel, entertaining, shopping and kitchen design.

Both creative inspiration and practical guide, bon appetit delivers that just-right mix of sophistication and accessibility, indulgence and simplicity, and quality without pretense. Please visit bonappetit.com.

About the LVCVA

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide, and also with operating the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Center. With approximately 137,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone and more than 9.5 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space citywide, the LVCVA's mission centers on attracting ever-increasing numbers of leisure and business visitors to the area.