I want to take a break from celebrating all of the amazing food in our region to talk about a subject that rarely graces these digital pages: Hunger.

More than half-a-million Oregonians are food insecure, making Oregon one of the hungriest states in the country. Food insecurity is especially a concern in isolated rural communities, which often have limited access to fresh and affordable foods.

Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation, one of Portland’s best food-centric benefits, is celebrating their 25th year of raising funds for this extremely important cause.

The show-stopping, belly-filling event is coming to Jeld-Wen Field on Tuesday, May 8th, bringing together dozens of amazing local restaurants, distillers, brewers, and wineries to benefit local non-profits working to address hunger in Oregon.

In addition to supporting Share Our Strength’s efforts to end childhood hunger nation-wide, this year’s beneficiaries include the Oregon Food Bank, Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, St. Vincent de Paul Food Recovery Program, and Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank (Klamath-Lake Counties are among the most hungry in the state, and every ticket purchased helps the men and women working to feed our fellow Oregonians).

The culinary line-up reads like a Best Of Portland list, with gourmet nibbles from Andina, Biwa, BUNK Sandwiches, Clyde Common, Genoa, June, Nong’s Khao Man Gai, Oven & Shaker, Pine State Biscuits, Portobello Vegan Trattoria, St Jack, Wildwood, the upcoming jamison, as well as countless desserts and some delicious surprises!

LUXE and VIP ticket holders will also have access to treats from six exclusive GEM restaurants (Aviary, Bamboo Sushi, Boke Bowl, Gruner, Ned Ludd, and Olympic Provisions) 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 start at just $85, and can be purchased by heading to the organization’s website.

Taste of the Nation Portland

May 8, 2012
JELD-WEN Field
1844 SW Morrison Street

5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. LUXE ticket holders
5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. VIP ticket holders
6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. GA ticket holders