Taste of the Nation, Share Our Strength’s annual gathering of community chefs to raise money and awareness for childhood hunger, will be held August 9, 2014, from 6:45 to 10 p.m. at the Orlando Marriott World Center Marriott. I’m very sorry to report that this is the 25th anniversary of the event.
That means that another year has gone by without making enough inroads to end childhood hunger. Frankly, it’s an embarrassment for a country like ours. But let’s keep trying. The bulk of the money raised at the event goes to the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida and Second Harvest Food Bank. Tickets are $150 per person, and for that you get to taste the food of some of the area’s top chefs, who all donate their time, talent and ingredients for the cause.
See below for a full list of participating restaurants, but one you may be particularly interested in is Soco, the restaurant that will move into the former HUE Restaurant space in downtown Orlando’s Thornton Park district in September. This will be the first preview of the food that executive chef Greg Richie will be serving there. I’ve tasted the dish (parent company TPRG is a client of Scott Joseph Company’s consulting services) and its one of my favorites from the menu. Also participating in TOTN is Capa from the soon-to-open Four Seasons Resort Orlando.
There will be plenty to eat and plenty to drink, but getting your money’s worth isn’t the point here. Let’s all get together to make certain there isn’t a 26th Taste of the nation. Go to the Taste of the Nation Orlando website for more information and to purchase tickets.
Here’s the full list of participating restaurants:
Bahama Breeze
BB Kings Blues Club
Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine
Cafe Tu Tu Tango
Capa at Four Seasons Resort Orlando
The Capital Grille
Captain’s Grille at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Cress Restaurant
Crimson Tavern at Orlando Airport Marriott
Cuisiniers Catering
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
Emeril’s Orlando
Emeril’s Tchoup Chop
Empress Sissi Cake & Pastry Specialties
FreshPoint
Journeys Catering
JW Marriott Orlando – Grande Lakes
K Restaurant and Wine Bar
Kobe Japanese Steakhouse
LongHorn Steakhouse
Marlow’s Tavern
Pirate Chefs of Central Florida sponsored by Nestlé Professional
Orlando World Center Marriott
Red Wing Restaurant
Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
SeaWorld Orlando
Second Harvest Food Bank – Culinary Training Program
Soco Southern Contemporary Cuisine
RA Sushi
Rosen Shingle Creek – A Land Remembered
Rosen Shingle Creek – Cala Bella Restaurant
Sushi Pop Restaurant
Taverna Opa
Three2OH
T-Rex Orlando at Downtown Disney
