Taste of the NFL partnered with the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce to raise awareness and funds for hunger relief in Indiana. The Chamber helped get the word out to its members through emails, newsletters and their website -- and through a special outreach effort of the Chamber's sales staff. The result? Corporate tables for Taste of the NFL 2012 sold out in record time! Taste of the NFL was pleased to welcome the Indy Chamber to its February 4 gala, including communications staffer Cara Klaer who reported on the event in this great video news story. Proceeds from the event benefit Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, a member of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce.

See this clip from NBC’s TODAY show featuring Taste of the NFL chefs from the two Super Bowl teams cooking up their game-day favorites live from Super Bowl village in Indy. Stephen Lewandowski of Tribeca Grill (NYC) represents the New York Giants and Steve DiFillippo of Davio’s (Boston) represents the New England Patriots.

The hosts of TODAY and Weekend TODAY stopped by Taste of the NFL’s 21st Annual Party with a Purpose on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. Check out this fun video of Ann Curry, Al Roker, Natalie Morales and Savannah Guthrie from our event!

More than 3,000 guests attended Taste of the NFL’s Party with a Purpose on Saturday, Feb. 4, the eve of Super Bowl XLVI, to help raise money for food banks in NFL cities nationwide.

Special thanks to the individuals who helped make our event a success including National Honorary Chairperson Tony Dungy, Culinary Host Ted Allen, Miss America Laura Kaeppeler, Joey Faugno and Mauro Castano of TLC’s Cake Boss and Sara Evans as well as the generosity of our supportive sponsors.

Taste of the NFL could not have chosen a more meaningful venue for this year’s event. Thank you to Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana for giving our guests the opportunity to see firsthand the important role of a food bank within a community, while experiencing one of Super Bowl’s premier events.

Please click here to view more photos from this year's event.

If you missed our party, you can still contribute to the Kick Hunger Challenge until February 10th, 2012! 

In this Good Morning America video, Miss America judges Super Bowl sandwiches from celebrity chefs:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/super-bowl-recipe-rivals-york-boston-15505821

Taste of the NFL was on the Field at Lucas Oil Stadium for Super Bowl XLVI Media Day. Celebrities, Super Bowl team members and Indy notables helped promote the Kick Hunger Challenge and the Taste of the NFL's strolling food and wine event, coming up on February 4. Take a look!

Get ready for Super Bowl XLVI with the 2012 Taste of the NFL Indianapolis. Chef Greg Hardesty of Recess and Room Four restaurants and former Colts player Ken Dilger. Greg and Ken  talk about their involvement in Taste of the NFL and the upcoming Taste of the NFL “A Party With a Purpose®.” Brought to you by IndyStyle TV and WISH TV.

While all eyes are on Indy for Super Bowl XLVI, next year’s Super Bowl will take place in New Orleans. We recently had the chance to talk with a new member of our roster, Morten Andersen who is a former kicker for the New Orleans Saints. He will appear alongside Tory McPhail of Commander’s Palace at the Saints’ station at this year’s event.

Q: What are you looking forward to in Indy?

A: Great food and great company with everyone for a great cause.

Q: Why do you participate in the Taste of the NFL?

A: Opportunity to network and help others at the same time. It is a win/win!

Q: Since the Saints are out of the Super Bowl this year, who are you cheering for?

A: I played for Giants in 2001 so I'm hoping that the Mara and Tisch families get the Lombardi Trophy.

Q: Why should someone come to the Taste of the NFL?

A: To make a difference in someone else’s life while having a great time with like-minded people.

Q: With the Super Bowl headed to New Orleans next year, what do you want people/fans to know about New Orleans? Why is this a good venue for Super Bowl?

A: The city is unique in that it is equipped to host large events. Frankly, it is used to it, and it is what it does best. Hotels, Superdome, restaurants, entertainment all centered around downtown makes it easy for fans to navigate. The addition of the allure of the French Quarter and the Mississippi River makes New Orleans the perfect host city for S.B.

The people of N.O understand that tourism is a vital component/ revenue stream for the city and they bring their passion and love for good food, drink, music and culture to everyone visiting.

Q: Where are your favorite spots to hang out?

A: Commander's Palace of course! Also, Irene's, Impastato’s Restaurant, Port O' Call, Vick's Bar and so many other great places too numerous to mention.

"What's the Juice" is the nation's first and only "wine talk" radio show

Learn more about Taste of the NFL in a lively "What's the Juice" radio interview with premier sponsor and Taste of the NFL board member Gina Gallo. You'll enjoy Gina and host Brad Dunn's conversation about hunger in America, E. & J. Gallo's commitment to hunger relief and the selection of exciting Gallo wines for the annual Taste of the NFL gala. Gina also shares some history of the legendary E. & J. Gallo Winery, the details of her new line of signature wines, and how we can all make a difference in our own communities.

