Sports
Taking it Beyond a Tailgater
01 year ago
We’re concluding our ‘Football and Fridays’ series leading up to this weekend’s Super Bowl with a more sophisticated recipe for your football fans…our Seared Sesame-Crusted Tuna with Soy-Ginger Sauce. For this, we have Troy Aikman to thank!
Aikman, Dallas Cowboy superstar and Hall of Fame quarterback, is regarded as one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time. He led his team to three Super Bowl victories. He also knows a great seafood dish when he tries one! This tuna is one of his favorites.
Serves 6
Soy-Ginger Sauce
¾ cup soy sauce
½ cup white rice vinegar
1 Tbsp. sesame oil
1 ½ tsp. minced peeled fresh ginger
1 ½ tsp. finely minced garlic
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
Seared Sesame-Crusted Tuna
Six 10-ounce tuna steaks, each about 1 inch thick
¼ cup white sesame seeds
¼ cup black sesame seeds
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
½ cup sesame oil
2 tsp. wasabi paste
1 lemon, quartered
4 sprigs flat-leaf parsley
To make the sauce:
- Whisk together the soy sauce, vinegar and sesame oil.
- Add the ginger, garlic and pepper flakes and stir to mix.
- Set aside.
To cook the tuna:
- In a shallow dish large enough to hold a tuna steak, mix together the white and black sesame seeds. Season both sides of the tuna steaks with salt and pepper.
- One at a time, put the tuna steaks in the sesame seeds, pressing them into the fish to adhere. Turn the steak over and press the seeds into the other side to distribute evenly.
- In a large sauté pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, sear the tuna steaks for about 1 minute on each side. Using tongs, hold the tuna upright to brown the edges in the hot oil and until the tuna steaks are medium-rare. For more well-done tuna, increase the cooking time by 30 to 60 seconds on each side.
- Lay a tuna steak on each of the 4 serving plates. Spread a little wasabi paste on each lemon quarter.
- Garnish with a lemon quarter and parsley sprig. Serve the sauce on the side.
Whether you go the more traditional route and serve potato skins and chili, or if you’re feeling a little more fancy and serve this tuna dish, I hope you’re able to enjoy good food, good friends and some good football. May the best team win!
Enjoy!
Chris Rook
Corporate Chef
Morton’s The Steakhouse
If you’re looking for someone else to do the cooking on Super Bowl Sunday, Morton’s has you covered! Join us in the bar for appetizers, reserve a private room with state-of-the-art AV, get Morton’s Prime To Go or call in your Prime Platter order for an easy option! (Hours and participation vary by location.)
A Secret No More!
51 year ago
- Klaus Fritsch and Arnie Morton, circa 1978
For Klaus Fritsch and Arnie Morton to start the Morton’s concept in 1978, you know they had to be pretty intelligent guys. Today, Klaus is sharing more of his wisdom…and his recipe for chili! We’re continuing our ‘Fridays and Football’ series leading up to the Super Bowl with a little bit of comfort food that will be perfect for your football party. Not only is it delicious, but it’s something you can make in advance, leaving you with more time to spend on the couch and with your fellow fans!
Klaus’ Secret Chili
Makes 1 ½ gallons
4 Tbls. Salad Oil
4 cups Spanish Onions, ¼ inch dice
6 Tbls. Garlic, minced
3 lbs Boneless, Chuck roast, trimmed of fat and silver skin, ¼ inch dice
8 Tbls. Chili Powder
2 Tbls. Ground Cumin
1 Tbls. Salt
2 tsps. Black Pepper, ground
2 cups Water
2 Tbls. Beef Base
4 cans Diced Tomatoes, Hunts, 14.5 oz. can with juice
4 cans Chili Beans, Bush, in hot sauce, 16 oz. cans
2 cans Tomato Sauce, Hunts, 8 oz. can
1. Place stock pot on burner over med-low heat. Add salad oil to the stock pot. Add onion and minced garlic. Cook over medium low heat for approx.8 minutes until onions start to soften. Add diced chuck roast and cook for 5 minutes while continuing to stir.
