Neon Chefs, G2E Mohegan Sun Oyster Open and Ultra Lounge Uniform Fashion Show Will Turn up the Heat at F&B at G2E.

Only Culinary Event Designed Exclusively for the Gaming Industry will Feature Dedicated Exhibits, Events and Programming

LAS VEGAS -- Exquisite cuisine, celebrity chefs and one-of-a-kind fine dining experiences have become hallmarks of the Las Vegas culinary scene, making the city one of the world's top destinations for food lovers and critics alike. Nowhere better captures the unique style and energy of Las Vegas's culinary environment than F&B at G2E, gaming's only culinary marketplace, where an oyster shucking competition, teams of dueling celebrity chefs and a catwalk featuring ultra lounge uniforms will headline a full program of special events this year. F&B at G2E is held annually at Global Gaming Expo (G2E), which this year is scheduled for Nov. 14-16 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

A specialized event within the broader G2E 2006 trade show and conference, F&B at G2E combines an exhibit floor dedicated to F&B products and services, live culinary demonstrations and events, and a conference track focused on the latest trends and issues in the growing food and beverage sector of the gaming entertainment industry. With the F&B sector continuing to make an increasingly important mark on the gaming industry's bottom line, F&B at G2E provides a key opportunity for food and beverage suppliers to meet and conduct business with leading gaming executives responsible for the management and purchase of food and beverage products and services at some of the world's leading casinos.

"Increasingly, customers are seeking casinos with a full range of amenities, and superior dining offerings are becoming a staple of successful casino operations not just in Las Vegas, but across the country and around the world," said Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., president and CEO of the American Gaming Association. "F&B at G2E stands alone as the only forum focused on bringing together gaming industry buyers with F&B suppliers to discuss and discover the trends and partnerships that will continue to move the F&B sector into the future."

F&B at G2E will offer a host of special events this year, ranging from celebrity chef presentations on holiday menu preparation to programs on food and wine pairing and wine tasting. Some of the fastest oyster shuckers once again will compete in the popular G2E Mohegan Sun Oyster Open, scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 3:15 p.m., which this year also will feature the first Oyster Virgin Sacrifice Slurping Competition. Corey Harwell, director of restaurants for New York, New York Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, and Jasper White, owner of the Summer Shack restaurants at Mohegan Sun and in Boston and Cambridge, Mass., will serve as the masters of ceremonies for the event. Participants in the Oyster Open are judged on skill, speed and presentation as defined by the rules and regulations of the International Oyster Opening Contest in Galway, Ireland.

"F&B at G2E is truly invaluable for gaming industry executives focused on managing this growing segment of their business, and we're proud to be a part of it," said Gary Crowder, senior vice president of resort operations at Mohegan Sun. "F&B operations have the potential to provide an enormous economic benefit for gaming entertainment properties, and F&B at G2E provides the unique resources industry professionals need to make that potential benefit a reality."

The competition in the F&B at G2E demonstration area will be heating up once again this year during the Neon Chefs culinary competition sponsored by the Epicurean Club, which will consist of a culinary battle between chefs from Chinese and Japanese restaurants at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino and the Bellagio Hotel and Casino. The competition will pit chefs Kai Wa Yau and Pui Wing Hui from Pearl Restaurant at MGM Grand and chefs Roy Villacrusis, Thepthikone Keosavang ('TK') and Jean Jacque Granet from Shibuya Restaurant at MGM Grand against chef Joel Versol from Shintaro restaurant at the Bellagio and chef Philip Lo from Jasmine restaurant at the Bellagio. Robin Leach will serve as master of ceremonies for the event, which will take place Wednesday, Nov. 15 at noon.

F&B at G2E also will turn up the heat with the first Ultra Lounge Uniform Fashion Show featuring cocktail waitresses from some of Las Vegas's most popular ultra lounges and nightclubs modeling today's hottest uniforms. Scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 10:15 a.m., the fashion show will include uniforms from the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, Body English at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, MGM Mirage's High Limit Lounge, the Palms Las Vegas, the I-Bar and Voodoo Lounge at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, and Wynn Las Vegas, as well as the latest uniforms from the event's sponsor, Cintas. Leach also will serve as master of ceremonies for this event.

In addition to this year's special events, F&B at G2E will include more than 120 exhibitors featuring a wide variety of products and services ranging from food and beverage products and technology to food service equipment and supplies, decor and more. Exhibitors include Coca Cola, Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs, Nestle Waters North America, Oneida, Sara Lee Foodservice, Subway Inc., Sysco Foodservice, and many more. Additionally, F&B at G2E will also welcome back the Wine & Spirits Garden sponsored by Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada, where a comprehensive offering of alcoholic beverage suppliers are expected.

Complementing the full F&B at G2E exhibit floor will be an in-depth conference track with sessions tailored to the needs of F&B professionals striving to deliver superior service in the casino environment. Speakers including F&B vice presidents, restaurant managers, marketing experts and personnel directors will address the most important issues in F&B today in sessions such as "Food as a Tool: Using F&B as a Marketing Weapon," "F&B Future: Trends that will Impact Your Operations," "Food & Data: Using Technology to Evaluate Your Operations," "The Restaurant Experience: Interior and Architectural Design Trends to Help an F&B Outlet Shine," and more.

G2E is the leading trade event for the worldwide gaming entertainment community, attended by more than 26,000 industry professionals from around the world. For more information on G2E or to register for group or early bird discounts, visit the Web site at www.globalgamingexpo.com.

Global Gaming Expo (G2E) is the international gaming trade show and conference "by the industry and for the industry." Organized by the American Gaming Association (AGA) and Reed Exhibitions, G2E made its debut in fall 2001, defining itself as the pre-eminent show for the gaming-entertainment industry.

The AGA represents the commercial casino-entertainment industry by addressing federal legislative and regulatory issues. The association also serves as a clearinghouse for information, develops educational and advocacy programs, and provides leadership on industry-related issues of public concern.

Reed Exhibitions is a world leader in creating high profile, targeted industry events where buyers and suppliers come together to do business. Every year, Reed events bring together some 90,000 suppliers and over 5.5 million buyers from around the world. Today, Reed events are held in 32 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia/Pacific, and are organized by 26 fully staffed offices. Reed's portfolio of more than 420 events services 49 industries in 12 key sectors.