Charcuterie Board Orders Provide Workforce Opportunity for St. Jude’s Ranch for Children Foster Youth

The Blooming Bistro, a Las Vegas restaurant that serves as a wellness and workforce training hub for opportune and at-risk youth in Southern Nevada, is offering Cheerful Bites & Boards for the holiday season with net proceeds benefitting St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. The boards must be ordered by Dec. 19 and the last day for delivery or pickup is Dec. 22. 

Perfect for gatherings, gifts, or office parties, each charcuterie board is $125, feeds 10-12 people, and features an 18” round board topped with a curated selection of premium cheeses, artisanal meats, seasonal fruits, gourmet crackers, and festive bites. Part of a special back-of-house training program, the boards are hand-crafted by the at-risk youth who currently receive training at the bistro, and include a handwritten note of thanks. 

“Cheerful Bites & Boards is more than a holiday treat—it’s an opportunity for our youth to shine,” said Samantha Steele, Owner of The Blooming Bistro. “Each board represents real skills, real confidence, and real progress for the young people training in our kitchen. We’re proud to partner with St. Jude’s Ranch for Children to expand these opportunities and help even more young adults step into the workforce with purpose and pride.”

Net proceeds from sales of the holiday charcuterie boards will benefit St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, specifically providing their older foster care children and young adults who recently aged out of the program with the opportunity to participate in the workforce development program at The Blooming Bistro.

They will receive hospitality training from renowned hospitality expert Mark Steele, also Samantha’s brother, via his academy Restaurant Hospitality Institute. The training focuses on and on-the-job coaching in front-of-house and back-of-house restaurant operations, before being assisted with finding jobs in the workforce. The new cohort is expected to begin training on December 16 and start on-the-job training in the restaurant beginning in January. 

“This partnership with The Blooming Bistro opens the door to a powerful pathway for our older foster youth,” said Christina Vela, CEO of St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. “Workforce training is life-changing—it builds stability, independence, and hope. We’re grateful that every holiday board sold directly supports our young adults as they gain the skills and support they need to thrive in their next chapter.”