Share our Strength: Taste of the Nation Event - ever been?

Share our Strength: Taste of the Nation Event

I've seen this annual event hosted and have always been curious. Has anyone ever been? What can be expected at the event in terms of food offerings, atmosphere, etc?

Taste of the Nation Chicago
August 13, 2009
The Ravenswood Billboard Factory
4025 North Ravenswood Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60613
Buy your ticket to the hottest food and wine event of 2009 and help fight childhood hunger.

Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation® is the nation's premier culinary benefit, featuring top chefs and mixologists -- all of whom are coming together to donate their time, talent and passion to end childhood hunger in America.

Please join host and 2009 Taste of the Nation Chicago Chair Chef Mindy Segal (HotChocolate Restaurant and Dessert Bar) for the premiere culinary tasting event in the city. The evening will feature over 25 of Chicago's best chefs, mixologists (led by Bridget Albert), Craft Beers, entertainment and much more.

Event Attire is Upscale Casual

I haven't been to the one in Chicago, but I did go to one in Phoenix/Scottsdale. It was like the Green City Market BBQ, without the emphasis on local produce and there was no cooking outside. There were also drawings and give-aways from commercial sponsors - we got little packets of coffee and liquers and discount coupons from Illy and there were cooking demos from high-end appliance manufacturers. It was a lot of fun. Most people seemed to be dressed up a bit, cocktail dresses.

leek wrote:I haven't been to the one in Chicago, but I did go to one in Phoenix/Scottsdale. It was like the Green City Market BBQ, without the emphasis on local produce and there was no cooking outside. There were also drawings and give-aways from commercial sponsors - we got little packets of coffee and liquers and discount coupons from Illy and there were cooking demos from high-end appliance manufacturers. It was a lot of fun. Most people seemed to be dressed up a bit, cocktail dresses.

Thank you leek! I had such a great time at the Annual BBQ I just might attend this event.

leek wrote: It was like the Green City Market BBQ,...

at nearly 3 times the price.

Even though my wife says I have great legs, I refuse to wear a cocktail dress.

Dave, you could though.

Yes, but then she'd make me wear heels.....

foodie1 wrote:Share our Strength: Taste of the Nation Event

I've seen this annual event hosted and have always been curious. Has anyone ever been? What can be expected at the event in terms of food offerings, atmosphere, etc?

Taste of the Nation Chicago
August 13, 2009
The Ravenswood Billboard Factory
4025 North Ravenswood Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60613
Buy your ticket to the hottest food and wine event of 2009 and help fight childhood hunger.

Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation® is the nation's premier culinary benefit, featuring top chefs and mixologists -- all of whom are coming together to donate their time, talent and passion to end childhood hunger in America.

Please join host and 2009 Taste of the Nation Chicago Chair Chef Mindy Segal (HotChocolate Restaurant and Dessert Bar) for the premiere culinary tasting event in the city. The evening will feature over 25 of Chicago's best chefs, mixologists (led by Bridget Albert), Craft Beers, entertainment and much more.

Event Attire is Upscale Casual

i used to be on the committee that organized the annual 'taste of the nation' fundraiser. for many years it was held at the union league club. it was a very lavish party with delicious food and prominent chefs participating. it is also a tremendously worthy cause. every penny of the admission goes to support 'share our strength' which fights hunger across america.
as it happens, i just won 2 VIP tickets to the dinner. i'm delighted to be going. i won a little contest sponsored by New York magazine, looking for a favorite childhood food memory. if anyone else is going, let me know (PM me), if you like, so we can say hello. justjoan

last nights chef tasting and dessert lounge to raise funds for 'share our strength' was a stupendous event. the restaurants participating were some of the best in the area, including signature room, perennial, charlie trotter, sofitel, cibo matto, c.house, province, the gage, the bristol, 160blue, mk, hotchocolate, sepia, wave, the drawing room. it was exactly like being in (my idea of) heaven! the event was held at the ravenswood events center, which is one of my favorite venues in the city. (see link below). i can't recommend them too highly. 3 floors, outdoor terraces, great views, lots of flexible space. and while the event was jumping, there were no lines, not for the abundant cocktails, beer or food stations. and the food..... if i had any complaints, which i don't, it'd be that there was too much pork. because of it's overabundance, i think my favorite dish was sola's black cod with miso. there was also an amazing handrolled ricotta cavatelli with wild mushrooms; urbanbelly's delicious eggplant; roasted prawns; braised pork shoulder; duck ravioli; braised goat, and my other favorite, vie's creamy eggs, greens and toast. the last was very rustic, but oh so good.
in the dessert lounge, mado offered a simple, simply delicious cooked italian plum on creme fraiche with roasted cocoa nibs. also there were hoosier mama, the sweet collective, bleeding heart, sofitel (with some great chocolate).
this event comes 'round every year. i hope i've inspired more people to attend. you can eat well and do good at the same time. justjoan

http://www.ravenswoodeventcenter.com//event_spaces.html