Melissa Kaylene: Taste of The Nation Portland

Monday, April 7, 2014

Taste of The Nation Portland

Photo credit: Allison Jones via

I love my children, and I couldn't imagine what I would do if I wasn't able to provide enough food for them. Even though we've been through financial ups and downs I am blessed that my family has never had to face that question before, but many parents do. According to the Oregon Food Bank one in five Oregonians are worried about feeding their families - one in five. Whenever I go into my kid's school I look around and wonder if their classmates are getting the nutrition their body's need. My heart aches for children that have no control of their situations, and for the parents who struggle to do their best but just can't make ends meet.

Taste of The Nation is a beautiful culinary event that has been happening in Portland for the past 27 years, where the culinary community gather together to raise money to fight child hunger. Dishes are prepared with the theme, "What My Family Ate", and the event takes place at the McMenamins Crystal Ballroom April 29th.

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100 percent of ticket sales for the event go towards ending child hunger. Some of the local beneficiaries include the Oregon Food Bank, St. Vincent DePaul Society, Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon and Klamath/Lake Counties Food Bank.

Photo Credit: Erik Chan via

What a better way to support a wonderful cause as well as spending the evening tasting food and sipping drinks from some of Portland's finest establishments! I wouldn't miss the event for anything.

If you would like to learn more about this event, check out the Taste of The Nation website, as well as No Child Hungry. You can also listen live tomorrow (Wednesday April 9th) to hear an Internet web interview with the event marquee chef Sarah Schafer of Irving Kitchen.