Final Stop on our Tour: Taste of the Nation LA
By Lydia Yun 
May 26, 2010 
8 Comments
It’s finally summertime in Los Angeles, and what better way to celebrate than to spend a Sunday afternoon under the sun with your fellow Angelenos, united in the spirit to fight childhood hunger? Share Our Strength’s 22nd annual Taste of the Nation event comes to Los Angeles on June 6, where fine dining takes on a relaxed but festive mood, in the open air at Culver City’s Media Park, which will transform to stage this spectacular culinary event. Collectively, the talent and passion invested is incredible, with over 50 of the area’s finest chefs, mixologists, wineries, and restaurants donating their time and resources to this worthy cause. Feast, drink, and converse with the best of this city’s culinary scene, and you will have done your part to make sure “no kid in America grows up hungry.â€
Share Our Strength is dedicated to ending childhood hunger in America, and its annual Taste of the Nation events held across the United States and Canada have raised over $70 million since 1988. The numbers themselves are staggering: Nearly 1 in 4 children in America faced hunger at some point last year – about 17 million children – and many more have limited access to healthy and nutritious meals. Hunger and inadequate nutrition will likely have lifelong consequences for these kids, not only affecting their health, but behaviorally as well as their ability to succeed in school. Your attendance will directly help Share Our Strength’s mission to end childhood hunger by 2015, with 100% of ticket sales distributed to local organizations here in Los Angeles such as food banks and advocacy and food policy groups.
There’s a lot to look forward to at Taste of the Nation Los Angeles. You can bet on a satisfied stomach thanks to tastings provided by a whole host of local restaurant favorites including Joe’s, Grace, Ciudad, and Craft. Go ahead and rub elbows with some of your favorite celebrity chefs, including Michael Voltaggio of Top Chef fame who will be on hand for an on-stage demo. Perhaps you’ll also be tempted to bid on one of the myriad of items up for auction – from cookbooks to cooking lessons, wine cellars to home appliances, hotel stays to gym memberships. Chef Ludo Lefebvre, of pop-up restaurant LudoBites fame and former contestant on Top Chef Masters, will personally auction off a private party with his Ludo Fried Chicken truck as well.
And if you’re still on the fence, perhaps Will Ferrell and Chef Ben Ford of Ford’s Filling Station in Culver City can persuade you to join them at Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation Los Angeles on June 6.
UPCOMING EVENT: Taste of the Nation Los Angeles
When: Sunday, June 6, 2010 from 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Where: Media Park in Culver City, CA 90232, Corner of Venice Blvd. & Culver Blvd.

Price: $100 General Admission; $125 VIP Admission. Purchase tickets NOW!
Participating Restaurants: Akasha, Bazaar, Bistro LQ, BLT Steak, BLVD 16, Border Grill/Ciudad, Craft, Culina, Dining Room at The Langham Hotel, Fig, Ford’s Filling Station, Gelato Bar, Grace or BLD, Hatfield’s, Jar, Joe’s, Locanda Del Lago, Loteria Grill, Lucques/AOC/Tavern, Chaya Brasserie, Mercantile/District, Rivera, Simon LA, Street, Tar Pit/Campanile/The Point, Tara’s Ice Cream, The Foundry on Melrose, Westside Tavern, and XIV by Michael Mina.
Pictures from 2009 Taste of Nation LA
Photos Courtesy of Henshall Photography and Laykin Photography.
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Looks like fun. I had to snicker at Ludo’s auction item- he seems to bring such strong emotions out of people, some very negative. Don’t get me wrong- I do think he knows his food and would love to try it out
Yes, I haven’t yet had the chance to try his food either. His auction item is unique and of course generous, and you have to envy those who will be invited to this private party with his fried chicken truck!
This sounds like a terrific event. I wish I could make it this year.
I know~! im so jealous! looks amazing! The one in NYC was AMAZING!
What fun!
Sounds like a great event, and the food, yum. I wish I could make it this year.
I know, I just can’t wait to indulge! There is always next year of course – these events just tend to get bigger and better every year.
Yes, this will be an amazing event, and I wish all of you could make it this year!
And we have some more info on Taste of the Nation LA:
Some additional restaurants joining the lineup are Nobu and Osteria Mozza/Pizzeria Mozza.
Menu items will include Grace’s grilled pork sliders, onion & bacon jam, violet mustard; XIV’s braised and grilled Piedmontese beef cheeks, summer corn foam and hamachi Tartare; Akasha’s pulled Niman pork on pretzel rolls with slaw & pickles; and Hatfield’s horseradish dusted braised short rib on smoked potatoes.