Born and raised in Las Vegas, NV, James Trees began his culinary career as a teenager at the Mirage Hotel & Casino on the Strip prior to attending the Culinary Institute of America, then rising through ranks under chefs including Eric Ripert, Bradley Ogden, Andre Rochat, Heston Blumenthal, Michael Mina, Akasha Richmond and Ray Garcia.His first independent restaurant, Esther’s Kitchen, offering seasonal Italian in the Downtown Las Vegas Arts District, has become a local and tourist must-visit since opening in 2018. Trees has followed that with Al Solito Posto, Ada’s Food & Wine, Bar Boheme and Petite Boheme. High Steaks Vegas is his latest project, with more on the way.