2. Add chili powder, ground cumin, salt and ground black pepper. Mixed thoroughly and cook for another 1 1/2 minutes.
3. Add water, beef base, diced tomatoes, chili beans, bay leaves and tomato sauce. Mix together thoroughly.
4. Reduce heat to low and slowly, very slowly, simmer for 2 hours, stirring frequently so chili does not burn on the bottom of the pot.
5. Adjust chili’s thickness with water if necessary. Remove bay leaves from the chili.
6. Place finished chili in a storage container and let stand 24 hours in the cooler before reheating and serving.
Check back with us next Friday, when we’re going to share one of Troy Aikman’s favorite recipes. He’s “keeping it classy” with Seared Sesame Crusted Tuna…perfect for your more sophisticated football fans!
Enjoy!
Chris Rook
Corporate Chef
Morton’s The Steakhouse
If you’re looking for someone else to do the cooking on Super Bowl Sunday, Morton’s has you covered! Join us in the bar for appetizers, reserve a private room with state-of-the-art AV, get Morton’s Prime To Go or call in your Prime Platter order for an easy option! (Hours and participation vary by location.)
Potato Skins and Pig Skins!
11 year ago
If you’re gearing up to host a party for the mother of all football games on Sunday, February 5, chances are you’ll need to feed your fans! For the next three Fridays, we’ll post ‘Football and Fridays,’ when we’ll share a recipe that will be a welcome addition to your buffet table. Think finger food…comfort food…quintessential football food!
We’ll start with potato skins, a recipe from Morton’s Steak Bible and one that used to be on our dinner menu. When done right, these are outstanding. The trick is to use large potatoes, so you have enough skin to work with, and to leave just the right amount of potato flesh on the skins. These turn out crisp and tasty and can be served as they come from the oven or with sour cream, chopped bacon, minced onions and shredded Cheddar – or your favorite filling.
Morton’s Potato Skins
Serves 6
6 large russet potatoes (each 8 to 10 ounces)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Salt and freshly ground white pepper
Chopped fresh curly-leaf parsley, for garnish
1. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
2. Scrub the potatoes and prick them in several places with a fork. Lay on the center rack of the oven and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked through and feel tender when pierced with a small sharp knife. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
3. Increase the oven temperature to 450 F.
4. When the fully cooked potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut each in half lengthwise. Scoop out most of the flesh, leaving about 1/8 inch. Err on the side of a little too much potato flesh, if you must. Reserve the removed potato flesh for another use.
5. Lightly brush the melted butter on the outside of the potato skins and drizzle the rest inside the potatoes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer the potato skins to a baking sheet and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until crisp and lightly browned. Garnish with parsley.
This should be a fan favorite. And if it’s not, you must be watching the wrong sport! Tune in next Friday for Klaus’ Secret Chili recipe!
Enjoy!
Chris Rook
Corporate Chef
Morton’s The Steakhouse
If you’re looking for someone else to do the cooking on Super Bowl Sunday, Morton’s has you covered! Join us in the bar for appetizers, reserve a private room with state-of-the-art AV, get Morton’s Prime To Go or call in your Prime Platter order for an easy option! (Hours and participation vary by location.)
A Legendary Year filled with Big Stars and Big Hearts
01 year ago
Larry Fitzgerald, Muhammad Ali and Roger Drake
Throughout 2011, some of the biggest names in sports partnered with Morton’s to share their stories, serve our guests and most importantly, support worthwhile charities.
Some pretty special servers traded in their uniforms for aprons at Morton’s locations across the country to help raise funds for their preferred charities, and our “Celebrity Servers at Morton’s” series saw another banner year…bringing in an astounding $1, 585, 000! This year’s total, combined with the proceeds from 2010, equals almost $3 million!
From Baltimore to Las Vegas, guests were able to rub elbows with some of the best in the business and saw their favorite athletes offering passed hors d’oeuvres, cracked pepper on their salads and refills on their wine.
