VIP Lounge

VIP ticket holders enjoy exclusive privileges, starting with early entry at 12 p.m. and additional complimentary special culinary creations.

Additional VIP perks include complimentary beer, a commemorative beer tasting glass, other alcoholic beverages, access to the VIP lounge with seating and private air-conditioned restrooms, and live entertainment.

Must be 21+

The Chefs

Chef Gina Marinelli

With a passion for cooking that shines in each dish, Chef Gina Marinelli is the Executive Chef Partner at La Strega, Las Vegas’ bewitching trattoria and locals’ hotspot featuring farm-to-table and coastal Italian cuisine in the heart of the renowned Summerlin community. With a desire to captivate her guests and take them on a personal adventure across Italy, Chef Gina’s regionally inspired menu highlights her unique twists on Italian favorites infused with contemporary, fresh yet simple flavors.

Upon graduating from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Orlando in 2006, Chef Gina moved to Las Vegas where she worked alongside iconic chefs including Michael Mina at Nobhill Tavern, Sven Mede at American Fish at Aria, Shawn McClain at Sage at Aria, and James Beard award-winning chef Scott Conant at D.O.C.G Enoteca at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

After years in Las Vegas kitchens, Chef Gina traveled to Italy, visiting the Amalfi Coast, Sicily and Bologna to further study and immerse herself in authentic Italian cuisine. During her travels, she worked in local kitchens and cooked alongside various local and regional chefs, even participating in a fisherman tour, dishing up fresh seafood caught by locals. Her travels left her inspired, driven and full of ideas for her next project, La Strega. Opened in early 2019, La Strega brings Chef Gina’s years of expertise, travels and tastes for beautiful food to the forefront of this modern Italian restaurant, which continues to maintain one of the busiest kitchens in the greater Las Vegas area.

When not in the kitchen, Chef Gina enjoys traveling with her fiancé, watching movies and football, listening to music, and spending time with her three dogs.

Erica Bell

Erica moved to Las Vegas in 2013 from San Francisco, where she worked in the medical field. A musician in her youth, she is also a published photographer, with her work featured in both Asia and California. Her journey into the local community began when she met a group of women producing events in DTLV, inspiring her to volunteer and eventually create her own event and photography company, IMYLG.com.

Erica has played a significant role in producing many notable community events, including LGBTQ Events, First Friday, Life is Beautiful, Market in the Alley, Pour in the Alley, Real Awesome Food Park, Freak the Beat, and various shows with We The Beat at Fergusons Downtown, among others.

For the last 11 years, Erica has been a passionate supporter of community events and a strong advocate for local small businesses. She spent five years with Ferguson’s Downtown, creating community-focused events for all age groups. Her most recent professional accomplishment is helping her team at Double Zero Pie & Pub earn a spot among the Top 50 Pizza Restaurants in the US within the restaurant’s first year of operation.

In addition to her event production work, Erica has volunteered for numerous local initiatives, supporting small businesses from DTLV to the Arts District. She dedicated her time to First Friday before becoming its Production Manager in 2014, volunteered at Three Square Food Bank, and mentored young professionals in her community. During the COVID pandemic, Erica and her family delivered water and meals to displaced individuals in the DTLV area.

Erica prides herself on cultivating a fun, safe, and productive team culture. She focuses on helping others master their tasks, allowing them to enjoy their work, grow, and eventually teach others. Over the past 11 years, she has consistently prioritized her team, celebrating their achievements and embodying the role of both leader and teammate. Achieving a Top 50 nomination for her restaurant was a team effort, driven by a commitment to hospitality and exceeding expectations.

When asked about her vision for the future, Erica says, ‘My career will always be community-based. Bringing joy and happiness to people is all I want to do. Whether through food and unique dining experiences or capturing moments through photography, I aim to create lasting memories for people.

The Las Vegas Pizza Festival returns November 15, 2025.

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