Chef Kim Canteenwalla of
Society Café at Encore will be in the
kitchen for Project Dinner Table’s season finale on Sunday, Nov. 13. Traditionally, the last Project Dinner Table
event in the fall is a daytime gathering on Sunday, and this year is no
exception. The event will take place at Three Square, the food bank dedicated to ending hunger in Southern Nevada and a favorite cause of Chef Canteenwalla. The season’s final event will benefit
Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada and Nevada Homeless Alliance. Social hour begins at 2 p.m., with the meal to follow shortly thereafter.
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.
Chef Canteenwalla’s menu, a
Harvest Lunch celebrating the bounty of fall, will include five courses,
preceded by a variety of tempting small bites passed during social hour. Upon
arrival, guests will be treated to Grandma Rose’s veal meatball and ricotta
fritter, truffle mac ‘n’ cheese bites with slow-roasted cured pork belly, Jidori
chicken oysters with stone-ground Anson Mill white grits and hatch chili, tuna
tartar with Togarashi rice crisp and avocado cream and roasted butternut squash
with goat cheese and sage crostini.
Once seated, guests will be
served the first course, aptly titled “Catch,” consisting of iced Nantucket bay scallop ceviche with blood orange and citrus marinade. Course two,
called “Gather,” will feature a red lentil soup as well as “My Wife’s Favorite
Salad,” consisting of arugula, duck confit, pine nuts and poached quail egg—all
drizzled with piquant pomegranate vinaigrette. Guests will then be treated to
“Forage,” the third course, starring lobster agnolotti with yellow foot
chanterelle, king trumpet mushrooms, parsnip and fennel ragout and fine herb and
citrus salad. The pièce de résistance of this autumnal “Feast” will be smoked
pork shoulder blade roast and market root vegetables accompanied by natural
jus. Finally, a sweet “Farewell” dessert course will feature Chef
Canteenwalla’s favorite cheeses and accompaniments, as well as brioche
doughnuts with chocolate, caramel and strawberry dipping sauces; mini pumpkin
tarts, a 14-layer chocolate cake and mini ice cream sandwiches.
Canteenwalla also partnered
with Steve Wynn to launch Society Café at Wynn’s newest signature resort,
Encore at Wynn Las Vegas. As executive chef and managing partner, Canteenwalla
created a restaurant that celebrated food critic John Mariani selected as one of Esquire magazine’s “Best New Restaurants of
2009.” This alliance marks his second collaboration with Wynn; Canteenwalla
previously worked at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi,
Mississippi as the resort’s executive chef.
Canteenwalla takes part in
culinary events around the world. He appeared in several Bon Appétit Wine and
Spirits Focus events in San Francisco and Las
Vegas, a
weeklong guest chef program featuring television appearances and gala dinners
at the Shanghai Hilton in China, the Food and Wine Festival in South Beach and the Grand Jury European and Davidoff Gourmet
Festival in Kitzbuhel, Austria. He also accepted an invitation to prepare a guest
chef dinner and lecture for graduate students at the internationally famous
Ecole Hoteliere in Lausanne, Switzerland.
When not in the kitchen,
Canteenwalla proudly serves on the Culinary Council of Three Square, a Las
Vegas-based food bank dedicated to feeding the hungry. Additionally, he assists
Communities in Schools of Southern Nevada and Child Focus. In 2009, the I Have
a Dream Foundation of Las Vegas named Canteenwalla Dream Builder of the Year.
Project Dinner Table’s 2011
season is sponsored by Nevada Beverage Company, Whole Foods Market, Seven
Magazine, and Renaissance Catering.
Local partners and purveyors include: Gaia Flowers, Bacardi USA, Colorado River Coffee Roasters, Pahrump farms,
Gilcrease Orchard, Herbs by Diane, UNCE Orchard, Chefs Warehouse, Hydro Greens
and Bon Breads.
Three Square is located at 4190 North Pecos Rd., Las
Vegas, NV
89115.
In addition to the monthly
dinners, Project Dinner Table recently launched the Downtown FEED local
farmer’s market located at 115 N. 7th Street, right behind the El Cortez Hotel & Casino. The farmer’s market is every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
and is an excellent extension of connecting people with local growers.
ABOUT PROJECT DINNER TABLE
Project Dinner Table blends a
philanthropic approach and appreciation for the farm to table movement, while
focusing on what we love: food, community and purpose. A series of once-in-a-lifetime, white
tablecloth-draped dinner’s hosted on-location in unique and adventurous
settings, Project Dinner Table pays homage to educating guests regarding local
growers and sustainable sources. The
gatherings celebrate community, local producers and the lost art of
conversation. Guests break bread with
local growers, food artisans, restaurateurs and other spirited community
members. Project Dinner table is a tasty
reason for people to gather, give back, connect and share in a phenomenal
culinary adventure. A donation will be
made to a selected charity at each dinner.
For more information, go to www.projectdinnertable.com or find on
Facebook at or follow on Twitter @Food4Good.
ABOUT CATHOLIC CHARITIES
Catholic Charities is one of
the largest nonprofit social service providers in the state, offering the most
comprehensive range of human services.
Catholic Charities includes 24 diverse programs designed to help people
of all ages—infants, men, women, children, and seniors—regardless of race,
religion, or creed. For more information about Catholic Charities, visit
www.catholiccharities.com.
ABOUT NEVADA HOMELESS ALLIANCE
Nevada Homeless Alliance is a
501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to issues of homelessness through
events and education. Our purpose is to educate the community and maximize
resources through coordination, collaboration and communication among the
public and private sectors. In short, Nevada Homeless Alliance advocates,
educates, and coordinates efforts on homelessness. Learn more about Nevada
Homeless Alliance at
www.helphopehome.org.
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