Taste of the Nation

Okay, Portland foodies - if you're anything like me, you agonize over the decision of what new restaurant to try every time you go out to eat. If you pick a dud, you won't know until you've gotten there and spent time and money you won't get back. How can you know ahead of time - first hand - what a place is like?

You can go to Taste of the Nation on Monday, April 24.

Chris and I went to Taste of the Nation two years ago, I think, and we really loved it. There are 70 restaurants and 50 beverage purveyors present, all putting their best feet forward. You can meander from table to table, sampling a bit here and a bit there, and plot your next full-on dinner outing.

But perhaps the best part of the whole thing is that 100% of the ticket sales and auction proceeds benetif the fight to end hunger. It's a "Share Our Strength" event, and the beneficiaries include Oregon Food Bank, Sisters of the Road Cafe, The Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force, Klamath-Lake Counties Food bank and St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank/Food Train. It's the "largest nationwide culinary benefit supporting anti-hunger and anti-poverty efforts."

For more details about the event, check out the website; but the basics are as follows:

Monday, April 24, 2006
Oregon Convention Center
6-9pm (VIPs get in an hour early to sample special foods)
Call 503.222.4644
Tickets are:
VIP $95 - Advance Sales Only ($65 tax deductible)
General Admission $70 ($45 tax deductible)
At the Door $80 ($55 tax deductible)