- Jonathan Vilma and his New Orleans Saints Teammates
Some highlights included Larry Fitzgerald’s event at Morton’s in Scottsdale, raising $220,000 for the Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund and the First Down Fund; Ryan Howard’s event at Morton’s in Philadelphia, raising $200,000 for Ryan Howard Family Foundation and the Jonathan Vilma event at Morton’s in New Orleans, when the whole Saints team came together to help raise $196,000 for the Jonathan Vilma Foundation. You can visit our website to see the whole line-up of “Celebrity Servers” from 2011 or browse our blog for recaps from these incredible events.
For the 3rd year running, Morton’s also partnered with ESPN to broadcast live ‘Lunch with a Legend’ and ‘Dinner with a Legend’ events from our private dining rooms. Our guests had front-row seats and exclusive access to some legendary sports figures, including Dodger great Steve Garvey and super agent Leigh Steinberg in our LA-area restaurants, Legendary Temple basketball coach John Chaney in Philadelphia, former NHL star Jeremy Roenick in Chicago, and Browns top running back Peyton Hillis in Cleveland. Guests also got to reminisce with Bobby Dandridge and Kevin Grevey of the 1978 NBA Champion Washington Bullets, who won the dramatic Game 7 with seconds to play against the Seattle Supersonics.
As you can see, 2011 was a very exciting year for Morton’s. Sports celebrities came off of the field and on our turf to raise money for charity and provide our guests once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. We raise a glass to the athletes for donating their time and their passion to help those less fortunate and for spending time with our guests. And we raise a glass to all our guests who supported these events, their causes and their local Morton’s.
Here’s to an equally, if not more, successful 2012 for everyone…both on, and off, the field!
Roger Drake
Sr. V.P. of Marketing and Communications
Morton’s The Steakhouse
Hall of Famer Delights His Fans
01 year ago
On Friday, December 9th, Morton’s at Wacker Place was buzzing with excitement. Yes, it was a sunny (albeit frigid) Friday, but such was not the cause of the cheer – U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Legend and former Chicago Blackhawk great Jeremy Roenick was in the building for Morton’s latest “Lunch with a Legend.” During the sold-out event in Morton’s private dining room, guests enjoyed a classic three-course lunch while Roenick sat in on ESPN 1000’s Waddle & Silvy’s live broadcast.
But prior to the broadcast and upon his arrival, Roenick was greeted by smiling, cheering fans as he made his way upstairs and down the hall. As he walked into the private dining room, guests erupted in applause. The fans listened intently once the broadcast began…until Roenick started talking about how much he loves and misses Chicago and the Blackhawks.
“The Blackhawks jersey is the best in all of sports,” said Roenick. “I should’ve been a Blackhawk my whole life.”
- Silvy, Waddle and NHL Hall of Famer, Jeremy Roenick
As Waddle & Silvy broke for commercials throughout the lunch, Roenick was quick to jump out of his seat and make his way around the room to talk to guests. By the end of the luncheon, he had visited and spoken with each table individually, in addition to inviting guests up to the broadcast desk for autographs and photos. One enthusiastic female fan even rolled up one of the legs of her pants, exposing a detailed ankle tattoo of Roenick’s face. Hockey fans are dedicated!
Throughout the broadcast, Roenick shared his incredible stories. He gave a detailed recap of his first day with the Blackhawks as a 150 pound, 18-year-old in the old Chicago Stadium who was nearly robbed as he left practice, and then he went on to talk about how the team has grown and changed since his time with them.
The Hall of Fame Legend, who also played for the Philadelphia Flyers, among other teams, was asked about his feelings towards the Blackhawk’s 2010 Stanley Cup win. While he was thrilled for the Hawks, he said it was painful to see the Flyers come so close.
“I was emotional for both cities,” said Roenick. “There’s no shame in crying or showing emotion. I’m passionate about all of my teams.”
Retired since August of 2009, Roenick now gives back to his community as much as he can, getting involved with the Special Kids Network and the Wounded Warrior Project on a regular basis and encouraging others (including athletes) to do the same.
From the excitement of the crowd to Roenick’s exuberant personality and captivating stories, this “Lunch with a Legend” was one that guests are sure to remember for years to come!
