A La Carte

CUSTOM BUILT PIZZA OPENS ON GRAND CANYON DRIVE

Custom Built Pizza recently opened its first fast-casual artisan pizza restaurant at 4165 S. Grand Canyon Drive, Suite 105, in the Target Center near Flamingo Road and the Las Vegas Beltway.

Custom Built Pizza is a "Chipotle-style" artisan pizza concept that offers Neopolitan pizza cooked to order in an authentic Italian wood oven. Patrons select their sauce, cheese and toppings and have their 10-inch personal pizza in less than three minutes.

The restaurant uses imported flour and tomatoes from Italy. Topping choices include margherita, pepperoni, fresh basil, cilantro, Italian sausage and wood-roasted chicken. The menu also has salads and a selection of beers and wines.

Hours are from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, visit custombuiltpizza.com or call 473-9918.

UNLV DIVISION PAIRS WITH LES KINCAID FOR COOKING CLASS

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Division of Education Outreach plans to offer a South of the Border Mexican cooking class instructed by Les Kincaid, host of the radio wine show "Wines Du Jour," from 6 to 8 p.m. July 10-17 at the Ferguson Bath & Kitchen Gallery, 4175 S. Grand Canyon Drive, No. 109. The menu is set to include tortilla soup, fish tacos, chicken mole, carnitas and frijoles borrachos.

The cost is $69 per person for two sessions. To register online, visit edoutreach.unlv.edu/continuingeducation. For more information, email michelle. baker@unvl.edu or call 895-3254.

WORLD PASTRY FORUM AND CHAMPIONSHIP COMING TO RED ROCK RESORT

The 15th annual Amoretti World Pastry Forum and Team Championship is planned for Wednesday through Monday at Red Rock Resort, 11011 W. Charleston Blvd.

Chefs, culinary professionals and students from around the world will gather for the event. Wednesday through Sunday, industry leaders will lead forums and teach classes on making gelato, cake decorating, chocolate making, flavor combinations and how to start your own bakery.

Beginning Sunday, the team championship will have international teams of three representing China, Japan, Netherlands, Mexico, Morocco, South Korea and the United States. This year's championship theme is astrology/horoscopes. An awards ceremony is planned for Monday, to be followed by a cocktail reception and gala dinner.

Tickets for the forums and championship can be purchased at worldpastryforum.com. Anyone who arrives to the pastry team championship in a chef's jacket will receive a complimentary ticket.

20 FOR $20 BEER BBQ PARTY PLANNED AT STRIPBURGER

Stripburger at Fashion Show mall, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. South, plans to host the 20 for $20 Beer BBQ Party today.

Guests can enjoy sampling 20 varieties of beer and ranking their favorites while feasting on American barbecue favorites and sides such as french fries, coleslaw, baked beans and cookies for dessert. A disc jockey will provide entertainment.

The cost is $20 per person, plus tax. For more information, call 737-8747.

TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA TO HONOR VETERANS WITH FREE FOOD WEDNESDAY

TravelCenters of America plans to offer all veterans and active-duty military personnel a complimentary meal Wednesday at any participating TA and Petro Stopping Centers sit-down restaurants.

There are more than 170 participating Iron Skillet, Country Pride and other full-service, home-style restaurants within TA and Petro Stopping Centers.

Free meals can be up to a $15 value. Veterans and military personnel are asked to show proof of service to their server before ordering. Acceptable forms are U.S. Uniform Services ID card or Retired ID card, Current Leave and Earnings statement, Veterans Organization card, photograph in uniform, DD214 or Citation or Commendation.

The Las Vegas-area location is at 6595 N. Hollywood Blvd., accessible from Interstate 15 at Speedway Boulevard via Exit 54. For more information, visit petrotruckstops.com.

GOLD SPIKE PLANS FOURTH OF JULY DINNER SPECIAL

The Gold Spike, 217 Las Vegas Blvd. North, plans to serve a Fourth of July barbecue dinner special for $8.99 Wednesday.

The special will feature barbecue ribs, baked beans, potato salad and corn on the cob.

For more information, call 384-8444.

ARIZONA CHARLIE'S BOULDER PLANS FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL

The Sourdough Cafe at Arizona Charlie's Boulder, 4575 Boulder Highway, plans to offer a Fourth of July dining special from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

It features St. Louis ribs or barbecue combo (ribs and a quarter chicken), each served with choice of potatoes or baked beans and a cornbread muffin.

The cost is $6.99 for those with an ace | PLAY card and $7.77 without a card.

