Food Network Star, Melissa d'Arabian, and National Pork Board Seek Grillers with Groupies

DES MOINES, Iowa, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- With the grates greased, the tanks filled and the tongs polished, summer grilling season is officially underway.  To make this season extra special, celebrity chef, Melissa d'Arabian, and America's pork producers are searching for the grill master with the greatest groupies in the National Pork Board's "Calling All Grillers with Groupies" contest. The winner will have a chance to cook alongside Melissa during the New York City Wine & Food Festival this October.

From grilling with dad for Father's Day to celebrating the culmination of summer with a Labor Day get-together, nothing brings people together during the summer months like food on the grill. And what's a griller without a little help from their grilling "groupies" – those friends and family members who serve as the sidekick, the sous chef, the bartender to the "grilltender" duties or simply someone to keep the laughs flowing freely?

A budget-conscious and busy mother of four, d'Arabian knows a surefire way to keep her groupies satisfied is to mix it up while on the grill.

"In our family, variety is the spice of summer. From weeknight chops and kid-friendly kebobs to party-pleasing ribs, pork offers unmatched versatility in cuts and flavor, pairing with almost any spice, rub or sauce," says d'Arabian. "If you need to feed a hungry bunch in 30 minutes, you can do that. If you want to be mellow and mingle with guests, you can choose a cut that allows for low and slow grilling. The ease and versatility of pork allows me to spend time with my favorite groupies – my daughters – regardless of the occasion."

Melissa's Summertime Family Favorites

As the host of the Food Network's "10 Dollar Dinners," d'Arabian knows how to master the flames with pork. To keep things fresh during the summer months, she has fired up recipes that equate to the perfect grilling trinity – minimal ingredients, quick preparation and maximum flavor.  

• Grilled Pork and Vegetable Chopped Salad
• BBQ Blade Steak Papillotes
• Tender Ribs with Smoked Paprika
• Pork Skewers with Tangy and Zippy Orange Barbecue Sauces
• Grilled Spicy Sausage Patties

Grab – and Gab About – Your Groupies

We're searching for grillers and their groupies!  How do you celebrate pork on the grill with family and friends? Through August 31, visit TheOtherWhiteMeat.com and submit a photo with a brief, 50 word-or-less caption that explains or tells a story about how you enjoy spending time by the grill with your grilling groupies.

Multiple factors will be considered when selecting the winner, including creativity and originality, and the pork passion needs to come through loud and clear.

One grand prize winner will be selected as Melissa d'Arabian's grilling groupie at the New York City Wine & Food Festival in October.  

For More Information

For more information on entering the "Calling All Grillers with Groupies" contest, to download the National Pork Board's "Celebrate Summer Sizzle" free recipe brochure, or to search through a summer's worth of pork recipes, visit TheOtherWhiteMeat.com.

About The National Pork Board

The National Pork Board has responsibility for Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. Through a legislative national Pork Checkoff, pork producers invest $0.40 for each $100 value of hogs sold. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in advertising, consumer information, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, technology, swine health, pork safety and environmental management.

SOURCE National Pork Board