One of the most rewarding sides of blogging is being exposed to so many great events and organizations. We’ve had the opportunity to meet tremendous people and spread the word about some great causes. Last year we attended Share our Strength’s Taste of the Nation, and this year, our blogging-friend-turned-real-life-friend, Susan, reached out and asked if we’d be interested in press passes for this year’s event. Of course we agreed to go since it is a fantastic evening filled with some of the most reputable chefs all working to help end childhood hunger in America. Some more about the event from their Web site:
Since 1988, Taste of the Nation has brought together the most creative culinary minds across the nation. Each spring and summer, pioneers of modern American cuisine, national celebrity chefs and mixologists including David Burke, Stephan Pyles, mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim, Bravo’s Top Chef Tom Collichio, Food Network stars Tyler Florence and Emeril Lagasse and thousands more like them donate their time, talent and passion at nearly 40 events across the United States and Canada with one goal in mind: to raise critical funds needed to help end childhood hunger. 100% of supports Share Our Strength’s efforts to end childhood hunger.
All around the convention center hung signs with facts and information about childhood hunger. Did you know that almost 1 in 4 children don’t know where their next meal is coming from? Crazy when you really stop and think about things like this…
As we walked into the event we chatted for a bit to strategize a game plan. We were real serious about this plan. We started by going to a booth, taking a sample, stepping aside, photographing the sample, eating the sample and then heading off to the next booth. We did really well for all of 20 minutes until we started bumping into friends, chatting with the chefs, gushing over food, juggling wine glasses/business cards/cameras and started wandering all around the place being nosey and checking out the scene. That’s us in a nutshell! 
Aside from getting to taste lots of delicious food, the experience of seeing some of Boston’s top chefs in action and having the opportunity to have conversations with them is always quite memorable.
Of course, seeing Jody Adams is ALWAYS exciting.
Same goes for Gordon Hamersley!
I think it’s safe to say Market had some of our favorite tastes. Starting with the tuna tartar.
To the pineapple and a fruity marshmallow… this was one of my favorites and I’m not even a big “sweets” kind of person. It was a pleasant and refreshing little treat.
Hungry Mother was serving up some bacon and pimento sandwiches. I didn’t try one of the sandwiches, but I did, of course, ask for a piece of bacon I mean, check out the heap, there was plenty to spare… and it was nice and crispy, just the way I like it 
We gave the “best mac and cheese” award to Laurel. They served a deliciously creamy vegetable mac and cheese which I’m hoping they put on their menu, if it already isn’t.
The company my dad works for actually did the napkins for the event, so, naturally, I snapped a photo for him!
Henrieta’s Table (which I’ve been dying to get to!) served a simple but tasty custard of sorts topped with fresh berries…
… It was so good even the stuffed pig wanted some, oink
Gordon Hamersley of Hamersley’s Bistro took this photo of us. Sues had a major celebrity chef OMG crazy fan moment.
We also enjoyed some amazing cooking from him. We loved that he was actually there working at the charity event. That shows true dedication and care.
St. Alphonzo’s Kitchen, located in South Boston, served spicy green beans with baked olive oil-oregano bread which smelled delicious as we walked by the table.
Didn’t know a sloppy Joe could be so good until we had the one from KO Prime!
Our best bud Katie and her boyfriend Paul were also at the event, too! His family owns Paul W. Marks, which is New England’s Leading Specialty Foodservice Distributor, and also one of the sponsors of Boston’s Taste of the Nation. He gave us some stress balls shaped as eggs since they’re one of the products they distribute. Adorable, yes?
Got to spend the evening with some of our favorite ladies! Katie, WANM, and Julia Rappaport of the Boston Herald. There’s really nothing better than food, wine, and good girl friends all in one evening.
We were also super excited to run into Tina from Carrots ‘N’ Cake and Elina from Healthy And Sane.
Us, with Susan, who volunteered to do the PR for the event.
A big thank you to Susan for inviting us and allowing us to spread the word!
If you’re interested in attending a Taste of the Nation in your city, be sure to check the schedule. There’s a good chance one is taking place in a city near you.
There’s always a bit of guilt that comes along with attending charity events for free or as press, so we made an online donation. If you, too, are interested in helping to end childhood hunger in America and aren’t able to attend Taste of the Nation, they’ve set up a donation page on their Web site.
You can also follow Share our Strength on Twitter.
[Chels and Sues]
Chef’n GarlicZoom XL GIVEAWAY WINNER
Congrats to Sarah W. of sewwhatsarahs.wordpress.com who said: “Wow, that garlic press looks AWESOME! The thing I’m looking forward to this summer is eating leisurely meals outside!”
And Megan of www.bitesoftheapple.com who said: “omgomgomgomgomg I want that SO BAD. And I am most looking forward to lots of fun weekend trips this summer, esp. ones that involve jumping in the ocean!! PS grey nailpolish rocks.”
Love how you both are part of a blogging duo just like us! And yes Megan, grey nailpolish does rock
We’ve also decided to give another reader a Garlic Zoom, just because her comment was hilarious and we think her husband needs to experience it even if it is a “uni-tasker”!…
Jeri said: I would LOVE a Zoom!! My husband and I love cooking and we love your blog. Every time we see the Zoom on here, I tell him I want to buy one and he says “Alton Brown, would call that a uni-tasker and we have a food processor that works fine.” Well, if I WON it, that would really make my day. (Are you reading this, honey? LOL)
This summer I am most looking forward to the POOL!!! I love swimming, reading books in my lounge chair, working on getting a little color and eating yummy appetizers when we have a cookout.
Thanks Girls for all the Recipes I will be sure to be trying out this summer!!!
If you three ladies could shoot us an email with your addresses we’ll get the highly desirable Garlic Zooms out to you ASAP!
What a cool event! The custard looks delicious. You guys did a great job covering the event. And congrats to the garlic zoom winners!!
That stack of bacon is crazy! Is it also crazy it make my mouth water?!
Looks like a really great event!
This looks so amazing!! I wish we had this around here.
so fun! and for a good cause! and thanks for the pwm shout out!
YAY!! I won
Thanks Girls, you rock!! Can’t wait to try it out. Also, it looks like it was a great event for a great cause.
You guys are awesome! Thank you so much for coming and for covering the event. You really got to see and taste so much and your perspective is always so thoughtful. I wish I could have hung out with you more! I guess it’s just a good reason for another a Bloggah meetup…
This is a really fantastic event for a good cause. It’s also reminding me (sadly) how many restaurants I never made it to when I was in Boston. Guess a trip back will be in order at some point. I’ve actually been thinking I might want to volunteer for Share our Strength here in Chicago.
Ahhh, I love winning prizes! And, I’m jealous of your Taste of the Nation experience.