Concord Chefs Cook to Fight Childhood Hunger

New Hampshire’s hottest chefs, restaurants, and mixologists will gather for Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation, the premier culinary benefit of the year. Taste of the Nation Manchester raises critical funds needed to support Share Our Strength’s efforts to end childhood hunger in New Hampshire and across the nation. This year’s event will be held on April 18, at The Radisson Hotel Center of New Hampshire, 700 Elm St. in Manchester, from 6 to 9 p.m. with a VIP reception beginning at 5 p.m.
 
More than 50 of New Hampshire’s hottest chefs and restaurants will participate in the event. Three from Concord participating this year include Scott Ouellette, the owner and chef of ; Executive Chef Corey Fletcher; and Executive Chef Mike Cook.

Guests will enjoy the state’s finest foods paired with wines from over 30 wineries and spirit purveyors from throughout the country provided by Martignetti Companies of New Hampshire.
 
In addition to fabulous food and drinks, the event will feature a silent auction of extraordinary items including a custom designed 1.24 carat oval sapphire and diamond ring by Jonathan’s Jewelers and a fully stocked temperature controlled wine cooler. The event will also feature a VIP section and live entertainment by the Lakes Region Big Band.
 
“Taste of the Nation brings together the finest of New Hampshire’s culinary world, and helps the children in our community who suffer from hunger every day,” said Paula Borbotsina, Co-Chair of Taste of the Nation Manchester. “This is the largest food and wine event in New Hampshire. We expect over 800 guests to eat, drink and support our critical efforts to end childhood hunger.”
 
Since 1988, Taste of the Nation has raised more than $75 million and the Manchester event has raised more than $756,000 to fund programs to combat childhood hunger in New Hampshire. Area charities that benefit from the event include The New Hampshire Food Bank, Children’s Alliance of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Farm to School Program and the Manchester Boys and Girls Club.
 
With nearly 17 million children facing hunger in America (that’s almost one in four), and  more than 12% of children in Manchester with inadequate access to nutritious foods, Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation is more vital than ever. The event raises funds to help end childhood hunger in America by ensuring that at-risk children and their families have reliable access to enough nutritious food to thrive. Funds raised through Taste of the Nation events support No Kid Hungry™, Share Our Strength’s campaign to end childhood hunger in America.
 
“An end to childhood hunger in the United States is within reach,” said Bill Shore, Founder and Executive Director of Share Our Strength. “With all the participants in Taste of the Nation Manchester sharing their strength, we are creating more resources to help the children of New Hampshire and our great nation get the nutritious food they need to live healthy, active lives.”
 
Taste of the Nation Manchester is nationally sponsored by American Express, Sysco, Food Network, and is presented locally by Martignetti Companies of New Hampshire.
 
Additional local sponsors include Gold Sponsors:  Associated Grocers of New England; Bedford Ambulatory Surgical Care; Granite Investment Advisors; Harvest Market; Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; Jonathan’s Jewelers; New Hampshire Magazine; WZID 95.7, Union Leader, Spectrum Printing.  Silver Sponsors: Anagnost Companies; Centrix Bank; Coca Cola Bottling Company of Northern New England; Regency Mortgage Company, Wells Fargo, People’s United Bank, Burl Tree Service; General Linen Service C o.; Royal Bank of Canada, Zyacorp Companies/Cinemagic; Merchant Motors.  Bronze Sponsors: Bellwether Community Credit Union; Casey Family Services; Catholic Medical Center; Courville Company;  Central Paper;  Dartmouth Hitchcock;  Dr. Thomas Borbotsina Dental Practice;  Granite State Fruit Company, PLLC;  Montagne Communications; Stebbins Commercial Properties; Truncellito Insurance;, Phoenix Title; Delta Dental, Not So Plain Jane’s and Hampshire Hills.
 
Tickets for Taste of the Nation Manchester are $65 for General Admission and $100 for VIP and can be purchased by visiting www.TasteOfTheNation.org/Manchester or calling 1-877-26-TASTE. For a full list of restaurants and updates visit us on the web, Facebook and Twitter.
 
Participating restaurants to-date include: Copper Door, Cotton, O Steaks and Seafood, Hanover Street Chop House, Piccola Italia, Stella Blu, Firefly, Mint Bistro, 36 Deluxe Restaurant, Teknique, Sunset Hill House, XO on Elm, Vellagio, Hooked, Ignite, Granite Restaurant and Bar, Blackwater Grill, SNHU, Whippersnappers, 900 Degrees, Eden Restaurant, Java Tree, Common Man, Stonyfield, Wild Rover Pub, Manor on Golden Pond, Michele’s Pastry, Fratellos, Concord Food Co-Op/Celery Sticks, Shortey’s Mexican Roadhouse, Pasquales, Cactus Jacks, T-Bones, Jake’s Old Fashion Ice Cream, Sweet Cierra’s, Tidewater, Manchester Country Club, Amphora Restaurant, Tuscan Kitchen, Castle Caters, Epoch at Exeter Inn, Queen City Cupcakes,  Joker’s Sports Bar & Bistro, Napa East, Black Brimmer, Divots on the River, Mountain View Grand, JD’s Tavern and The Lazy Lion.
 
About Taste of the Nation
Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation® is the nation’s premier culinary benefit dedicated to making sure no kid grows up hungry. Each spring and summer, the nation's hottest chefs and mixologists donate their time, talent and passion at nearly 40 events across the United States and Canada, with one goal in mind: to raise the critical funds needed to end childhood hunger. Taste of the Nation is nationally sponsored by American Express, Sysco, Food Network, Brown-Forman Corporation, S.Pellegrino and Sparkling Natural Mineral Water. Since 1988, Taste of the Nation has raised more than $75 million. Funds raised in 2010 supported 134 organizations in the United States, Canada and abroad. To purchase tickets or to get involved, visit TasteOfTheNation.org
 
About Share Our Strength
Share Our Strength®, a national nonprofit, is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting children with the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives. Through its No Kid Hungry® Campaign—a national effort to end childhood hunger in America by 2015—Share Our Strength ensures children in need are enrolled in effective federal nutrition programs; invests in community organizations fighting hunger; teaches families how to cook healthy, affordable meals; and builds public-private partnerships to end childhood hunger, at the state and city level. Working closely with the culinary industry and relying on the strength of its volunteers, Share Our Strength hosts innovative culinary fundraising events and develops pioneering cause marketing campaigns that support No Kid Hungry. Visit Strength.org to get involved.