Reported by Lindsay Rafayko of Empower Public Relations
If you could sit in on a live “Lunch with a Legend” broadcast with the athlete of your choice, who would it be?
Dining with Celebrity Servers and Legends Who Lunch at Morton’s The Steakhouse
21 year ago
Serving Up Philly Steak, Brent Celek Style
Brent Celek and his Celebrity Servers. Go Eagles!
The theme of the evening on Monday, November 14th, 2011 was certainly not just football. Philadelphia Eagles Tight End Brent Celek hosted his 2nd Annual Celebrity Server event at Morton’s The Steakhouse in Philadelphia. The celebrity-studded affair featured Celek and several of his teammates, including Jason Avant, Moise Fokou, LeSean “Shady” McCoy, Todd Herremans, Jon Dorenbos, and several others, who graciously spent their night-off of the field serving guests wine, appetizers and a signature Morton’s steak dinner to families and friends of Brent Celek’s Take Flight Foundation.
Notable Philadelphia personalities, Michael Barkann of SportsRadio WIP & Comcast Sports Net, and Tanya Smith of the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Soul and Philly.com were the night’s emcees. The crowd was quickly buzzing with excitement as players began circling the room with trays of hors d’oeuvres, only to quickly replace them with markers and footballs to sign. Photographers rushed to catch candid photo opportunities as the awe-struck kids in attendance approached Eagles players for the must-have pieces of memorabilia. LeSean “Shady” McCoy was the sure fan-favorite of the evening, as the line for his autograph trailed around the room.
From start to finish the evening was action-packed. Jon Dorenbos, who off the field spends his time as a magician, amused guests tableside, while the other players charmed guests with their serving skills. Players both chatted and entertained guests, sharing anecdotes about football, food and more. The well-spoken Celek took to the microphone for most of the evening; however, the always competitive Todd Herremans took over on the mic as he challenged Celek to a bidding war. In addition to the night’s live auction, Celek spoke about his commitment to the Take Flight Foundation – his dedication was clear as guests listened intently to his heart-warming stories of philanthropic work.
Celek and his teammates also donated signed jerseys and other Eagles paraphernalia to the silent auction. Additional must-have items included dinner with Brent at Morton’s, a trip for two to the ESPY’s, and a Costa Rica Couple’s Retreat at Four Seasons Resort. An enthusiastic crowd of 160 guests were in attendance.
Over $85,000 was raised at this year’s event with all proceeds from ticket sales and auctions going to the Brent Celek Take Flight Foundation, providing support and resources to children and families in need. The foundation focuses on providing seriously ill and physically challenged children throughout Greater Philadelphia with daily support and life changing experiences. The goal of the Take Flight Foundation is to have touched the lives of more than 2,000,000 children and their families by 2013.
Reported by Becky Levin, Cashman and Associates
CATCHING up with Detroit Lions Nate Burleson
Nate Burleson and his Celebrity Servers. Go Lions!
Nate Burleson with Quicken Loans CEO Bill Emersen and wife Marlene
The inaugural Nate Burleson Celebrity Server Event did not disappoint Lions fans. About 100 people attended the exclusive, private event held at Morton’s The Steakhouse in Troy, MI location on Monday November 14th, including Detroit Lions players, local business leaders and media. The event title sponsors included Quicken Loans and Fathead.
It's Nate Burleson!
Proceeds from the event benefited the Nate Burleson CATCH Foundation whose purpose is to reach and teach area children and their families by providing them with educational tools to succeed as well as enriching their lives by showing them how to care for others, themselves and their future.
Welcome to Morton's!
The event began with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres as guests mingled with their favorite Detroit Lions players, who also posed for photos and signed autographs. Following the cocktails and silent auction, guests took their seats and were served by the Detroit Lions, including Nate Burleson and Calvin Johnson. Other guest servers included: Quarterback Drew Stanton, Offensive Tackle Rob Sims and Former University of Michigan Basketball Star and member of the Fab 5, Jimmy King. The players took their responsibilities as servers very seriously as they masterfully poured wine, handled stacked salad plates and served guests prime steaks with grace and sophistication.
