Sharing the Taste of Vegas: Food bank can benefit from gourmet festival

Angela Soo

Friday, Sept. 14, 2001 | 4:58 a.m.

Weekend edition

Residents can help feed more than 9,000 hungry people in Clark County by bringing nonperishable food items to the third annual Taste of Vegas next weekend.

Organizers of Taste of Vegas agreed to knock $1 off the admission price if a nonperishable food product is donated at the door. Tickets are regularly $6 for adults and free for children under 13. A maximum of discount of $1 will be given for each ticket.

Festivities will last all weekend at the County Government Center Amphitheater, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway, starting Friday from 6 to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., and concluding on Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

The Fixx, an '80s band that sang "Saved By Zero," will perform 8 p.m. Friday. Two other '80s bands, the Motels and Berlin, will perform on Saturday, with the Motels at 2 p.m. and Berlin at 7 p.m.

Berlin sang "Take My Breath Away" for the 1986 hit movie "Top Gun."

Giant People, a jazz band, will perform Sunday 1:30 p.m. followed by Poncho Sanchez at 3 p.m.

Strip hotel restaurants, such as Aureole of Mandalay Bay, Le Cirque of Bellagio and Charlie Palmer Steak of Four Seasons, are just a few that plan to sell samplings of their food for $1 to $4. The menu includes filet mignon, slow-smoked baby back ribs and minced-chicken lettuce cups.

John Richard Bonds, one of the event organizers, said Taste of Vegas gives gourmet restaurants a chance to mingle with the locals.

"There's never a chance for the Strip restaurants to expose themselves to regular residents," Bonds said. "I thought the event would fit into the community because Las Vegas is becoming a more culinary capital and people who live here are thinking that they want to try these restaurants.

"And since it's a food event, I thought it was a good idea to include a food- type charity," Bonds said.

The donated food will go to the Community Food Bank, 4601 E. Cheyenne Ave., then be distributed to various charities across five counties. But 95 percent of the food bank's effort goes to Clark County.

The timing of the recreational/charitable event is great, said Community Food Bank Executive Director Bessie Braggs. She said her food inventory is low, government funding for her program was cut and a large food shipment that she was depending on was canceled Wednesday.

"Our coffers are low with the way things are going," Braggs said. "But knowing that people are there to help us out makes me feel good about getting up early every day."

Donated food items will go to senior citizens, day-care facilities, low-income families and school and youth programs.

"We don't necessarily just give to the homeless," Braggs said. "Many of the people who use our services are people going to work every day that can't afford to buy enough food. When the community gives to the food bank, it goes a long way."

Bonds expects to raise 5 tons of food for the Community Food Bank, which is enough to feed 10,000 hungry people. Last year's event brought in 2 tons.

Taste of Vegas is also organized by KSTJ 102.7-FM and the Event Group. Co-sponsors include Cox Communications and DeLuca Liquor & Wine.

Local artists will also get a chance to showcase their paintings and sculptures inside the Pavilion area at the Government Center.

"I was hoping to bring a little culture into Las Vegas," Bond said.