John Katsilometes on how Executive Pastry Chef John Hui will get his just desserts at Pebble Beach

Monday, July 24, 2006 | 7:18 a.m.

References to golf nearly outpaced references to wine and food at Saturday night's Food & Beverage Directors Association of Las Vegas black tie gala dinner at the South Coast. Autrui Award honoree Ray Norvell of DeLuca Liquor and Wines, a 3-handicap player, mentioned that about a year ago he aced the 187-yard par-3 fifth hole at the Tournament Players Club at Summerlin while playing with his 14-year-old grandson.

It was the fourth hole-in-one scored by Norvell, who plays four times a week at TPC and Southern Highlands.

But the night's biggest golf-related news came from former Caesars Palace Executive Pastry Chef John Hui, who was also recognized by the F&B for his culinary achievement. Hui, who left Caesars at the end of March after spending nine years at the hotel, has accepted a position as Corporate Executive Pastry Chef at Pebble Beach Resorts.

Dream job?

"We'll see," said Hui, who has won dozens of awards in his 27-year career and, most recently, has appeared on the Food Network's "Fire & Ice" competition and served as captain of Team USA in this year's Gelato World Cup in Italy. "I am looking forward to it. It was a position they invented for me. The big challenge is finding a place to live the housing market is very expensive there." Hui starts his new endeavor in August.

The recognitions of Norvell and Hui anchored a program that included a silent auction, dinner and dancing (or something akin to dancing, in many cases) to a musical ensemble led by sax master Doug Taylor. The master of ceremonies was star chef, author and nationally syndicated radio host Les Kincaid, who reminded the audience of the role food and beverage plays in our culture: "I have been all over the world and haven't met anyone who doesn't eat."

NoteMart

I received a call Saturday that Wayne Newton was cutting hair at the Riviera. Not so! That was Neil Scartozzi, who with his ex-wife (and still good friend) Sylvia Scartozzi operates the Celebrity Club Barber Salon at the Riv. Neil, often clad in a red pinstripe suit, is a local actor and hair stylist and looks very much like The Wayner or Robert Goulet, depending on one's frame of reference. Neil is also a proud Vietnam War veteran who served overseas for two years while in the Army. He and Sylvia were married for 15 years, have been divorced for 15 years, and have been at the Riv for 26 years

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Reader checks in with a vanity plate owned by a fan of the late, great Walter Payton: SWTNESS. Near the plate was a small Chicago Bears jersey with Payton's No. 34.