It’s always fun to indulge in some of your favorite foods and completely submit yourself to the overpowering, delicious flavors joyously assaulting your taste buds. But what’s even more enjoyable, not to mention rewarding, is when you can participate in a cause that will aid hungry children at the same time.
When you attend the 21st Annual Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation Festival, you will get the exclusive opportunity to experience some of the most scrumptious and highly rated food from the best chefs and restaurants in Los Angeles. Not to mention great wine tastings, incredible silent auction items, and various informative cooking demos.
The 2009 Taste of the Nation is presented by American Express and will be held on Sunday June 14th, in Culver City with the adorable theme, “Sunday at the Park”. Los Angeles’ hottest chefs and restaurants will gather together, united by their passion for flavorful food and helping hungry children. Taste of the Nation Los Angeles is dedicated to raising critical and much needed funds to support the national organization’s efforts to end childhood hunger in both L.A. and across America.
Many of the Chef’s participating in the Festival were very sad to hear that according to the L.A. County Children’s Planning Council, 25%, or 1 out of every 4 children in L.A. County 17 years and under are living in poverty (640,000). Furthermore, over 4,000 children 5 years old and under are homeless on any given night. Needless to say, if they are living in poverty or homeless, they are going hungry.
“As chefs, it is unbearable to imagine children right here in L.A. County unable to get the food and nourishment they need to learn, grow, and thrive,” says Chef Mary Sue Milliken of Border Grill and Ciudad. “Taste of the Nation brings together L.A.’s brightest culinary stars to ensure no kid goes hungry on our watch.”
Over 45 of the city’s finest restaurants and mixologists will participate in a special gastronomic event at the festival, led by Chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger of Border Grill and Ciudad, honoring Chef Nancy Silverton of Mozza for her outstanding contributions to nutritional education and philanthropy. The gastronomic event will also feature on stage cooking demonstrations by Milliken, Feniger, and Michael Mina of XIV, a “Mole Cookoff” hosted by food critic Jonathan Gold, special appearances by Food Network TV personalities, and an enriched VIP experience.
Participating restaurants include The Bazaar at SLS, Tiara Café, Ford’s Filling Station, Locanda Del Lago, Fig, Akasha, Angeli Café, Animal, Church & State, Comme Ca, Craft LA, Fraiche/Riva, Gelato Bar, Grace/BLD, Jar, Joe’s Restaurant/Bar Pintxo, K-Zo, Loteria Grill, Lucques/AOC, M Café/Chaya Brasserie, Melisse, Mozza, Nobu, Palate Food + Wine, Rivera, Susan Feniger’s the Street, The Foundry on Melrose and many more. Guests can expect to enjoy the city’s absolute best cuisine paired with a myriad of wines and other beverages.
The area charities that will benefit from this year’s event Taste of the Nation include the California Association of Food Banks, California Food Policy Advocates, Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger & Homelessness, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and St. Joseph Center. This year guests can even meet the recipients in the Hunger Message booth sponsored by Luxury Life & Style Magazine.
Since its inception 21 years ago, Taste of the Nation has granted $1.4 million to Los Angeles charities and raised more than $70 million for organizations in the United States, Canada and abroad. Taste of the Nation events promote awareness of Share Our Strength’s efforts across the United States. The funds raised through Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation support the most effective organizations that feed hungry children, as well as advocates that are pursuing long-term solutions to the challenge of hunger, both locally and nationally.
Generous support from the following sponsors ensures that 100% of ticket proceeds go to Share Our Strength’s efforts to end childhood hunger in America. Local sponsors include Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, California Olive Ranch, Divine Pasta Company, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, 100.3 The Sound and Web Sponsor TastingTable.com and National sponsors include the SYSCO Corporation and Food Network, Brown-Forman, S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water, and the National Pork
Board. The enhanced VIP experience, sponsored by L.A. Confidential Magazine, will include food by Moonshadows and Xooro; coffee by LA Mill; massage therapists by Spa Promotions and a Spy On Vegas mixologist.
Tickets for Taste of the Nation Los Angeles are $115 General Admission in advance, $125 for General Admission on the day of, and $175 for VIP in advance, $185 on the day of.
Tickets can be purchased by calling or visiting:
1-877-26-Taste
www.tasteofthenation.org.
About Share Our Strength:
Share Our Strength is a national organization working to make sure no child in America grows up hungry. They actively weave a net of community groups, activists and food programs together to catch children at risk of hunger, and surround them with nutritious food where they live, learn, and play. They also work with the culinary industry to create engaging and pioneering programs like Taste of the Nation, Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale, Share Our Strength’s Operation Frontline, and Share Our Strength’s A Tasteful Pursuit.
For more information on Share Our Strength visit:
www.strength.org.
