Tag Archives: Taste of the Nation

Feeding Children

June 16, 2011 – 12:37 pm

When I arrived to America, at the age of three, I barely weighed 20 pounds.  The clothing I was wearing was meant for a one year old.  On the immigration paperwork for the adoption proceedings of my siblings and me, a box was checked next to “Malnutrition”.

We, as humans, tend to take food for granted.

Unless, we don’t have access to it.

Hunger doesn’t happen just over the ocean.  It happens right here.  In the Twin Cities.  Maybe even on your block.

Share Our Strength is an organization dedicated to putting an end to child hunger.  One of the biggest fundraisers of the year is the Taste of the Nation HOTList, which is put on by some of the top chefs in Minneapolis (not to mention, many of my favorites).

Tickets can be purchased at Ttasteofthenation.org/minneapolis. Space is limited. Taste of the Nation HOTlist is Thursday, June 23, 2011 at the Guthrie Theater (www.guthrietheater.org) from 6:00-10:00 p.m.  Taste of the Nation HOTlist is sponsored by American Express, Sysco, Food Network, and Brown-Forman.  Local sponsors of the event include Tastefully Simple (Presenting Sponsor), Groupon Now (Chefs After Party Sponsor), Target, Goose Island, Death’s Door Spirits and METRO Magazine.

 Participating chefs/mixologists include:

  • Jim Christiansen (Il Gatto)
  • Issac Becker (Bar La Grassa)
  • Kevin Kathman (Barbette)
  • Mathew Bickford and Michael Ryan (Be’Wiched)
  •  Andy Vyskocil (Bradstreet Crafthouse)
  • Alex Roberts (Brasa)
  •  John Occhiato (Cosmos)
  • Jack Riebel (Dakota Jazz Club)
  • Stewart and Heidi Woodman (Heidi’s)
  • Mike DeCamp & Johnny Michaels (La Belle Vie)
  • Alex Chase (Masu Sushi and Robata)
  • Russell Klein (Meritage)
  • Mixology by Bradstreet Crafthouse
  • Pip Hanson (Marvel Bar)
  • Michelle Gayer (Salty Tart)
  • Tim McKee (Sea Change)
  • J.D. Franske (Strip Club)

I’ve posted some pictures provided by Share Our Strength from last year’s event.  It was an absolute blast and the food was great.

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The HotList

June 25, 2010 – 4:24 pm

Last night’s Share Our Strength Taste of the Nation event was really quite fun, not to mention yummy. The chefs participating were of amazing caliber!

Saffron Restaurant: Laughing Bird shrimp with golden beets, preserved lemon and lobster roe. The golden beets were sliced in thin ribbons mimicking pasta.

Sea Change: Sea trout rillette with trout roe and radish served with a crispy cracker. Fun presentation and surprisingly very light.

La Belle Vie: Foie gras, lettuce and tomato with pickled aioli. Basically YC’s version of a BLT.

Solera: Laughing Bird shrimp with sugar snap peas (purchased from a local farmer) and braised artichoke.

Grand Cafe: Thousand Hills strip with braised greens in a Parmesan green garlic sauce with baby red potato and pickled ramps.

Dakota: Steamed bun with barbeque pork, cilantro, pickled cabbage and Thai chili.

20.21: Banh Mi Sandwich of sesame-onion marinated pork loin, pickled carrots and daikon, aioli, scallion and cilantro with vinaigrette. This was just added to the 20.21 menu.

Brasa: Smoked pork loin with herbs and pickled jalapeno and smoked pork belly with cucumber and scallions. James Beard Award winning Chef Alex Roberts has a smoker in the restaurant, so he can smoke his own pork.

The Strip Club: Puff pastry with a hard cooked egg and curried yolk with salmon.

Moto-i: House-made steamed hoisin pork buns.

Haute: Tater Tot Hot Dish with short ribs, green beans and mushrooms and croquetta. This was the winning dish according to the guests.

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Taste of the Nation!

June 22, 2010 – 12:39 pm

I hope to see you there!

Taste of the Nation – Thursday, June 24th at the Guthrie Theatre

Share Our Strength Minneapolis’ HotList event raises much needed dollars for hunger organizations across the country as well as in the Twin Cities. 100% of ticket sales go to relief efforts with over 70% of proceeds staying in the Twin Cities.

The event features 13 of the Twin Cities Best Restaurants, including Bar La Grassa, La Belle Vie, Brasa, Saffron and more (including the new Haute Dish which I’ve been dying to try) , all providing small plates of their best dishes. We are also featuring three of the best mixologists, including Johnny Michaels from La Belle Vie and Pip Hanson from Cafe Maude. There will be music, food and fabulous people, oh, and let’s not forget an open bar! – all for a good cause; what is not to love!?

Here are the details:

HotList Event
Guthrie Theatre
June 24th, 2010
6:00-11:00pm
Ticket price: $58

Tickets are available for purchase at strength.org/minneapolis

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Taste of the Nation

May 19, 2010 – 11:37 am

Since 1988, Share our Strength has been putting on Taste of the Nation events that raise critical funds for the most effective nonprofit organizations working to end childhood hunger. The Taste of the Nation Minneapolis’ HOTlist event has been one of the 40 by premier culinary events across the United States and Canada supporting Share Our Strength’s efforts by ensuring 100% of event ticket sales go toward ending childhood hunger in and around the Twin Cities.

Please join us for the HOTList event at the Guthrie Theatre on Thursday, June 24 from 6 -11 p.m. This highly attended event sold-out in 2009. The HOTlist 2010 will feature small plates from 15 top restaurants generously donating their culinary talents as well as a premium drink selection of Brown-Forman cocktails to offer food and drink lovers a rare and affordable opportunity to experience the best in the Twin Cities restaurant scene — all in one night.

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