Florida’s finest culinary event returns, Chefs unite to fight hunger
By Kenny Spahn
Attention fellow Foodies, wine lovers, and general partygoers of all sorts – the BIG one is almost here. Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation is the venerable granddaddy of culinary events, with similar culinary events taking place every year in various cities throughout the U.S. – and the South Florida Taste is always one of the biggest and best in the country. Now celebrating its 31st consecutive year, the big bash happens Friday, May 17 at the Ice Palace Films Studios in Miami’s artsy Wynwood district.
Here’s where foodies and wine lovers from all over south Florida, along with top chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, mixologists, craft beer and liquor reps, and other culinarians unite in a spectacular evening of gourmet tastings, fine wines & spirits, live entertainment, and general frivolity – all to benefit Share Our Strength, with ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of the proceeds going directly to its noble No Kid Hungry campaign to end childhood hunger in America.
Chef Chair Timon Balloo of SUGARCANE Raw Bar Grill will again take the lead, along with Co-Chairs Cesar Zapata of Phuc Yea, Paula DaSilva of The Ritz-Carlton Ft. Lauderdale, and Alex Kuk and Diego Ng of Temple Street Eatery. And this year’s lineup of all-star chefs looks bigger and better than ever, with over 60 of the area’s top establishments participating, including: 3030 Ocean, 4 Rivers Smokehouse, American Social, Area 31, Ariete, Bar Collins, Beaker & Gray, Bird & Bone at The Confidante, Bourbon Steak, Bubbles + Pearls, Burlock Coast, Cafe La Trova, Chi Fa, Concrete Beach Brewery, CORSAIR Kitchen & Bar, Cvltvra, Dōma restaurant, DUNE at Auberge Beach, EDGE Steak & Bar, Fooq’s, Freestyle, Gold Marquess Fine Chinese Cuisine, House of Per’La, International Smoke, ITAMAE, J. Wakefield Brewing, Kuro at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, KYU, La Mar by Gaston Acurio, La Placita, Le Zoo, Lightkeepers, Lobster Bar Sea Grille, Lona Cocina y Tequileria, Lure Fishbar, M House Restaurant, MACCHIALINA, NightLife Brewing Co., No Name Chinese, Novecento, Obra Miami, Phuc Yea, Pink Pie, R House Wynwood, Rusty Pelican, Scarpetta by Scott Conant, Soff’s, Spanglish Craft Cocktail Bar + Kitchen, Stagé Palm Beach Gardens, Stubborn Seed, SUGARCANE raw bar grill, SURFHOUSE, SuViche, Taquiza, Temple Street Eatery, The Bazaar by Jose Andres, The Cafe at Books & Books, RWSB, The Surf Club, The Sylvester, Three, Toro Miami, Veza Sur Brewing Co., Wynwood Brewing Company, and more!
Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to sip, sample, and savor the all diverse flavors of Miami, along with endless pours of fine wines, spirits, cocktails, and local craft beers. Also on tap for the night: lively musical entertainment, a silent auction, a special Giving Tree, where you can get exclusive dinning opportunities in exchange for a donation – plus, of course, ample networking, socializing, and partying — Miami style.
And the best part, it all goes to benefit a very worthy cause – No Kid Hungry, as it helps south Florida’s children to get the healthy meals they deserve. Did you know that “One in six children in America lives with hunger, and here in Florida it’s 1 in 5?” notes Chef Co-Chair Cesar Zapata. “I’m proud to partner with No Kid Hungry for a fun evening that’s serious about ending childhood hunger.” In 2018, South Florida’s Taste of the Nation raised over $189,000 through local event proceeds and national partnerships. That’s over 1.8 million additional meals for local kids! 100% of proceeds support the No Kid Hungry campaign’s work to end childhood hunger in America. No Kid Hungry is proud to partner with local organizations on No Kid Hungry Florida. Together, they are making sure every kid gets three meals a day.
So Taste what Miami is all about – at the South Florida Taste of the Nation!
The 31st annual Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry takes place Friday, May 27, from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. at Ice Palace Films Studios, located at 59 NW 14th Street in Miami. General Admission ticket are $150 (while they last), and only $125 for Early Bird advance tickets purchased before May 10.
VIP tickets are $200 (or $175 for Early Bird purchased before May 10), and allow early access to the event, starting at 6:15.
For additional information and to purchase tickets, please visit: https://events.nokidhungry.org/events/south-floridas-taste-nation/
All event proceeds benefit Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign to end childhood hunger in America.
Stay apprised of other local Food & Wine events! Check it out: https://www.bocaratontribune.com/bocaratonnews/2019/02/food-wine-festivals-2019/
About No Kid Hungry: Believe it or not, 1 in 6 six children struggles with hunger in America, including more than 1.1 million kids in Florida alone, where the hunger rate is even higher. No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger by ensuring that America’s kids start the day with a nutritious breakfast, and families learn the skills they need to shop and cook on a budget. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of national anti-hunger organization Share Our Strength, and has connected kids struggling with hunger with 460 million meals so far.
In 2018, South Florida’s Taste of the Nation raised nearly $190,000, and provide over 1.8 million additional meals for local children. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of proceeds support the No Kid Hungry campaign’s work to end childhood hunger in America. For more information, visit nokidhungry.org/southflorida.
About the Author: Kenny Spahn is a renowned food critic, culinary columnist, and restaurant authority, and has published over 800 culinary articles. Mr. Spahn also heads up Restaurant Placement Group, an exclusive recruiting, placement, and consulting firm for the restaurant and hospitality industry. For more information, visit: https://www.restaurantplacement.com/.