WHAT: Culinary and hospitality students at the Harrah Hotel College will be in the kitchen with celebrity chef Kerry Simon as he prepares hors d'oeuvres and a four-course meal for the fifth installment of the Chef Artist Dinner Series. Simon, a winner of the Food Network’s Iron Chef America, owns the restaurants Simon at Palms Place and CatHouse at the Luxor. He’s nicknamed the “Rock-N-Roll” chef, having been an executive chef of The Plaza Hotel’s Edwardian Room – a favorite spot for actors and musicians in New York. Proceeds from the event benefit a scholarship fund for students and faculty in the food and beverage department.

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

WHERE: Stan Fulton Building at UNLV, located at the corner of Flamingo Road and Swenson Avenue

DETAILS:The Chef Artist Dinner Series is both a scholarship fundraiser and a learning opportunity for culinary and hospitality students to gain skills in event planning, restaurant management, food preparation and dining room service and work alongside a top chef. St. Francis Winery & Vineyards in Sonoma County, Calif., and Lee’s Discount Liquor will provide the wine selections to be paired with each course. The menu: seared diver scallops in an apple Riesling reduction with crispy bacon served with antebellum grits; roasted beet and burrata salad with wild arugula and aged balsamic; parmesan gnocchi, braised heritage pork with porcini mushrooms; wild striped bass with roasted cauliflower puree and lemon brown butter; and caramelized banana chocolate pudding cake with vanilla bean ice cream and toffee crunch.

TICKETS: The cost is $100. Seating is limited. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Karen Stokes, (702) 895-1330.

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UNLV is a doctoral-degree-granting institution of 28,000 students and 3,300 faculty and staff. Founded in 1957, the university offers more than 220 undergraduate, master's and doctoral degree programs. UNLV is located on a 332-acre campus in dynamic Southern Nevada and is classified in the category of Research Universities (high research activity) by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.