FoodBuzz – 2009 Taste The Nation Seattle

Last Thursday I had the privilege of covering Share Our Strength’s Taste The Nation, a premier culinary event on behalf of Foodbuzz.com. The timing of the event couldn’t have been better considering the day before Seattle reached a record breaking temperature of 103 degrees. During the bus ride downtown the anticipation of the event began to grow bigger and bigger. I wondered what types of food and drinks I would partake in and how nice it would be to cool down inside air-conditioned Benaroya Hall.

Once I arrived I was excited to see all the restaurants and wineries represented. What I needed was a plan, what I wanted was dessert. As I glanced over each table I found myself stopping in front of Poppy Restaurant’s ice cream sundae table hosted by none other than Poppy’s Pasty Chef, Dana Cree. Although I have never dined inside Poppy, Dana Cree’s desserts are legendary among Seattle’s fooderati consisting of well known food writers, chefs, and authors.  Her cinnamon-basil ice cream sundae with black and blueberries topped with hazelnut streusel was unforgettable.  It’ no wonder everyone raves about Dana Cree’s desserts.

After eating dessert I was ready to enjoy the rest of the evening.  I walked around to each table sampling savory bites and sipping wine from Seattle’s top restaurants and Washington wineries.  Below are several of the restaurants represented that evening along with their offerings.

Cellars Restaurant

Library Bistro and Bookstore Bar

Chef Ethan Stowell and his lovely wife Angela Stowell of Anchovies & Olives

Dahlia Lounge

Cafe Campagne

Barrio

Cedargreen Cellers

Theo Chocolate

Tini Bigs

Tulio

Wolfgang Puck Catering

Taste The Nation Seattle

Silent and Live Auction benefiting Share Our Strength – Up for bid, Tom Douglas Triple Coconut Pie.  Winning bid was $400.

As I visited different tables it was clearly evident how much each restaurateur supported the cause of Share Our Strength’s mission statement of “No Kid Hungry”.  More than 12 million children in America are at risk of hunger.  Share Our Strength partners with different corporations, raises funds, and provides education programming which teaches families how to prepare healthy, low-cost meals.  To learn more about Share Our Strength and how you can make a difference please visit their site here.

Thank you to FoodBuzz.com for the opportunity to Taste The Nation.