These days, everyone knows Rocco Mangel — founder of the Rocco's Tacos Tequila Bar chain — for wearing his tequila-pouring shoes. If you catch him on the bar at any one of his restaurant locations, you know the shots will be flowing free that night. But not many people know it's also how Mangel decided to start his now-annual "Tacos & Tatas," a fundraising campaign begun in 2011 to raise money for breast cancer awareness.
"When I first started pouring tequila shots, I was in my West Palm Beach restaurant, and people would always try to tip me while I was up there [on the bar]," Mangel has said. "So it got me thinking: This would be a great way to raise money."
Once again, Mangel is on a mission to raise some serious moolah to fight breast cancer. For the fifth year in a row, Mangel will use the entire month of October — and all six Rocco's Tacos & Tequila Bar Florida locations, including the new Delray Beach restaurant — to raise money for a good cause, donating a percentage of their famed Taco Tuesday sales to breast cancer research through the Florida-based Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Since launching the annual campaign in 2011, Rocco’s Tacos has donated more than $100,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. This year, Mangel has set a new goal: He hopes to raise an additional $50,000 — what would be the most of any Tacos & Tatas event yet.
In hopes of generating the necessary contributions, anytime Mangel dons his custom-made breast cancer awareness pink patent-leather shoes, he’ll be pouring complimentary tequila as a "thank you." The idea is to encourage supporters to donate anyway; anyone who donates $25 or more will also receive a bottle of tequila to take home.
To find out when and where he'll be this month, follow him on his Facebook fan page at Facebook.com/RoccosTacos.
Of course, you can also show your support during the official Tacos & Tatas Tuesdays when — for $15.99 per person — patrons can indulge in all-you-can-eat tacos, including everything from the restaurant's signature chicken, pork, steak, beef, mushroom tacos to shrimp or
Rocco’s Tacos will also be one of the only retailers in the United States offering special-edition pink bottles of Clase Azul reposado tequila. The small-batch brand will be on sale for $150 per bottle, with $50 from every bottle sold donated to the Rocco's breast cancer awareness initiative.
Tacos & Tatas participating Florida Rocco's Tacos include Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Delray Beach, and Orlando.
#PFChangsPink at P.F. Chang's
This October, for the second year running, national restaurant chain P.F. Chang’s aims to donate $100,000 to support breast cancer awareness. Diners are invited to join the fight by helping the restaurant meet its goal to benefit the American Cancer Society. The upscale Asian-inspired restaurant will also adorn more than 300 of its iconic Warrior Horses, symbols of strength and protection, with bright, pink ribbon-shaped floral wreaths in recognition of those who have been impacted by the disease. The campaign begins Wednesday, September 30, with P.F. Chang’s restaurants across the country hosting kickoff events.
From October 1 through October 31, diners can join the fight against breast cancer and help P.F. Chang’s reach its goal of donating $100,000 to the American Cancer Society by triggering a $1 donation by one of the following actions:
Purchase of the Jicama Street Tacos at any P.F. Chang's location.
Share a picture in front of P.F. Chang’s iconic Warrior Horse(s) on Twitter or Instagram with #PFChangsPink, or upload a photo directly on the tab on the P.F. Chang’s Facebook page or at pfchangs.com/pfchangspink. Each shared picture will become part of a digital photo mosaic on pfchangs.com/pfchangspink, signifying someone who has a horse in the race against breast cancer.
The photos will come together to create a digital mosaic of a P.F. Chang's Warrior Horse—a symbol of strength and protection for those whose lives have been impacted by breast cancer. Diners can visit pfchangs.com/pfchangspink to find and share their personal photo.
In a show of nationwide support for the cause, each P.F. Chang’s location in the continental U.S. will host a kickoff event from 4 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30. Employees, restaurant guests, local business owners, public health advocates, and other members of the community are invited to participate in adorning the restaurants' Warrior Horses with pink floral wreaths in recognition of those who have been impacted by the disease.
During the hour-long event, each restaurant will be offering complimentary Jicama Street Tacos and pink ribbons that can be dedicated to someone and added to the ribbons of hope in each restaurant's memorial. The ribbons of hope will collect and grow throughout October.
"We're really excited to partner with P.F. Chang's this October to support breast cancer awareness," said Daniela Campari, senior vice president for the American Cancer Society. "With support from customers, P.F. Chang's donations will really help us in our fight against this terrible disease."
As one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in women, and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths, the American Cancer Society works to save lives by providing help and inspiring hope to those affected by breast cancer.
Participating P.F. Chang's include Palm Beach Gardens, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and Sunrise.
"Shake Out Cancer" at PDQ
South Florida resident and urban pop artist Sergio (SURGE) Quinonez is teaming up with PDQ restaurants nationwide to design a "Shake Out Cancer" pink t-shirt to help raise money during Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October. The shirt helps pay homage to his wife, Adriana, who at 33 years old was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. After undergoing chemo, radiation, and a bilateral mastectomy over the span of two years, Quinonez's wife is now cancer free, and together the couple actively advocate for early mammogram screenings.
The $6 pink t-shirt features Quinonez's signature "hand"
- Purchase a $6 PDQ “Shake Out Cancer” pink t-shirt and receive a free 14 oz. milkshake at the time of their t-shirt purchase.
- Throughout the month of October, if a guest wears their pink PDQ t-shirt back into any PDQ restaurant, they will receive a free milkshake with the purchase of any combo meal.
Madisons New York Grill & Bar
Madisons New York Grill & Bar in Boca Raton is doing it's bit for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a specialty hand crafted cocktail dubbed "The Pink Avenue" — a combination of Papa’s Pilar rum, Grand Marnier, lemon juice, fresh raspberry, mint, and moscato wine served straight up.
For each $14 cocktail sold, Madisons will donate a portion of the proceeds to American Cancer Society, South Palm Beach Unit from Thursday, October 1 through Saturday, October 31. The American Cancer Society is the nation's premier, community-based, volunteer health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer by preventing it, saving lives and diminishing suffering through research, education, advocacy and service.
Nicole Danna is a food writer covering Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the latest in food and drink news in South Florida, follow her @SoFloNicole or find her latest food pics on the BPB New Times Food & Drink Instagram.
