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Doug Bell (Heraea), Eric Ripert, Anthony Bourdain, Barry Dakake (N9NE Steakhouse) and Kerry Simon (Simon) at the Palms on Saturday, Feb. 9,2013.

By Robin Leach (contact)

Monday, Feb. 17, 2014 | 6 p.m.

Iron Chef winner Kerry Simon is back home after his first week of stem-cell treatments at the Mayo Clinic. He had an emotional homecoming with his restaurant partner Elizabeth Blau and Europes leading Multiple Systems Atrophy scientist, Dr. Gregor Wenning from Austria, who had been meeting with Kerrys physician, Dr. Ryan Walsh from the downtown Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

Kerry underwent two days of stem-cell injections at the base of his spine that had been harvested from him in a December visit to Mayo in Rochester, Minn. He told me they were exhausting and painful and that his return to Las Vegas over the weekend was delayed a day while fighting a low-grade fever.

It is unknown if the treatments will benefit him in the crippling disease for which there is no cure or treatment. He will return to Minnesota in March for two months of additional stem-cell surgeries and clinical trials.

First up, though, is his celebrity chef fundraiser and rock concert at the Brain Center on Feb. 27. An after-party for the food and music stars will follow at his restaurant Simon in Palms Place. For information and tickets, please go to KeepMemoryAlive.org.

Sammy Hagar, Alice Cooper, Vince Neil and Slash are among the performers, with Oscar-nominated actor and comedian Bill Murray as MC. Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Daniel Boulud and Charlie Palmer are among the 15 guest chefs.

Meantime, the Las Vegas hospitality industry is helping Kerrys fundraiser with auction items that Christian Kohlberg will sell. They include chef dinners from Mario Batali, Thomas Keller and Todd English and celebrity chef restaurant dinners from Guy Fieri, Emeril Lagasse and Wolfgang Puck.

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Kerry Simon returns from first round of stem-cell trials at Mayo Clinic, plans Feb. 27 benefit