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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During Super Bowl XLIV, Miller High Life Goes Big for the 'Little Guys'

Miller High Life, the beer that surprised America last year with its one one-second ad, will once again call a time-out for common sense during tomorrow's Super Bowl -- this year, giving its air-time to four deserving small businesses from around the country.

The 30-second spot, filmed in an actual Miller High Life warehouse in Los Angeles, will feature the owners of Del’s Barber Shop in Escondido, Cal.; Tim's Baseball Card Shop in Chicago, Ill.; Loretta’s Authentic Pralines in New Orleans, La.; Bizarre Guitar & Drum in Phoenix, Ariz.; as well as Miller High Life’s very own no-nonsense deliveryman. It will air in major markets during the Big Game, when the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts kick off from Miami's Sun Life Stadium at 6:25 p.m. ET.

"Miller High Life is all about common sense, and nothing makes more sense than giving deserving small businesses the opportunity to be a part of the big game," said Miller High Life Brand Manager Joe Abegg. "These businesses live the High Life every day by retaining a steadfast commitment to service and authenticity. What better way to show our appreciation for hard-working Americans who share High Life’s values than by providing a primetime stage for a few to tell their story?"

Miller High Life scoured the country to identify potential businesses to be featured in the Big Game commercial. From the many qualified companies that stood out, the folks at Miller High Life had the difficult task of narrowing it down to a few small businesses from around the country.

"We had a lot of fun working with the owners of these companies, and we think they represent small businesses across the country very well," said Abegg. "We hope this experience has been as positive for them as it has for us, and that it only serves to help small businesses thrive."

To build excitement for the commercial, which will air across much of the country through buys with local market CBS affiliates plus owned-and-operated stations, a 30-second teaser ad began hitting the air last week. Additional content including outtakes from the Big Game commercial shoot and information on the four businesses featured in the ad, as well as others that are living the High Life. It's available online at http://littleguysbiggame.millerhighlife.com/.

Miller High Life, one of MillerCoors' 32 domestic beers, is known as the "champagne of beers" and dates to 1903. It is a classic American-style lager recognized for its consistently crisp, smooth taste and iconic clear-glass bottle. Miller High Life embraces its rich heritage and is known by its drinkers as an authentic, unpretentious beer, and encourages beer drinkers to "Take Back the High Life."

MillerCoors Committed to Supplier Diversity
MillerCoors is dedicated to working with suppliers who are as diverse as its consumers, and gives minority- and women-owned business enterprises [MWBEs] an opportunity to compete with other suppliers in the marketplace.

As a member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council [NMSDC] and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council [WBENC], MillerCoors supports local, regional and national MWBE councils. The company is committed to supplier diversity and is focused on increasing both its participation and spend with MWBE suppliers.

For information about MillerCoors' Supplier Diversity Management System, go to: https://cvmas14.cvmsolutions.com/millercoors/.

SOURCES: MillerCoors, NFL
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Tonight: New York Giants Taste of the NFL to Benefit ShopRite Partners In Caring Fund

Editor's note: This is part of an ongoing series of posts we're producing to keep GoodBiz113 readers informed of Taste of the NFL-related events from coast to coast. [See January 2007 post, "Cuisine Concepts at Heart of Taste of the NFL -- AKA 'Super Bowl Party...With a Purpose' -- to Tackle Hunger in America."]

Tonight, at the Stadium Club in The Meadowlands Sports & Entertainment Complex, New York Giants fans will come down from the stands and get into the game -- right alongside their favorite NFL players for a Monday night showdown against hunger.

This evening's first-ever Taste of the Giants gala officially kicks off at 7 p.m., and will showcase fine cuisine prepared by the area's finest chefs, autograph opportunities, and a behind-the-scenes tour of Giants Stadium. A silent auction -- featuring signed memorabilia, tickets to great events and other items -- will benefit ShopRite Partners In Caring, a nonprofit program that helps feed hungry people throughout the New York metropolitan area.

The Taste of the Giants benefit is presented in conjunction with ShopRite and Kraft Foods. General admission tickets are $350 each, and a limited number of VIP tickets have been sold for $500 each. The VIP ticket includes a pre-event reception with players plus an exclusive gift bag.

