According to NOLA.com, Taste of the NFL Chef "Tory McPhail of Commander’s Palace is the latest Louisiana chef to take home a James Beard Foundation medallion. On Monday, May 6, McPhail was named Best Chef: South at the foundation’s ceremony in New York City." 

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Congrats to fans of the Seattle Seahawks who led their team to victory in the Kick Hunger Challenge® — an online fundraiser that pit fans from all 32 NFL teams against each other in a “friendly competition” throughout the NFL season to raise money for food banks in NFL communities nationwide. 

The Seahawks’ Kick Hunger Challenge team was led by Taste of the NFL chef representative John Howie of Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar and Craig Terrill, defensive tackle for the Seahawks. Together with fans, they raised $33,000 for Food Lifeline, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending hunger in Western Washington. As champions of the Kick Hunger Challenge, the Seattle team will receive an additional $10,000 to share with Food Lifeline for a grand total donation of $44,000.

Rounding out the top three, the New England Patriots raised $19,300 to come in second place and the Atlanta Falcons came in third with $15,250. Thanks to all who participated in the Kick Hunger Challenge and stay tuned for the 2013-14 kick-off in September!

Greater New Orleans Times-Picayune food editor, Judy Walker, enjoys the Taste of the NFL's Party with a Purpose on Saturday, February 2nd in New Orleans, on the eve of Super Bowl XLVII. Watch as she samples food from some of the finest chefs in the country and catches up with  James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, food writer, teacher and author and evening's culinary host, Andrew Zimmern. Click to read the entire story.

Taste of the NFL is excited to announce that two stars from TLC’s hit show Cake Boss will be part of its 22nd annual “Party with a Purpose” taking place Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. 

Joey Faugno, head master baker, and Mauro Castano, pastry chef, are both part of the big Italian family working at Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey, and regulars on Cake Boss. They will be onsite at the event to serve their signature specialties from Carlo’s and unveil an original cake creation for the event. We can’t wait to see what they come up with!

The draft is complete! Taste of the NFL is proud to announce its full team of chefs and players who will be participating in the 22nd Party with a Purpose® in New Orleans—including eleven Pro Football Hall of Fame players and several world-renowned chefs. 

“We are extremely proud of the Taste of the NFL team we have drafted for this year’s event, including several Pro Football Hall of Fame players and current NFL players who will be paired with an unsurpassed lineup of chefs representing the best restaurants from NFL cities nationwide,” said Wayne Kostroski, founder of Taste of the NFL. “Our Super Bowl party will be the best restaurant in town on Feb. 2 and give guests the opportunity to mix and mingle with some of the greatest players in the history of the NFL.” 

 For more information, click here.

According to the USDA, 16.7 million children under the age of 18 in the United States do not have access to enough nutritious food to lead a healthy life. As proper nutrition is vital to the growth and development of children, Taste of the NFL and Fuel Up to Play 60 want to ensure kids get the healthy foods they need to grow and be their best. Several NFL players—Christian Ponder of the Minnesota Vikings, Jason Hanson of the Detroit Lions, Matt Birk (Taste of the NFL Board Member) of the Baltimore Ravens, Nick Mangold of the New York Jets and Randall McDaniel former player for the Minnesota Vikings—have created Public Service Announcements encouraging their fellow NFL players and fans to help make sure kids get the nutrition they need to learn and play at their best.

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NFL fans can be MVPs in fight against hunger this holiday season.

MINNEAPOLIS (Nov. 20, 2012) – As Americans get ready to enjoy some food and football this Thanksgiving, Taste of the NFL reminds NFL fans there is a simple and fun way to cheer on their favorite team and help others who may not know where their next meal is coming from. The Kick Hunger Challenge,® an online fundraiser, pits fans from all 32 NFL teams against each other in a “friendly competition” to raise money for food banks in NFL communities nationwide.

Click, give, score. By simply logging on to www.KickHungerChallenge.com, fans can make a donation of any size in the name of their favorite team and 100 percent of proceeds will go to the food bank in the team’s community. The Kick Hunger Challenge Champion will be announced during Super Bowl week and the food bank of the winning team will receive a donation match up to $10,000.

Please click here to join the Kick Hunger Challenge>>

Steve Grogan was drafted in the fifth round (116th overall) of the 1975 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. He remained with the Patriots for his entire NFL career, 16 seasons, and is still ranked as the third best quarterback in franchise history in passing yards and passing touchdowns. This is his first year representing the Patriots for the Taste of the NFL and he will be appearing alongside chef Steve DiFillippo of Davio’s in Boston. Since Steve is new to TNFL, here’s a chance to get to know more about him: 

Q: What have you been up to following your football career?
A: I have owned and operated a wholesale/retail sporting goods business for the last 18 years. We sell equipment and uniforms to colleges, high schools, and youth leagues in southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Q: Which NFL team did you grow up cheering for?
A: The Kansas City Chiefs. I grew up about an hour south of Kansas City.

Q: Which teams have a shot at making it to the Super Bowl this year?
A: There are too many to say right now. If I had to pick, I would say Atlanta and New England.

Q: After completing such a successful career as a QB, do you have a favorite current NFL QB?
A: Tom Brady of course.

Q: Which rookie QB has impressed you the most this season?
A: Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III have both been impressive.

Q: Can you think of a significant way the game has changed since you were in the NFL?
A: There is a lot more passing now than when I played.

Q: How did you get involved with Taste of the NFL?
A: Gino Cappelletti had been doing it for years. He has decided to retire from it and recommended me.

Q: What will you enjoy the most about being involved with Taste of the NFL?
A: Since it is my first year, I am not sure yet. Helping the food banks is a good cause though and a good reason to be involved.

Q: Why should fans attend Taste of the NFL in New Orleans this year?
A: From what I’ve been told, there is lots of great food, former players, and it would really help the food banks in all the NFL cities.

The Taste of the NFL team was in New Orleans this week to kick off a season of hunger relief efforts!

Together with Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, Taste of the NFL held a special event to feed 100 children a hot meal at NFL Youth Education Town (NFL YET). NFL YET is one of several recreational centers nationwide operated by the Boys and Girls Club of America on behalf of the NFL that provides after-school activities for school-age children.

NFL YET students were treated to a special menu created by Chef Tory McPhail of Commander’s Palace, who is also Taste of the NFL’s chef representative for the New Orleans Saints, and Chef Keith Faulkner of Second Harvest. The event also included guest appearances by New Orleans’ Saints’ linebacker Jonathon Casillas, former wide receiver Michael Lewis and the Saints’ mascots Gumbo and Sir Saint.

Earlier in the day, Chef Tory and Chef Keith worked alongside culinary students from Delgado Community College to prepare the kids meals in Second Harvest’s kitchen facility. The group also packaged meals for Second Harvest’s Kids Café program which provides more 1,500 meals each weekday to kids who may not have access to enough food at home.

Photo Credit: Kathy Anderson