#CHUCKSTRONG Tailgate Gala 2016

For another record-breaking year, the team here at Kahn’s Catering at the pleasure of working with the Chuckstrong organization once again on this annual Chuckstrong Tailgate Gala held at the Colts Training Facility. Since its start in 2012, the Chuckstrong campaign has raised over $3.7 million to support cancer research at the IU Simon Cancer Center. These funds have provided nearly 200 IU Cancer Researchers with the means to conduct research at taking down this deadly disease. This year alone raised $1.2 million – the highest donation count to date.

More than 500 attended the event, in which fans could tour the team’s locker room and practice field and catch passes from star quarterback Andrew Luck. The bulk of the Colts’ roster was on hand, including Luck, Robert Mathis, and Dwayne Allen. This event has a unique timeline, with five distinct elements from Pre-game to Fourth Quarter.

PRE-GAME: Locker Room Reception for Top Sponsors

All-Pro and Touchdown sponsors joined the Chuckstrong team in the Colts Locker Room for a cocktail reception with Coach Pagano and several Colts players. Players also enjoyed a private buffet held in another area of the facility.

Butler Passed Hors d’oeuvres
Golden beets, pistachio goat cheese mousse, cirtus cranberry jam crostini
Lobster imperial strudel, tarragon emulsion, caviar
Avocado deviled eggs, smoked paprika and micro herbs
Beef carpaccio crostini, caper berry, truffle honey, micro greens
Artichoke & spinach bread pudding, honey goat cheese mousse
Five spice beef short rib wontons with ginger hoisin dipping sauce
Shrimp Cocktail Shooters
Caribbean Meatballs

Players Buffet
Caribbean meatballs
Southwest chicken egg rolls with avocado salsa
Artichoke & spinach bread pudding, honey goat cheese mousse
Five spice beef short rib wontons with ginger hoisin dipping sauce
Shrimp cocktail shooters with Kahn’s cocktail sauce
Silver dollar sandwiches
with ham, sliced chicken breast and cheese
mayonnaise and dijon mustard

FIRST QUARTER: CHUCKSTRONG Combine

Fans are welcomed with much fanfare from the Colts Cheerleaders as they enter the indoor practice field that has been transformed into a tailgating playground. Fans are able to compete in many activities alongside Colts players including kicking field goals, running the 40 yard dash, play cornhole, and a good old fashioned game of tossing the pigskin back and forth. Cocktails and hors d’eouvres were served as fans mixed and mingled with Colts players, cheerleaders and Blue – the Colts mascot. In between football tosses and bites of gourmet hors d’oeuvres, Fans had the opportunity to bid on silent auction items.

Butler Passed Hors d’oeuvres
Artichoke & spinach bread pudding, honey goat cheese mousse
Five spice beef short rib wontons with ginger hoisin dipping sauce
Golden beets, pistachio goat cheese mousse, cirtus cranberry jam crostini

Station 1
Dip Display
Con queso dip, spinach dip, artichoke and parmesan dip, and hummus
with tortilla chips and pita chips

Mediterranean Platter
Hummus, tabouli, grape leaves, tzatziki, roasted eggplant, baba ghanouj and served with pita bread, pita chips

Marinated Grilled Vegetable Display
Portabella mushrooms, bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, asparagus, squash, carrots and red onions with roasted garlic tzatziki

Station 2
Hot Hors d’oeuvres
Caribbean meatballs
Southwest chicken egg rolls with avocado salsa

Station 3
International and Domestic Artisan Cheese Station
Parmesan reggiano, montgomery cheddar, cashel blue, brie ermitage, antique gruyere, carr’s domestic favorites and capriole goat cheese
Served with quince paste, raspberry jam, assorted nuts, flatbreads and assorted crackers and breads

Fresh Fruit Display
Fresh melon, grapes, berries, pineapple,
Kiwi and mango with raspberry poppy seed dip

Vertical Crudite
Heirloom carrots, asparagus, bell peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, cherry grape tomatoes, grilled portabella mushrooms
With artichoke and parmesan Dip

SECOND QUARTER: Dinner

Fan enjoyed a plated meal and afterwards listened to Coach Pagano share his reflections on a life changed by cancer.

First Course
Bibb lettuce Wedge, basil marinated feta crumbles, stem on artichokes,
kalamata olives, heirloom tomatoes, pine nut brittle, meyer lemon honey vinaigrette

Assorted dinner rolls, lemon rosemary flatbread with sundried tomato butter and French butter balls

Second Course
Shallot & dijon crusted filet mignon, madeira demi-glace citrus fennel marinated Ora king salmon, dark rum butter sauce,
brie and fennel dauphinoise potatoes, jumbo asparagus tips, oven dried yellow tomato

Third Course
Bourbon chocolate bombe, toasted marshmallow caramel sauce
with chocolate horseshoe garnish

THIRD QUARTER: Team Support

Fan have the opportunity to become an even more involved part of the Chuckstrong Tailgate team by participating in auctions and making charitable contributions. Fans had the opportunity to bid on once-in-a-lifetime experiences, just like the year previous. In 2015, guests bid on several unique packages, including an opportunity to make a grand game-day entrance riding onto the field during team introductions in the Lucas Oil motorcycle sidecar. Two lucky guests won a dream trip and climbed aboard the Colts team plane with Coach, Andrew Luck and the entire team as they headed to Miami to take on the Dolphins. A third package included a catered dinner in the buyer’s home with multiple members of the Colts Offensive Line.

FOURTH QUARTER: Dessert

While fans were busy bidding, our Kahn’s Catering team transformed the practice field from a tailgating paradise into the dessert destination.

Ice Cream Donut Station
Chocolate ice cream, vanilla ice cream with fudge sauce,
caramel sauce, fresh berries with grand marnier, peanuts,
wprinkles, chocolate chips, toffee chips,
chocolate chip cookie, chocolate covered bacon
godiva whipped cream, starbucks liqueur whipped cream, amaretto whipped cream
Fresh made warm powdered sugar and cinnamon sugar donuts,
white frosting and banna, whipped cream and raspberry filling

Dessert Extravaganza
Assorted miniature pastries
Chocolate caramel brownies, fresh fruit tarts,
lemon curd tarts, chocolate caramel macadamia nut tarts,
mini opera torte, chocolate dipped strawberries

Watch the 2015 Gala Video.