Following dinner, a live auction was led by Morton’s Troy General Manager, Steve Salmon. Bidding was fast and furious for items such as a private dinner for 4 with Nate Burleson, a game worn helmet and jersey from Nate and a Sommelier Wine and Cheese Experience in Napa Valley. Between the ticket sales, sponsorships, silent and live auction items, the event raised approximately $50,000 in its first year for Nate Burleson’s charity.
Media coverage included this wonderful recap by ABC affiliate, WXYZ-TV.
Reported by Jason Brown, PublicCity PR
Photos by Jerry Richart
High-Steaking with an NHL Legend
The Legend: Luc Robitaille
NHL and L.A. Kings legend Luc Robitaille hosted a Lunch with a Legend event yesterday at Morton’s The Steakhouse in downtown LA. The lunch was broadcast on EPSN Radio. Luc spoke with 710 ESPN hosts Max Kellerman and Marcellus Wiley, and spoke about getting overlooked at the start of his career, what it was like to work with Wayne Gretzky, and the popularization of hockey and its eventual diminished popularity on the west coast. With 30 seconds left in the interview, Luc was asked to share one thing with his fans. Luc’s last words were, “Where is my steak?” You can listen to a podcast of the event by visiting: http://espn.go.com/espnradio/losangeles/play?id=7243974
Reported by Maryam Brown, Murphy O’Brien Public Relations
The New Orleans Saints Celebrity Servers. Go Saints!
Who Dat! Morton’s New Orleans gets a “W” with its Second Annual Celebrity Server Event, featuring the New Orleans Saints
Morton’s The Steakhouse in New Orleans recently hosted the second annual Celebrity Server event featuring Jonathan Vilma of the New Orleans Saints. More than $201,000 was raised and proceeds from the event benefited The Jonathan Vilma Foundation. Although Vilma was called away from the event due to a personal emergency, his teammates came out in force to support their friend off the field.
In Vilma’s absence, Saints Defensive End, Will Smith took over as Master of Ceremonies. Smith and his exuberant Saints teammates served appetizers and wine, along with a four course dinner to the more than 200 guests in attendance.
Teammates who showed up in support of The Jonathan Vilma Foundation included Saints beloved QB Drew Brees, along with Jimmy Graham, Roman Harper, Malcolm Jenkins, and Lance Moore. Fox Sports sideline reporter Jennifer Hale served as emcee for the evening. Among the guests were Saints owner Rita Benson LeBlanc, Mark Romig, CEO of the New Orleans Tourism and Marketing Corporation and Klaus Frisch, co-founder of Morton’s Restaurant Group, Inc.
The players took to the Morton’s dining room much like they do on a field on game day! They did a great job serving guests, taking photos, signing autographs and speaking with guests and local media. Morton’s received fantastic media coverage on The New Orleans Saints Celebrity Server event including The Times-Picayune; NOLA.com; WVUE-TV; CST; The Gambit; BestofNewOrleans.com; NewOrleansLocal.com; NewOrleansSaints.com; JonVilma.com; and Our Louisiana Magazine.
Reported by Carrie DeVries, The Ehrhardt Group
Still hungry? Click these links to learn more about Morton’s exciting Celebrity Server and Lunch with a Legend series throughout the U.S.
A Round-Up of Morton’s Fundraising Efforts for PGA TOUR Charities
01 year ago
Earlier this year, Morton’s became the Official Steakhouse of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour. An important component of this sponsorship is our support of various PGA TOUR charities. I’m proud to announce that, so far this year, we’ve raised almost $315,000 for several organizations! Here’s a recap of our efforts.
- In June 2011, our ‘Celebrity Server’ event at Morton’s in King of Prussia featuring Jim Furyk raised $91,000 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
-
- Jim Furyk tees up for his “Celebrity Server” event at Morton’s
In September 2011, Charley Hoffman hosted a ‘Celebrity Server’ dinner at Morton’s in Las Vegas, and special guests included future MLB Hall of Famer Greg Maddux and comedian/TV host George Lopez. The event raised $60,000 for the Charley Hoffman Foundation.
