SAT, OCT 15: Project Dinner Table Announces Rick Moonen at Cashman Center

Batter up!  Celebrity CHEF RICK MOONEN will bring his culinary A-game to the baseball field for Project Dinner Table’s event on Saturday, October 15.  The beautifully set, 150-seat table will be situated in the heart of Cashman Field.

Project Dinner Table is the wildly popular community dinner series founded by Gina Gavan.  What makes Project Dinner Table so special is the delicious sense of community each event brings.  Every dinner is hosted in a unique location, typically not available to the public for dinner, with each location selected based on its ability to host the event’s signature long, white dinner table where the meal is served family style.  Local chefs work with local growers and regional producers to not only create a one-night-only menu, but also to educate Las Vegans on local ingredients, community and culture while feasting on a gourmet dinner experience. Since Project Dinner Table’s launch in April 2010, every dinner table has been full.

Moonen, who is making a return appearance after closing the 2010 Project Dinner Table season, will prepare canapés with Maitake oyster with vegetable crudo, rye crumb, celery leaf; Merguez Meatballs with feta cream, mint puree, hot and spicy oregano; Andraki Farm deviled eggs with Blue Oasis shrimp salad, house made Napa cabbage and Vege Maki with pickled mushrooms, avocado, sun-dried tomatoes and his funky sauce.

For the savory courses: roasted cauliflower soup with ras al hanot, goat cheese, hatch chilies; warm mushroom salad and smoked brook trout, baby kale, hazelnuts, manchego; lobster pot pie with seasonal root vegetables, meyer lemon, padron peppers and seared antelope with delicata squash, faro and chestnuts.  To complete the meal: chocolate mud pie with toasted marshmallows, brownies, caramel and fudge.

As for Moonen himself, he has devoted his career to being the country’s top culinary advocate for sustainable seafood.

The dinner will benefit the Huntridge Teen Clinic http://www.huntridge.org/ and Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada (VMSN) http://www.vmsn.org/.  Social hour begins at 6 p.m., with dinner following.  Tickets are $140 per person and can be purchased through www.projectdinnertable.com. Cashman Field is located at 850 Las Vegas Boulevard, North Las Vegas.