Q&A with Chef Les Kincaid

Chef Les Kincaid has been teaching for UNLV Continuing Education for about 25 years. His classes have been so popular that Chef Kincaid has built quite a dedicated following. We talked with chef to get his thoughts on how to entice and motivate students to take his food & beverage classes.

How do you select a class to teach?

By questions, suggestions, and input from the students and other food loving acquaintances.

What do you want your students to learn when they leave your class…the one thing to walk away with?

That they take away new ideas, thoughts and techniques that I teach in class as well as the handouts I give them. Because having meatloaf every Thursday gets boring.

Why do you like to teach the classes that you teach?

The students. They bring the uniqueness and a je ne sais quoi to the class and have a sincere interest in upgrading their culinary prowess.

If you had one ingredient to choose from, what would be your favorite to cook with?

I can’t answer that question (laughing), because you can’t just cook with just one ingredient in a recipe.

Chef Kincaid’s cooking classes are held at Ferguson Enterprises. Other classes are offered at the UNLV Paradise Campus when appropriate.

Click here for a full list of Chef Kincaid's spring and summer class offerings.

Car Care 101

I'm not sure if it’s a generational thing, regional thing or something else altogether. Growing up in Ohio as a child of the 80s, my dad made sure I knew the basics of car care. At the time I had no clue why, but now it’s become obvious. Cars are expensive; car care is expensive, too. Not to mention if you get a flat tire in the middle of nowhere at an ungodly hour, you want to be able to change tires and get home.

I have a ton of respect for car people, but please don’t think I’m one of them. I know very little about car makes and models. I say that because I consider myself an average Joe when it comes to automobiles. I just got lucky that my dad taught me the basics like changing a flat tire, switching out car batteries, and checking the oil. Because of this foundation, though, I learned I could do even more basic care, like change spark plugs, headlight lamps and even brake pads and rotors. Over time, all this self repair added up to great savings.

But as an adult, how can someone learn these basics, short of hanging out at with a mechanic all day long? Luckily, UNLV Continuing Education is offering Car Care 101. Sure, it can be intimidating to step foot into the gearhead culture, but that’s the beauty of a class like this. Only the instructor is an expert while everyone else is there to learn the same basics. Specifically in this class, you can expect to prolong the life of your car with routine preventative care as well as the fundamentals of maintenance.

To learn more about our Car Care classes, visit our online catalog - http://continuingeducation.unlv.edu/catalog

Classes We Love for Valentine’s Day

Valentine's Day is right around the corner; have you made plans? Dinner is nice, but perhaps we can suggest some new ways to spend time with your sweetheart on this day dedicated to those we love.

French I
Ah, la langue d’amour! If you would love to tell a special someone how much you care en Français, why not start French lessons on Valentine’s Day? Since life isn’t all romance, we promise you will also learn more practical phrases and vocabulary for travel and everyday conversation.
Sat | Feb 14-May 2* | 9:30-11:30am | $199 | PAR 301 | 151LA1107
*Class does not meet March 28 or April 4.

CPR/AED & First Aid
Valentine’s Day turns our thoughts to all things heart-related—like CPR! Training from the American Heart Association will get you ready to respond quickly and confidently in case someone you love (or even a total stranger) has a medical emergency.
Sat | Feb 14 | 9am-2:30pm | $89 | PAR 302 | 151HE1101A

Decadent Chocolate & Wine Pairing
This class practically screams, “Valentine’s date night.” Chef Les Kincaid will teach you to properly pair chocolates and wines by taste, texture, and intensity for heightened enjoyment. You will be able to practice what you learned a few days later on Valentine’s Day!
Wed | Feb 11 | 6-8:30pm | $69 | Total Wine & More Summerlin | 151HA1135

Best of Red Rock Canyon
The rocks are red,
The sky is blue,
Come hike and learn,
Bring your sweetheart too.
Spend the day learning about the geology, history, hydrology, and archaeology of stunning Red Rock National Conservation area with a geologist/naturalist guide. This will be an ideal Valentine’s day outing for nature lovers!
Sat | Feb 14 | 8am-2pm | $95 | Meet at PAR back parking lot | 151EX1247

As a reward for reading this blog post and checking out all these great program options, here's a secret little Valentine's Day tip from a gal who grew up in "Sweetheart City," Loveland, CO. If you plan in advance and send your valentines to the Loveland Valentine Remailing Program, they will imprint your envelope with a Valentine poem and a "From Loveland with Love" stamp cancellation, then send it along to its final destination. Every year more than 100,000 valentines are processed through the program. Other than the stamp to mail your cards to Loveland, there is no cost to do this! 

