On Eve of Super Bowl XLV, Renowned Chefs and NFL Legends Help Taste of the NFL Celebrate 20th Year

Tomorrow evening, as the Taste of the NFL celebrates 20 years of bringing together the country’s best chefs and NFL greats for hunger relief, several prominent chefs and NFL legends will return as special guests during its annual fundraising event, taking place at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

The 20th annual "Party with a Purpose®" -- one of the most coveted tickets of Super Bowl XLV week -- features outstanding chefs and restaurateurs from each NFL city, who serve their signature specialties with help from a current or former NFL player.

Unique to this year’s 20th anniversary celebration, the Taste of the NFL will honor a group of "inaugural" chefs and players who participated in the very first Taste of the NFL event in 1992, in Minneapolis, Minn. -- site of Super Bowl XXVI.

Each of the following chefs and players will be onsite tomorrow night to mingle with guests, take photos, and sign autographs:

Taste of the NFL Inaugural Chefs
* Tom Colicchio
* Robert Del Grande
* Todd English
* Susan Goss
* Jack McDavid*
* Stephan Pyles
* Nancy Silverton
* Susan Spicer
* Allen Susser*

Taste of the NFL Inaugural Players
* Dick Anderson*
* Floyd Little
* Bob Lurtsema
* Bobby Mitchell
* Tommy Nobis
* Jerry Sisemore*
* Jan Stenerud

[* NOTE: Two chefs have participated each year since 1992 along with their original player representatives. Allen Susser, of Chef Allen’s in Miami, is paired with Miami Dolphins Alum Dick Anderson; and Jack McDavid, of Jack’s Firehouse in Philadelphia, is paired with Philadelphia Eagles Alum Jerry Sisemore.]

"We are extremely grateful to this group of inaugural chefs and players who helped to kick off the Taste of the NFL in 1992, and have been instrumental in our mission to raise awareness for hunger relief for the past 20 years," said Wayne Kostroski, founder of Taste of the NFL, and GoodBiz113 profilee ["Cuisine Concepts at Heart of Taste of the NFL -- AKA 'Super Bowl Party...With a Purpose' -- to Tackle Hunger in America"]. "Their participation in our 20th annual event gives attendees the exciting opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the best-known culinary talent in the world, and some of the greatest NFL legends of all time."

The inaugural chefs and players will appear at the event in addition to 32 chefs -- one from each NFL city with an NFL player representative. In addition, the North Texas Cadillac Dealers will host eight Dallas/Fort Worth chefs and restaurants that will represent "The Flavors of North Texas" and serve up dishes representative of the region. TLC’s "Cake Boss" -- Buddy Valastro -- will also be onsite to showcase an original cake creation to commemorate Taste of the NFL’s 20th anniversary.

The 2011 event is made possible through sponsorships from PepsiCo, E & J Gallo Winery, North Texas Cadillac Dealers, Macy’s, Glazer’s Distributors and Swanson. Media partners include the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Indulge Magazine.

About Taste of the NFL
Taste of the NFL exists to raise awareness and dollars for hunger relief organizations involved in kicking hunger in America. Founded in 1992 by Wayne Kostroski [2010 James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year], the Minneapolis-based Taste of the NFL has distributed more than $10 million to local and national food banks across the country.

To extend their efforts, Taste of the NFL recently launched their Kick Hunger Challenge, which encourages NFL fans to support their team in fundraising to benefit their local food banks. For more information, visit http://www.TasteOfTheNFL.com/.

SOURCE: Taste of the NFL
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Taste of the NFL XVI Raises More Than $500,000 for South Florida's Daily Bread Food Bank

On the eve of last Sunday's Super Bowl LXI, 3,000 guests assembled at Fort Lauderdale's Broward County Convention Center for Taste of the NFL, an annual fund-raising event conceived by Creative Cuisine's Wayne Kostroski. [See Jan. 29 GoodBiz113 "Cuisine Concepts at Heart of Taste of the NFL -- AKA 'Super Bowl Party With a Purpose' -- to Tackle Hunger in America" post.]

After a full evening of dining specialties prepared by award-winning chefs representing all 32 NFL cities, libations and live entertainment, at least $500,000 was raised for Daily Bread Food Bank of South Florida, an affiliate of America's Second Harvest -- The Nation's Food Bank Network.

"We won't have a definitive number for a couple of weeks," said Kostroski, TNFL's founder and executive director. "In excess of $500,000 will likely be available for distribution."

Generous sponsors allow TNFL to share the wealth of proceeds from ticket, merchandise and auction sales. Among this year's sponsors: Publix Super Markets, Gallo Family Vineyards, Premier Beverage, Xbox 360, Hard Rock Cafe, First Commercial Bank [Minnesota], The Miami Herald/el Nuevo Herald, Ecolab, Oster, Mr. Coffee, and Sun Sentinel.

After catching his breath from last week's whirlwind trip to South Florida, Kostroski took a moment to reflect on last Saturday's dinner. "It was the best-looking event we have ever done," he beamed. "Comments from the guests were outstanding, and the flat-screen TVs above each food station were a huge hit."

Certain other win-win evening highlights scored with guests and, soon, Daily Bread Food Bank clients -- e.g.: TNFL's largest-ever auction; new team player reps, including Larry Fitzgerald Jr., and Maurice Jones; long lines for photos and autographs from the likes of Carl Eller, Earl Morrall and Donnie Anderson; new chefs representing the flavors of South Florida; and a stellar show by the rock band Styx.

"Styx even signed a Taste of the NFL football helmet, and auctioned that off with an opportunity for a photo with them after the show," Kostroski noted. "It raised $3,800."

Lest anyone think there's any timeout for TNFL, they're wrong. Kostroski and his able team of organizers, chefs, etc., are already planning the annual Super Bowl-related events through 2010.

"We've been planning since August," Kostroski noted. "We'll be at the Phoenix Convention Center next year, and are working on the Tampa event for 2009. The 2010 event will return to the Broward County Convention Center."

Then there are the local TNFL events held in a handful of NFL cities throughout the year. "We expect to add a few more local events in Miami, New York [Giants] and Tampa," Kostroski added.
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For TNFL merchandise -- including limited-edition Super Bowl XLI prints by 3-D pop artist Charles Fazzino, the 2007 Restaurant Guide, caps, etc. -- visit the Taste of the NFL Store.