Thanks to Foodbuzz, there was one ticket waiting at will-call for Chrystal at the Orange Country “Taste of the Nation” event in Newport Beach on Friday, May 1st. The event was sponsored by Share Our Strength, an organization that aims to end child hunger all over the United States. When we first heard of Share Our Strength, admittedly, it was only a few months ago. We were unaware of this huge fund raising power working nation wide to eradicate child hunger through community service, corporate and non-profit partnerships, culinary fund raising and educational programs. When the opportunity presented itself to attend an evening of food and drink featuring some of Southern California’s best and brightest restaurants in Orange County, it was a yes all the way.
After a quick (in LA standards) hour and fifteen minute drive through typical Friday night traffic, there it was. The Island Hotel at Fashion Island was the location for the evening’s affair. The comp ticket was waiting at the check-in, and from there it was just a matter of walking through the doors. The room was a mad house of roving attendees walking around each eatery’s set up and of course the long auction table of goodies. White linen covered tables of samples from over 30 participating vendors, bartenders mixing specialty cocktails, wineries pouring samples of their best bottles and servers whizzing by with mini tasting glasses and nibbles. The atmosphere was frenzied, to say the least! Feeling slightly overwhelmed, the only thing left to do was pick up a plate and glass and start at the closest table.
The entire evening consisted of bits and bites of everything! It felt very ironic to see many plates of wasted food at an event to end child hunger, so the goal was to get very small samples whenever possible in order to avoid wasting anything. Share Your Strength is an admirable organization that obviously works hard to fight child hunger. There are events across the nation through late August, so if you are able to attend, don’t hesitate to purchase a ticket. It is a worthy cause, that’s for sure.
Circling the white tented venue for an hour and a half, the amount of food at the event was astounding. As performers sang and the crowd moved through the space, the swelling boom of music and chattering and the whirling scent of dishes made the evening go by in a flash. Here’s just a small peek at what was available:
Creme brulee, Orange Hill
Goat cheese and mango on crackers with tomato and beef stacks
Mushroom stuffed scallops, Orange Hill
Oven roasted vegetables, Pizzeria Ortica
Macaroni and cheese, The Island Hotel
Chilean sea bass with curry coconut sauce, S Vietnamese
Seafood of the future
Finlandia drinks for all
Grilled shrimp, Gyu-Kaku
Salmon cups, Jay’s Catering
The finest of wines
Korean beef tacos, Sage on the Coast
Bacon-wrapped filet mignon
Tomato salsa on tempura zucchini and pea soup
Zipang cold sake
Salmon with basil aioli over mashed potatoes with berry pie, Nirvana Grille
Tuna tartare with pine nuts, Roy’s Fish & Seafood
Sadie Rose breads
Tempura asparagus rolls, Blue Fin
Mini burgers, The Crow Bar
The table for Stella Artois
Basil grilled cheese, Pascal
“Taste of the Nation” comes to Los Angeles on June 14. If anyone has an extra ticket, one of us will gladly be your date for the evening! Check out Share Our Strength for more on the organization.
37 responses so far ↓
sarah // May 11, 2009 at 3:06 pm
WOW! Orange County doesn’t mess around. This looks good! Mushroom stuffed scallops, Korean beef tacos I’m in heaven just reading this post.
I bet the LA Taste of the Nation is just as good. I’m so glad you got to go!
Bren // May 11, 2009 at 8:43 am
i so wish Atlanta would have had a festival as well. it’s such a great thing!
sapuche // May 9, 2009 at 11:03 pm
This sounds like a wonderful event, and I hope you have the chance to attend more of these in the future. The food you photographed looked insanely good, and hopefully the event will end up helping a lot of people. I’m glad you could go!
Carolyn Jung // May 9, 2009 at 1:13 pm
What a feast! And I’m jealous you got to nosh on those Korean tacos — the new rage in the culinary world.
Colleen // May 7, 2009 at 7:04 pm
so you donate a bunch of money and in return you get to feel good and wander around and eat elegant whores doovers? I could dig that.
lisa (dandysugar) // May 7, 2009 at 6:22 pm
What a great cause and FABULOUS looking food! Thank you for putting together such an amazing review!
Michael JB // May 7, 2009 at 5:09 pm
so glad you went to this! i’ll try to make the LA one. certainly a great cause, and certainly great food. STEEEEEELLLAAAAAAAAAAAA!
unconfidentialcook // May 7, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Wow, what a spread…and for such a good cause. Thanks for stopping by, and please do come again.
Diana // May 7, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Oh my gosh… everything looks amazing! I can’t believe all that food! I bet it was a blast!
P.S. So impressed you made it down to OC in an hour and 15 on a Friday night!
