The Buccaneers are ingrained in the Bay. They are always looking for ways to incorporate football with the surrounding Tampa Bay area and see each gameday as an opportunity to highlight the Florida lifestyle. Whether it's Bucs Beach, the new entertainment concept on the South Plaza, Bar 76 that incorporates local craft brews as part of their selection of 76 beers or making local fanfare available as unique culinary options at each game, the Buccaneers are committed to local. Part of those culinary options this season will now feature a local celebrity chef bringing his or her creations to fans at Raymond James Stadium during Buccaneers home games as a part of the Celebrity Chef Showcase.
Each home game will feature a chef from a local Bay-area restaurant bringing some signature dishes to four different locations inside Raymond James Stadium. These Celebrity Chef Showcase stations are located at the Taste of Tampa booths at the east and west side of the 100-level as well as outside section 232 in the East Stadium Club and by the West Stadium Club center bar so that all fans have the chance to sample the local tastings.
The celebrity chef of the game will be set up starting two hours prior to kickoff at the West Stadium Club center bar location to share tricks of the trade and interact with Buccaneers fans about the food they've created. Chef John Rivers of 4 Rivers Smokehouse was the first local chef to be featured this past Sunday, September 16, during the Buccaneers' home opener. He brought with him a Messy Pig Sandwich and Cantina Tacos for Bucs fans to enjoy on gameday.
The full list of restaurants that will be included this season is:
· Sept. 16 – 4 Rivers Smokehouse
· Sept. 24 – The Refinery
· Oct. 21 – Il Ritorno
· Nov. 11 – Brick & Mortar
· Nov. 25 – Mise en Place
· Dec. 2 – Grace
· Dec. 9 – Bern's Steak House
· Dec. 30 – Haven
