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James Beard Foundation’s Taste America Traveling Food Festival Comes to Las Vegas Sept. 27-28

Tickets are now on sale for The James Beard Foundation’s Taste America: “Local Flavor from Coast To Coast,” a national traveling food festival which will visit Las Vegas on Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28 (Epicurean Charitable Foundation scholarship recipients). 

The five-weekend festival will visit 10 cities from September 20 through October 19, 2013. Taste America will showcase culinary all-stars and public events exploring the nation’s unique range of local cuisines in Las Vegas along with nine other cities including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco and Washington D.C.

A weekend-long tour, Las Vegas’ Taste America festivities will kick-off on Friday, September 27 with a variety of free culinary consumer events throughout the city (from Downtown Las Vegas to Summerlin), and culminate in an exclusive dining event at The Mirage Hotel & Casino the evening of Saturday, September 28. A spectacular poolside gala tasting and reception, “A Taste of America” will be co-hosted by James Beard Award winner and Taste America All-Star, Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto (proprietor, Morimoto Restaurants) and Host Chef Christian Schmidt (The Mirage, Las Vegas). The event will also feature delectable dishes and cocktails from several of Las Vegas’ most celebrated local chefs, including James Beard Award winner François Payard (Payard), Paul Bartolotta (Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare), Saipin Chutima (Lotus of Siam), Luciano Pellegrini (Valentino), Eric Klein (Spago), Brian Massie (The Light Group), Laurent Tourondel (BLT Burger), Julian Serrano (Picasso Bellagio), Malcolm Mitchell (Mint Gastro Pub), Adam Arencibia (Japonais) and more.

Tickets for “A Taste of America” are now available for purchase at jbftasteamerica.org, and are priced at $120 per person, all-inclusive. VIP tickets are also available for $250, which include exclusive VIP access to all events including the official after party at 1OAK Nightclub at The Mirage immediately following the poolside reception. The James Beard Foundation is proud to donate a portion of the evening’s proceeds to Epicurean Charitable Foundation.

The Taste America culinary agenda for Las Vegas includes:

Friday, September 27

4 p.m.: Bellagio Picasso Restaurant – Champagne, Sparkling and Chefs (3600 Las Vegas Blvd)

An afternoon of bubbly and heavenly creations from James Beard Award Winner Julian Serrano, AAA Five Diamond Award Picasso Bellagio.

8 p.m.: L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon & Joël Robuchon Restaurant MGM Grand (3799 South Las Vegas Blvd)

An evening of Wine & Food presented by Joël Robuchon tasting menu (12 courses, 16 plates)

Saturday, September 28

10 a.m.: Sur La Table at Fashion Show Mall (3200 S Las Vegas Blvd #1175)

This full day of free consumer retail events features in-store chef appearances, cooking demonstrations, tastings from local artisans and producers and a special cooking demonstration and book signing with Taste America All-Star Masaharu Morimoto at 2pm.

11:30 a.m.: Sur La Table – Cooking Demonstration JBF Award Winner François Payard

2:00 p.m.: Sur La Table – Cooking Demonstration JBF Award Winner Masaharu Morimoto Iron Chef and proprietor of Morimoto Restaurants

Taste America Vehicle

The official Taste America vehicle will make stops at local farmers markets and various locations throughout the weekend to promote healthy, sustainable practices with tastings and demos from participating chefs. Exact locations and times to be confirmed.

8 p.m.: “A Taste of America” Poolside Reception at The Mirage (3400 South Las Vegas Blvd)

Co-hosted by Taste America All-Star Masaharu Morimoto and Host Chef Christian Schmidt, the evening will include a tasting reception featuring delectable dishes and cocktails from several of Las Vegas’ finest restaurants at The Mirage’s award-winning pool. The ladies of FANTASY, the popular adult revue at Luxor Hotel and Casino, will heat things up with a poolside performance. Immediately following the reception, VIP ticket holders will have access to an exclusive after party at 1 OAK nightclub.

“The Taste America traveling food festival will shine a light on the dynamic culinary cities across the country,” said Susan Ungaro, president of the James Beard Foundation. “Our Taste America chefs will be working with local farmers and artisanal producers of everything from cheese to chocolate. With the support of Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa Signature, we are now able to bring together the best innovators in our food world to educate and entertain Americans about local flavors from coast to coast.”

The James Beard Foundation’s Taste America is presented by Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa Signature, a premier rewards credit card for people who love travel and dining. Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa Signature cardholders will enjoy exclusive benefits not available to the public at James Beard Foundation’s Taste America events, including access to chefs, recipes, preferred seating, and more.

The James Beard Foundation’s Taste America is supported by retail partner, Sur La Table, national media partner, Every Day with Rachael Ray, and national sponsors including Breville, Delta Air Lines, The Gulf Oyster Industry Council, and Lurpak butter. For more information about Taste America events in Las Vegas, please contact Alan Semsar (702) 50-WINE-6 or visit jbftasteamerica.org/event/las-vegas.