HOUSTON –
The Super Bowl is less than a month away, which means events are popping up around Houston, but the game isn’t the only thing coming to H-Town.
The Taste of the NFL’s 26th annual Party With a Purpose is giving the students at the University of Houston the chance to sharpen their skills.
Georgea Pappas, with Pappas Restaurants, is giving a crash course in knife skills.
"I'm going to show you how to chiffonade this cilantro," Pappas said. "You're moving fast and it's small little movements."
For the 35 UH students taking the class, it’s more than just earning a few hours of class credit. It's also for a good cause.
"We want to make sure that we're teaching these students to give back to the community," UH culinary professor Reba Haskell said.
Each student will be volunteering as a sort of sous chef for the Taste of the NFL’s Party With a Purpose.
"These students are preparing to assist world-renowned chefs at this event," Haskell said. "These events are high-adrenaline and it's like you're in a kitchen.”
"Very nerve-wracking," student Fredy Romero said.
As a junior, Romero is working toward an Events and Beverage degree, which is not kitchen-compatible.
"This is my first time actually getting familiar with a knife," Romero said.
But the chance to work with one of 32 chefs from 32 NFL team cities and help raise thousands of dollars for food banks across the country was something he couldn’t pass up.
"I just signed up for it, because I wanted to be a more rounded person," Romero said.
"It gives you a lot of great practice whether you're going into the kitchen or if you're just going to be a manager and learn about food," Pappas said.
"They also get to put something like this on their resume and they get the experience of being able to work an amazing event," Haskell said.
About 200 additional students will volunteer at the event in other roles.
If you’d like to attend the Party With a Purpose, it’s happening Saturday, Feb. 4 at UH. Tickets are $700 per person or $10,000 for a table.
More information can be found at Taste of the NFL.