- We contributed $51,250 through our PGA TOUR tournament participation in the AT&T National, Chevron World Challenge and The Player’s Championship.
- $8,240 has been raised for Birdies for the Brave through sales of our in-restaurant Double Cross Mortini and through a portion of ticket sales from our “Prime Event series at Morton’s” series.
- Last month, we raised $38,000 as a result of our “PGA TOUR Golf Experience” at TPC Sawgrass, which included a private meet-and-greet with Jim Furyk and a custom golf ball fitting from Bridgestone…among other exciting experiential components. We’ve also contributed $10,171 through various other TPC course events.
- Most recently, we hosted a ‘Celebrity Server’ event at Morton’s in Palm Beach, when hosts Jack & Barbara Nicklaus helped raised $55,000 for the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. Barbara Nicklaus said of the evening, “The food and wines were fabulous; the atmosphere was perfect; and everyone who attended seemed so happy to be there! It was a great group! And, to top it off, we raised significant funds to help children in our area.” In addition to meeting this tireless, philanthropic couple, guests also had the opportunity to sample Jack Nicklaus wines and participate in a prestigious auction.
- We will conclude our 2011 fundraising efforts with a final ‘Celebrity Server’ event at Morton’s in Beverly Hills, this one featuring Hunter Mahan and Celebrity Friends. (Click here for more information or to make a reservation.)
Supporting our communities has always been an important part of Morton’s mission, so it gives me great pride that our year-long efforts have helped raise money for so many worthwhile organizations. Stay tuned for more information about exclusive PGA TOUR events and fundraisers available to our guests.
Roger Drake
Sr. V.P. of Marketing and Communications
Morton’s The Steakhouse
Morton’s is proud to be the “Official Steakhouse of the PGA TOUR”. Please visit our website to learn more about this prime pairing of organizations!
Power Lunching with Legends: Bobby Dandridge and Kevin Grevey
01 year ago
Anthony Hesselius and Bobby Dandridge
An NBA player lock-out couldn’t keep a packed crowd of fans from Morton’s The Steakhouse in downtown DC on November 2 for the latest installment of “Lunch with a Legend.” The live broadcast of ESPN980’s “The Sports Fix” brought together hosts Kevin Sheehan and Thom Loverro with legendary NBA all-stars Bobby Dandridge and Kevin Grevey, both instrumental members of the 1978 Washington Bullets championship team.
The ’78 finals pitted the Bullets against the Seattle Supersonics in a 7 game matchup that would come down to a final seconds dunk by Dandridge. Recalling the win, the two players laughed and tried to recall who was responsible not for the win, but rather the apparent lack of champagne in the locker room afterwards. As Dandridge told it, no one remembered to buy any just in case they won, so several of the players went to the Seattle locker room to ask for theirs. As expected that did not go over so well. So instead, the team loaded up on the bus, stopped at the first open convenience store on the road, and owner Abe Pollin bought the store’s entire stock of champagne!
Bother players laughed and recalled fond memories of the late, legendary Pollin, wondering just what he would do to keep today’s players happy.
Still hungry? Click here to learn more about Morton’s ‘Lunch with a Legend’ series throughout the U.S.
Reported by Anthony Hesselius, Linda Roth Associates, Inc.
FOODARAZZI: 60 SECONDS WITH NATE BURLESON
01 year ago
Nate Burleson
When in Detroit, you can’t turn on the TV, radio, log onto Twitter or Facebook and not find some football factoid about Detroit Lions Wide Receiver Nate Burleson. Now that Nate has settled into his second year as a Lion, he has made it clear that this is his new home and he wants to give back to the community as much as possible. We caught up with Nate after practice to learn a little more about his likes and his favorite moments as a football player.
OCCUPATION: Wide Receiver of the Detroit Lions.
THREE WORDS THAT BEST DESCRIBE ME: Hungry for more.
FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION: Bahamas.
WHEN I’M NOT WORKING, I’M…: Watching movies.
