Chefs hosting Friends of James Beard benefit dinner

Chefs from The Venetian and the Palazzo will host a Friends of James Beard Foundation benefit dinner at 7 p.m. Monday in the Friends of the James Beard Foundation Room at the Palazzo. The dinner, which will include musical entertainment and a silent auction, is in celebration of the foundation's 25th anniversary, and proceeds will go to the foundation's scholarship program. Tickets are $150 per person or $175 for VIP, which includes a 6 p.m. reception. Call 414-9000 or visit www.Venetian.com/JamesBeard or any Venetian or Palazzo box office. ...

Gerard Bertrand wines will be featured in a dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Spiedini at the J.W. Marriott, 221 N. Rampart Drive. With an entree of Chianti-braised short ribs, the four-course dinner is $68. Call 869-8500. ...

Chef Pierre Gagnaire returns to his restaurant, Twist by Pierre Gagnaire, from Thursday through March 30. The restaurant is at the Mandarin Oriental, 3752 Las Vegas Blvd. South. ...

Society Cafe at Encore, 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South, has introduced a new happy hour menu in celebration of March Madness, which continues through April 2. The menu, which is available from 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays, includes Mac N' Cheese Bites with a truffle dipping sauce, Grandma Rose's Meatballs and more, priced at $7 each or three for $19. ...

Bellagio executive chef Edmund Wong and Patz & Hall Winery will present the resort's next Epicurean Epicenter event at 6:30 p.m. March 24 in the Tuscany Kitchen at Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South. With an entree of medallion of venison, the four-course dinner is $175 per person inclusive. Call the Bellagio concierge at (866) 906-7171. ...

Shakespeare's Grille & Pub, 790 Coronado Center Blvd. in Henderson, has introduced Jamaican Jerk Saturdays, with live reggae music beginning at 9 p.m. ...

Leone Cafe has opened at Tivoli Village, 400 S. Rampart Blvd., serving omelets, breakfast sandwiches, salads, panini, pastries and fruit and espresso-based drinks from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Call 684-5853. ...

For additional restaurant news, visit lvrj.com/blogs/vegasvoice.

Send information to Heidi Knapp Rinella, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125. You also can send faxes to 383-4676 or email her at hrinella@reviewjournal.com.