Partnering with Feeding America as well as the Maryland Food Bank, Morton’s steakhouse is hosting an event.  Check out below for what promises to be both a fun and helpful charity event!

CONTACT: Cheryl Knauer, Nevins & Associates 410-568-8808 or cknauer@nevinspr.com Shanna Yetman, Maryland Food Bank 410-737-8282 ext. 230 or yetman@mdfoodbank.org

MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE PARTNERS WITH FEEDING AMERICA AND, LOCALLY, THE MARYLAND FOOD BANK, TO LAUNCH NEW MORTON’S THE COOKBOOK

Special Fundraising Receptions Take Place at Morton’s in Baltimore on Wednesday, July 15

Cost to attend is $59 per person, inclusive of tax and gratuity, including a copy of Morton’s The Cookbook and Donation to Feeding America with an auction to benefit the Maryland Food Bank

For reservations, call Morton’s Baltimore at 410-547-8255

First 10 Guests to reserve a spot to each event to receive a copy of “Morton’s The Cookbook” signed by Baltimore Ravens Center Matt Birk

(BALTIMORE, June 17, 2009) – Morton’s The Steakhouse announces a partnership with Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, and locally, with the Maryland Food Bank, in conjunction with the release of the new “Morton’s The Cookbook: 100 Steakhouse Recipes for Every Kitchen” written by Klaus Fritsch, Morton’s co-founder, along with Tylor Field III, Morton’s Vice President of Wine and Spirits, and Mary Goodbody, nationally known food writer and cookbook editor.

To launch the new cookbook, Morton’s in Baltimore is hosting special fundraising reception with Morton’s co-founder Klaus Fritsch and co-author of “Morton’s The Cookbook” on Wednesday, July 15, from 6 – 7:30 p.m. The event includes a sampling of recipes from the cookbook paired with a selection of fine wine and cocktails. Cost to attend is $59 per person, inclusive of tax and gratuity, which includes a copy of “Morton’s The Cookbook” and donation to the Feeding America. In honor of Baltimore Ravens Center Matt Birk’s Two-Fisted Bacon Cheeseburger recipe featured in the cookbook, the first 10 guests to reserve a spot will receive a copy of “Morton’s The Cookbook” signed by Birk.

In addition, auctions with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the Maryland Food Bank include such items as a Morton’s Chef Table, personal multi-course wine dinner for 6 guests; an autographed DVD of “Scream” signed by David Arquette and Courtney Cox; and a 3-liter bottle of wine provided by Chateau St Michelle. In Baltimore, guests can also bid on a three month complimentary membership and three 30 minute personal training sessions at Maryland Athletic Club’s Harbor East location.

“Morton’s is really stepping up to the plate with this event,” comments Deborah Flateman, CEO of the Maryland Food Bank. “In order for us to accomplish our mission and effectively end hunger in Maryland, we need support from our corporate neighbors with events that raise funds for our organization. Morton’s has done that with this event.”

Morton’s The Steakhouse is located at 300 South Charles Street in the Sheraton Inner Harbor in Baltimore. Dinner is served Monday through Saturday from 5:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. and Sunday from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. Bar 12.21 at Morton’s in Baltimore opens at 5 p.m. Valet parking is available. For more information and to make reservations, call 410-547-8255 or visit www.mortons.com.

About Morton’s The Cookbook

“Morton’s The Cookbook” features over 100 recipes for Morton’s signature cocktails, steak specialties and other main dish favorites, appetizers, soups and salads, side dishes, and delicious and decadent desserts. Each recipe is sumptuously illustrated with full-color photography throughout. Instead of focusing almost exclusively on Morton’s restaurant menu items, “Morton’s The Cookbook” focuses equally on wine, spirit and ale accompaniments to each recipe. It also includes mouth watering recipes specially created by Fritsch and his culinary team, as well as recipes ideally suited for hosting a private party.

Many celebrities have frequented Morton’s over the years, such as Frank Sinatra, Jackie Gleason, Bob Hope, Richard Burton, Sean Connery, Joe Montana, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, and “Morton’s The Cookbook” pays homage to them by featuring many of their favorite recipes, as well as Celebrity Clip stories. A total of 14 celebrities are featured including Val Kilmer, Larry King, best selling author James Patterson, famed artist LeRoy Nieman, Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman and comedian DL Hughley, as well as Matt Birk, Baltimore Ravens Center, among others. “Morton’s The Cookbook: 100 Steakhouse Recipes for Every Kitchen” is available wherever books are sold, online at www.mortons.com, and in all 81 restaurants for $32.50 (US) and $37.95 (Canada).

About Morton’s

Morton’s Restaurant Group, Inc. is the world’s largest operator of company-owned upscale steakhouses. Morton’s steakhouses have remained true to its founders’ original vision of combining generous portions of high quality food prepared to exacting standards with exceptional service in an enjoyable dining environment.

The Company owns and operates 81 Morton’s steakhouses located in 69 cities in 28 states, and in Puerto Rico and six international locations (Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, and Mexico City), as well as three Italian restaurants.

About Feeding America

(Formerly America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network) Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 25 million Americans each year, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks operate 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit www.feedingamerica.org.

About the Maryland Food Bank

The mission of the Maryland Food Bank is to lead the movement and nurture the belief that together we can improve the lives of Marylanders by ending hunger. The Maryland Food Bank has facilities in Baltimore and Salisbury comprising nearly 107,000 square feet of warehouse, refrigerator and freezer space. The Maryland Food Bank, now in its 30th year of operation, distributes more than 16 million pounds of food annually through its statewide network of 900 soup kitchens, food pantries and emergency shelters. The Maryland Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, formerly America’s Second Harvest.