Taste of the Nation 2013

Taste of the Nation is our all time favorite charity event. No offense to galas, but they get so overdone. Yes, they are all for a great cause, they all have good food and good auction prizes and good speakers. But it's the same old thing. Taste of the Nation is what we based our wedding off of! We wanted tons of different small plates, and Taste was the inspiration.

Share our Strength is a national organization whose mission is to end childhood hunger, and Taste of the Nation is an event they have in several cities in America, where the top restaurants in the city are invited to participate. They each come with a sample off of their menu (or somethings not on their menu, special for the event). $100 for one ticket goes 100% to the charity, and gives you entry to taste unlimited amounts of 30+ chef's dishes, and pairings of drinks. It's SO MUCH FUN. Even being prego and not drinking.

Chef Carlos Guia (bottom right) from the Country Club at the Wynn is the chair of the committee, and Chef Rick Moonen (in the front in the black) has participated 3 out of 4 of the last years.


Not all the chefs made it to the pictures since this was 15 minutes before the event started, and they were probably prepping their stations!

Speaking of stations, here are some of them:




Not a station but the ice sculpture we get by one of the bars each year:


Some of the auction items:


And more stations:










See that jar with the orange ribbon at each station? I am proud to say that was my idea 2 years ago, and it's brought in over $10,000 each year in tips! We realized that even though the event was all you can eat and drink for the ticket price, that people would still tip for the service, especially at the bars! Well, I thought, what better than a friendly competition! We have the restaurants and the bars compete for the most tips, and they win a prize from us! I don't know the total tip earnings yet this year but last year it was around $14,000!!!

Press wall: thanks sponsors!


My mommy and some of her best friends - thanks for supporting the event guys!!




And some of my good girlfriends:


Thanks so much for supporting us this year. Jaren frantically searched for a babysitter, so thanks Lynsey for stepping up last minute! I am so so grateful. My friend Jill, on the left in this pic, won tickets! My amazing husband and his business partner agreed to raffle off tickets to their vanpool customers! Each winner got two tickets, and Alex (Jill's husband) was one of 2 winners from his squadron. I am SO glad they agreed to this because I think that all their members really enjoyed the even that they would not have known about or been able to attend, and it helped Share Our Strength raise a lot more money!!!

Jaren enjoyed the drinks :-) (And still maintained her weight watchers goal, you go girl!)




Why are you so tall, blonde, and fabulous? Kind of jealous here.



Babie's first Taste of the Nation! Next one won't be for 21 years! Lol.