Chef David Turin, far right, of David’s Restaurants with some of his crew, including bar manager Patrick Ryan Morang, far left, at the 2012 Taste of the Nation.
Photo by Ted Axelrod for Share Our Strength Maine
It is the food event of the summer. And, in addition to being a great time, it makes a big difference in the lives of the 1 in 4 children in Maine who don’t know where their next meal is coming from.
Share Our Strength Maine’s 9th annual Taste of the Nation is Sunday, June 29 at Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth. In a seaside setting offering breathtaking views of the Portland Head Light and the open Atlantic, an impressive roster of Maine’s culinary talent will offer their signature dishes, accompanied by wine, beer and cocktails.
The event begins at 4:30 p.m., with a VIP reception beginning at 3 p.m. In addition to food and drink, Taste of the Nation includes live and silent auctions, as well as music by DJ Jon of Hot 104.9.
New this year: several of Maine’s craft breweries — Allagash, Rising Tide, Funky Bow, Peak Organic, Banded Horn, Baxter, Sebago and Shipyard — plus Boston Beer Co., will be paired with select chefs. Signature cocktails will be shaken and stirred by mixologists from Salvage BBQ, David’s Restaurants and Zapoteca.
Tickets are $125 and VIP tickets are $200. They can be purchased at tasteofthenation.org/maine.
Thanks to the restaurants, event sponsors, and the all-volunteer Taste of the Nation committee, the cost to produce this event is low, allowing the majority of the proceeds to be distributed to four of the most effective anti-hunger organizations working to feed hungry children in Maine: Opportunity Alliance, Good Shepherd Food Bank, Cultivating Community and Preble Street Teen Center. Last year, Taste of the Nation Maine raised more than $170,000 for their important work.
Here’s the line-up of participating restaurants and food businesses:
Taste of the Nation Maine is one of more than 40 Taste of the Nation events across the country, sponsored nationally by American Express, Sysco and Food Network. Local sponsors are: Bill Dodge Auto Group; Hannaford; Maine Magazine; Maine Innkeepers Association; Maine Restaurant Association; Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical Associates; Power Pay; and US Hotels.