An All-Star lineup of chefs and NFL players will mix it up on Super Bowl eve for the Taste of the NFL event, an annual fundraiser with proceeds benefiting food banks in every NFL City. Start saving now. Tickets for the Feb. 4 “Party with a Purpose,” held inside Gleaners Food Bank, run $600. Part strolling food-and-wine event and part celebrity gawk-fest, the evening features about 40 stations manned by top chefs from NFL cities around the country and players representing each of their teams.
The Teams
Baltimore Ravens: Chef Nancy Longo of Pierpoint Restaurant & Catering … with Ravens placekicker Billy Cundiff
Chicago Bears: James Beard award-winning chef Carrie Nahabedian of Naha … with former American football cornerback/safety Shaun Gayle
Cincinnati Bengals: Jean-Robert De Cavel of Jean-Robert’s Table, a chef whose ventures have been listed as one of the Top 75 New Restaurants in the world by Conde Nast Traveler and awarded four stars by the Mobil Travel Guide and four diamonds by AAA … with former Bengal Dave Lapham
Cleveland Browns: Chef Rocco Whalen of Fahrenheit … with Al “Bubba” Baker.
Dallas Cowboys: Chef Kent Rathbun of Jasper’s, named one of Esquire‘s Top 20 Best New Restaurants in America … with former defensive lineman Chad Hennings
Denver Broncos: Chef Troy Guard, named one of the “Great Regional Chefs of America” by the James Beard Foundation, of TAG … with ormer Bronco’s captain Karl Mecklenburg
Detroit Lions: Chef Brian Polcyn of The Forest Grill … with 1973-75 defensive back Jim Thrower
Green Bay Packers: Chef Sanford D’Amato of Sanford Restaurant … with Donny Anderson
Indianapolis Colts: Chef Greg Hardesty of Recess and Room Four (yay!) … with Ken Dilger (woot!)
Kansas City Chiefs: Debbie Gold, the James Beard-winning chef at American Restaurant … with Bobby Bell
Miami Dolphins: Chef Allen Susser of Chef Allen’s … with Dick Anderson
Minnesota Vikings: Lynne Hackman of the Franklin Street Bakery … with Randall McDaniel
New York Jets: Chef Shin Tsujimura of Nobu Fifty Seven … with three-time Pro Bowler Freeman McNeil
Oakland Raiders: Chef Josh Thomsen of Meritage at the Claremont … with Pete Banaszak
Philadelphia Eagles: Chef Jack McDavid of Jack’s Firehouse … with Jerry Sisemore
Pittsburgh Steelers: Chef Anthony Zallo of Bigelow Grille … with Andy Russell
San Diego Chargers: Chef Jonathan Hale of The Prado at Balboa Park … with Willie Buchanon
St. Louis Rams: Chef Bill Cardwell of Cardwell’s at the Plaza … with Jack Youngblood
Tampa Buccaneers: Chef Marty Blitz of Mise En Place … with Scot Brantley
Tennessee Titans: Chef Brian Uhl of Sunset Grill … with Marcus Robertson
Washington Redskins: Chef Jeffrey “JG” Gaetjen of Kinkead’s … with Brig Owens
