Riverwood Students Take Part In Super Bowl's Taste Of The NFL

SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- Riverwood International Charter School sent 20 culinary arts students, along with Riverwood’s Chef Elissa Oliver, to the 2019 “Taste of the NFL” held during Super Bowl weekend. On Saturday, February 2, Taste of the NFL hosted its 28th Annual Party with a Purpose at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. The annual strolling food and wine fundraising event brings together exceptional cuisine, celebrities, NFL players and alumni, and more, to help fight hunger in the United States.

Party with a Purpose donated this year’s proceeds to the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Headlining the event was the award-winning TV personality, chef, writer, and teacher, Andrew Zimmerman.

Invited by the Hospitality Education Foundation of Georgia, the Riverwood Culinary Arts students were one of only 10 local high schools asked to participate in this year’s Taste of the NFL.

The Hospitality Education Foundation of Georgia is dedicated to providing direct support
for the education of hospitality and food service students. The Foundation facilitates industry
experiences and connecting the classroom with industry professionals and resources.

The students worked among 32 top chefs from across the country, including Atlanta’s own
Kevin Rathbun of Rathbun’s Restaurants. In addition to the student helpers, each of the 32
chefs had current or alumni NFL players assigned to their group. On Saturday, the student
apprentices worked a 16-hour day prepping and feeding guests.

Student Chef Elijah Kirby said, “The Taste of the NFL was a great opportunity and a rare experience for high school culinary students. I enjoyed learning new things from professional chefs from all around the country.”

The 32 chef-led teams created 43 different dishes. Some of the dishes created were treats such as Handmade Basil Cavatelli; Davio's Sausage; Butternut Squash and Lemon Butter and Crisp California Lamb Belly; Heirloom Beans; and a Herb Salad with Pecorino. Rathbun, the Atlanta Falcons Chef, prepared Roasted NY Strip with Truffled Parsnips and Smoked Garlic Jus.

Student Chef Alex Garcia added, “This was an eye-opening experience about how much food, time, and thought goes into catering to 2,500 people. This amazing event was very hands-on and also it was nice knowing it was all for a great cause: to kick hunger!”

For the Riverwood students, the Taste of the NFL encompassed much more than the Saturday event. On the Thursday before the Super Bowl, the culinary arts students helped set up for the event at the Cobb Galleria. Being able to take part in the beginning of the event was a meaningful exposure to logistics, planning and organization. On Friday, the students toured and volunteered at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, the beneficiary of the fundraiser.

Oliver, Riverwood’s Culinary Arts Department Chair, said, “This was a once in a lifetime experience. The Super Bowl being in Atlanta brought so many opportunities for the Riverwood Culinary students. I could not be prouder of my students and what they were able to achieve and experience.”