Columnist Muriel Stevens: Buffet spices up ‘celebration of marriage’

Friday, Oct. 6, 2000 | 9:24 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' dining column appears Fridays. Her shopping column appears Wednesdays. Reach her at muriel@lasvegassun.com or 259-4080.

"A celebration of marriage," was what the Rev. Bill Kenny of Christ the King Catholic Community called the wedding of Suzanne Burton and Dr. Brian Cram, Greenspun Media Group director of educational and community initiatives.

But it was much more than that. It was the joining of two people who had suffered the loss of beloved spouses. Both had been single a long time. Neither had any plans to marry again. They were both busy raising their families as single parents, and were immersed in their careers.

Enter Cupid, aka Ann Lynch, vice president of marketing for Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center. Ann had been a friend of Brian's for many years. Suzanne, the chief operating officer of Sunrise, was a new friend. As they got to know each other Ann realized that her new dear friend would be the perfect match for her other dear friend, Brian.

It took four months of trying to finally get the two together. "I never gave up," Ann said. "I just knew it was right. I refused to give up; I was driven."

The Crams' wedding Sept. 2 was a joyous event. Not only for the bride and groom, but for their children, all of whom participated in the ceremony. Brian's son Marc was his best man; Roger Cram was an attendant to the groom. Allyson Burton was her mother's maid of honor; Marca and Katherine Burton, the bride's attendants; Robert Burton was a groom's attendant. Daughters-in-law Kirsten Cram and Janie Cram were honored guests, seated with Ann Lynch.

The families blended as if it had always been that way. After the heart-warming service the celebration continued with a Hawaiian-themed buffet dinner at Spanish Trail Country Club.

More than 300 guests enjoyed a variety of hors d'oeuvres and libations before dinner. The buffet tables were gorgeous with fresh tropical flowers and lavish food displays: smoked suckling pig (two of them), whole mahi mahi stuffed with shrimp, seared chicken breasts with banana curry sauce, shrimp fried rice, long beans with macadamia nuts, hot and sweet short ribs, golden Hawaiian sweet bread and many other island-inspired dishes.

It was a joyous, delicious event with spontaneous wedding speeches and toasts. Hawaiian music, performers, dancing and the bouquet toss were all part of the love-filled party. After the cutting of the dramatic wedding cake -- alternate layers of coconut and chocolate cake covered with buttercream and decorated with fuschia flowers and pink sea shells, Suzanne and Brian Cram departed for a honeymoon in Hawaii.

Taste of Vegas overcomes weather: Despite the blustery winds on opening night (Friday), the second annual Taste of Vegas food and entertainment event was a success. More than 8,000 adults attended, and hundreds of kids. The kids has a blast at the "Tiny Tasters" area sponsored by the Nevada Dairy Council with free ice cream sundaes from Anderson Dairy (adults had to buy their ice cream).

The Food Network's Curtis Aikens (host of the show "Pick of the Day") presented a cooking demonstration; a variety of restaurants, including Michael and Wendy Jordan's Rosemary's; Aureole's Megan and Joe Romano; Charlie Palmer Steakhouse, Shalimar Indian restaurant; MGM's Neyla; Manhattan and more. For the second consecutive year Gabriel Grigorescu's Green Lips Cafe was voted Taste of Vegas "Favorite Restaurant" by the attendees.

Leontos book signing: Carolyn Leontos, longtime University of Nevada Cooperative Extension nutrition specialist and certified diabetes educator, will debut her new book, "What to Eat When You Get Diabetes" (Wiley, $14.95) from 7-9 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble, 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd. (between Smoke Ranch Road and West Lake Mead Boulevard).

A "surprise" sampling will prove that being diabetic does not mean giving up your favorite foods. As the author says, " 'What to Eat When You Get Diabetes' shows the many easy and appetizing ways to make healthful changes in your diet."

Food for Fuel: Cox Communications and the Discovery Health Channel have teamed up to bring the Food for Fuel food pyramid obstacle course to the Boulevard mall. Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every member of the family is invited to compete through meal-themed challenges and to answer nutritional questions. All participants receive a medal, a digital photo on diskette and other fun prizes.

This national educational program is designed to empower children and adults to think about their own health through eating well.

Short Orders

Oktoberfest: Sunset Station's Feast Around the World Buffet will offer homemade German specialties for $10.99 every Thursday in October. Included are such Bavarian specialties as sauerbraten and bratwurst, German potato salad and German Pilsner and Red beers.

Monte Carlo Pub & Brewery will celebrate Oktoberfest throughout October with a variety of authentic German dishes and the introduction of its signature Oktoberfest brew, Vienna-style lager. The brew pub's lunch and dinner specials will include sauerbraten with potato dumpling, weiner schnitzel with potato salad, a German sausage platter with sauerkraut, Hungarian goulash served in a sourdough bowl, brat wurst and apple strudel.