What to do with your tax return? Invest in your career!

The arrival of the first W2 near the end of January symbolizes the start of tax season at my house. We get out a fresh file folder and begin to assemble forms, receipts, and other documentation.

I love the instant gratification of self-service tax preparation software. Within minutes we can have a sense of whether we owe taxes or if we will get a return.

Sometimes, the news is not great and we bust out our checkbook. On these years we wait until the bitter end to fork money over.

By contrast, if calculations confirm we’re getting a tax return, we happily file early and eagerly await the transfer into our bank account. The obvious next step is to start dreaming about how we’ll spend this unplanned windfall…

We could treat ourselves to items we want but really don’t need. While fun for the short term, I’m afraid this course of action doesn't do us any long term financial good.

But line 21 of my 1040 Schedule A has me thinking of another option for spending a refund: investing in work training! According to the IRS, if I itemize my deductions, training to enhance my current career may be tax deductible! I’m thinking this is a positive financial double-whammy. As my skills improve, so will my value to my employer. Then, on my 2015 taxes, I can write off fees, books, and possibly even mileage and travel expenses.

And now for a shameless plug: did you know UNLV Continuing Education offers more than 25 professional development programs to help you enhance your career skills? How about using your tax return to boost your career in one of the well-performing sectors of the Las Vegas economy, like hospitality, transportation, health, and professional and business services? If you meet all the IRS's criteria, you may even be able to deduct your professional training expenses next year!

Give the Gift of Learning this Season

The holidays bring out our generosity as we seek to find the perfect gift for our families and friends. There is always a point during the season, for me at least, when I am stumped on what to get for the person on my list who has everything.

Rather than buy one more item to clutter an already overflowing closet, how about giving an experience? That could mean movie tickets, dinner out, a spa day, or, because this is UNLV Continuing Education after all, how about a class? CE’s new Spring 2015 course catalog is packed full with classes to take just for fun that will appeal to a broad range of people on your list.

My parameters for this list were as follows. The class had to start in January or February so the recipient wouldn’t have long to wait. The price point had to be under $150 (except for the one where you get to take the controls of a plane or helicopter—totally worth a little budget busting!). The class had to look either very useful or very fun. It wasn’t possible for me to include everything that looked awesome, so no more than one class per section of the catalog; I cheated by adding a runner up in the music category because self-imposed rules were made to be broken.

New Drivers: Car Care 101 (begins Feb. 11, $39)
Stop car trouble before it starts by doing your own preventative maintenance. At the very least, they will appear marginally intelligent when they have to talk to the repair technician!

Thrill-Seeker: Introductory Airplane or Helicopter Flight (Scheduled at your convenience, $169)
I’m intrigued by this one. After a one-on-one ground school briefing, the student will take the controls of a Cessna 172 airplane or Robinson R22 helicopter while flying high above Las Vegas. This is a special offer through the host of our new Private Pilot Certification program.

Pet Lover: Pet First Aid & CPR (begins Feb. 26, $89)
The thought of mouth-to-mouth with a dog is gross, but I’d do it if it were a matter of life or death. More likely, pet-parents ought to know what to do when their furry friend slices a paw on a knife while stealing food from the counter.

Shutterbug: Cell Phone Photography (begins Feb. 28, $59)
Instagram can rescue many-a marginal photo, but imagine the time you could save by getting the right shot in the first place.

Budding Artist: Paint Like the Old World Masters (Jan. 24, $149)
Paint Like the Old World Masters is my top choice to gift to an artist because it offers something for both novice and proficient artists. Your artist friends may have read about camera obscura and underpainting, but have they ever tried it? There are so many other amazing choices among our art offerings—acrylics, collage, silk painting, and watercolors also begin in January or February.

