2017 Taste of the Nation Showcases Celebrity Chefs and Atlanta Faves April 20

Atlanta’s annual Taste of the Nation is always one of the city’s most highly anticipated culinary events. This year promises an even greater abundance of chefs, restaurants, surprises and an intimate VIP Dinner Experience at the Thursday, April 20 extravaganza filling downtown Atlanta’s Southern Exchange at 200 Peachtree. TV personality and restaurateur Cat Cora, who opened Cat Cora’s Kitchen at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in partnership with Hojeij Branded Foods, will serve as the event’s honorary chef. Aria chef Gerry Klaskala, Umi chef Fuyuhiko Ito and Gunshow chef Kevin Gillespie take their talents to the tables for the ultra-exclusive VIP Dinner Experience featuring a multi-course dinner prepared tableside by the chefs and fine wine pairings. Guests opting for the 7-10 p.m. Grand Tasting experience will sample signature fare and spirits from more than 50 of Atlanta’s premier restaurants -- including Cat Cora’s Kitchen, Chicken and the Egg, 5Church, Gypsy Kitchen, Marlow’s Tavern, Seed Kitchen & Bar and Umi -- along with the excitement of auctions, wine tastings and live entertainment. “Cat Cora’s California Trip” is sure to stir a feeding frenzy of hot bidding in the live auction. Taste of the Nation events are held in more than 30 cities across the nation. Proceeds support Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign to end childhood hunger in the U.S.A. Buy Grand Tasting experience tickets here, $250 per person.
 

Application Deadline for No Kid Hungry Society is Dec. 15

Apply to be in the No Kid Hungry Atlanta Society Class of 2017! No Kid Hungry Atlanta Society members work to help raise funds with support and coaching from Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry representatives. It’s not all work though, as the group comes together to enjoy curated culinary events such as cooking classes with top chefs, networking events at popular bars and lunch with community and professional leaders. Prospective members will learn more about the hidden epidemic of hunger in America and how Share Our Strength and No Kid Hungry are working to end hunger. Learn more and apply online by Dec. 15. This year’s class will be celebrated at Atlanta’s 29^th Annual Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry in April 2017.

Share Our Strength Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry Fills Tanks at Georgia Aquarium May 7

The Georgia Aquarium aquatic tanks are full, and the fish are well fed. The issue is filling the tummy tanks of hungry children across the U.S. with nourishing food -- the ultimate goal of Share Our Strength’s Atlanta Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry on Thursday, May 7. While guests in the Georgia Aquarium Oceans Ballroom are there to help raise funds for this mission, they’ll be able to sample their fill of signature dishes and drinks prepared by 50 of Atlanta’s top chefs and mixologists including those from Aria, Marlow’s Tavern, Ray’s Restaurants, Seed Kitchen & Bar, Stem Wine Bar and Umi, and they’ll enjoy more than a splash of fine wines from around the world. Great “see” life as well: looking at life through the ballroom’s huge water window, absorbing live music vibes, and auction bidding on wines, world-class trips, dining and culinary experiences and other luxury items. Event honorary chair is Dr. Sanjay Gupta, neurosurgeon and CNN chief medical correspondent. Buy tickets online: VIP is $350, for 6-10 p.m. admission; General is $250 person, for 7-10 p.m. admission. Attendees must be 21 years or older.

Eat and Greet with Atlanta’s Best Restaurants during Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation Atlanta at the Georgia Aquarium on May 8

More than 50 of Atlanta’s top restaurants, including Aria, Aqua blue, Gunshow, JCT. Kitchen & Bar, Marlow’s Tavern and Umi, are participating in Share Our Strength’s 26th annual Taste of the Nation Atlanta at the Georgia Aquarium on Thursday, May 8. The city’s premiere culinary benefit generates a strong fundraising flow into Share Our Strength’s efforts to alleviate child hunger in the U.S. While helping these good works, guests will sample restaurant specialties, sip award-winning wines, collect rare wines in the beverage auction, bid on luxurious trips and dining experiences and enjoy live music until the evening winds down at 10 p.m. VIP tickets are $350 each and enable 6:30 p.m. entry. General admission tickets are $250 each for 7:30 p.m. entry.

Join Aria, Woodfire Grill and Many More for Taste of the Nation at Georgia Aquarium on April 11

Chefs from more than 50 of Atlanta's top restaurants, including Aria and Woodfire Grill, will serve their specialties at the 25th Annual Taste of the Nation Atlanta filling up the Georgia Aquarium on Thursday, April 11. A nationwide culinary benefit, Share our Strength's Taste of the Nation plays a huge part in achieving the organization's goal to end childhood hunger in America. Guests will have plenty of opportunities to bid in live, silent and wine auctions while enjoying unlimited food, wine and beverage tastings and live music. Honorary chairs are Governor Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal and John Mariani, Esquire food and travel columnist for the last 30 years. VIP ticket holders enter at 6:30 p.m.; general admission ticket holders enter at 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets online: VIP tickets are $350 each, and general admission tickets are $250 each. Black tie optional for guests, however, not for the penguins.

