Draft picks for the Jets and Giants have already been selected, but both teams have space on their rosters for one lucky grill master, chili connoisseur or rib maven.
Football fans and foodies alike are invited to submit an original tailgate recipe and compete for official "Tailgate Bragging Rights," with one grand prize winner selected by each team set to receive top honors and a place on the gameday menu at the Home of the Jets. This cooking contest is the first of its kind in the NFL.
To enter, participants must log on to **www.newmeadowlandsstadium.com** and submit a detailed description of their original recipe. The contest began at 10 a.m. today and will end on June 4 at 5 p.m. EST.
All submissions will be reviewed by chefs of the Delaware North Companies Sportservice Inc., the official food service partner of New Meadowlands Stadium, and players and staff members of the Jets and the Giants.
The entry field will be narrowed down to six finalists, three representing the Jets and three the Giants. The selected fan groups will be invited to fire up their grills and duel in a heated battle at the new stadium on Sunday, June 13, during the Great American Food & Music Fest, a one-day event celebrating the rich traditions of classic American fare and music. The contestants will be asked to prepare their dishes on-site, and the final fare will go head-to-head to determine a final winner for each team.
In determining the winner, judges will base their decision on the following criteria: t
* Taste of the product prepared for the judges.
* Adaptability of the final product to a stadium and mass production setting.
* Originality of final product.
* Presentation of product prepared for judges.
* Ease of replication of the final product.
In the event of a tie for any prize, a majority vote by the judges will be used as the tiebreaker.
The contest is open only to legal residents of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry, with a valid email address as of May 14, 2010.
The Great American Food & Music Fest will feature a "who's who" of culinary talent, including restaurateur, author and television host Paula Deen, Tom Colicchio, critically acclaimed chef and host of Top Chef, Pat and Gina Neely, co-owners of Neely's Bar-B-Q and hosts of "Down Home with the Neelys," and Ace Of Cakes star and master baker Duff Goldman. The all-star team of chefs will be doing cooking demos that will highlight their celebrated skills as well as a few of their most prized dishes.
For more information, please visit **www.NewMeadowlandsStadium.com**.
