NFL Legends and Local Chefs to Compete at John Offerdahl’s Broward Health® Gridiron Grill-Off

grill-off-winners-2015The seventh annual “John Offerdahl’s Broward Health® Gridiron Grill-Off Food & Wine Festival,” is set for Saturday, November 12 from 1 – 4 p.m. at the Pompano Beach Amphitheater, and 100 percent of net proceeds from the event will benefit Offerdahl’s Hand-Off Foundation and its mission to “Feed the Needs of Kids in Crisis.” Charitable recipients include 4KIDS of South Florida, HOPE South Florida, Here’s Help, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Miami Dolphins Foundation and Taste of the NFL.

First time participating restaurants added this year include Red Cow, Boatyard and Hard Rock Cafe, plus Miami Dolphins legends Chris Chambers, Scott Mitchell and Terry Kirby.

“We’re thrilled to host our seventh annual Gridiron Grill-Off and each year it only gets better by welcoming new restaurants and Miami Dolphins legends,” said John Offerdahl, event founder and former Miami Dolphins All-Pro Linebacker. “This event is a labor of love and we can’t wait for our fans to indulge in great food, football and fun.”

How it works

The Grill-Off teams, comprised of NFL legends and acclaimed chefs, will serve up innovative grilled entrees paired with premium Kendall-Jackson wines to nearly 3,000 foodies. The teams will vie for the 2016 Judge’s Choice and Fan Favorite awards. Past award-winning dishes include Grilled Spanish Octopus, Grilled Cobia Fish Tacos, Bacon & Bleu Rib-Eye, Espresso and Chocolate Crusted Filet Mignon and Key West Shrimp Tacos.

Gridiron Grill-OffIn addition to sampling great food and drinks, Grill-Off guests will enjoy live entertainment, a silent auction, the Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey Tailgate Challenge and the cornhole competition in the Toyota Cornhole Stadium and Festival Stage. Also, guests can enjoy the Sustainable Seafood Village presented by the Alabama Marine Resources Division, which will include eco-friendly dishes from Dauphins of Mobile, Alabama, and local favorites S3 and McCoy’s Oceanfront.

About John Offerdahl

Five-time All-Pro Miami Dolphins Linebacker John Offerdahl created the Gridiron Grill-Off Food, Wine & Tailgate Festival in 2010 to integrate his love for grilling and football with his passion for helping kids in crisis. For more than a decade, John has operated the ever-popular Offerdahl’s Café Grill, a quick-casual restaurant specializing in just-grilled steak, chicken, salmon & shrimp on salads, sandwiches and entrees topped with John’s signature dressings & sauces.

The idea for the Grill-Off came after he attended a Lifework Leadership class hosted by the National Christian Foundation that caused him to consider two questions: What is my significance, and how can I leverage what I do for eternal gain? He decided to use his talents to serve.

“We have an opportunity to bring two industries together – the restaurant and hotel industry with NFL football – to generate funds for faith-based agencies working alongside government to help fragmented families in our community,” Offerdahl said.

Having started his restaurant career as the “bagel boy” with the founding of Einstein Bagels, John is now matured into the “grill guy” or more aptly, the “Gridiron Griller.” He and his wife, Lynn, give back to the community through Offerdahl’s Hand-Off Foundation and its mission to “Feed the Needs of Kids in Crisis.”

Gridiron Grill-OffWho benefits

Since its inception, this effort has raised more than $100,000 for its charity partners, which “feed the needs of kids in crisis.”

Hope South Florida, a non-profit organization serving homeless families in Broward County by providing housing, mentoring relationships and community one-stop service centers, receives proceeds to instill hope in the homeless.

Modern-day orphans benefit from proceeds donated to 4KIDS of South Florida, which is dedicated to finding loving homes for kids who have been removed from their families due to abuse or neglect.

Funds are given so students receive scholarships to pursue careers in the culinary arts and hospitality industries through the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association Educational Foundation.

The Taste of the NFL uses its funds to raise money in support of food banks throughout the United States. Some proceeds benefit Feeding South Florida, a leading domestic hunger relief organization.

Offerdahl’s Hand-Off Foundation also supports Here’s Help, a provider of residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment for adolescents and young adults in Miami-Dade County, and the Miami Dolphins Foundation, devoted to supporting youth athletic programs and volunteer activities.

The $85 Grand Grill-Off ticket will give attendees, 21 and older, the opportunity to sample delicious signature dishes created by Miami Dolphins legends and top local chefs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The $125 VIP ticket package will include early access into the Grand Grill-Off starting at noon and the $200 LUXE ticket package provides one-hour early access, an exclusive meet-and-greet with John Offerdahl, access to the Sponsor Suite and an autographed football by JohnOfferdahl.

To find out more and to purchase tickets, visit www.gridirongrilloff.com.

For more articles by Shelly Pond, please visit goodnewsfl.org/author/shelly/

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