MGM Resorts plans a celebration of food and wine in gay-friendly Las Vegas
It will be a celebration of food and libations on the The Strip in Las Vegas from October 5 to 7 for MGM Resorts’ Food & Wine All-Star Weekend. Following two successful years at ARIA and Bellagio, this year’s roster of resorts has expanded to include MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage.
The culinary weekend will be hosted by NBC’s “Top Chef ” star and Food & Wine magazine editor Gail Simmons along with a talented line-up of celebrity chef superstars, distinguished sommeliers and sophisticated mixologists.
“From established culinary masters to rising stars, Food & Wine All-Star Weekend showcases the best and brightest of the industry in what has become one of the world’s top epicurean destinations,” said Bill Hornbuckle, MGM Resorts’ chief marketing officer. “Not only will we provide access to supreme culinary talents but our world-class resorts will ensure that each guest has a truly memorable experience.”
The weekend’s array of events are sure to please even the most discerning dining connoisseur from lavish, multi-course meals to intimate cooking demonstrations including:
- The Mirage Pool’s tropical elegance will serve as the backdrop for this year’s All-Star Tasting when celebrity chefs Rick Moonen, Laurent Tourondel and many others join host Gail Simmons in a gastronomic gala showcasing the unrivaled cuisine of Vegas’ top chefs
- ARIA’s stable of powerhouse chefs including Masa Takayama, Shawn McClain, Jean-Philippe Maury, Michael Mina, Julian Serrano and Jean-Georges Vongerichten will join forces to create a one-of-a-kind meal served in the alluring ambiance of Sage
- Bellagio will transform its Grand Patio into a Farmhouse setting as executive chefs Roy Ellamar of Sensi and Brett Smith of Zolo Grill, an award-winning southwestern restaurant in Boulder, CO, serve a lunch featuring seasonal ingredients harvested from their favorite farms
- Chef of the Century Joël Robuchon’s MGM Grand restaurant, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon , will present an intricate cooking demo and decadent lunch to guests. Hosted by executive chefs Claude Le-Tohic of Joël Robuchon Restaurant and Steve Benjamin of L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, the pair will expertly guide each guest through the preparation of two Joël Robuchon signature courses followed by a three-course lunch with wine pairings
- At Mandalay Bay, celebrity chef Charlie Palmer of Aureole will guide an exclusive group of guests in an interactive cooking demonstration highlighting seasonal fall fare
For the detailed event schedule, to purchase tickets and for more information about the Third Annual Food & Wine All-Star Weekend, visit www.mgmresorts.com/foodandwine.
MGM Resorts ranks among the top gay-friendly companies in the travel industry. It is a member of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association and, according to the Human Rights Campaign’s 2012 Corporate Equality Index, is among the nation’s leading companies for workplace equality.
In 2000, MGM Resorts became the first company in the gaming industry to launch a voluntary diversity initiative and in 2004 it became the first company in the industry to offer same-sex health benefits to employees. Last year, MGM Resorts expanded the benefits of its health care program to cover counseling and hormone therapy services for transgender persons.
Las Vegas also ranks as one of the top destinations for gay travelers according to Community Marketing Inc’s 16th Annual LGBT Tourism Study. More information on visiting gay-friendly Las Vegas is available from the Las Vegas Conventions and Visitors Authority.
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