TV star chef Giada De Laurentiis has been spending a lot of time in Las Vegas since she opened her very first restaurant at the Cromwell on the Strip more than three years ago. She was back in town Saturday for an extra special occasion — Nevada Ballet Theatre’s 34th annual Black & White Ball at Wynn Las Vegas, where she was honored as “Woman of the Year” for her achievements and dedication to charitable causes.

“First of all, I’m following some pretty unbelievable women, talented women, and that’s No. 1 on the list. To have my name next to legends like Priscilla Presley and Marie Osmond is unbelievable, and to be the first female chef to do this is a pretty spectacular honor,” De Laurentiis said from the red carpet before the event. “Honestly, I think I’ve lived in a little bit of a bubble since I opened Giada.