A Message from Trisha Cunningham
We’re excited to welcome you tonight to Taste! At the Star, presented by Tyson Foods!
Formerly known as Taste of the Cowboys, this beloved event has been reimagined after 20 years into a premier culinary experience, bringing together gourmet tastings from top local restaurants, live entertainment and exciting auctions—all in support of ensuring no child has to worry about where their next meal will come from.
By attending tonight, you are making a critical difference for the 1 in 5 children in North Texas facing hunger. Texas once again leads the nation in hunger according to a Feeding America study. Each of the 12 counties we serve saw an increase in hunger, with a third of those are children. Working together, we can change this.
With every ticket purchased this year, you are helping provide hundreds of meals for children and families in our community facing hunger.
Taste! would not be possible without the generosity of the chefs and restaurants whose food you’re enjoying tonight. A special thanks to our longtime Celebrity Chef Kent Rathbun, whose Rathbun’s Curbside BBQ is here.
And thank you to BIRD Bakery, Cowboys Club, Dee’s Table, Burgers & More, Dee Lincoln Prime, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Empire Baking Company, Ferris Wheelers Backyard & BBQ, Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, La Duni Baking Studio, Legends at AT&T Stadium, Legends at The Star, Legends at Toyota Stadium, Lockhart Smokehouse, Lovers Seafood & Market, Mozzarella Company, Omni Frisco Hotel at The Star, Off the Bone Barbeque, Perch Bistro & Bar, Salum Restaurant, Shinsei, Uchiko, SER Steak & Spirits, Sawaii Indian Restaurant, Yelibelly Chocolates and The Original Pancake House, which will have coffee for you on the way out tonight.
In addition to Tyson Foods, I want to express our sincere gratitude to each of our additional sponsors: Dallas Cowboys, Ryan, McLane, Baylor Scott & White Health, Tom Thumb/Albertsons Foundation, Comstock Resources, Arcosa, Casamigos, Crown Royal, Smirnoff, Stout, Dallas Stars Foundation, KPMG, Lincoln, Akin, Bank of America, the Pollock Foundation in memory of Lonnie Pollock III, PlainsCapital Bank, Titos Handmade Vodka, Ashford, and Jackson Walker. We're also thankful to our in-kind sponsors AlphaGraphics, Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, Dr Pepper, Hornitos, Jim Beam, Kendra Scott, Molson Coors, On the Rocks Premium Cocktails, Papa John's Pizza and Pepsi.
Thanks also to the Justin Till Band for providing our entertainment this evening.
We also could not have put on this event without the tireless work of our co-chairs and host committee. A heartfelt thank you to co-chairs Tom Walker and Ginny Kissling as well as our host committee: Jay Allison, Anna & Raj Asava, Therese Baird, Chris Bankler, Sherice & Tim Brown, Jennifer Chandler, Ryan Gebhart, Christy Lara, Cindy & Maher Masso, Drew Mitchell, Mary Martha Pickens, Chase Prospere, LuAnn Tarango, Wes Tidwell, Michelle Van Pelt and Matt Wojciechowski.
I also hope you’ll take time tonight to browse our exciting auction items, including a Cowboys package that includes a VIP tour of The Star plus four premium tickets to a Dallas Cowboys game.
We’re also introducing a new Mission Engagement Experience to provide some insights into the struggles so many of our neighbors face. Step into the "Mission Market" that’s located on the field and learn more about how hunger impacts children and about some of the choices families are forced to make when shopping with limited budgets at the grocery store.
Thank you for joining us tonight, and for coming alongside us as we work to ensure every child has access to the food they need to learn, grow and thrive.
Gratefully,
Trisha Cunningham
President & CEO
North Texas Food Bank