Summerlin culinary school to serve Thanksgiving dinners

Dozens of chefs and students from Summerlin-based Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas will serve more than 500 Thanksgiving dinners to the less fortunate in the Las Vegas Valley this holiday season. In addition, the culinary school will deliver Thanksgiving meals to 40 Summerlin firefighters serving in the city of Las Vegas' Fire Station No. 7 and No. 47 located in Summerlin.

According to Ken Hause, president of Le Cordon Bleu Las Vegas, the school started serving Thanksgiving meals in 2004 -- only one year after the school opened its Las Vegas campus. "Throughout the years, we've served nearly 3,000 Thanksgiving dinners to local residents in need," Hause said. "It's a wonderful tradition we hope to continue for years to come."

On Nov. 24, more than 100 at-risk students from After-School All-Stars and disadvantaged seniors will enjoy a traditional sit-down Thanksgiving luncheon at Café Bleu, the school's student-run restaurant.

Students and seniors will be served by Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Wolfson, co-chair of the After-School All-Stars board of directors Elaine Wynn, Holly Madison, local TV news anchors and cast members from "Jersey Boys" and "Phantom -- The Las Vegas Spectacular."

Dozens of chefs and students will be assembling 70 Thanksgiving baskets that will be delivered to schools throughout the valley next week. The baskets will include a full traditional Thanksgiving meal for a family of six. School administrators will distribute the baskets to the families based on need.

And chefs from Le Cordon Bleu Las Vegas will deliver Thanksgiving dinners to the firefighters at two of Summerlin's fire stations on Thanksgiving Day. This is the fourth consecutive year the school has delivered Thanksgiving dinners to the community's firefighters.

According to Kevin Orrock, top division executive for The Howard Hughes Corp., developer of Summerlin, Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas has been a great addition to the community since opening its campus in 2003.

"Le Cordon Bleu chefs and students have graciously donated time, talents and resources to dozens of nonprofit organizations and individuals in need throughout the valley over the years," Orrock said. "We're grateful for their service and are proud to have them housed in our community."

Developed by The Howard Hughes Corp., an affiliate of General Growth Properties Inc., Summerlin began to take shape in 1990. Located along the western rim of the Las Vegas Valley, Summerlin encompasses 22,500 acres with 9,000 acres still remaining to accommodate future growth within the master plan, including the community's urban core of Summerlin Centre.

The community is currently home to more than 98,000 residents with amenities that include more than 150 neighborhood and village parks, more than 150 completed miles of the Summerlin trail system, nine golf courses, a dozen houses of worship, shopping centers, medical and cultural facilities, business parks, 25 public and private schools and 75 actively selling floor plans.

Homes are available in a variety of styles -- from single-family homes to townhomes, condominiums and lofts -- priced from the upper $100,000s to more than $2 million. Custom-home sites in The Ridges are priced from the $500,000s. Luxury apartment homes offer monthly rents starting from the $900s.

For more information on Summerlin, visit summerlin.com or call 791-4500.