VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: New hospital chef blessed with patients

Friday, March 12, 2004 | 10:46 a.m.

Wolfgang. Emeril. Boyzie.

Which one doesn't belong?

Well, maybe they all do.

The first two names, of course, are celebrity chefs with a Las Vegas presence, Wolfgang Puck and Emeril Lagasse.

The third person is Boyzie James Milner. We caught him preparing fresh salmon steak with tomato amaretto sauce, spinach, jasmine rice and stir-fry asparagus for anchors Cher Calvin and Josh Talkington on the KVVU Channel 5 morning news show Wednesday.

At which local restaurant does he work?

Actually, he makes hospital food. He is the new executive chef for Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center.

"Yes, hospital food has been the butt of jokes for, well, forever," Milner told us. "But now, cooking in a hospital is not that different from cooking anywhere else. No matter where you go, it's the same thing -- people want healthy meals, fresh foods, low sodium, sugar free and, of course, delicious and nutritious.

"I am working to try and change the perception of so-called hospital food," said Milner, 50, a native of Ohio.

He's done chef stints for various Marriott, Boyd Gaming and Harrah's properties, and was executive chef at the River Palms hotel in Laughlin before coming to Vegas.

Campaign help

Now that Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt has told the media that she is going to run for governor in 2006, what role will her new companion, radio host Dennis Bono, have in the campaign?

"Dennis, and other friends I have in the entertainment community, have been supportive of my decision. He and some others will be doing some exciting fund-raisers for me," Hunt told us in a phone conversation Thursday. She named the Scintas and Sonny King as other likely benefit performers.

In December, Hunt lost her husband of 34 years, Charles "Blackie" Hunt. The couple had separated earlier, but had not divorced.

For months, Hunt, who turned 65 on Thursday, has been regularly seen at public events accompanied by Bono, 54. He hosts a weekly Friday-night program on KJUL 104.3-FM.

"Dennis and I enjoy each other's company. We are good friends and have a good time together," Hunt told us. "And who knows what the future may bring?"

New focus

David LaChappelle, the gifted photographer and music-video director who created Elton John's Caesars Palace stage show, is now turning his attention to something a little different: Britney Spears.

During an interview with MTV conducted while she was in Las Vegas for her performance at MGM Grand last weekend, Spears confirmed that the ballad "Everytime" -- about her breakup with Justin Timberlake -- will be her next video, and that it will be set in Las Vegas.

MTV's website reports that the 22-year-old pop princess will stage her suicide in the video, as a way to respond to media reports that she's drinking too much, teetering on the brink, seeking help and in therapy.

LaChappelle will direct the video, which will be shot in Los Angeles but set in Sin City.

Over and out

Dennis Miller, who performs at Paris Las Vegas tonight and through the weekend with opening act Steve Sorrentino, is the hotel's last headline show for the next six or so months.

Starting Monday the hotel prepares for the fall opening in the main theater of the Queen musical, "We Will Rock You."

A hotel spokeswoman said that the rotating roster of headliners -- including Olivia Newton-John, Kenny Loggins, Hall & Oates, Dana Carvey, Smokey Robinson and Miller -- were finished for now at Paris, but not necessarily in Las Vegas.

For example, the Las Vegas Hilton has booked Miller this May, Robinson in June and Loggins in July.

Office pol

"Being the mayor of Las Vegas is like being a king," Oscar Goodman told the Wall Street Journal in Wednesday's editions. "People come bearing gifts."

The newspaper featured Hizzoner in its regular feature called "Workspaces/A Look at Where People Work." In it, he showed off some of the offerings displayed in his 10th-floor City Hall abode.

Among the booty: a plastic horse's head (a faux "Godfather" movie prop), Muhammad Ali's boxing gloves, a bobby's hat from an English mayor and a porcelain vase from a Chinese government official.

VegasBits

Helper: Yes, that was Hard Rock Hotel comedy headliner Jeff Beacher handing out gift bags at the end of the VEGAS Magazine party at Moorea Beach Club (Mandalay Bay) Wednesday night. "It is part of my community service for jumping into the fish tank at MGM," Beacher joked. His "Comedy Madhouse" again fills The Joint on Saturday night ...

Presidential: Rio afternoon headliner Ronn Lucas has canceled his performances today and this weekend. He has been summoned by one of his fans -- President Bush -- to perform with other stars at Ford's Theatre in Washington on Saturday night for a show to be nationally broadcast July 4 ...

Champ: A couple of locals were the top two finishers in an international "flair" bartending competition at the Aladdin this week, held as part of the big bar and nightclub show in town. Christian Delpech took top honors, and his younger brother Rodrigo took second. Christian works at Carnival Court (Harrah's) and Rodrigo works at The Rio ...

Spin win: Rich Ruane of Henderson appears on "Wheel of Fortune" tonight, where he wins $22,000 in cash. It airs at 7 p.m. on KVBC Channel 3 ...

Engaging: KVVU Channel 5 lovebirds Ted Pretty and Heidi Hayes are having an engagement party Saturday at Gustav Mauler's cigar bar at the JW Marriot Las Vegas ...

Score: The lineup has been set for the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony June 11 at Cox Pavilion. Honorees will be Trinity softball coach Jack Cason; Richie Clyne, who built the Las Vegas Motor Speedway; longtime UNLV football coach Tony Knap; Dwaine Knight, who took the UNLV golf team from obscurity to the nation's top ranking; and Bonanza High School grad and NFL 1,000-yard rusher Gerald Riggs ...

Adopt: The final 12 "American Idol" contestants were set Wednesday night, and there is no clear local rooting favorite (two are from Hawaii and three from California). So, we're going to pull for the guy who sang an Elton John number ("Tiny Dancer") and then an Elvis Presley song -- and squeaked into the finals. Jon Peter Lewis, 24, of Rexburg, Idaho, was the last finalist picked, making the cut thanks to an audience vote. On Tuesday's edition of the show, he had delivered an extremely spirited rendition of Presley's "A Little Less Conversation."

From Sun wires

Lynch delays wedding: Former prisoner of war Jessica Lynch has postponed her June wedding to Army Sgt. Ruben Contreras, her lawyer said.

Lynch has been unable to focus on planning a wedding because of her busy schedule and continued therapy for injuries she received last year when her Army convoy was attacked in Iraq, the lawyer said.

Star for Seuss: Like the fabled Sneetches who were so proud of the stars on their bellies, the late Dr. Seuss now has a star of his own -- on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The honor for Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel included lots of applause from kids in striped hats on Thursday.