Chefs honored for their professional accomplishments
Kitti Sanderson of U.S. Foodservice was named Chef of the Year by the Las Vegas Chapter of the American Culinary Federation during a gala June 10 at Green Valley Ranch.
More than 470 guests attended the awards event.
Sanderson is chef and culinary specialist for U.S. Foodservice, which provides a variety of products and expertise to the dining industry.
She is chairwoman of the Chefs for Kids organization, having served on its board for seven years. She also is president of the local chapter of the American Culinary Federation. In addition, Sanderson is a member of the board of Three Square, a group working to improve food distribution to the valley’s hungry.
She is married to Bob Sanderson and is the mother of six children.
Other finalists for the Chef of the Year honor were Mario Andreoni of the Stratosphere and John Metcalfe of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Other awards presented during the gala included the President’s Award to Lorri Davidson, chairwoman of the American Culinary Federation Chefs of Las Vegas Associate Advisory Board; Associate of the Year Award to Adam Gail, Sysco Brands manager; and Junior Chef of the Year Award to Rose de la Rosa, a student at Community College of Southern Nevada, who received a $1,500 scholarship.
The Hall of Fame Medallion went to Claude Lambertz of UNLV, who was unable to attend; accepting for him was his brother, chef Dennis Lambertz.
Recently retired Bruce Slack of U.S. Foodservice received special recognition for his 45 years of service to the food industry.
An elaborate buffet of fresh seafood, hot hors d’oeuvres, and imported cheeses and fruit was offered at the beginning of the party. Later, a four-course gourmet dinner was served.
Guests included Denise and Gustav Mauler, Toni Reiser, Jean Insera, Lou Ann Sodano, Michael Flach, Sue and Dave Bryan, Darla and Jeff Eskin, Billy McGreevy, Sarah Peterson, Buzz Thurber, Amy Graf-Resto and Susan Lednicky.
Master of ceremonies was Dale Davidson.
Previous Chef of the Year winners on hand included Frank Insera, 1982; Christopher Johns, 1987; Brenda Hitchins, 1993; Tom Rosenberger, 1997; Jean Hertzman, 1998; Bob O’Brien, 1999; Richard Cino, 2001; Eric Rutsky, 2003; and Dennis Lambertz, 2005.
National effort: Share Our Strength’s annual Taste of the Nation fundraiser took place locally June 14 at the Las Vegas Convention Center South Hall.
All of the ticket sales of this national benefit are used to fight childhood hunger. Since Share Our Strength was founded in 1988, it has raised more than $70 million to benefit anti-hunger organizations.
A silent auction was offered and numerous local restaurants offered food booths.
Guests included Freda and Nick Aquilina, Judy Ash, June Newmark, Barbara Algase, Sharon Mann, Joan and Reed Phillips, Beverly and Mike Mykisen, Mary McDaniel and Hal Downey, Paula Bayer, Ted Egerton, James Jansen Saint and Scott Pollock.
Among the restaurants represented were Andre’s, offering sweet layers of butter fudge between orange chocolate mousse; Valentino’s, giving out beef tenderloin with blackberry sauce; Bouchon, showcasing fancy cookies with milk; Aramark, presenting passion fruit won ton cones and Asian pork with shrimp; and Capital Grill, preparing aged beef sirloin sandwiches and homemade potato chips.
Other restaurants and their dishes included Rosemary’s Restaurant, prosciutto and goat cheese stuffed figs; Gordon Biersch, garlic fries and pizza; the Riviera, chipotle scallops on shell; Nob Hill, Kobe beef; and AquaKnox, seared salmon on couscous.
Event chairmen were Elmira Mokri and chef Otto Borsich.