Nat Hart (1916-1995) was one of Las Vegas, Nevada’s original celebrity chefs, well-known for his restaurants at Caesars Palace and the Desert Inn, and for his popular gourmet cooking school. During the 1960s Hart was maître d' of Bacchanal, the main fine dining restaurant at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. He was promoted to Corporate Vice President of Food and Beverage in the 1970s and established new restaurants at Caesars World locations across the United States. In the 1980s he opened the Nat Hart Gourmet Cooking School in Las Vegas.
Carol Harter and her husband of 46 years started their married lives by running away from college in their sophomore year. They spent the 1960's working toward their degrees. Harter earned her bachelor's in 1964 and her master's in 1967. Dr. Harter completed her PhD in 1970, and because her husband wanted to work on his doctorate, they moved to Athens, Ohio. She taught at Ohio University while he completed his courses. They lived, worked, and raised their children there for 19 years.