Professional football players, area residents and the foodbank are teaming up to sack hunger at the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the Second Annual Taste of the NFL, Sept. 29, 5:30-9 p.m.
The game plan couldn’t come at a better time.
“This event raises money to help many people in need,” said Dan Flowers, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank president and CEO. “Community support is essential to continue to meet the rising demand for emergency food.”
Taste of the NFL is a night of food, fun and football to raise funds to support hunger relief efforts in northeast Ohio. The event includes tastings of fine cuisine from local restaurants and beverages from local and national wineries and breweries.
Attendees select their favorite signature dish from one of the 13 restaurants represented.
Last year Chef Brandt Evans from the Blue Canyon Kitchen and Tavern was selected as a Taste of the NFL favorite. As a Grand Champion chef, he will travel to Tampa to compete at the National Taste of the NFL at the Super Bowl.
“The reason I’m involved in the Taste of the NFL is because of the good job the Akron Regional Foodbank does,” said Evans, who is not only the executive chef but also co-owner of the Blue Canyon and Tavern.
“Being a chef, I’m around food every day. What the Foodbank does with its resources is superb,” said Evans. “I don’t take food or the Foodbank for granted. There are people who are hungry and this event brings awareness that people here are starving. I’m paying it forward by being involved in this event.”
Evans will be joined at the Taste of the NFL by restaurants, wineries and breweries, including 91 Wood Fired Oven, Bistro On Main, Chocolate Mischief, Chronicles Restaurant and Blue Olive Jazz Club, Davis Candies, Fedeli Restaurant, The Galaxy Restaurant, Georgio’s Grille, Grape and Granary, The Harbor Inn, Iris Restaurant, Main Street Gourmet, Meeker Wines distributed by Esber Beverage, Ohio Brewing Company, Or Derv Foods Inc., PepsiAmericas, Peter Shear’s Downtown, Perennial Vineyards, Robert J. Events and Catering, Three Brothers Corner Tavern, VegiTerranean and The Winery at Wolf Creek.
Joining the team against hunger will be 10 Hall of Fame enshrinees, including Cleveland Browns legends Leroy Kelly and Joe DeLamielleure and 2009 Hall of Fame inductee Randall McDaniel, Lem Barney, Bobby Bell, Larry Little, Tom Mack, Mel Renfro, Kellen Winslow, Jr. and Jack Youngblood. The Hall of Famers will greet guests at the Taste of the NFL.
A silent auction features many local and national packages including a trip to The Meeker Vineyard in California. Last year the silent auction featured items from fine jewelry to autographed sports memorabilia.
Tickets are $150 for general admission and $250 for VIP Locker Room. Tickets can be ordered at www.akroncantonfoodbank.org or by calling
330-535-6900.
Proceeds will benefit hunger-relief efforts provided at the Foodbank.
The Foodbank is distributing record amounts of food in 2009 in response to increased demand due to the struggling economy and high unemployment. Services are being provided to more than 400 community agencies for the first time in the history of the Foodbank.
The Foodbank also reports that in 2009 families with children who are receiving food at food pantries in the eight-county service area has increased by 19 percent over last year. Economic circumstances are causing many people to seek emergency food assistance for the first time.
Support from the community for this event is critical to helping meet the needs of the hungry in Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties.
