Attention do-gooder gourmands: If you’d like to take a crash course on the Portland dining scene and help out an important cause while you’re schmoozing, definitely check out Taste of the Nation, coming to Portland on May 2nd. This annual event is bringing together over 75 amazing local restaurants, distillers, brewers, and wineries to benefit Share Our Strength®, a national nonprofit working to end childhood hunger in America by 2015. All of the ticket and auction proceeds (yes, 100% of them) are going straight to the charity, and you’ll be able to meet the big names of the Portland food and drink world while juggling plates of the best bites around.

David Anderson (executive chef at Genoa and Accanto) is the Honorary Chef Chair of the event, and he’s helped put together a culinary line-up that reads like a Best Of Portland list. Where else can you try selections from Aviary, Bamboo Sushi, Biwa, Bunk, Clyde Common, Immortal Pie and Larder, Metrovino, Ned Ludd, Nostrana, Saint Cupcake, Screen Door, Simpatica, The Gilt Club, Vindalho, Violetta, Wildwood, Xocolati de David and more, all under one roof? LUXE and VIP ticket holders will also have access to treats from six of the top restaurants (Beast, Castagna, Genoa, June, Laurelhurst Market and Tasty & Sons) at a special pre-event gathering. The wine will be flowing, the beer will be tapped, and the drinks will be shaking all night long. Best of all, the price of just one general admission ticket will help over 18 people eat a nutritious, filling meal. We’ll raise a glass to that.

Tickets for the tasting and silent auction can be purchased by calling 1-877-26-TASTE, going to portlandtaste.org, or stopping in at any New Seasons Market.