Sir Nick Faldo is a six-time major championship winner, CBS golf analyst, knight bachelor, wine lover and maker of a mean porridge. He is guest of honor at Interlachen Country Club on Monday at Taste Fore the Tour, the launch of a golf spinoff to the popular Taste of the NFL that local restaurateur Wayne Kostroski started in Minneapolis at the 1992 Super Bowl.
The culinary fundraiser features Andrew Zimmern and other local celebrity chefs, hosts Michele Tafoya, Matt Birk and Ben Leber and sports stars. It benefits Twin Cities-based Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (veap.org). It also tees off 3M Open tournament week in Blaine; Faldo will provide commentary on CBS' coverage. He discussed wine, golf and the return of an annual PGA Tour event to Minnesota for the first time in 50 years:
Q. Why this cause?
A. We know the Tour is a great bunch. They're always doing things for a really good cause, so we created Taste Fore the Tour to raise awareness and dollars for hunger relief for local families. I travel the world, the numbers in America you would not believe: One in six kids undernourished or underfed each day.
Q. Do you consider yourself a "foodie."
A. I love my food. I believe in eating healthy, good-quality food. My doctor told me when I first went out on tour, `A little bit of everything, but that's all.' I've done that. I've lived a healthy life and hopefully it looks after you.
Q. You've tried branding your own wines. Are you serving Faldo Wines on Monday?
A. I believe we've managed to get some over. We're trying to resurrect the Faldo Wines because the wines are very nice. I'm no more than a `Wow, that wine tastes good with that food' guy. That's my standard, as simple as that. I don't claim to be a connoisseur or understand the industry of making wines. But I know what I like.