Music Lover: Beginning Guitar (begins Feb. 3, $99) 

Runner up: Blowin' the Blues Harmonica (begins Jan. 21, $139)
Wouldn’t it be cool to have someone who could play the guitar or harmonica around the campfire next summer? If someone gave this gift to me, I’d know it was because they would rather hear me play than sing.

Drinking Buddy: Home Brew Workshop (Feb. 19, $69)
If you gift this class to a friend and he or she gets really good at crafting home brews, guess who will probably get invited to come over for taste tests?

Gift certificates for Continuing Education classes are available in any denomination. Call 702-895-3394 or stop by the Paradise campus office to inquire.

The Value of Professional Certificates for Veterans and Service Members

As we celebrate Veterans Day, we thank and honor all who have served in the armed forces. UNLV has been a consistent supporter of active duty, veteran, and military family members. The university recently resumed undergraduate classes at Nellis Air Force Base. It also has been recognized as a military friendly school for the past five years. 

The Division of Educational Outreach has worked to expand learning opportunities for those in the community, including the military, which is quite evident when viewing the professional development certificate programs in Continuing Education. There are more than 20 certificate programs to consider from android development to protective services.

One might ask what do veterans and service members gain from earning a certificate? I recently read an article where former military personnel discussed the value of a certificate program.

1. Show what you know. A certificate in a specific subject shows employers you have completed the necessary training in this area.
2.  New knowledge has power. A certificate provides "recent and relevant education in terms that a civilian employer looks for.”
3. Time is on your side. A certificate can be completed in six months. Plus you can apply what you have just learned from a certificate program on the job right away.
4. So many choices. There are many certificates for veterans and service members to choose from, with human resources being one that should be seriously considered.
5. Leader of the pack. Veterans and service members are unique job candidates, and the right certification could separate you from the rest of the pack.

Dan Munson, senior director of Six Sigma Programs - Online at Villanova University, believes certificates provide an application of knowledge that has power. "The world views veterans as individuals who have learned attention to detail, teamwork, respect for hierarchy, work ethic, and an appreciation for the notion of 'rank has its privilege,' “ Munson said. "Add to that a certificate or two, coupled with an applicable degree and the veteran has a higher probability of being a part of the stack - the short list - when being considered for a position."

If you are a veteran or service member, visit http://continuingeducation.unlv.edu/certificate-programs to view a list of the comprehensive, career-oriented courses and certificate programs offered at UNLV Continuing Education. Also, check out our Spring/Summer 2015 catalog later this week to learn more about the new certificate programs in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (drones), Nurse Paralegal, Private Airplane or Helicopter Pilot, and National Academy of Sports Medicine certifications in corrective exercise and fitness nutrition.

Savor the Flavors this Fall

It's that time of year when the weather is starting to cool off and you want to find your stove again. Every semester UNLV Continuing Education offers classes to tempt and entice your palate. I think of Chef Les Kincaid as our “resident expert” since he has taught cooking and wine appreciation for Continuing Education for more than 25 years. We have learned to make hearty soups, crafted our own sushi rolls, and matched artisan cheese with craft beers. Now Chef Kincaid wants to expand our knowledge on wine and cheese and liven up our traditional holiday meals.

On Oct. 22 Wines & Cheeses of the World gets underway. This two-week course is held at Total Wine & More in Summerlin, with the first week focusing on French wines & cheese and the second week on the Spanish ones. Chef Kincaid is very knowledgeable about winemaking and speaks extensively about how the landscape & weather affect the grapes and why cheeses and wines from the same region complement each other so well. He talks about the proper temperature both red and white wines should be served and that all cheeses should be served at room temperature. With the attention to detail that Chef Kincaid provides, you will enjoy your holiday cheer. 

Speaking of holidays, in my household Christmas dinner is very eclectic, featuring dishes from around the world. Last year, my brother who lives in China brought home a Chinese dish that had potatoes, fish sauce and those tiny hot peppers (yum!). The main dish was a German roulade, with a Buche de Noel (French Yule log cake) for dessert. I can’t wait to find new ideas for this year; I like surprising my family with a tasty new recipe. If you’re like me you may want to check out a New Twist on Traditional Holiday Recipes, where you can spice up your holiday parties with fresh ideas on the tried-and-true recipes. The class is for main dishes with tips to make your holiday meals a success. It meets on Nov. 18 from 6-8:30 p.m., just in time for the holiday season.