All proceeds will benefit the ShopRite Partners in Caring Fund, a component fund of the Community Foundation of New Jersey. ShopRite Partners In Caring is a year-round, community-based, hunger-fighting initiative that works with more than 70 food-industry manufacturers to provide $2 million annually to qualified charitable agencies in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Since its founding in 1999, ShopRite Partners In Caring has donated $13 million to more than 1,400 charities -- including emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, child care centers, battered women's shelters, senior citizen programs, drug rehab centers, programs for the mentally and physically disabled, after-school programs, and other organizations that aid those in need.

Sources: New York Giants, ShopRite Partners In Caring
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Sept. 10: NFL's Regular-Season Play Kicks Off With Cleveland Browns Taste of the NFL Celebrity Dinner

This week marks the first official week of the NFL's 2007-08 season. To help kick it off, next Monday, Sept. 10, 2007, the Cleveland Browns will host their annual Taste of the NFL [TNFL] Celebrity Dinner to raise money for the Cleveland Foodbank, which serves as a clearinghouse for donated and rescued food in the entire Cleveland area.

As we reported last January ["Cuisine Concepts at Heart of Taste of the NFL -- AKA 'Super Bowl Party...With a Purpose' -- to Tackle Hunger in America"], GoodBiz113 profilee Cuisine Concepts launched TNFL in 1992, when Minneapolis hosted Super Bowl XXVI.

Since then, the far-reaching fundraising initiative has stretched to NFL cities from coast to coast, with anuual TNFL dinners held on the eve of Super Bowl, in the host city. Throughout the year, several NFL teams also sponsor local celebrity dinners to benefit area not-for-profit groups that serve hungry and/or homeless people.

TNFL events feature the "best of the gridiron and the griddle." They provide opportunities for premier restaurants to showcase their specialties, as well as bring NFL alumni, players, coaches, team owners and civic-minded celebrities, business leaders and citizens together to help support local foodshelves.

This year's Cleveland Browns TNFL event will be held in the spectacular City View Club Lounge, in Cleveland Browns Stadium, and features a celebrity party, silent auction, wine and culinary tasting, and live entertainment provided by Run Avril Run.

Participating restaurants include:
* Blue Canyon Kitchen & Tavern
* Blue Point Grille
* Boulevard Blue
* The Cabin Club
* Delmonico's Steakhouse
* Downtown 140
* Epiq Bistro
* Fahrenheit
* Flying Fig
* John Q's Steakhouse
* Johnny's Downtown
* Levy Restaurants of the Cleveland Browns
* Metropolitan Café
* Momocho
* Moxie, the Restaurant
* One Walnut
* Paladar
* Pearl of the Orient
* Players on Madison
* Primo Vino
* Red, the Steakhouse
* Salmon Dave's Pacific Grille
* Sans Souci in The Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
* Table 45
* Three Birds
* Vivo Cleveland
* XO Prime Steaks

Monies raised from the event will go to Cleveland Foodbank, a member of America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network, which feeds America's hungry through a nationwide network of food banks and engages people in the fight to end hunger.

Cleveland Foodbank solicits donations from local and national food suppliers and manufacturers, and then distributes that food to hunger programs. In 2006, the organization distributed over 19.5 million pounds of food to more than 450 hunger programs -- which included area food pantries, hot meal programs, shelters, and other agencies, such as child-care centers and homes for the elderly. This was enough food for its member agencies to serve over 15 million meals to hungry individuals in the community.

Every dollar raised by the Cleveland Browns Taste of the NFL 2007 Celebrity Dinner will help Cleveland Foodbank provide enough food for four healthy meals. It is estimated that 50 percent of the recipients at Cleveland's local hunger centers are children and the elderly.

For tickets to the Cleveland Browns' TNFL event, phone 216.738.2046, or go online: https://www.clevelandfoodbank.org/events/tnfl.asp.

Taste of the NFL XVII will be held on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008, at the Phoenix Convention Center, on the eve of Super Bowl XLII. For information and tickets, go to: http://www.tasteofthenfl.com/.

Sources: America's Second Harvest, Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Foodbank, Taste of the NFL
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