The world's best chefs and sommeliers took Las Vegas from a mecca for 99c shrimp cocktails to today's culinary oasis.

Now ODYSSEY 2000: A Celebration of Wine, Food & Art will spotlight the city's extraordinary cuisine during an Oct. 26-29 event bringing Las Vegas' premier chefs and sommeliers together to host special dinners, tastings and cooking demonstrations.

The piece de resistance will be the Oct. 28 Masters Dinner, Auction and Celebration at the Aladdin Resort & Casino, where chefs and sommeliers will prepare a one-of-a-kind gastronomic experience. Also, a live auction will benefit public television's KLVX-TV, Channel 10.

"Just as other culinary and wine destinations throughout the country recognize and celebrate their talents and bounty, so will Las Vegas," says Virginia Thompson, principal of Las Vegas Odyssey.

Thompson, Mark V. Martino and Debra Heiser created Las Vegas Odyssey, the company orchestrating the event with Archie McLaren, founder of California's famed Central Coast Wine Classic.

Participates:
  • Arnauld Briand -- Monte Carlo, The Desert Inn

  • Caviarteria -- The Forum Shops at Caesars

  • Jim Clendenen -- winemaker, Au Bon Climat

  • Billy Conn -- Aladdin

  • Terrence Fong -- Gatsby's, MGM Grand

  • Steven Geddes -- Aureole, Mandalay Bay

  • Greg Harrington -- Spago/Chinois, The Forum Shops at Caesars; Trattoria Del Lupo, Mandalay Bay; and Postrio, The Venetian

  • Jervais Hienrik -- Fiore, Rio

  • House of Blues Foundation Room -- Mandalay Bay

  • Jay James -- Aqua, Bellagio

  • Michael Jordan -- Rosemary's

  • Barrie Larvin -- Rio Wine Cellar, Rio

  • Mark Lorusso -- Aqua, Bellagio

  • Michael Mina -- Aqua, Bellagio

  • Eberhard Muller -- Lutece, The Venetian

  • Jean-Louis Palladin -- Napa, Rio

  • Luciano Pelligrini -- Piero Selvaggio Valentino, The Venetian

  • Laurent Perrier -- Champagne House

  • Joe Romano -- Aureole, Mandalay Bay

  • David Robins -- Spago/Chinois, The Forum Shops at Caesars; Trattoria Del Lupo, Mandalay Bay; and Postrio, The Venetian

  • Andre Rochat, Andre's French Restaurant downtown Las Vegas and Monte Carlo

  • Mark Scherline -- Aladdin

  • Piero Selvaggio -- Piero Selvaggio Valentino, The Venetian

  • Julian Serrano -- Picasso, Bellagio

Tickets range from $75 to $350. Platinum sponsors currently include Foodline.com, Tusk Studios and Williamson Printing and Gold sponsorship includes Society By Design.

For more information, call toll-free 1-877-370-9182 or (702) 257-2345. The Internet site www.lasvegasodyssey.com will launch shortly.