STUDENTS ALSO PROMOTE UNLVINO
I expected,’ ” Uglow said. “We try to prep them by showing them photos and materials from years past, but it’s never enough. But you can’t get this far without a lot of hands-on experience. For the most part, these are people who know what they’re doing.”
The class isn’t just about cooking and serving food and drinks — there’s a massive marketing strategy that students like Summer Horvath assist with. “I’ve been working in hospitality since I was a freshman in high school, and I just like the marketing side of it. But I haven’t been exposed to public relations as much, so I wanted to learn more about that,” she said. “But also my uncle has worked for Southern (Glazer’s Wine & Spirits), so I’ve definitely been exposed to wine tastings and UNLVINO.”
The state’s leading beverage distribution company has been a partner in UNLVINO since its founding event in 1974 at Southern’s warehouse, a small wine tasting conceived by Senior Managing Director Larry Ruvo and former College of Hospitality Dean Jerome Vallen.
Of course, the students aren’t the only ones who will be dishing it up at UNLVINO, and in fact this year’s event boasts an all-star lineup of chefs and restaurateurs. Among the participants are Scott Conant of the new Masso Osteria at Red Rock Resort, Charles Phan of the Forum Shops’ coming-soon restaurant the Slanted Door, Hubert Keller of Burger Bar and Fleur at Mandalay Bay, Brian Howard of Sparrow & Wolf, and Paul Bartolotta, formerly at Wynn Las Vegas and currently running his restaurants in Wisconsin. Momofuku, RM Seafood, Bouchon, District One, Libertine Social and Lotus of Siam are among other participating restaurants.
UNLVINO will start at 7 p.m. April 14 at the Keep Memory Alive Event Center at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Tickets start at $100 and can be purchased at unlvtickets. com with proceeds going to scholarships for hospitality college students.