Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Restaurateur ushers in Chinese New Year

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001 | 9:28 a.m.

Elizabeth Foyt's social column appears Wednesdays. Reach her at elizabethfoyt@ prodigy.net.

Chinese New Year is the most celebrated and significant festival on the Chinese calendar and symbolizes not only the start of a new year, but a fresh start in one's life.

New hopes for happiness and prosperity abound in this season. Last week restaurateur Kevin Wu of Royal Star chose to celebrate the last evening of Chinese New Year -- the Year of the Snake -- with an elegant dinner party for 200 guests.

In addition to marking the arrival of the new year, Wu was also celebrating recent top honors for best Chinese restaurant, a distinction he and his staff most proudly earned for the second time at Las Vegas Life's recent Epicurean Awards.

Wu stood to graciously welcome his arriving guests, each of whom was asked to sign a red satin banner with personal messages of good will for the year ahead. In the background was the masterful playing of David Liu on the zither, providing a distinguished program of Chinese classical music. On display was "Deer Brush," a lovely piece by Chen Ziong-Li, a noted contemporary artist whose paintings are collected by Queen Elizabeth II, Harvard's Fine Arts Library and former California Gov. Pete Wilson.

In the festive throng were Peggy and Wayne Bernath, Trish Williamson with husband John Bastian, Motomi Kogawa, Terry and Barbara Nosek, Janelle Collard with her husband, Patrick, Scott Boone, Ann Henderson, Amy Stone, Karolyn Knight, Blake Bradley and Randy Swallow. Seen chatting with the chefs at the buffet tables were Lynn Garlock, Lori Cleary, Jim Tessier, Pat Shingles and Monica Berge.

Served buffet style, the dinner provided each guest with an overview of the menu and special dishes of the season. In departing, each guest was given a paper lantern with a small note explaining the custom of the Lantern Festival observed during the Chinese New Year's celebration.

Say it's your birthday

Gourmet pizza, pastas and trendy dishes crowded the long table when Nancy Allf recently gathered friends for a birthday luncheon at the Golden Nugget's California Pizza Kitchen. Celebrating the big 44 in style, Allf, a community-minded attorney and past president of the Clark County Bar Association, glowed as she greeted her friends and colleagues. Assembling for the midweek event were Lynn Shoen, Randa Shea, Jan Kelly, Laura Cyr, Debra Cohen, and Allf's partner, Kathleen Paustian. Karl Armstrong, the lone male in attendance, came with his wife Sondra Armstrong. Present as well was Dara Goldsmith, past president of the Clark County Bar Association, as well as Connie Densmore and Ann Bersi, past president of the State Bar of Nevada. Patty Blakeman and Carey Reno, of Laurie Webb Court Reporting, provided logo coffee mugs filled with candy as party favors for fellow guests. Among the lunch crowd stopping by the table was Gianna Orlandi.

Another celebration

Also enjoying the joy of a happy birthday with friends was Rosita Kain, a longtime Las Vegan who performs at the lofty Eiffel Tower Restaurant at Paris Las Vegas. Hostess Patricia Martinelli-Price was the mastermind behind the surprise event, selecting the Four Seasons' Verandah restaurant for the ladies-only event. Joining Martinelli-Price and Kain for a splendid high tea experience were Susan Houston, Mary Tamburro, Bev Powell, Barbara Moon, Marina Jezzeny and Dominique Martinelli-Price. Kane, a graduate of Juilliard and a noted concert pianist, frequently appears in classical programs at Southern Nevada resorts and social functions.

Club reunion

Thanks to the careful planning of Judy Hetherington and Sally McKinney, the recent Junior Mesquite Recycle, a reunion of past members and their spouses or significant others, was a success. Past presidents of the longtime Las Vegas civic-social organization, Hetherington and McKinney brought together other past presidents, officers and former members for dinner at the Reserve's Tusks restaurant. Dennis Hetherington, formerly the hotel-casino's public relations director, now editorial manager for Ameristar Casinos, worked with John Carlson, food and beverage director for the Reserve, to arrange the most pleasant evening.

Friends old and dear in attendance were Dixie Stephens with husband Kim Grytdal, Del Bean, Karin Borgman, Mary and Alan Buckholz and Greg and Kathy Fehr. Many discussions centered on past community service projects and events including the establishment of the Junior Mesquite annual art auction for charity.

Taking part in the many lively conversations that filled the room were Larry McKinney and Neil Carmena, Paula and Margo Pesek, Debbie and Mike Miller and Skip and Karen Coleman, as well as Joyce Schneider, who will host the next reunion at her home in Green Valley.