Las Vegas Weekly

September 22, 2008 · 4:07 PM

Trump decision leaves Star Chefs event looking for seating

By Robin Leach

Donald Trump has given the thumb to the Star Chef awards.

Real-estate mogul Donald Trump had mixed emotions when his chef Joe Isidori and his sommelier Michael Shearin were named as two of the city’s brightest and best up-and-coming culinary talents by StarChefs.com. Originally the two winners were set to pick up their trophies at a ceremony in his new “golden shine” hotel opposite the Wynn. However, since the announcement was made, both men have lost their jobs in staffing cutbacks at the property and their restaurant has changed direction and hours of operation. Donald thus decided not to host the awards, which left organizers scrambling for a new location. For a while they were literally “homeless,” and I’m reliably told several other properties wouldn’t host on such short notice. Even the trade ads for the awards ceremony left the venue blank!

Chefs being honored are Anthony Amorosa from Michael Mina’s self-named restaurant, Brian Rae of RM Seafood, Gerald Chin, formerly of MGM’s Mansion; Gregory Engelhardt of Andre’s, Wesley Holton of Daniel Boulud’s Brasserie and Zach Allen of Mario Batali’s Carnevino restaurant at the Palazzo. Joe was being honored with “Hotel Chef” and Michael as ‘ Sommelier” both from the DJT restaurant at Trump. Mike Minor from Border Grill at Mandalay Bay will be presented with the Sustainability Award, Amanda Gager of Strip Steak will pick up the Mixologist award and Uyen Nguyen from Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace wins as pastry chef.

I can now reveal that their “wanderings in the desert” have come to an end and the good guys at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson have agreed to pick up the tab for hosting the event partly sponsored by our colleagues at Las Vegas Magazine –- so it’s a green light go on October 21.

Share This