Biography of Les Kincaid

Les Kincaid was originally born in Dayton, Ohio and moved to California at age 12 to spend the summer with his father and stepmother whom he had not yet met.

He shortly discovered his passion for food with his step-grandfather (who was an executive chef-retired). Les started cooking during his summer visit and by September 1st, three months later, he was preparing three meals a day with very little assistance. He decided to stay in California and not return to Dayton. His love of cooking (and eating!) great food was forged in these early years. The family moved to San Francisco where Les got his first culinary job at 14 in at Wynn's Dive-In in South San Francisco. He’s been cooking most every day since then.

Les has been teaching cooking and wine appreciation classes thru the continuing education department at UNLV in Las Vegas for well over eighteen years and consulting to restaurants and hotels all over the west from west Texas to Oregon since 1983. He also taught cooking classes at the Community College for several years. Les has written several cookbooks and the latest one is titled "Never Trust A skinny Chef...II". 

Les’ first taste of broadcasting was with an FM station in Clovis, California in 1967. The show was called "Big Band Showcase". His show moved a few years later to a Fresno station in the early 70's. Les moved to Las Vegas in the late 70's. In the late 80's he went on air in Las Vegas with Joseph C Bower doing a cooking show on a small radio station and shortly was asked to moved to a large 50,000 watt local station where he was on air daily Monday thru Friday for three hours doing "Cooking With Taste" which lasted well over three and a half years.

Les started broadcasting in November, 2004 on KLAV 1230 AM radio station. Broadcasting a program called "Les Kincaid's Lifestyles Las Vegas". The show emanates from Mariposa Restaurant in Neiman Marcus at the Fashion Show Mall. This live show runs from Noon to 1:30 PM (pacific) each Saturday. After the first year (2001) with this local show they took it national and syndicated the show into over 50 states and into 28+ million households on CRN. 

In September of 2001 Les started a unique wine show  "Les' Wines & Vines". It is America’s first wine show that has a live invited guest audience and actually tastes three wines during the show while interviewing the featured winery owner, winemaker, wine writer, sommelier or master sommelier. It’s fun and very popular. This is also a nationally syndicated live broadcast going into over 28+ million households every Thursday evening from 7-8 PM (pacific) and in Las Vegas on KLAV 1230 AM.. 

In February of 2002 Les started yet another radio show, "Tableside du Jour". This is where they move to a different upscale restaurant each week in Las Vegas. Interviewing the executive chef or chef du cuisine, owner/manager, sommelier and discuss their menu, signature dishes, wine list, wine programs and the ambiance for the establishment. This is a great opportunity for restaurants to show off their wares in such as way that listeners will feel comfortable about enjoying a meal at a place they thought was very expensive, or rumored to be snobbish, all because they have had an opportunity to hear the comments and ideas explained during the show from the staff themselves. A live broadcast coming to you on KLAV 1230 AM locally every other Monday evening from 7-8 PM.