By Marilyn LaRocque Photos Courtesy of Behind the Scenes, Inc. Do you cringe at the thought of planning and preparing dinner for 12?   Picture what John Crisafulli and his worldwide catering company, Behind the Scenes, Inc., experienced serving 12,000 meals a day at the Olympic Games in...

By Marilyn LaRocque Photos by David Ramsey Photography  When the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs held its annual “Grand Chapitre” in Washington, D.C. in October, it demonstrated that the world’s oldest and largest food and wine society does not just enjoy the delights of farm and vineyard but also...

By Marilyn LaRocque Do you love wine and also think you’re a hot shot with a videocam? Then put your passion and prowess to the test by competing in the Seventh Annual Wine Spectator Video Contest for the chance to see you film on the internet, at the world-class Wine Spectator Wine...

By Marilyn LaRocque Photos by Galdones Photography LLC, © 2013 Daniel Scott Gorman, 26, “Tournant” chef at the Inn at Little Washington, Washington, VA, took top honors in the national “2013 Best Young Chef” competition sponsored by the Confrérié de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs.   He was the...

By Marilyn LaRocque Images by David Ramsey, David H. Ramsey Commercial Photography Bobby Conroy, 31, Sommelier at famed BENU restaurant in San Francisco, has won the national “2013 Best Young Sommelier” competition sponsored by The Société Mondiale du Vin USA, the wine division of the...

By Marilyn LaRocque Photography by Cashman Studio and David Becker, Wireimage (Nevada Ballet Theatre Annual Black and White Ball) Photography by Cashman Studio (Las Vegas Philharmonic Diamonds Are Forever Gala) Nevada Ballet Theatre’s annual Black and White Ball rolled out the red carpet for...

By Marilyn LaRocque Retro vs. techno on the Las Vegas Strip as two production shows with familiar names morph into new identities. At Aria at City Center, “Elvis” has left the building and been replaced by Cirque du Soleil’s seventh extravaganza in Vegas, Zarkana.  The long-running Blue Man...

By Marilyn LaRocque Not all that glitters in Las Vegas is neon.  Two of the city’s most brilliant performing arts charities are launching social fireworks in January 2013 with spectacular black-tie fundraisers. On January 18, the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s 14th annual “Diamonds Are Forever”...

By Marilyn LaRocque Brooklyn Bridge at New York New York in Las Vegas will rock on Sunday, December 9, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a swinging food and wine extravaganza to benefit victims devastated by super-storm Hurricane Sandy. Themed “Start Spreadin’ the News” as a salute to Vegas icon...

By Marilyn LaRocque Vibrant yellow letters on a billboard-size screen proclaimed “Back to Brooklyn.” A gigantic photo of the Brooklyn Bridge reinforced the headline. Brooklyn’s most famous, most fabulous native, Barbra Streisand, was in town to wow over 16,000 fans packed into the MGM Grand...

By Marilyn LaRocque | Photography by Britt Pearson Ward off ghosts and goblins and celebrate All Hallows Eve with spirited cocktails conjured by Master Mixologist Andrew Pollard, Beverage Development Specialist for Wirtz Beverage Nevada. No tricks, just treats, as he summons comforting...

By Marilyn LaRocque | Photography by Britt Pierson “I generally gravitate to warmer climate wines during cooler weather,” he revealed, “because warm climates produce riper grapes, which have more flavor, more color, more intensity and thus, more alcohol.  I also like wines with a slightly...

By Marilyn LaRocque Beyond the flashing neon, “culture” thrives in Las Vegas at the new Smith Center for the Performing Arts, which opened on March 10, 2012 with a black tie gala in the 2050-seat Reynolds Hall. Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, the SRO star-studded evening featured celebrity...

Food & Wine All Star Weekend Spotlights TV Chef Gail Simmons – October 5-7 Photos courtesy of MGM Resorts International Five phenomenal MGM Resorts International properties on famed Las Vegas Strip will turn up the gas jets for an array of star-power chefs for the Third Annual Las Vegas...

Recap and images by Marilyn LaRocque Although the Olympics dominate summer news from London, the city’s world-class restaurants are gold medal-winning dining destinations year ‘round, serving food that rockets far beyond fish ‘n chips. FYI…Reservations are essential; lunch is less pricey than...