Hey, do you have $1,995 plus hotel and airfare and think it is possible to "transform fun-loving foodies...into competition-ready chefs in 72 hours"? Then boy does Caesars Palace have the weird food event you've been waiting for. Food University at Caesars Palace will take place March 27 through 29, and they are taking the University motif pretty far. In the press release below, attendees are referred to as "scholars" and "culinary faculty" include chef Alex Stratta, cheese expert Laura Werlin, and the Daily Meal's Colman Andrews (who presumably will show you how to compose a slideshow listicle?).
They're only allowing 80 scholars into the program, so if you want to, as the Bad Deal's Ryan Sutton put it, "get a degree in NOTHING from 'FU' college," check out the release below. At least there's a chance you might win this, whatever this is: "The joint 80th birthdays of Sir Michael Caine and Quincy Jones will be telecast from Las Vegas as they celebrate with a star-studded concert of friends and a starchef dinner prepared by first-time duo Wolfgang Puck and Gordon Ramsay. One lucky Food University graduate and their guest will be chosen to attend as their grand graduation prize." Sure, why not. Here's the press release:
FOOD UNIVERSITY AT CAESARS PALACE LAS VEGAS ANNOUNCES NEW DATE: MARCH 27-29, 2013, SCHEDULE OF CLASSESFrom Knife Skills to Mastering Beef to Seafood 101 and Beyond – "Scholars" Will be Exposed to a Wide Array of Skills to Transform Them into Chefs Within 72 Hours
LAS VEGAS (Dec. 2012) – Food University at Caesars Palace is announcing a new date for its inaugural class: March 27-29, 2013. The event is designed to transform fun-loving foodies from across the country from spectators into competition-ready chefs in 72 hours. In addition to the new date – Food University is also unveiling its much-anticipated schedule of classes.
Food University is the collaboration among Caesars Palace, philanthropist and hospitality industry leader Larry Ruvo, Food Network co-founder Robin Leach and veteran culinary entertainment producer Richard Gore. Food University's culinary faculty will include James Beard Award-winning Chef Alex Stratta; acclaimed cheese expert Laura Werlin, author of the James Beard Award-winning "All-American Cheese and Wine Book"; chef and TV personality Claudine Pepin and Colman Andrews, editorial director, The Daily Meal. Chef Bradford Thompson, founder of Bellyful Consulting and James Beard Award-winning chef, will serve as Food University's culinary director. Other high-profile chefs will be unveiled in coming weeks, along with some special guest appearances.
Food University's schedule will comprise of three days packed with classes on topics ranging from wine and cheese pairing to classic Italian to mixology. Unlike any other food festival or culinary event, Food University offers food lovers a chance to rub elbows with top chefs, sommeliers, mixologists, cheese experts, fine food purveyors and even farmers—who will serve as Food U "faculty." These "scholars" will not merely eat, drink and learn in the presence of lauded chefs; indeed, they will enthusiastically don their chef whites and dedicate themselves to expanding their knowledge on the finer points of creating exceptional cuisine from celebrity chef "professors."
Student volunteers from the University of Nevada Las Vegas' prestigious hospitality school will assist with back-of-house preparations. Proceeds from Food University "admissions" will go to Keep Memory Alive, dedicated to finding cures for brain disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's and ALS.
In addition to the dynamic three-day schedule covering every essential cooking technique, there will be private, VIP "field seminars." These off-site seminars will include the Southern Wine and Spirits Hospitality Mixology program with Mixologist Francesco LaFranconi, normally available only to hotel and restaurant executives.
The first Food University session will accommodate up to 80 culinary scholars.
The inaugural event will culminate in a festive—and well-deserved—ceremony for Food U's first graduating class. They will receive the coveted Food University "Enlightened Palate" diploma. In addition, each student enrolled for the first classes will receive a private VIP invitation for a never-before-seen prestigious wineries tour in Napa Valley previously off-limits to the public.
Sponsors for the inaugural Food University Las Vegas at Caesars Palace are cookware manufacturer Fagor America and The Daily Meal, Spanfeller Media Group's (SMG) mega food site, which will be the digital media sponsor of the event. Now with more than 7.2 million unique visitors monthly, The Daily Meal will provide its community with everything they need to know about Food University Las Vegas by integrating editorial, video and campaign coverage throughout the site and across social media platforms.
"Tuition" is $1,995 per person for the three day sessions and includes all food and beverages, course instruction. For those needing hotel accommodations, please call Caesars Palace for special rates at (866) 227-5938. In the spirit of the holiday season, gift certificates will also be available by emailing info@fooduniversitylasvegas.com. For more information visit www.FoodUniversityLasVegas.com or, to purchase tickets, call (866) 840-8822.
ABOUT FOOD UNIVERSITY
Food University is revolutionary and immersive culinary travel experience for curious and fun-loving foodies seeking to raise their culinary IQ. Unlike any other food festival or culinary event, Food University literally offers food lovers a chance to rub elbows with top chefs, sommeliers, mixologists, fine food purveyors—the Food U "faculty"—as they learn alongside them during three days of exhilarating culinary curriculum. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more information, go to www.FoodUniversityLasVegas.com.
ABOUT CAESARS PALACE
Reigning in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, Caesars Palace is the world's best known resort-casino, celebrating the grandeur that was Rome in an 85-acre destination location that sets the standard for entertainment, dining and luxury. Ranking among the world's top luxury resorts Caesars Palace features nearly 4,000 hotel guest rooms and suites, 23 diverse restaurants and cafes, five-acre Garden of the Gods pools and gardens, 50,000 square foot Qua Baths & Spa and 300,000 square feet of premium meeting and convention space. The 4,300-seat Colosseum sits just steps from celebrity chef restaurants and the acclaimed Forum Shops at Caesars and spotlights world class entertainers such as Celine Dion, Jerry Seinfeld, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Shania Twain.
ABOUT KEEP MEMORY ALIVE
Keep Memory Alive (KMA) raises awareness and funds in support of Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health's work towards enhanced treatments and research of neurocognitive disorders. These include ALS, Alzheimer's, Huntington's and Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis and memory disorders of all kinds. Memory disorders don't simply affect an individual, so we provide programs and services for the entire family of caregivers. KMA strives to create greater awareness of neurocognitive disorders, educate families about cutting edge treatments, research and caregiver services, and promote risk reduction through lifestyle behaviors that encourage healthy brain aging. For more information, go to www.keepmemoryalive.org.
In the past, Keep Memory Alive has telecast its gala salutes to such luminaries as Siegfried & Roy and Muhammad Ali. On April 13, 2013, the joint 80th birthdays of Sir Michael Caine and Quincy Jones, will be telecast from Las Vegas as they celebrate with a star-studded concert of friends and a starchef dinner prepared by first-time duo Wolfgang Puck and Gordon Ramsay. One lucky Food University graduate and their guest will be chosen to attend as their grand graduation prize.
· Food University at Caesar's Palace [FULV]
· All Rich People Things Coverage on Eater [-E-]