Editor's note: The following sponsored content was provided by the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation. For more information and tickets, click here.
This fall marks the 20th anniversary of the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation Food & Wine Experience, serving and pouring deliciousness for a great cause on Nov. 3-4 at The Pfister Hotel and The Wisconsin Club. Here are 20 reasons why you'll love the event:
1. Serving scrumptious bites and drinks for 20 years
Every year the event has grown and evolved to bring the best atmosphere to its guests while raising money for the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation’s mission: prevent cancer, provide the best care to those fighting it and find a cure.
2. Event co-chairs with generational ties
Trace Tendick and Fuzzy Marek, the co-chairs of the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation Food & Wine Experience, have generational ties. Their families have overseen the event for the last 20 years, emphasizing how special the Milwaukee community is and how it helps those who need it, such as cancer patients.
3. Back-to-back nights of fun
There is too much fun – and too much food – to fit into just one night! Friday will host the Food & Wine Tasting Experience at The Pfister Hotel, where guests can enjoy a delicious selection of award-winning dishes from Milwaukee's best restaurants, paired with an array of wines, signature cocktails and craft beer. Saturday will then showcase the Celebrity Chef and Wine Dinner at The Wisconsin Club, featuring a five-course meal prepared by world-class chefs and paired with the perfect wine for each course.
4. Be wined and dined for a great cause
If you need another reason to attend this exciting event, know your mere attendance is helping children and adults in the fight against cancer. The proceeds from both Friday and Saturday's events are used to help the fight against cancer and reduce the number of losses to cancer each year across the entire United States.
5. Make friends and connections
The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation Food & Wine Experience is a great place to meet other likeminded individuals. You’ll be sure to have great conversations with your fellow guests having fun attending both nights in the fight against cancer.
6. Knock out cancer with the punch-out cancer wall
Get excited for the punch-out cancer wall, exclusively at the Friday night Tasting Experience! Take a gamble at winning a mystery wine with this fun giveaway game, where you will punch a hole in the “Punch-out Cancer Wall.” Guests who participate will be surprised with a select bottle from wineries around the nation or a gift card to a local restaurant, all depending on which hole they choose to punch.
7. Try food from around the world
Discover unique flavors and expand your food palates with cuisines from around the world. The food and wine offered on night one at the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation Tasting Experience gives attendees an amazing opportunity to sample new and delicious foods and wines.
8. Add to your list of Milwaukee favorites
Looking for a new local restaurant for date night? The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation Tasting Experience can help introduce you to fresh options for evenings beyond the event! Many award-winning dishes from local chefs and restuarants will be served and paired with wine – so take note of your favorites and check out the restaurants later this year.
9. Twice as nice with two chefs this year
For the first time, Saturday's Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation Celebrity Chef and Wine Dinner will feature two chefs! Chef Patrick O’Halloran and Chef Luke Zahm are combining their culinary excellence to create a five-course Italian meal for guests. The two chefs worked together previously at the famous Lombardino’s in Madison, and their specialties make them one of the best chef duos to appear at a Food & Wine event.
10. Learn 20 new recipes from top chefs
Every attendee at this year’s Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation Food & Wine Experience will receive a copy of the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation Food & Wine Experience Recipe Collection, created to celebrate 20 years of the event. The cookbook features 20 recipes from celebrity chefs, vintners and cheesemakers who have been at the event over the past two decades.
11. Become an expert in pasta dishes
The cookbook features several different pasta and grain recipes from renowned chefs across the U.S. Impress your family and friends with delicious meals that everyone will love! It will look so impressive, you’ll want to snap a picture to share online too.
12. Learn to make crab cakes from the Northeast
Chef Nancy Longo, one of the featured celebrity chefs from the 2014 Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation Food & Wine Experience, will provide step-by-step instruction on making Maryland crab cakes. Wow your friends with your seafood expertise by making this recipe from the cookbook.
13. Meat lovers won’t want to miss this
For the carnivores out there, steak, beef tenderloin, lamb and more juicy, delicious recipes are included in this special cookbook. You can also learn the background and location information of the chefs included to try their recipes firsthand.
14. The legacy of Vince Lombardi
Coach Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers was diagnosed with an aggressive form of colon cancer in June 1970, and he died just 10 weeks later on Sept. 3 at the age of 57. He was known for his ability to teach, motivate and inspire players, helping turn the Green Bay Packers into a dominating NFL team in the 1960s – including winning five NFL Championships and two Super Bowl victories. In honor of his legacy, the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation was established, working to prevent cancer, provide the best care to those fighting it and find a cure. Lombardi’s impact has inspired and helped millions.
15. Say cheese!
The featured cheesemaker at the Celebrity Chef & Wine Dinner on Saturday this year comes from Sartori Cheese, based in Plymouth, Wisconsin. Delicious cheese samples will be provided with your meal, getting the dinner started with a local highlight.
16. Wine served on a big wheel bicycle
Just to keep you on your toes, a woman on a very tall bicycle will pedal around serving more wine to attendees on Friday evening. What a fun way to get a refill!
17. Grants for good
The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation awards grants to those who are continuing their mission, such as research teams. Meet some of the grant recipients and hear the good they are doing in the fight against cancer at the 20th Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation Food & Wine Experience!
18. Those cars in the ballroom
On Friday, the event’s presenting sponsors, Lexus of Milwaukee and Lexus of Brookfield, will display cars in the ballroom for guests to admire – and wonder, "How did they get the cars all the way up there on the seventh floor of The Pfister Hotel?"
19. It’s easy to buy tickets!
Tickets will go fast! Be sure to visit www.lombardifoundation.org/food-wine to get your tickets before they're all gone!
20. A '20s theme for the 20th anniversary
The best way to top off all the exciting food and festivities at this year's event is a good theme! This year’s event will have a 1920s theme in honor of the 20th anniversary – complete with a speakeasy experience on Friday and a prize for best dressed on Saturday.
With a full menu of great food, great drink, great company and a great cause, we'll see you at the 20th Annual Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation Food & Wine Experience on Nov. 3-4! For more information, click here.
