By Timothy Rawles
Two popular restaurants, over 1,000 miles apart, are taking their team spirit into the kitchen in celebration of Super Bowl Sunday, on February 7.
The big game pits the Kansas City Chiefs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and two chefs from both of those cities are having a friendly competition; all in the name of charity.
Chef Ian Wortham of Crossroads Hotel in Kansas City and chef Douglas Rodriguez of Hotel Haya in Tampa are each swapping some of their menu items for the other to cook until the big game, and a portion of the proceeds will be given to the charity of the winning city. Hotel Haya's charity is Feeding Tampa Bay and Crossroads Hotel chose Operation Breakthrough.
"This is a historical Super Bowl," chef Rodriguez told Camp when asked why this friendly competition was important to him. "The home team is hosting the game, and Tom Brady, 43 years old, is playing his 7th Super Bowl. All we want is Tom Brady to try Flor Fina at Hotel Haya but no matter who wins we will celebrate because it will be a great game."
Chef Rodriguez is giving his famous Cuban sandwich to Kansas along with with a tuna and watermelon ceviche served with a tropical cocktail called a Painkiller. "I wanted Kansas City Chiefs to have the best Cuban sandwich they've ever had," he said. "GO BUCS!"
Meanwhile, in Florida, Chef Wortham gave Rodriguez his famous Kansas City-style pulled pork barbecue sandwich and Rigatoni alla Gricia. This feast is paired with a smoked cherry old fashioned cocktail.
Chef Wortham said about his barbeque selection, "We wanted to do a dish that showcases the food of Kansas City along with a dish that speaks to the Italian roots of our flagship restaurant, Lazia."
The Super Bowl menu trade is happening from Feb. 1-7, 2021. Two dollars from that purchase will be donated to the winning team's charity of choice. For those who want to book a room during Super Bowl weekend, both hotels are offering special rates of which 10 percent goes to the winning charity. You can visit both hotel's websites for the deal and book your room under the Game Day Giveback package option.
"Friendly competition is a great thing to have on the football field as well as in the kitchen," said chef Wortham. "Best of all, great charities will benefit in the end; which is the best result."
The well-known Hotel Haya sits in the historic Ybor City district in Florida and spans two buildings: the ornate Las Novedades, Tampa’s oldest restaurant, and the renowned Warren Building.
Crossroads Hotel is a modern boutique inside what was once home to Kansas City's legendary Pabst Brewing Depot. Both hotels are owned by the Aparium Hotel Group.
The Super Bowl chef exchange happens from Monday, February 1 to Sunday, February 7, 2021. For more information on Crossroads Hotel click here. For more info on Hotel Haya, click here.