Food purveyer John Connolly, left, and his partner Gary Wood stop by the Mazzetta seafood company booth to check out a custom built motorcycle that resembles a fish. Photos by Marian Umhoefer/Review-Journal Chef Terry Long receives a Master of Taste Award from The Chefs in America Awards Foundation during the annual Las Vegas Holiday Food & Wine Grand Tasting at the MGM Grand. Long represents the Las Vegas company Food Sales West. Las Vegas' own master chef Gustav Mauler is congratulated by his wife, Denise, after receiving two prestigious awards, one for his restaurant Spiedini and another Master of Taste Award. Katie Jones, from left, Ryan Grimes, Stacey Rentie, Tom Albanese, Chef Terry Long, Theresa Long, Jeremy Nelson, Alison O'Meara and Larry Shea greet arriving guests. The group represents Food Sales West. Chef Bruno Wehren, left, and Leilani Manley show one of the products from the Armanino Company, during the 12th annual Las Vegas Holiday Food & Wine Grand Tasting. Esquire magazine columnist John Mariani, left, meets with Jesse Sartain of the American Academy of Taste before Mariani presents the awards to the best chefs and restaurant cuisines in Las Vegas. Representatives of Food Sales West greeted arriving guests at the 12th annual Las Legas Holiday Food & Wine Grand Tasting. Tom Burke, from left, Gina Duran, Rick Wyum, Paul Tomba, Dick Boyer, Danielle Farrar and Corey Collier take part in the event.

The 12th annual Las Vegas Holiday Food & Wine Grand Tasting by Chefs in America Awards Foundation took place Nov. 20 at the MGM Grand Conference Center in the Premier Ballroom. This is Las Vegas' largest industry hospitality event presented each year by the Chefs In America Awards Foundation to honor the very best chefs and cuisines of Las Vegas.

One hundred purveyors presented a holiday feast of hors d'ouvres for the invited guests as they enjoyed various wines, spirits and live music. Esquire magazine's John Mariani presented the "Top 20" Restaurant Award winners that included Las Vegas' chefs Hubert Keller and Laurent Pillard of Fleur de Lys; Damien Dulaf of Guy Savoy; Kerry Simon of Simon at the Hard Rock Hotel; Osteria del Circo's Stefano Chiarugi; RM Seafood's Rick Moonen; and Percy Oani of Roy's restaurant.

The Chefs' Choice Top 100 Awards followed and the evening concluded with the Masters of Taste or Maitre du Gout Awards presented to Bruno Davaillon, executive chef of Mix at Mandalay Bay; Carlos Guia, executive chef of Commander's Palace at Aladdin; Phillipe Rispoli of Daniel Boulud Brasserie at Wynn Las Vegas.

Grand Maitre Awards were presented to Terence Wong of Chinois at Caesars Palace; Sven Mede of Nobhill at MGM Grand; Scott Albrecht of Tropicana; and Jean Paul Labadie of Emeril's New Orleans Fish House.

American Taste Awards went to Noe Alcala of Pink Taco at the Hard Rock Hotel; Matthew Seeber of Craftsteak at Mandalay Bay; Dean Joyce of Fleming's Steakhouse; Gustav Mauler of Spiedini Ristorante; Gerhard Aottinger of the Hofbrauhaus; and Martin Heierling of Sensi at Bellagio.

Accepting Professional Excellence Awards were executive chefs Sean DiCicco of Mandalay Bay and Mario Andreoni of the Stratosphere. Chef of the Year was Andre Rochat of Andre's French Restaurant and Alize at The Palms.

The event was presented with the cooperation of the staff of Food Sales West.

Luncheon buffet: Doro Bush Koch, author of "My Father, My President," daughter of President George H.W. Bush and sister of President George W. Bush, attended a luncheon benefit on behalf of the Keep Memory Alive Foundation on Nov. 28 at Wynn Las Vegas. The luncheon was a book-signing event that was hosted by Larry Ruvo, co-founder of Keep Memory Alive, and Elaine Wynn. Koch shared a video with the luncheon crowd of 150 guests that included photos of her father in both his public and private roles: images of him as a statesman, a son, a pilot, a diplomat, a husband, a president of the United States and, most importantly, a father and role model.

Salon grand opening: The Jose Eber Salon, a name synonymous with glamour and style, held a grand opening party the evening of Nov. 30 at their 5,000-square-foot signature salon in the upper level of the Fashion Show.

Jose Eber greeted invited guests and introduced his nephew, Yoav Tauber, the artistic director of the new salon. The event included a silent auction to benefit Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow.

Greater Las Vegas After-School All-Stars: Was the beneficiary of a fundraising event given by the Louis Vuitton store at Wynn Las Vegas, also on Nov. 30. Elaine Wynn hosted the evening and 10 percent of everything purchased during the event was donated to the Greater Las Vegas After-School all-Stars to provide after-school programs to at-risk students in Las Vegas.

Gift of Hope: The second annual golf tournament to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society took place Dec. 1 at Cascata Golf Club (Caesars Palace's golf course). The tournament ended in a tie between the foursome of No. 1) Tom Osborne, Rob Sciabica, Dave Swoop and Scott Wade; and No. 2) Cliff Findlay, Justin Findlay, Mike Lynch and Robbie Findlay. After a scorecard playoff, team No. 1 was selected the winner.

Each team was awarded a trophy in commemoration of the Pete and Mary-Jo Findlay Memorial Gift of Hope Golf Classic coordinated by chairman Michael Bellon, developer of Pinnacle Las Vegas, and Judy Mitchell, executive director of Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Southern Nevada. Some of the VIP's participating in the tournament included golf legend Lanny Wadkins, PGA Tour professional golfer and former All-American at UNLV Ryan Moore, Howard Peterman, Tommy Rocker and Henderson Councilman Steve Kirk.