Olga // May 7, 2009 at 11:25 am
Congratulations on winning! The food looks amazing.
I’m actually going to one of these events in June in DC and am super nervous about mingling w/others. If you have any advice, can you please email me directly at orchidgirl1979 at gmail? Thanks!!!
Jessica@FoodMayhem // May 7, 2009 at 11:19 am
Wow, lots of the food looks really great.
I’ve often thought about the same thing…all these food events to fight hunger always makes me feel a bit weird…
Chanda // May 7, 2009 at 10:09 am
On behalf of Share our Strength, we are happy that you enjoyed the event and thank you for your wonderful post! visit the Share our Strength profile on “Foodbuzz.com”:http://www.foodbuzz.com/brands/producer/share+our+strength
noble pig // May 7, 2009 at 8:51 am
The Orange Hill is where we used to go for Prom for dinner before going to the dance! Fun event.
Daily Spud // May 7, 2009 at 8:51 am
I would just love if Foodbuzz could organise events like this in Dublin so that I’d have some chance of going
Dana // May 7, 2009 at 8:24 am
I loved reading about this!
Chef E // May 7, 2009 at 7:14 am
You guys do the coolest things over here… I gave my pass away to a NYC ‘dogblog’, but more events have been coming my way lately…
I have to go check out the ‘Orange You Glad’ post now
Jenn@slim-shoppin // May 7, 2009 at 6:57 am
You aren’t kidding about the amount of food available!
Everything looks delicious. I never heard of that charity either until Food Buzz!
What a great cause, and one that is definitely needed!
Kim, Ordinary Recipes Made Gourmet // May 7, 2009 at 5:02 am
Oh my my my! I wouldn’t know where to start first with that lovely food, well maybe the salmon cups! You know salmon’s my favorite fish, then I’d follow it up w/the shrimp & roasted veggies! hee hee! And all for such a worthy cause. I’m so glad you got to go girl!
donna // May 7, 2009 at 3:47 am
Looks like an incredible event. How nice to attend. The food looks fabulous as well!!
Sophie // May 6, 2009 at 11:41 pm
MMMMMM…the food looks excellent: what a lovely & great review!!!!
Bob // May 6, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Basil grilled cheese! Awesome! The whole thing looks like it was fun.
Nila Rosa // May 6, 2009 at 9:27 pm
All of this looks amazing. It’s weird to me how a benefit to help child hunger offers so many different dishes. It all looks great tho. The tuna tartare caught my eye for some reason.
Great coverage.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella // May 6, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Wow, that looks like an incredible event indeed!
Everything looks so mouthwatering…
Pam // May 6, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Lucky! What I would give to have a tester of all those great foods. Yum!
Reeni // May 6, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Were you stuffed by the end of the night? Such delicious delights!! And for a great cause.
bloggingdogg // May 6, 2009 at 3:28 pm
lucky chrystal – what a nice array of foods and all for a great cause – foodbuzz rocks and duodishes rocks!
Kathy - Panini Happy // May 6, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Wasn’t this an amazing opportunity? Foodbuzz sent me to the San Diego event on Sunday – I agree the volume of food was overwhelming. It looks like the OC event definitely did not disappoint!
breadplusbutter // May 6, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I wish I had been able to attend. I’m glad your guys were able to go enjoy some good food and for a worthy cause. Thanks for sharing those photos.
lo // May 6, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Foodbuzz really does rock.
And so does this event. Who can argue with so much great food in one place? Huzzah.
Hélène // May 6, 2009 at 2:31 pm
I’m so jalous. That’s super. I wish I was there.
Vik // May 6, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Damnit to HELL! I sooooo wish I could have accompanied you. All of that food looks simply delicious. Were you able to finagle recipes from anyone?
Oh and that is an absolutely awesome cause. Is this nationwide?
Victoria // May 6, 2009 at 1:42 pm
OMG I’m so jealous! That food looks amazing!!
Jessie // May 6, 2009 at 1:26 pm
You guys are so lucky that you got to attend, that is a lot of food! everything looks so good
Gera @ SweetsFoods // May 6, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Fun, fun and adorable food, anything more on this event? I need an event near my country lol fast!
Cheers!
Gera
CourtJ // May 6, 2009 at 1:06 pm
My goodness, this looks unreal! We have thought about advertizing for food buzz, but really, there are not events like this in Edmonton to ever get sent to. I keep looking trying to decide which little plate looks the best, but there are so many!!!
5 Star Foodie // May 6, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Wonderful event and so many delicious eats!
Kristin // May 6, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Foodbuzz rocks! Thanks to my association with them, I have a pass to the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago! I hope my experience and coverage is as great as yours!!