Chicago is part of a gigantic, nationwide food and wine tasting benefit in which guests in 70 cities simultaneously will sample gourmet fare and contribute to charities supported by Share our Strength, a network of food and media professionals dedicated to hunger relief.
Called Taste of the Nation, it will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Mar. 29 in the Excalibur entertainment complex, 632 N. Dearborn St.
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About two dozen restaurants will participate in the Chicago leg of the benefit. Chefs Jackie Shen of Jackie`s and Martin Gagne of Cafe 21 in Hotel 21 East, the co-chairpersons of the event, will head the list of chefs and restaurateurs providing samples for the public.
At a cost of $50 per person, guests can graze on food and drink from La Tour, Printers Row, the Galerie, Arnie`s, Charlie Trotter`s, the Ritz-Carlton, Melange, Cafe Provencal, An Apple a Day, T.J. Peppercorn`s, the 95th, Randall`s Rib House, La Strada, Not Just Pasta, the Village Smithy, the Pump Room, the Prince of Wales, Rolf`s Patisseries, the Halsted Street Fishmarket, Cheesecakes by JR and Cafe de Paris.
Tickets may be ordered by calling 467-7142 or writing to Ruth Rashman Associates, 405 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago, Ill., 60611.
Proceeds are to be distributed as follows: 70 percent to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, 10 percent to Eastern Illinois Food Bank and 20 percent to various international relief agencies.
”To feed Chicago`s hungry, the Greater Chicago Food Depository has provided more than 140 million pounds of food since 1979,” said depository director Stephen E. Whitehead. ”Each dollar raised at the Taste of the Nation this year will allow us to provide nine meals to hungry neighbors.”