Haute Event: Thomas Keller, Bobby Flay and More Serve Up Chefs to the Max

A group of the country’s most acclaimed chefs collaborated on the first “Chefs to the Max” dinner at Chef Rick Moonen’s Rx Boiler Room inside the Mandalay Place and raised a total of $275,799 on Sunday night. The dinner was the first of a series to benefit critically injured Las Vegas-based food journalist Max Jacobson. The event featured a cocktail reception, sit-down seven-course dinner with wine pairing, as well as a live and silent auction for 100 guests. One-hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit Jacobson directly to help pay for mounting medical bills as a result of the accident.

Chefs in attendance included Megan Bringas, Kim Canteenwalla, Shirley Chung, John Church, Saipin Chutima, Barry Dakake, Susan Feniger, Bobby Flay, Hubert Keller, Thomas Keller, Rick Moonen, Grant MacPherson, Mary Sue Milliken, Bradley Ogden, Luciano Pellegrini, Vincent Pilon, Pino Posteraro, Vincent Pouessel, Joey Romano, Megan Romano, Angelo Sosa and David Walzog.

In addition, Rick Moonen challenged Bobby Flay to a “Kampachi Throwdown.” Moonen prepared a Chili Seared Kona Kampachi with avocado, ruby red grapefruit and yuzu butter sauce; and Flay prepared a Kona Kampachi with Korean red pepper-tangerine glaze with pickled Brussels sprout relish and squab egg. Guests voted and Rick Moonen was announced the winner.

Two days before Christmas 2013, Jacobson was struck by a car while in the crosswalk at Windmill Parkway and Pecos Road as he walked from home to the gym. He sustained severe brain trauma from the accident. He remains in critical condition at Kindred Healthcare.

Click on the photos below to enlarge.

Like Haute Living Las Vegas? Join our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter. Want Haute Living Las Vegas delivered to your in box once a week? Sign up for our newsletter.