GUY’S BEST BUDS ARE FOODIES
Chef cooks it up for TB12 charity
The 18th annual Best Buddies Challenge went down this weekend. And while Tom Brady was heading up a game of tag football on the Harvard Stadium field Friday, celebrity chef Guy Fieri was in the field house overseeing what he does best: food. At the Guy Cooking with Best Buddies Celebrity Chef Food and Wine Festival, more than 30 chefs from local eateries joined the famously frosted hair Food Network star. They all huddled indoors, handing out the best bites their restaurants have to offer — from barbecue pork belly, to braised short ribs, to salmon crudo. And all to benefit the nonprofit centered on creating opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Among the restaurants represented were Steve DiFillippo of Davio’s, Brendan Burke of Serafina, Chris Coombs of Boston Chops and Deuxave, Joanne Chang of Flour Bakery + Cafe, Jay Hajj of Mike’s City Diner and Michael Schlow of Doretta Taverna & Raw Bar, Tico and Alta Strada in Wellesley. DiFillippo, Schlow, Randy Greenstein of Big Night Entertainment Group and “The Progressive Modern Chef” Allen Campbell also served as the special chef vice-chairs of the food festival fundraiser.
And what’s phenomenal food without local libations? In addition to the usual list of beers, wines and cocktails, Philip Schein of Fazenda Coffee Roasters kept everyone caffeinated with a selection of java.
Then, of course, there was Fieri. The Emmy Award-winning chef has wooed TV viewers with his shows “Guy’s Big Bite,” “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” and “Guy’s Grocery Games.” He was at the Best Buddies event not only to rally his culinary comrades, but also to serve as honorary chairman.
Joining Fieri in the role of honorary chairman were TB12, as well as congressman Joe Kennedy III. Other recognizable faces at the Harvard festivities included Brady’s oldest son, Jack, Julian Edelman, Dion Lewis, Danny Amendola and girlfriend Olivia Culpo, actress Charlotte McKinney, Gov. Charlie Baker and — the man who started Best Buddies — Anthony Shriver.