Ultimate Cowboys Tailgate Party at Glass Cactus in Grapevine on April 19 draws two dozen chefs

by PegNews wire

Foodies and pigskin fans will party with a purpose when Dallas Cowboys and top restaurant chefs team up for the area’s best off-season cookout - - Taste of the NFL: The Ultimate Cowboys Tailgate Party - - benefiting the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB). The fifth-annual event, hosted with Abacus and presented by Lockheed Martin, touches down Sunday, April 19 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Glass Cactus in Grapevine.

This year’s Tailgate Party includes 25 gourmet food stations; a spirited evening of live music by headliner Emerald City and a VIP set performed by Free Reign featuring Cowboys Offensive Linemen Marc Colombo, Cory Procter and Leonard Davis; silent auction bidding and raffles featuring great escape packages, one-of-a-kind memorabilia and a showcase piece by Tiffany & Co.; in addition to celebrity Cowboys guests and appearances by Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Proceeds raised specifically support the NTFB’s child feeding programs including, Food 4 Kids backpack and Kids Cafe programs, which aim to tackle childhood hunger here in North Texas. Event tickets are available online at www.ntfb.org or by calling 214.431.4683 for the purchase price of $125/single or $225/pair, while supplies last.

“This fun-filled evening has become a springtime tradition for foodies and sports fans alike, and we extend our gratitude to Dallas Cowboys DeMarcus Ware and Marcus Spears, football legend Preston Pearson, Kent Rathbun and Abacus, along with all the chefs and sponsors who have embraced our cause at a time of increased need when many local families are relying on our services for the first time ever,” said Jan Pruitt, President and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank.

This year’s group is taking time out from their own kitchens to give back to a good cause. They include: Kent Rathbun – Abacus; Annika Sacher – Jasper’s; David Bull – Bolla; Laurel Wimberg – Craft; Tim Love – Lonesome Dove; TJ Lengnick – Shinsei; David Holben – Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House; James Williams – North Texas Food Bank; Gilbert Garza – Suze; Travis Henderson – Perry’s; Samir Dhurandhar – Nick & Sam’s; Vilmar Zenzen – Fogo de Chao; Chef Jerome – Cooking with Rome; Jon Bonnell – Bonnell’s Restaurant; Anthony Bombaci – Nana; Jim Severson – Sevy’s; Ryan Coffey – Frosted Art Bakery; Ty Thoren – Gaylord Texan Resort; Joanne Bondy – Old Hickory Steakhouse at the Gaylord Texan; Gustavo Ibarra – Morton’s; Amador Mora – Maximo’s; Stephen DeSandro – The Londoner; Daniel Winans – The Grill on the Alley; Tiffany Derry – Go Fish Ocean Club

The NTFB’s Food 4 Kids program provides backpacks full of nutritious food to chronically hungry children identified by local schools each semester, and will expand into the summer to sustain roughly 1,250 youth per week. The Food Bank will additionally operate 22 Kids Cafes during June, July and August serving approximately 2,500 kids 3-5 days a week through camps and programs in at-risk areas. More families will also rely on food pantries to help feed their children in the summer. But work remains to be done. According to a recent USDA study, Texas and New Mexico lead the nation in children who are food insecure, meaning they are without consistent access to nutrition. The NTFB and its Member Agencies have seen a 35% increase in demand for food over the last 3 months.

Please visit the NTFB’s Web site for additional event information, to learn more about the nonprofit’s programs serving children or to see how you can make a difference today. For every dollar donated, the Food Bank is able to provide four meals.

Source: NTFB