ONE THING I’VE BEEN DYING TO TRY: Scuba diving.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN FOOTBALL: Catching the game-winning TD vs Cincinnati Bengals.
FAVORITE DRINK/COCKTAIL: Vodka cranberry with a splash of Sprite.
I STAY HOME TO WATCH: Food Network.
FAVORITE PLACE TO CHILL OUT: My parent’s house with my family.
WHO WOULD PLAY ME IN A HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTER: Columbus Short.
PRIZED POSSESSION: My wife.
PRE-GAME RITUALS: Listen to music.
IF I WASN’T A FOOTBALL PLAYER, I’D BE: Broadcaster.
FINISH THIS SENTENCE: The best part of my job is…: It’s a brand new experience every time I step onto the field.
Celebrity Servers at Morton’s featuring Nate Burleson and Friends: Join NFL Superstar Nate Burleson and his Detroit Lions teammates for a great cause on Monday, November 14 when they trade in their uniforms and helmets for plates and aprons at Morton’s The Steakhouse in Detroit (Troy), MI. Proceeds benefit the Nate Burleson CATCH Foundation.
Reported by Jason Brown, PublicCity PR
Morton’s ♥’s Celebrities!
11 year ago
Actors Dennis Haysbert and Penelope Ann Miller with Morton's Michael Savitt
Great food is always in abundance and delicious memories are delivered hot and fresh whenever you dine at Morton’s The Steakhouse. Plus you never know who you’ll run into – PGA TOUR players, comedians, local politicians or sports legends. At Morton’s, the options are endless.
Celeb-rating at Morton’s
Charles Tillman
On the evening of Monday , October 17th, Morton’s The Steakhouse in Northbrook was alive with energy and excitement as the Chicago Bears prepared for their 2nd Celebrity Servers Dinner featuring the unbelievably outgoing Cornerback, Charles Tillman. Chicago Bears players and their families, Morton’s VIPs, media, and steak lovers alike gathered to enjoy an evening of fine dining and fun in support of Charles Tillman’s Cornerstone Foundation, an organization that provides opportunities and resources to over one million Chicagoland children and families in need.
Charles Tillman and his Celebrity Servers. Go Bears!
Tillman and teammates, including Anthony Adams, Lance Briggs, Matt Forte, Frank Omiyale, Patrick Manelly, Matt Toeaina, Caleb Hanie, Johnny Knox, Zackary Bowman, Corey Graham, Tim Jennings, D.J. Moore, Brandon Meriweather and Craig Steltz, traded in their signature orange and blue for Morton’s aprons as they passed wine and hors d’oeuvres and signed footballs for guests during the cocktail hour.
The dinner began with a few words from host Zach Zaidman, Sideline Reporter for the Chicago Bears Radio Network, Tom Lange, the General Manager of Morton’s in Northbrook, and Tillman, who introduced fellow teammates and explained his organization, the Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation. He shared the story of his young three-year old daughter Tiana, who at three months old was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a heart disease that slows the pumping of blood to the body. Now a vibrant toddler, Tiana survived with a heart transplant, and Tillman continues to tell her story to educate and inspire.
Lance Briggs!
Smiling players juggled plates of salad and juicy prime steak to serve hungry guests, some even going as far as bussing the tables themselves! A silent auction setup included signed jerseys and memorabilia, trips, and other luxury items, while the rousing live auction included Tillman gear, signed photographs, a massive bottle of wine, and a one-of-a-kind golf trip, among others. Tillman captivated the crowd with his stories and jokes throughout the evening, especially during the auction as he ran across the restaurant from bidder to bidder, hugging them, taking photos, and encouraging everyone to give more.
Matt Forte!
Tillman’s enthusiasm and incredible dedication to his cause paid off, as the dinner raised nearly $150,000 in total. Since 2005, Tillman’s charitable efforts have impacted the lives of over one million Chicago-area children.
“My teammates really supported me and I think everyone had a lot of fun, I know I did”, said Tillman “We raised more than we ever had which means we can help more children in the Chicago-area, and that is what it is about.”
