NFL TAGs Troy Guard as a super chef at the Super Bowl

Jamie Tiampo

Troy Guard's buffalo panini

When the New Orleans Saints pummel (wishful thinking) the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV this coming Saturday, February 7 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Troy Guard, executive chef/owner of TAG, 1441 Larimer Street, will be representing the culinary chops of the Mile High City at the "Taste of the NFL" event.

Guard was tagged as one of 32 chefs from across the country to represent their home team at the annual charity shindig, which first kicked off at the 1992 Super Bowl in Minneapolis. "I'm totally and completely stoked. I feel like a kid in a candy store, especially since they had so many great chefs to choose from, and they chose me," says Guard, who's rooting for a Saints victory.

Each chef will prepare 1,500 to 2,000 samples for up to 3,000 guests, including former and current NFL players, celebrity chefs from the Food Network, Hollywood model types and high rollers who can afford the $500 per person price tag ($600 for VIP tickets). Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit food banks located in every NFL city across the country.

Guard hopes to score a touchdown with his Colorado buffalo paninis, a dish he created at the James Beard House last year. "It's a Colorado-driven recipe that has a lot of different textures and global flavors," he says.