The 23rd anniversary celebration of Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation® Atlanta raised $756,000 to end childhood hunger in Atlanta and across America. More than 1,000 people gathered at the Georgia Aquarium on Thursday, April 14, for the gourmet food and wine event that featured specialty food samplings from over 40 of the city’s top chefs, as well as live, silent and beverage auctions, wine tastings and live entertainment.

All of the net proceeds from Taste of the Nation Atlanta will help fund Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry® campaign to end childhood hunger in America by 2015 and, as part of that campaign, continue supporting local organizations including the Atlanta Community Food Bank and Genesis, A New Life and Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters™ Georgia. 
 
Pano Karatassos, founder of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, started the Taste of the Nation Atlanta event in 1988 and has chaired the event each year since. He was joined this year by George McKerrow, President/CEO of Ted’s Montana Grill. Danny Meyer, CEO of New York City-based Union Square Hospitality Group, served as the events honorary chairperson. Meyer’s restaurants and their chefs have earned an unprecedented 21 James Beard Awards and perennially rank among New York City’s favorite restaurants in the Zagat survey.

This year, Share Our Strength honored Atlanta’s Five-Star Taste of the Nation Chefs, those who have supported and participated in the Atlanta event for more than 10 years. These chefs included Jamie Adams, Gary Donlick, Robert Holley, Pano I. Karatassos, Gerry Klaskala, Gary Mennie, Nan Niyomkul, Kevin Rathbun, Joey Riley, Scott Serpas, Jay Swift, Hilary White and Ian Winslade. 

Visit www.TasteOfTheNation.org.