Help End Childhood Hunger with the Help of Atlanta's Finest Restaurants

Hunger pangs are one thing, the constant gnawing and nutritional deficiency of childhood hunger is totally different and can cause children to fall behind in many aspects of living, growing and learning. Taste of the Nation took root in 1988 to raise funds to help end childhood hunger throughout the U.S. On Thursday, April 12, chefs from 50 of Atlanta's top restaurants - including Aqua blue, Aria, Kaleidoscope, Marlow's Tavern and Woodfire Grill - will gather at the Georgia Aquarium for Atlanta's own Taste of the Nation event. The night holds cuisine samples, wine tastings and live entertainment along with live, silent and wine auctions crammed with luxurious goods and experiences (sneak peek here). NYC-based chef, cookbook author and "Top Chef Masters" 2011 winner Floyd Cardoz serves as honorary chef, and The Cook's Warehouse is one of the event sponsors. Purchase tickets online. A $350 VIP ticket buys more time to taste and shop from 6:30 - 10 p.m. General admission is $250 per person for entry from 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Taste of the Nation 2011

There is a special place in my heart for Taste of the Nation, one of Atlanta's premier foodie events of the year. As a fundraiser for Share Our Strength, Taste of the Nation has been helping end childhood hunger among American children for 23 years. This will be my fifth year helping with the event by working on the restaurant committee. Getting an inside look at the hard work and planning that go into an event like this has been such an amazing and inspiring experience. The dedication from Share Our Strength's volunteers and from Atlanta's chefs is a clear sign of how deliciously fun this year's event will be.

This year's fundraiser is slated for Thursday, April 14 at the Georgia Aquarium and will honor chefs, like Aria Executive Chef/Owner Gerry Klaskala, who have supported Taste of the Nation Atlanta for 10 years or more. More than 50 of Atlanta's top restaurants will be on hand with flavorful dishes and wonderful wines, including Aqua blue, Aria, Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse, Marlow's Tavern and Woodfire Grill.

Tickets can be purchased online. General admission is $250 for the 7:30 - 10:00 p.m. gala. VIP ticket purchasers ($350 per person) enter at 6:30 p.m. for the preview party.

Chefs Know How to Party!

Yesterday, I attended Share Our Stength's Taste of the Nation event. I had been looking forward to the event, held at the Georgia Aquarium, for quite some time. Participating chefs included John Metz of Aqua Blue; Gerry Klaskala of Aria; Micah Willix of Ecco; Keira Moritz of Pacci (pictured below), Kevin Rathbun and Scott Serpas.
While I had a great time rubbing elbows the likes of Kenny Rogers and his lovely wife Wanda (below), and “sampled” much more than I should have, there is another, less publicized part of the evening that stole the show for me.
The chef after party is where the chefs go to let their hair down, and apparently, let their diets down, too. The night was full of catching up with old friends, making new ones and relaxing after a great Taste of the Nation event.
On the menu: Cheese Wiz and crackers, Slim Jims, Pringles, Gummy Bears on a stick, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, pimento cheese sandwiches, Ho-Hos, Twinkies, Little Debbie Oatmeal sandwiches and Cracker Jacks. But, the night was all about everyone’s favorite menu item: Jell-o shots with Pop Rocks!! Who’d have thought a childhood candy like that could be the star of a party of chefs!?
With a menu that sounds eerily like my 9th birthday sleepover, a room full of chefs and a belly full of tastings from Atlanta’s most celebrated chefs, I had a full night! Can’t wait until next year; I heart chefs!

Herding Cattle

Last week I got to help coordinate the chef photo for this year's Taste of the Nation participants. Of the 40+ chefs participating in this year's event 34 made it to the photo shoot!! Thought you would like to see some of the "before" photos.

Getting Ready for Taste of the Nation '09

For the second year in a row, I will be co-chairing the restaurant committee for Share Our Strength's annual Taste of the Nation event. Talk about fun volunteer work! This has always been one of my favorite events to attend - all the best restaurants are there, the Aquarium is a killer setting and they always have a fun honorary chef (last year was Tom Colicchio!).

Last night was the first planning meeting of the year. There are some great new restaurants attending the event for the first time this year and an honorary chef that I am excited to meet (stay tuned to find out who...)! So mark your calendars for Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at the Georgia Aquarium.

Next up for the restaurant committee - getting 40+ chefs to show up on the same day and time for a group photo. No easy feat I assure you!

Me, Tom Colicchio and a Taste of the Nation

Oh yes, that is me and celeb chef Tom Colicchio standing arm in arm at last night's Taste of the Nation event at the Georgia Aquarium. Talk about a good time! This was the 20th anniversary of this event, and every year it is a huge funraiser for Share Our Strength.

There were more than 50 of Atlanta's best restaurants present last night, and the food was exceptional. Some of the most memorable dishes for me were The Globe's green curry & coconut soup shooter, Aria's housemade pork schnitzel with tomato ginger jam, Beleza's tuna & watermelon skewer, and, my favorite, Craft's braised pork lettuce wraps.

Now, I know what you really want to know is, where was honorary guest chef Tom Colicchio during this full-house event? He was standing at Craft's table all night, shaking hands, taking photos and serving up lettuce wraps. He even auctioned off his chef's coat from the evening. Poor man must have been asked a million times if Richard Blais will win this season's Top Chef. Chef Colicchio held his tongue and didn't give away any secrets.

The evening ended with a exceptional live auction. The highest auctioned item was a special Atlanta Chef's dinner for 11 at home. The dinner included the participation of some of Atlanta's most darling chefs - Gerry Klaskala, Gary Mennie, Carvel Grant Gould, etc. The bidding got so high that the chefs actually huddled on stage, mid-bid, and declared they were changing the dinner from 11 guests to 14. Then Ted Turner, honorary chairperson for this year's event, chimed in and offered to match the top bid. In the end, the dinner went for $17,000! Incredible!