Listen to the interview here.

As a San Francisco 49ers fan, Gina reminds us to support hunger relief on behalf of our favorite NFL teams at www.KickHungerChallenge.com.

We recently caught up with Greg Hardesty of Recess and Room Four and chef representative for the Indianapolis Colts at Taste of the NFL. Here's what he had to say:

Q: How long have you been with Taste of the NFL?

A: This will be my sixth year.

Q: What is your most memorable moment from participating in Taste of the NFL?

A: My first year participating was also the year the Colts won the Super Bowl. It was obviously a great weekend and the fact that I even got to rock with Styx at the TNFL event was pretty cool. ("Grand Illusion" was the first album I ever bought.)

Q: What do you want visitors to know about Indy?

A: Indy is a great young city that continues to grow and become more vibrant. Besides downtown, look for the cool pockets of the city like Broad Ripple, Fountain Square, Mass Ave and Lafayette Corridor. This is where all the history and neighborhood joints are located.

Q: What is it like to cook for 3,000 guests?

A: It’s a lot like cooking for 75 or 80 guests. It’s all about preparation and execution.

Q: Sorry, about your Colts. Will you still watch on game day?

A: Football. Friends. Beer. Fried Food.......yeah, I'll be tuned in.

Q: What will you be eating on game day?

A. See previous answer.

Q. Why should someone come to the Taste of the NFL?

A: It’s the best and easiest money you'll ever spend. When you walk in and see the set-up and feel the energy, you have no choice but relax and enjoy. I have yet to see a chef, player, volunteer or TNFL staffer who wasn't completely and totally invested in the evening. It’s a group of people celebrating their talents and passions together, all for the good of our friends and neighbors who are in need. It is truly a magical event.

Please click here to see Greg's interview on FOX 59 Morning: http://www.fox59.com/news/morningnews/

Taste of the NFL announces that 2008 2x Olympic Gold Medalist LaShawn Merritt will attend the 21st Annual Party with a Purpose® on February 4, 2012 in Indianapolis, IN.

Merritt is a USA Track & Field sprinter, Team NIKE athlete and reining world champion of the 400M race after winning a Gold Medal at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. One of the fastest men in the world, Merritt holds the #1 World-Leading time in the 400M for 2011.

Merritt is a native of Portsmouth, Virginia where he graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. He spent one year as a college athlete at East Carolina University and signed an endorsement contract with Nike during his first season of indoor track, elevating him to compete professionally above the NCAA level against the world’s top athletes.

Prior to the 400M final at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka, Merritt stated his intent to beat all-comers. He achieved his first sub-44 second run, finishing in 43.96, and beat 2000 Olympic champion, Angelo Taylor, to the line. However, this was not enough to beat the reigning World and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner, who was half a second ahead. Nevertheless, the silver medal was Merritt's first at a global championship event.

Merritt's Olympics success during the 2008 season was distinguished by a considerable rivalry with Wariner, who had won the 400M at every major global championship since 2004. Merritt went on to win the gold medal in the 400M at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. A close race between Merritt and Wariner was expected, though it ultimately ended in a rout. The 0.99 second margin between Merritt's first-place finish and Wariner's second-place finish was the largest in an Olympic 400 m final. His time of 43.75, a new personal best, made him the fifth fastest 400M runner on the all-time lists. He teamed up with Wariner, Angelo Taylor and 400M bronze medalist David Neville for the men's 4×400M relay. The team defeated the Olympic record mark which had stood since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics by running a time of 2:55.39, the second fastest in the history of the event.

In April 2010, Merritt’s career took an unexpected turn. At the height of his Olympic success and a flawless 2009 season, Merritt accepted a 2-year ban from track and field, but used his time wisely to do nothing but train and stay healthy in preparation for his return.

In September 2011, Merritt was cleared to compete as his ban was lifted. This also meant he would be able to defend his gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. At the 2011 World Championship games, Merritt set a world leading time of 44.35 in only his second race back to track and field. He went on to win the silver medal at the World Championship which was similar to his 2007 season in which he won silver at World then went on to win gold at the following 2008 Olympics.

Merritt is currently training for the 2012 Outdoor track and field season and the 2012 Summer Olympic Games to be held in London, England.

For more information on LaShawn Merritt, visit http://LaShawnMerrittUSA.com and follow him on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/LaShawnMerritt