Wayne Kostroski
"Party with a Purpose: Taste
of the NFL founder Wayne Kostroski mixes football, food,
and fun to fight hunger"
Interview by Scott Murray
In 1992, Super Bowl XXVI found itself in the snowy,
wintry climate of Minneapolis, Minnesota. So the
challenge for the local organizing committee was how to
make it fun, even in the cold weather. Enter committee
member, restaurateur, and civic leader Wayne Kostroski.
He had a vision: Stage an event that would not only be
fun, but profitable for a charity. And thus was born
Taste of the NFL.
|
|
| Above: Taste of the NFL Founder Wayne
Kostroski (center) poses between Chef Tobin
McAfee of Charlotte, Joe Montana, Dan Marino,
and Chef Paul O'Connell of New England before
the chefs and players square off for the Kraft
Quarterback Cook-Off in Houston.
Photo courtesy of Tom
Donohue and Taste of the NFL
|
The concept was simple. Each NFL city would be
represented by a prominent chef from their respective
town, paired with a former or current player from each
team. Add a fine assortment of wines, live auction
items, and a well-known musical group, and the event was
complete. Tickets that inaugural year were $75 a person.
The event continues to grow. This past January, at
Reliant Arena in Houston, before Super Bowl XXXVIII, a
single ticket was $400, and a table for ten cost $6,000.
An added attraction was a cookoff featuring two of the
greatest quarterbacks in the history of the game: Joe
Montana and Dan Marino.
Each year, a portion of the net proceeds from Taste
of the NFL are donated to a Second Harvest organization
in the Super Bowl host community, and the remaining
portions shared among other hunger-relief initiatives
across the nation. This year’s designated local
recipient was the Houston Food Bank. More than $600,000
was raised, bringing the 13-year total to more than $5
million. Understandably, Taste founder Kostroski is most
proud of his creation.
Is there one Taste that is most memorable to
you?
New Orleans in 2002, following 9/11. That was the most
difficult and most disappointing because we didn’t raise
any dollars, due to the heightened security which
resulted in the change of date. However, it was truly an
emotional year to where we tried even harder to make
sure that we put on the best event we possibly could.
And in the end, it turned out to be a fabulous event.
Then, there was this year, in Houston, because of the
record-breaking results we had. And now, Jacksonville
[site of Super Bowl 2005] has already taken the
challenge to set another new mark.
Most memorable moment that was special to you
individually?
Without a doubt, that would be the Phoenix event in
1996. Following the check presentation at a local food
bank, a young boy approached me and said, “Mr.
Kostroski, I don’t know what exactly you did; but my mom
says that, because of what you did, our family will have
food back on the table again this week.”
You look at Super Bowls and football and events, and
you wonder how many people you had and how much money
you made. We live in a world where people like to
measure things. And yet, it all came down to that kid
saying “thank you.” In essence, it said to me, “there’s
no way you can stop doing this, because that’s what it’s
all about.” It made me think of our initial year, back
in 1992. Three weeks before our first event, my mother
passed away. And so, all of these years, I’ve dedicated
the efforts of so many to her. She taught me about being
involved. And every year, we get to the three-week-out
point [and] I think of her and what she always said,
“When you can help, help. What if you weren’t doing
this? Then what?”
You’ve certainly had your share of
celebrities in attendance, and some great bands have
performed over the years…
It’s not an autograph photofest. Celebrities
feel very comfortable being there, as do the players,
because there’s a level of respect that seems to be
there as well. They’re approachable; they’re not mobbed.
It’s a much different atmosphere than most of the other
Super Bowl parties. Janine Turner, Evander Holyfield,
Wynonna Judd, Miss America, and groups like The Beach
Boys, REO Speedwagon, Doobie Brothers, Brooks & Dunn,
Asleep at the Wheel, along with musicians from such
groups as The Rascals, Foreigner, Grand Funk, and Billy
Joel have all been in attendance.
How about the best venue for Taste over the
years?
I think the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center, which is
great because of the size with lots of room to spread
out. Now, for a non-big boy, maybe the Town and Country
Resort in San Diego. We’ve been there twice. It’s nice
for strolling and walking outside under the stars. It
has a whole different feel to it.
What’s the most exotic dish ever served?
Alligator. It was served in a special way. Tasted like
chicken. Was very interesting. This year we had a chef
from Philadelphia who did Philly Cheese Steaks; but they
were a whole lot better than the ones you normally get
on the street corner.
Wildest live auction item in the history of
Taste?
We’ve had some great items, but I’ll never forget this
one: We had air transportation to California for four,
lodging for four, and four seats to the taping of the
final episode of the “Seinfeld” show. That was very
cool. Went for $19,000. Very exciting stuff.
Do people tend to come back to Taste year
after year?
We get tremendous repeat business. And about 75 percent
of our people are non-locals, but they keep coming back.
And this year, like the game itself, we were sold out
and our tickets were being scalped. We hate to see that
happen, because we’d love to have that additional
revenue;
but I guess it shows that we certainly have arrived.
Each year is a new challenge. I’m a restaurateur by day.
It’s all about hospitality; so you think, “Guest,
first.”
What makes you proudest of your success?
I’ve been fortunate in finding a cause that goes deep
into my heart without having to face tragedy to get
involved with the cause. I haven’t lost a kid to a drunk
driver; my wife doesn’t have breast cancer. In other
words, people tend to find charities or causes, which is
wonderful, but too often it comes because of a tragedy
to their family.
I’ve been incredibly blessed that I didn’t have to
find my calling by wondering where my next meal was
coming from or whether I’d be able to feed my family. I
think what I feel most fortunate about is that,
somewhere along the way, something clicked. I think the
key is if people keep their ears open and their minds
open and pay a little attention as to where they can
throw their two cents in. What I’ve gotten back in this
thing, Scott, is the relationships. I’ve learned
something from all of them. It’s friendships, it’s
connections, that fuel the human spirit to get energized
by other people. I think that’s the biggest thing that I
enjoy…to get involved and make things happen.
|
