After taking the art world by storm, NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are heating up the kitchen, and Stella Artois and the James Beard Foundation have come together to deliver the ultimate main course. One foodie will get the chance to own Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s recipe for his famous and much coveted Fried Yardbird, in the form of an NFT.  

Restaurants have always been at the heart of the Stella Artois brand and business. After all, nothing goes better with a  tasty meal than a chalice of Stella Artois. In a year that has been especially trying for eateries nationwide, Stella Artois is  partnering with the James Beard Foundation to kick off their “Chef’s Special NFT Collection” auction off Chef Samuelsson’s Fried Yardbird NFT and introduce additional food-centric NFTs throughout the summer to continue to rally  behind favorite restaurants. The “Chef’s Special NFT Collection” will be supported by world-leading art and luxury  business Christie’s, with proceeds going to the James Beard Foundation’s Food and Beverage Investment Fund for Black  and Indigenous Americans.  

“It’s no secret that NFTs are exploding in popularity, at the moment. The brand is excited to join in on the action to help  support restaurants in a new and creative way” says Lauren Denowitz, Communications and Creative Lead, Stella Artois. “We’re thrilled to partner with JBF and award-winning chef Marcus Samuelsson to serve up an iconic recipe in a unique way. As a continuation to the brand’s global NFT initiatives, we’re looking forward to expanding our NFT collection  benefiting at-risk restaurants and ensuring they have a future as they are a place for consumers to continue living out  Stella’s brand purpose of savoring life together.”  

The winning bidder of Stella Artois “Chef’s Special NFT Collection,” will become the proud owner of:

● A digital file of Chef Samuelsson’s Fried Yardbird recipe in the form of an NFT. 

● A one-of-a-kind video revealing all the secret tips, tricks and rituals, divulged by Samuelsson himself, for how to  prepare the most perfect fried chicken.  

● A private dinner for two at Red Rooster, the chef’s famed NYC eatery in the heart of Harlem, where Samuelsson  will prepare the famous Fried Yardbird along with other tasty bites and meet the winners personally. 

“Fried Yardbird is not only one of our most popular dishes but the recipe we get asked for all the time,” says Chef Marcus  Samuelsson. “Now, in a whole new NFT world for restaurants, we can share it and, thanks to the generosity of Stella  Artois, meaningfully support the James Beard Foundation’s Food and Beverage Investment Fund for Black and Indigenous Americans.” 

Head to Charitybuzz.com today where the auction is now live, in a CSR initiative supported by Christie’s, and open for bidding until July 16th at 5 p.m. EST.  

Stella Artois is the lead sponsor of Christie’s Art & Tech Summit: NFTs and Beyond taking place in NYC on July 15th. As the first auction house to register a sale on blockchain, Christie’s has consistently been at the forefront of art world innovation. Christie’s annual one-day summit focuses on sparking a dialogue on the role and impact of emerging  technologies in the art world. Chef Samuelsson will be speaking about the “Chef’s Special NFT Collection” during this  year’s summit, sharing additional details on how this collaboration was created.  

“Christie’s is proud to support Stella Artois and The James Beard Foundation’s philanthropic ‘Chef’s Special NFT Collection’ featuring renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson, benefiting restaurants hurt by the global pandemic,” says  Bonnie Brennan, President Christie’s Americas. “Over the past year, Stella Artois has been instrumental in supporting the industry and we’re thrilled to join forces to further amplify support for our local communities.” 

Stella Artois is the first brand in the Anheuser-Busch portfolio to enter the NFT space. The “Chef’s Special NFT  Collection” comes on the heels of “Racing in The Life Artois” a digital horse racing NFT done in collaboration with Zed  Run. NFTs have taken the world by storm, with anything from songs and meme’s all becoming NFT’s. It’s important for  the brand to be a part of this space and be able to offer a creative way to lean into their partnership with the James  Beard Foundation to continue providing restaurant relief efforts.  

“Chef’s Special Collection NFT” is part of the brand’s newly-released “Your Table Is Ready” campaign – a robust summer  program that invites gourmands back to their favorite tables with their favorite people to rally behind restaurant  recovery. “Your Table Is Ready” will inspire you and your friends to eat your hearts out at eateries again with a film featuring Padma Lakshmi, a celebratory #FirstStellaBack, a fresh approach to hosting dinner parties with OpenTable, and  a new 14oz. “Open For Good” aluminum bottle available exclusively in restaurants and bars. 

Stella Artois remains committed to helping the restaurant industry recover every step of the way. To help prepare the  on-premise for safe and successful re-openings, the brewer joined the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant  Revival Campaign as the exclusive beer partner, and through Stella Artois, committed $2.25 million to the ServSafe Dining Commitment. The partnership with the National Restaurant Association was part of Anheuser-Busch’s broader commitment to lifting up the bar and restaurant industry.