The road to Super Bowl LX has reached its final destination, and the stage is set for a historic showdown at Levi’s Stadium. A massive congratulations is in order for the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, who have battled through a grueling season to earn their spots in the championship game. This matchup is a thrilling throwback to their classic encounter, but this time, the energy of the Bay Area will provide a fresh and vibrant backdrop. While the excitement on the field is reaching a fever pitch, the true spirit of the weekend extends far beyond the end zone. The goal of the festivities is to enjoy the world-class fusion of sport and community that defines the Taste of the NFL (TONFL), an event that proves the power of football can be harnessed to change lives off the field.
As Super Bowl LX’s largest philanthropic event, Taste of the NFL is much more than a pre-game party; it is a mission-driven culinary adventure. Taking place on February 7, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PST at the historic Hibernia in San Francisco, the evening is dedicated to supporting GENYOUth. This national nonprofit is at the forefront of the fight to end student hunger and foster nutrition security across America. With one in five children in the U.S. facing food insecurity, the funds raised during this star-studded evening provide a vital lifeline, ensuring that the only hunger a child feels is the hunger to learn. This landmark event transforms Super Bowl LX Weekend into an opportunity for impact, where food and football fans are invited to join an evening where every bite fuels a brighter future for children across America.
San Francisco’s reputation as a global food capital takes center stage as Taste of the NFL showcases the region’s extraordinary culinary diversity. Event hosts Chefs Andrew Zimmern, Carla Hall, Lasheeda Perry, Mark Bucher, and Sayat and Laura Ozyilmaz lead a powerhouse roster of over 20 acclaimed national and local chefs whose artistry has defined dining in the Bay Area and across the country.
Taste of NFL Las Vegas 2024 – photo by Keri Freeman
Special guest chefs Cat Cora and Tyler Florence will also be in attendance, contributing to a lineup that includes renowned establishments such as Abacá, Al Pastor Papi, Café Sebastian, Cocobreeze, Dalida, Doppio Zero, Eylan, Maria Isabel, Meski, Miller & Lux, Minnie Bell’s Soul Movement, Nopa, Parche, Shoji, 7 Adams, Reem’s California, Señor Sisig, Stateline Road Smokehouse, Tarts de Feybesse, and Willi’s Seafood. To complement these dishes, the Sonoma County Winegrowers will uncork locally sourced flavors of nearby wine country, offering curated tastings and expert pairings that showcase the region’s world-class vintages.
Photo courtesy GenYouth.Org
Presenting sponsor PepsiCo brings additional culinary firepower with Chef Steven Dominguez and Chef Wiley E. Bates III, alongside celebrated talents including Chef Eric Adjepong. Adjepong is a Ghanaian-American culinary trailblazer and PepsiCo Foods Culinary Advisory Board member known for championing the profound influence of West African cuisine on American food culture. Showcasing the distinct flavors of the local community, Chef Antonio Inguscio of Doppio Zero and Chef Miguel Escobedo of Al Pastor Papi, as well as Evan Kidera and Gil Payumo of Señor Sisig, will each present their signature dishes. In addition to the PepsiCo Foundation’s support for GENYOUth’s End Student Hunger grants, the Foundation will award community impact grants to local nonprofit organizations working to combat food insecurity in the Bay Area. This effort is part of PepsiCo’s longstanding focus on driving tangible impact where its employees and customers live and work.
The gastronomic lineup is further rounded out by culinary artisans from partners including Doritos, Frito-Lay, Quaker Oats, Tostitos, Hellmann’s, Peet’s Coffee, Lifeway, and See’s Candies. More than 30 NFL Legends will bring gridiron star power to the evening, including Doug Flutie, Kyle Rudolph, Bryant Young, and Mark “Mighty Mouse” McMillian, who is pulling double duty as both an NFL great and a chef representing Grillin’ McMillian. Beyond the culinary experience, guests will enjoy exclusive autograph sessions with these legends and thrilling auction opportunities featuring Super Bowl LX tickets and coveted sports memorabilia. Each attendee will receive special Taste of the NFL gift bags courtesy of Lay’s and a commemorative football for player and chef autographs, while a distinctive fundraising “lunchbox” wall and a unique San Francisco Trolley car photo opportunity hosted by Rice-A-Roni offer more ways to support the cause.
The Guests’ Choice program, presented by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, invites attendees to vote for their favorite dish from the restaurant chefs, with the winning chef taking home a $500 prize. The Doug Flutie Band headlines the evening’s entertainment, with surprise performances scheduled throughout the night. Meanwhile, Extra Food, a local Bay Area food bank, will support food recovery efforts to ensure no resource goes to waste.
Every element of Taste of the NFL drives support for GENYOUth’s unwavering commitment to eliminating food insecurity among America’s students. Net proceeds increase access to healthy school meals by providing essential meal equipment packages to K-12 school nutrition programs serving at-risk youth throughout the Bay Area and all 32 NFL Club markets across the country.
Steven Williams, Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman of PepsiCo, stated that the company is proud of its continued partnership with GENYOUth through an event that demonstrates how purpose turns into meaningful action. Ann Marie Krautheim, CEO of GENYOUth, emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that schools serve as nutritional lifelines for 30 million students nationwide. The NFL also expressed pride in uniting fans, chefs, and legends to make a lasting impact off the field. Peter O’Reilly, NFL EVP of Events, noted that by leveraging the league’s biggest moment of the year, they are helping advance the mission to ensure youth have access to the nutrition they need to learn, grow, and thrive.
The Culinary Institute of America and its president, Michiel Bakker, also shared their pride in partnering with the event, noting that today’s chefs are called to be conscious culinary leaders. Since Wayne Kostroski founded Taste of the NFL in 1992, the event has spent 35 years building awareness and raising critical funds to combat hunger in Super Bowl host cities. Last year’s event in New Orleans generated $2.2 million in collective impact, delivering 146 million school meals to food-insecure students. Andrew Zimmern, who has been involved for two decades, reiterated that no child should go hungry and that GENYOUth stands at the forefront of this fight.
The Bay Area Host Committee has highlighted that initiatives like Super Schools and Taste of the NFL demonstrate a commitment to meaningful community investment that lasts long after the final whistle blows. PepsiCo’s support alone has benefited more than 3,300 schools since 2011, positively impacting over 2 million students. In the 2025 and 2026 period, PepsiCo invested nearly $3 million to support these efforts, enabling access to more than 50 million school meals nationwide. In the Bay Area host market specifically, 33,000 students are expected to benefit from increased access to over 8.9 million meals.
GENYOUth remains a catalyst for youth health and wellness, having supported over 77,000 U.S. schools to ensure children have equitable access to nutrition and physical activity. As the official charitable partner of Taste of the NFL, the organization continues to convene a network of private and public partners to ensure all children are nourished and active. This mission is supported by a long list of partners including Rice-A-Roni, Lay’s, Cintas, PNC Bank, and many others. As we look toward the kickoff between the Seahawks and the Patriots, the community can take pride in knowing that this Super Bowl weekend is about more than just a game—it’s about a collective effort to tackle hunger and empower the next generation.