FOURTH OF JULY BARBECUE SET AT THE RESORT ON MOUNT CHARLESTON

The Resort on Mount Charleston, 2755 Kyle Canyon Road, plans to host an Independence Day barbecue from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday with hamburgers, turkey burgers, grilled chicken, barbecue beef, pulled pork and hot dogs. Sides will be potato salad and corn on the cob. Assorted desserts are also planned.

The cost is $15.95 for adults and $7.95 for children 12 or younger. For more information, call 872-5500.

LAGASSE'S STADIUM ANNOUNCES BEER PAIRING MENU, BEER DINNER

Lagasse's Stadium at The Palazzo, 3325 Las Vegas Blvd. South, has introduced a summer beer pairing menu available through August.

Pairings include chilled melon soup with blue crabmeat and lemon gremolatta and citrus gastrique, paired with Samuel Adams Summer Ale for $14. Another pairing is tortilla-crusted fish tacos, paired with Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy for $16.

Oyster & Beer Fridays feature $1.50 oyster specials and a variety of domestic draft beer specials for $4 and import drafts for $5.

The Samuel Adams Summer Beer Dinner is planned for 6 p.m. Friday. The five-course menu will feature chilled melon soup with blue crabmeat, paired with Summer Ale; spicy tuna roll, paired with Noble Pils; pan-seared rainbow trout, paired with East/West Kolsch; grilled pork loin, paired with Belgian Session; and mixed berries and cherry crisp with vanilla ice cream, paired with Cherry Wheat.

The cost is $55, excluding tax and gratuity. Seating is limited. For reservations, call 607-2665.

CENTRAL MICHEL RICHARD TO HOST GREAT AMERICAN COOKOUT SATURDAY

Central Michel Richard at Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South, plans to host a Great American Cookout on the patio fronting Caesars' Roman Plaza from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, the same evening as the Caesars Palace fireworks celebration, which is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m., weather permitting.

Guests are invited to enjoy whole roasted suckling pig, barbecue pulled pork sandwiches, grilled bratwurst and all-beef hotdogs, grilled barbecue pork ribs and Cajun grilled flat iron steak. Sides are steak fries, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw and honey baked beans.

The cost is $30 per person, which includes all-you-can-drink local brewers' selections from Tenaya Creek Brewery and Joseph James. Entertainment will be provided by DJ EJ Luera.

For reservations, call 650-5921.

CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL AND PASTRY SHOW SET FOR SATURDAY AT THE VENETIAN

The Las Vegas Chocolate Festival and Pastry Show is scheduled to raise funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday at The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

The event will feature the best chocolate and pastry chefs from around the world, along with wines, spirits and champagne.

The cost is $25 per person, which includes all chocolate, pastries, wines, champagnes, foods and spirits served.

For tickets, visit sincitychocolate festival.com.

R STEAK & SEAFOOD PLANS PAIRING DINNERS AT RIVIERA

R Steak & Seafood at the Riviera, 2901 Las Vegas Blvd. South, is partnering with Southern Wine & Spirits to host a five-course beer pairing dinner July 11, featuring a selection of beers from New Belgian Brewing Co.

The event is scheduled to begin with a welcome reception at 6 p.m., followed by the sit-down dinner at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $40 per person in advance or $50 at the door.

For reservations, call 794-9233 or visit rivierahotel.com.

'WINES DU JOUR' PLANS LIVE BROADCAST AT BRIO AT TOWN SQUARE

The weekly live wine radio show "Wines Du Jour" is scheduled to broadcast from Brio Tuscan Grille at Town Square Las Vegas, 6653 Las Vegas Blvd. South, from 7 to 8 p.m. July 12.

The show will focus on Italian wines paired with Brio's food. Guests are required to bring a donation for the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in the form of cat or dog food, supplies or a cash donation made payable to the NSPCA.

The cost to attend the broadcast is $20 in addition to the NSPCA donation. Guests must be 21 or older.

To register, email les@leskincaid.com. For more information, call 871-5145.

ROY'S WINE CLUB TO MEET

Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine, 620 E. Flamingo Road, plans to host a waina hui (wine club) tasting from 5 to 6:30 p.m. July 20.

Each tasting features a sampling of Roy's signature appetizers. Members receive a wine glass, an invitation to all wine club events, an invitation to Roy's select seasonal events, a 10 percent reduction on bottled wine purchased at Roy's and reduced pricing for select Roy's wine dinners.

The cost to attend a tasting is $20 for wine club members and $25 for nonmembers.

For more information or to make a reservation, call 691-2053.