The Celebrity Servers Dinner with Charles Tillman was an incredible evening for a cause we can all stand behind – we hope you’ll join us next time!
Reported by Lindsay Rafayko, Empower Public Relations
Power Lunching with a Legend
The Legend: Steve Garvey
Morton’s The Steakhouse in Woodland Hills hosted a special “Lunch with a Legend” event with Los Angeles Dodgers’ legend Steve Garvey on Wednesday, October 26. The event was hosted by ESPN hosts Max Kellerman and Marcellus Wiley. Steve was in a great mood and shared some fun stories about his impressive career with the audience during his hour long interview. He also shared a special message to the Dodger’s fans in the audience, which was to “have patience and continue to have hope.”
Steve ended his interview by saying that he is always hopeful and always optimistic. Guests attending this special event enjoyed a three-course signature Morton’s lunch. This event is a part of Morton’s ongoing Lunch With A Legend series where they allow guests to interact with sports legends in an intimate setting.
Reported by Maryam Brown, Murphy O’Brien Public Relations
Are you ready for more celebrities? Throughout October, Morton’s welcomed…
Atlanta – Buckhead
New York Knicks Amar’e Stoudemire
Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Phaedra Parks
Actor Don Cheadle
Atlanta – Downtown
Atlanta Falcons Michael Turner
Bethesda
Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Jim Kelly
Burbank
Actress Melissa McCarthy
Actors/Comedians Zach Galifianakas and Andy Richter
Actress Jenette McCurdy
Charlotte
Carolina Panthers Jeremy Shockey, R.J. Stanford, and Head Coach Ron Rivera
NASCAR’s Junior Johnson
Fox News Tobin Smith
Charlotte Bobcats Gerald Henderson
Davidson College’s Head Men’s Basketball Coach Bob McKillop
Chicago (State St.)
Chicago Blackhawks Marian Hossa and Michael Frolik
Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland
Comedian/Actor D.L. Hughley
NFL Agent Drew Rosenhaus
Former Cleveland Browns player Michael Dean Perry
Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Moon
Former NFL player Bernie Kosar
Dallas
NBA Free Agent and current Chinese Basketball Association player Kenyon Martin
Fort Lauderdale
Florida Panthers Coaches and Players
Actor Dennis Haysbert and Actress Penelope Ann Miller
Hackensack
New Jersey Devils Ilya Kovalchuk
New York Jets Plaxico Burress
Hartford
New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick
Houston (Downtown)
UFC Owners Dana White and Frank Fertitta along with other UFC members including Chuck Liddell, Keith Jardine, and Brendan Schaub
Indianapolis
Actor/Comedian Dan Aykroyd
Louisville
Comedians Lavell Crawford and Spike Davis (pictured left)
Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands John de Jongh
Miami Beach
Florida Gov. Rick Scott
Nashville
Rock Legend/Grammy Winner Robert Plant
PGA TOUR Golfer Kenny Perry
New Orleans
New Orleans Saints Robert Meachem, Sedrick Ellis, and Malcom Jenkins
Actor Arnold Vosloo
NBC Sports Executive Dick Ebersol and Reporter Michele Tafoya
Auction Hunters’ Clinton “Ton” Jones
Actor/Hollywood Military Consultant Harry Humphries
Phoenix
Judas Priest’s Glen Tipton and Ian Hill
Members of the Pittsburgh Steelers
Portland
Professional Snowboarder Danny Kass
Reston
NRA Executive VP Wayne LaPierre
Washington Redskins Dough Worthington
MLB Hall of Famer Frank Robinson
Richmond
Director/Producer Steven Spielberg and his wife Actress Kate Capshaw
Producer Kathleen Kennedy
Actress Sally Field
Scottsdale
PGA TOUR Golfer Chez Reavie (pictured below)
Shanghai
NBA Free Agent and Chinese Basketball Association player Wilson Chandler
Troy
Detroit Tigers Victor Martinez
Detroit Lions Rob Sims
Washington D.C. (Connecticut Ave.)
Speaker of the House John Boehner
Washington D.C. (Georgetown)
CNN Anchor John King