Tuesday, May 7, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
BIDDING for the dining packages auctioned at the annual Chef & Child dinner at The Mirage Hotel Saturday night was lively and swift. This was the fifth year for the delicious event, which just keeps getting better and better.
Much of the credit for keeping the event fresh and new each year goes to the dinner committee chaired by Francine Pulliam and Dorothy Huffey, to the committee members -- Liz Lenzie, Carolyn Leontos, Linda Montoya, Donna Musso and Susan Parnell -- and to the chefs who always manage to produce irresistible dining deals.
More than $60,000 was raised through the silent and live auctions and through an ingenious "human slot machine" game created by chef Michael Ty and Richard Niederman. In order to win the impressive dinner-package prizes, "players" had to have three matches of the beef, chicken or fish symbols acted out by three blindfolded chefs. This whimsical bit of tomfoolery raised more than $3,000.
Dinner was a splendid affair created by Mirage Director of Culinary Development David Kellaway. A selection of hors d' oeuvre and a smashing buffet, resplendent with gorgeous ice carvings, offered assorted fruits and international cheeses and Black Forest ham during the silent auction.
Emcee Dave Courvoisier, KVBC Channel 3 news anchor, performed with grace as he has since the first Chef & Child dinner five years ago.
Dinner was a delight: a rosette of smoked salmon atop a roasted corn cake; salad of Asian pear and arugula; juniper-seared filet of beef and jumbo scampi with wild-mushroom gratin; and a delectable sampler plate of desserts that included a lacy chocolate tower filled with mousse and apples on a bing cherry sauce.
In between courses, masterful auctioneer Bob Deiro dispatched the various dining packages almost before you could say "sold." Dinner committee member Linda Montoya outbid everyone for the Pick-A-Party package offered by Michael Ty and Las Vegas All-Star Chefs ($8,000). The enthusiastic supporter of the Chef & Child program also was the successful bidder on additional packages.
Chefs John Onstenk of Excalibur (chairman of Chef & Child dinner); Thomas Birdwell, David Hoemann and Ken Rissolo of Coyote Cafe; Rick Giffen and James O'Donnell of Planet Hollywood; Werner Zefferer and Eric Scuiller of Bally's; Horst Meyer, Hartmut Kuntze, Ward Daughters and Jill Bosich of Harrah's Las Vegas; J.B. Brown and Robin Rawley of Catering by the Chefs; Maderal Hilburn; Leroy King, Mike Whitesides and Kerry Slagle of Affairs to Remember Catering and the Tropicana; and the Board of the Fraternity of Executive Chefs of Las Vegas and the Associate members provided exciting packages that encouraged the active bidding. Included were a dinner for 8 at the historic Whitehead Mansion, an All-American barbecue for 100 diners and a feast on a houseboat in Calville Bay.
Also raising a goodly sum were silent-auction packages from chefs Robin Campbell and Dale Fox of Excalibur; Walter Worotylko of Sam's Town; Greg Jones of Boulder Station; Kurt Wolf of the Showboat; Ronald Wolf of the Sahara Saloon; Patrick Loughary of Hard Rock Cafe; Ralph Manguso and Jeff Stuart of Binion's Horseshoe; Giovanni Joe Delrosario of the Community College of Southern Nevada; Juan Carlos Paredes; Claude Lambertz, Dennis Lambertz and Jean Hertzman; and Bernice Panzero.
The delightful dinner agenda included music for dancing by Sh Boom and entertainment during the reception by the talented youngsters who make up Nevada School of the Arts Violin Ensemble.
Among those who attended were Dr. Stephan Montoya, Sue and Barry Becker, Nancy and Robert Joslin, Rene and John O'Reilly, Maria and Ted Quirk, Toni Clark and Larry Finuf, Veda and Jim Costello, Joan and Dennis Stein, Kitty Rodman, Art Leontos, guest chef John Sedlar, Becky and Mark Jones, Jim Musso, Tony Musso, Jean Nidetch, Leona Gennis, Nora and Bill Jensen, Chuck Lenzie, Kenny Guinn, Steve Guinn, Caroline and Dan Towbin, Vicki Courvoisier, Marydean Martin and Charlie Silvestri, JoAnn Prujan, Paul Huffey, Barbara Robinson and Andre Costas, M.J. and Jack Harvey, Helen Daseler, Eleonore and Ed Doumani, Stefani and Bill Evans, Phyllis and Marty Schwartz, and hundreds more.
Monies raised from the annual dinner and auction will support the Chef & Child Nutrition Program, a joint effort of the Fraternity of Executive Chefs, Chef & Child Foundation and the University of Nevada, Reno Cooperative Extension. Students at four at-risk elementary schools are currently getting healthful breakfasts and nutrition education, which will benefit them throughout their lives.
Women's smoker
Nevada Woman's Magazine, Southern Wine & Spirits and Cafe Michelle West will present a "Woman to Woman" cigar smoker dinner on Thursday as a benefit for Kids for Homeless Kids.
Tickets, $85 all-inclusive, include a champagne reception; five-course dinner prepared by CMW super chef Mario Andreoni; Chilean wines; special cigars with each course; and Hennessey VSOP and XO.
Kids for Homeless Kids is an organization of young people devoted to helping less fortunate youngsters.
For tickets or additional information, call 873-5400.
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