SEE'S CANDIES PLANS GIVEAWAY FOR NATIONAL LOLLYPOP DAY

See's Candies plans to give free gourmet lollypops to customers in honor of National Lollypop Day July 20.

Boxes of gourmet lollypops, including flavors chocolate, vanilla, cafe latté and butterscotch, will be available for a reduced price July 16-23.

There are four See's Candies locations in the Las Vegas Valley: Galleria at Sunset mall, 1300 W. Sunset Road in Henderson; Quality Discount Shop, 4760 W. Sahara Ave.; Meadows Mall, 4300 Meadows Lane; and Center Pointe Plaza, 10300 W. Charleston Blvd.

For more information, visit sees.com.

DINNER SET TO BENEFIT PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab at The Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South, plans to host a dinner to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation at 6 p.m. July 27.

The nonprofit organization seeks to find the cause and cure for childhood brain tumors.

The cost is $150 pr person. Seating is limited to 80 guests. For more information, call 795-2000 or visit lvrideforkids.org.

LAGASSE'S STADIUM TO HOST GRILLING CLASSES

Lagasse's Stadium at The Palazzo, 3325 Las Vegas Blvd. South, plans to host a series of grilling classes with chef de cuisine Scott Pajak beginning July 27.

The classes will take place at 6 p.m. in a private luxury box with demos and grilling techniques. Guests can try the fire-roasted creations, paired with specialty cocktails.

The July 27 class will feature appetizers of chicken wings with Buffalo, smoky barbecue and spicy Cajun sauce, and herb-crusted, crabmeat-stuffed portobello mushrooms with Creole tomato glaze, paired with a blue margarita with Patron Silver, Cointreau, a splash of Blue Curaçao and sour mix. Entrees will be barbecue pork baby back ribs and top sirloin with mashed potatoes, paired with a Kicked Up Bloody Mary with chili-infused vodka.

The Aug. 10 class will feature appetizers of ham hock with black bean chili and baked oysters, paired with a Watermelon Crawl with rum, watermelon, Sprite and pineapple juice. Entrees will be grilled brats and grilled pork loin on bourbon mashed potatoes, paired with a Side Car featuring cognac, triple sec, sour mix and a splash of Rose's Lime.

The Aug. 24 class will feature appetizers of shrimp and Creole Parmesan cheese sauce with grilled asparagus and charred beef and creamy Brie cheese risotto with chive oil, paired with a margarita with Patron Silver, Cointreau and sour mix. Entrees will be Bloody Mary-marinated chicken breast, herb-roasted Yukon Gold potatoes, haricot vert and grilled pork loin on Andouille sausage and cornbread stuffing, paired with a Rusty Nail featuring scotch and Drambuie.

Each class is $60 per person. Space is limited. To make a reservation, call 607-2665.

MARCHE BACCHUS EXPANDS MENU WITH VEGETARIAN, GLUTEN-FREE OPTIONS

Marche Bacchus, 2620 Regatta Drive, has expanded its menu with a variety of vegetarian and gluten-free options.

Vegetarian and gluten-free appetizers include heirloom tomato salad and Lyonnaisse salad. Other vegetarian appetizers are mixed green salad and fromage with the chef's selection of five imported and domestic cheeses, candied walnuts and quince. Gluten-free appetizers include Caesar salad, French onion soup, torchon of foie gras and beef tartar.

Vegetarian entrees include artichoke ravioli, truffle risotto, vegetable ragout, and fried rice with roasted white asparagus, almond foam, chive and preserved apricot.

Gluten-free entrees include Alaska Skuna Bay salmon, seared sea scallops, loup de mer (ratatouille, basil, pine nuts and red pepper jus), tenderloin of beef, braised short rib and roasted chicken.

For more information, call 804-8008.

KING'S FISH HOUSE OFFERING WILD SALMON THROUGH OCTOBER

King's Fish House in The District at Green Valley Ranch, 2255 Village Walk Drive, Suite 139, is offering wild salmon entrees through October.

Wild salmon availability changes daily between a variety of rivers and species. Offerings planned for lunch and dinner are cedar plank-roasted wild salmon for $19.75 for lunch and $25.95 for dinner; hazelnut-crusted wild salmon with lemon butter sauce for $19.45 for lunch and $25.95 for dinner; wild salmon summer salad for $17.95 for lunch and $18.95 for dinner; wild salmon tataki roll for $11.95; and wild salmon cakes for $10.25 for an appetizer, $13.45 for lunch and $17.45 for dinner.

For reservations, call 835-8900.